Europe is most certainly NOT cancelled! I wasn't giving that up -- I leave the 17th, only to come back to the task of not only arranging my own relocation, but that of the company as well. Gak. The big move won't happen 'til August-ish. I think I can leverage enough to have a little bit of flexibility in the August to very early September range.

My relocation package includes a month or maybe two of temp housing, but I would much rather not use it. Fantasy relocation packages like having them buy my place are out of the question -- the fact that I got them to realize it was going to take more than a moving truck to pay for my relocation was a major coup. Small and mid-sized companies can't afford that kind of luxury.

A old friend of mine is a mortgage broker (and a very good one), who did my refinance only a few months ago, so I got that part covered. Our parent company is a title company, so I get free title services once a year, so that's a bit of savings there, too. And if I can find a buyer on my own, I can make my boss (a licensed real estate broker & attorney) do the paperwork, otherwise my friend's office can to the listing and paperwork minus advertising for a flat fee. My condo is in a very hot complex -- my problem will be that my condo will sell in two or three weeks and it'll take me 3 months to find a house in LA.

(If anyone knows someone in Sacramento looking for a small but comfy and very well-kept condo with all new appliances and fixtures from a very flexible seller, let me know...)

For online searching, I prefer ziprealty.com. Much better detail and tools to help you understand the neighborhood.

Amos -- very north OC, I'm afraid; La Mirada. I can go west and live in Compton, north and live in East LA, east and drive all the way in from Corona, or south to live in Anaheim/Santa Ana. I know which one sounds most appealing! I can stretch my search out to the south San Gabriel Valley, but I'd rather not be that far out.

Housing is a problem on one paycheck. *sniff* I really want a house, not a condo, but I don't think I will manage to find one I can afford. I WOULD make the drive for the right house.

I'll gladly take the welcome bash! I'm afraid I've been tainted with a taste for trendy No Cal micro-breweries, but I'm happy with a nice Brit or Irish amber ale :)