Former Mass. Gov. Romney buys home in California

BOSTON -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has reached a deal to buy a home in southern California.

The former Republican presidential contender is closing at the end of the month on a property in La Jolla, just north of San Diego, Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom confirmed Saturday.

The spokesman says "Romney has been looking at property on the West Coast because he has family in California, and because his wife, Ann, spends a good deal of time there riding horses."

Romney also owns homes in Massachusetts, Wolfeboro, N.H., and Deer Valley, Utah. He and his wife are in Arizona this weekend vacationing with Sen. John McCain as the GOP nominee-in-waiting considers a running mate.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)