The dynamic in San Diego is now essentially condos available in downtown/coastal areas, is new condos are 1m or 1.5 at the entry level, and even 100k and up professionals live mostly in rent only buildings that are extremely luxurious, like 5 star hotels. The people who buy in that range, and even below, often have their parents putting the down payment. Difficult to say what happens from here.
Obviously, the big money, (huge developing corporations) doesn't seen these dynamics changing, because I would estimate 3/5 of new builds are high end lease only, but it's not like "big money" hasn't been wrong, and can always course correct.
In the post 2008 recession, yo saw the reverse, condo developments weren't able to sell units, and therefore went to lease only. I wish my Dad bought a place to invest last year, in that market. It would have gone up like 50k or 100k already.
1 millon gets you not much, if you want a family home, you see the suburbs pushed out further and further. No interest in that personally, but that's a struggle I see many with.