Despite the pandemic, the most expensive housing markets nationwide remain the same as they did in early 2020. What's changed is that prices have increased by 40% and the total value of real estate has soared to $44 trillion from $33 trillion. For those who own that's good news since their home equity generally has kept in lock step and increased, according to CoreLogic Inc. 

Eight of the 10 markets, according to the March 2023 data released, were in California with San Francisco at No. 1 and homes there had a staggering price tag of $1.4 million, up from an also high, just not as high, $1.25 three years before. That city was followed by San Jose at $1.29 million and $912,000 the year before. Then came Anaheim, Oakland and Los Angeles. Honolulu was in sixth place, but then the remaining metros again were in California and specifically in San Diego, Oxnard and Santa Rosa.

The report suggests that the California market's appeal and value are driven by its strong economy, outdoor amenities and good weather, and that their high costs were in place even before the tech boom. For those worried about wildfires, a genuine concern, they burned about 362,000 acres last year. But that was down from 2.5 million acres the year before and a historic 4.3 million acres in 2020, according to a New York Times report. The 2023 wildfire season  is said to be off to the quietest start in at least a decade, according to another report.