Originally Posted by After Shock Media

It is six grand. Your in CA by your location so you are allowed to file one case in small claims for up to five grand, or if you have filed already this year it is limited to twenty five hundred.

File your case against the buyer. (doubt he will show and defend)
Win your case (5k).
Then proceed to locate him and his bank accounts. Place lien on bank account and suck the money out. You can get reimbursed for the lien costs.

This way you will only be out one thousand instead of six thousand.

If by some chance you can come up with financial reasons to bump your six grand loss high enough to meet the superior court minimums do so. Then just do the same again. A paralegal can get all the paperwork done for you and you can represent yourself in court, unless he does fight it (again in CA).