It should be expected. During the boom times prices on everything were raised that are essential to most people's everyday living but their salaries didn't increase by much if any at all. The American Dream (purchasing my own home) in the last 5 years is well out of my price range and most other folks too. 5 years ago the house I rent sold for $27k with $5k of renovations. Now the county & city have reevaluated to $150k. Good for my landlord when she's ready to sell but not good for the average citizen who cannot afford $100k much less $150k. My salary is $20k/yrly and the average income in New Hanover County is $27k/yrly, that's with a college education and no I don't have the resources to move to a higher paying city where it costs even more to live.