As the summer heats up – and it has definitely been heating up – homebuyers in Sonoma County may be looking for a house that helps them escape the heat. The disparity of temperature may be too great when home locations are closer to the coast, but the five to ten degree difference often found in the woods around the Russian River may be just about right.

A longtime vacation destination, the Russian River has had it’s off-seasons, certainly, but it still has an allure for anyone who loves being surrounded by tall redwoods and the sound of flowing water. If a homebuyer loves swimming, tubing, or kayaking – even better.

The problem for a lot of river-minded homebuyers is that it seems like everyone else wants a house on the river as well, and so they’re really, really hard to find. One of the more popular spots is the town of Guerneville, which does have some beautifully restored homes right on the water…but most are vacation rentals. Fortunately, a mere 8 miles away is the town of Forestville, where you’ll also find homes near the river, along with all the redwoods you can handle. True, I didn’t find any current homes with a dock or balcony that overlooks the water, but each of these listings are a good walk or quick bike ride away from it. Forestville has its own unique downtown, and is close to Guerneville, Sebastopol, wineries, restaurants…you name it. If you’re a homebuyer who wants to live near the river, or would just like to see what’s new in Forestville, scroll through the gallery…