What time frame is considered a standard for a company to ask you to relocate for a job across the country?

There's no standard, it's whatever you can negotiate. You and your wife will be very busy people over the next months. Good luck.

If they offered you a job, did you get a letter stating when you are supposed to start? My guess is that is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month max. All of the problems you have prior to starting over in another state in reality could take months to most likely a year or more. Selling a house in Detroit MI, will be a very daunting process with I believe one of the highest unemployment and foreclosure in your state.

You need to sit down and make a list of options. Can you rent out your house and try and sell at same time? You may need to find short term rental in CA for your family till your house is sold in MI, since this could make a difference of what kind of new house you buy there, but if current not sold could hinder getting a decent loan for another in CA. Also with a short term rental, can see for yourself the costs associated in CA and have more time to find that perfect house.

My step daughter has moved to 2 different states in over 1 year due to her boyfriend being offered another job and they only had 2 weeks to do all of this. They have always found a rental house in the new state, but they are still trying to sell the original house, which they have rented to a friend.

Also they were lucky that the new companies paid the relocation package, since moving costs can be prohibited. Years ago when the economy was uphill, most companies would "buy" the house from the employee and pay all moving cost which ran around $10,000. So unless you can do all the driving of a U-Haul, you could save a lot.

Only your new employer can tell you, but don't expect it to be more than a month, but could be only 2 weeks.

good luck and congrats on new job.