Thank you for all your thoughts on this. After reading this forum for so long when prices were much lower, I start to panic about buying now. For our current situation it still seems like it might be the best idea and I’d have to have a lot of data behind me to overcome my spouses determination to buy.

Interesting point on August… I watched numerous properties that I liked sit for awhile around that time last year and eventually sell for less than asking. BUT.. I have also seen a few that didn’t sell come back on the market recently for 40K more. I’m annoyed. I definitely won’t be in too big a rush to buy immediately, but it is tempting when the houses I like come and go in a matter of days and August is pushing it for the start of school. I suppose the kids can start a few weeks late… more attention anyway : )

I’m curious as to how far out you mean by “outlying” areas. Are you talking Temecula or San Marcos?