The Obamas Buy Their DC Rental for $8.1 Million

Wondering what the former President and First Lady have been up to after their much-memed Tropical vacation on Richard Branson’s private island? Well, the answer is house-hunting. Fortunately, for the Obamas, they didn’t have to hunt very far before finding their new dream home. Ok, so “new” might not be entirely the right word. See, the Obamas just purchased the DC-area home they’ve been renting since leaving the White House.

While it was once rumored that Barack Obama might settle back into Hawaii life post-White House, it seems he and Michelle have found DC to be a better fit—at least for now (the Obamas announced last year that they planned to stay in DC so that younger daughter Sasha could finish high school). In fact, this makes Obama the first president to remain in DC post-presidency in nearly 100 years (Woodrow Wilson called the District home post-term in 1921).

The Obamas’ home is a 1920s eight-bedroom, nine and a half-bath stately abode located in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood. Considering the price tag of $8.1 million, the home has clearly made a big impression on the former President and First Lady over the last few months. Really, what’s not to like about the sprawling estate? It’s got 8,200 square feet, an au-pair suite, and enough room to park 10 cars. While it’s no White House lawn, there is extensive outdoor space: formal gardens, two tiers of flagstone terraces, and a gated courtyard.

Additionally, the home has quite the political pedigree. Prior to the Obamas taking ownership, the house was owned by Bill Clinton’s press secretary Joe Lockhart. The Kalorama neighborhood, too, has been home to several presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt. And according to the Washington Post, Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder and WP owner) is renovating the former Textile Museum into a home.