In the U.S. the first 275k (or 240k, I can't recall) is tax free on your principal residence.
And honestly, at the end of the day, desirable places will almost certainly recoup their values or not plummet.
If you're talking the city of SF or Marin, those places didn't see a huge nominal decrease across the board. Sure new construction fell some, but places in nice neighborhoods didn't. When you move further east the prices went south because they weren't originally desirable nor had the infrastructure to support pricing.
And honestly, at the end of the day, desirable places will almost certainly recoup their values or not plummet.
If you're talking the city of SF or Marin, those places didn't see a huge nominal decrease across the board. Sure new construction fell some, but places in nice neighborhoods didn't. When you move further east the prices went south because they weren't originally desirable nor had the infrastructure to support pricing.