The Urban Core

When I read articles like this I wonder two things: who decides what the metro area is and do most people understand that the area, as defined in the article, is mostly outside Seattle?

I ask because it seems like every article I read about home prices uses a different statistical set depending on whether it wants to claim the housing market is up or down but presents it as "the Seattle Metro-area".

Also of note, the use of the term "strategic default" to describe individuals walking away from their mortgages. Is that the beginning of a trend where we no longer treat contracts as something business have the right to walk away from if default is a cheaper option but individuals are morally obligated to fullfil?