Benj,
Yah, my experience as a Realtor during those years was similar -- phone never rang -- don't call us, we'll call you. LOL.
I have also heard Calif. is currently losing population (as it did during the last "bad" economic period due to jobs leaving the state), main complaint being taxes (both on businesses, which are also leaving the state, and personal).
So far this year I have sold three homes for people who are retiring to Nevada (no-personal-income-tax-state, makes it attractive to retirees and others as well!), which is supposedly one of the fastest-growing states populationwise.
Newly