If you move her now it is going to be cheaper then it has been for a while buy a house that is foreclosure.

That's not necessarily true for California-

Loan companies have instituted a large number of restrictions on just who can apply for and get a home loan out here. Not only will you have to show proof-of-income now, but you'll also have to cough up more up-front for the down payment. That, with the fact that interest rates are climbing, won't mean you'll be getting any deals.

As far as the foreclosed home nonsense-

What they DON'T tell you is that not only will you have to pay up on the mortgage for the home, but you'll also (in some cases) end up taking responsibility for the debts that were incurred by the foreclosed party. So, in essense, you're kinda taking over for the debts of someone else (believe me, I know- a friend of mine recently found out about this dirty little secret when he bought a foreclosure), which will negate any "sweet deal" you were aiming for to begin with.

And THEN there's the fact that a great many disgruntled foreclosed homeowners have taken to vandalizing the very home they lost due to the recent home loan debacle. Some have even gone so far as to blow down entire walls and plumbing fixtures in those walls and it's all done out of spite for the companies that "screwed them". In the end, that will mean that you'll ALSO have to take part in MAJOR repairs and refurbishments in addition to the home loan and all the other hidden costs.

When you really think about it, the only ones who DO come out ahead are the real estate agents and the banks, as they're the ones responsible for causing this mess (at least as far as I'm concerned)- they'll sell you a house at an almost 70% mark-up and THEN proceed to buy the house that you just foreclosed on at a discount, only to sell it back and that same 70% mark-up via auction or short-sale.

And- when you think about the 20% across-the-board markup that is already present with things here in Cali- you're simply going to walk uphill out here. It's just not worth it.