P-o-P, I might amend your statement...
"Stuff like this just irritates me - housing IN CALIFORNIA has always been a sacrifice, but it's simply gotten beyond the reach of "normal" people now."
Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the California housing market is anything like the market in the rest of the country.
Case in point, we are moving to the Dallas area. My wife found a very nice house for sale online, pic is below:
3800 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3 car garage, custom french doors, hardwood floors, fireplace, granite countertops, on a cul-de-sac. Asking price: $349,000. That is $92/sq ft. A whole lot of house for that price. In Kalifornia, $350k MIGHT buy you a two bedroom condo in Watts.
Homes are out there, you just need to move!