[84porsche]

Santa Ana is undergoing some major improvements and does have some very nice areas. Worst case scenario, you can rent for awhile until you get on your feet and find something you like. A friend of mine just sold his 900 sq ft condo in Foothill Ranch in OC for $410,000 up from $185,000 when he purchased it a few years ago.
I live here in the OC and cannot afford to buy but looking for the right offer and will have to borrow from friends/family for a down payment when the time comes. In Irvine, they are still building homes like crazy adding more and more all the time and they still have plenty of land to go. I personally hope the market will stabilize in the next few years and allow the younger generation a chance to buy property here.