More mortgage relief from the White House -- but congressional OK doubtful

President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a sweeping plan to help underwater homeowners refinance into lower-interest loans, but funding for the proposal must be approved by a combative Congress, lowering the possibility that it will help anyone soon.

Full story at MercuryNews.com

Saving Bohemia Ranch

Enter “Bohemia Ranch” into Google and you'll find a web site offering nearly 900 acres of prime West County forest for sale - suitable for as many as six homes - all for $6 million


Full story at the Press Democrat

Some photos I took at the ranch a few years ago:

Price just reduced to $269,000!

State court upholds abolishing redevelopment agencies

Officials in Sonoma County struggled Thursday to gauge the local impact of a state Supreme Court ruling that upheld the state's elimination of redevelopment agencies.


(Full story at the Press Democrat)

Home buying not for faint-hearted

To purchase her house this fall, Sally Murphy was required to sign twice as many loan documents as she had done for each of her past four homes.

The 66-year-old dietician then watched in horror as the title company took until the final day to meet a bank's deadline for transferring ownership on a four-bedroom house in east Windsor, a short sale.

(Full story at the Press Democrat)

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors set to OK $2.4 million Pryor Ranch conservation deal

When Ed and Elva Pryor bought a big swath of woodland in the hills southwest of their Healdsburg home in 1946, there were few structures or other signs of civilization on the surrounding landscape.


(Full story at the Press Democrat)

Scaled-down septic tank rules presented in Santa Rosa hearing

State regulators Wednesday presented a new proposal to govern septic systems that may be polluting California rivers, removing many of the requirements that drew heavy criticism two years ago.


(Full story at the PD)