George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate
Although every other president on this list had the chance to live in the White House, George Washington didn't. Sure, he ordered the presidential home to be built, but the White House was completed in 1800 - and Washington's term ended in 1797. Because of this, he had to run the country from elsewhere, and he chose to serve as president from his own Mount Vernon estate in Fairfax County.
At the time, he had a whopping 8,000 acres of estate to enjoy, including a 21-room mansion, a working farm, and beautiful gardens. He loved it so much that he lived there until his dying day.
Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas White House
Former president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, spent six years living in the White House. But when he had a few days off or just wanted a break from Washington, he would always make his way back down south to live in what he called his 'Texas White House.' He always considered this Texan ranch his home, and tried to conduct his work and host political visitors there as much as he was able to.
Of course, there was more than enough room for all of them. He separated the home into two, opting for a more formal, office-style layout in one half for his work and a separate wing for his private quarters.
Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas White House
It's not hard to understand why Lyndon B. Johnson put a huge amount of time and effort into making his 'Texas White House' his dream home. As it doubled as his office, he made sure that it could serve as a remote Oval Office - and he installed a whopping 300 phone lines so he could keep in contact with anyone. This worked in his favor, as he ultimately spent 490 days of his time in office at his home office.
Sadly, his dream home was also the place where he took his last breath, as Lyndon passed away in his bedroom in 1973 from a heart attack. He was then buried in the backyard.
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Home
Before Thomas Jefferson became the 3rd president of the United States, the esteemed statesman and Founding Father wanted to build his dream home for his family. So, he found a plot of land on the side of the Monticello mountain that he used to play on when he was a child, just a stone's throw away from the plantation that his father owned. Then, he became president and moved into the White House.
When his term ended, he turned his attention back towards his home and ordered the tools to be picked back up to finish the build. Sadly, it was only finished after his beloved wife passed away.
James Madison's Montpelier Home
Many of the presidents on this list come from influential, rich families. As a result, estates and mansions were passed down the family line - like the Madisons' Montpelier home in Virginia. This large mansion had been in the family long before James was even born, and the former president spent his younger years roaming the halls of the grand estate and enjoying the nearby grounds. However, he moved away as soon as he could.
It wasn't until he had served his time in the Oval Office that he realized how much the Montpelier house meant to him, so he moved back and built a whole new wing and porch for himself and his wife.
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage House
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage House is perhaps the most well-known of the presidential homes on this list. It's a popular destination for history buffs and the 425-acre estate in Tennessee is regarded as an architectural marvel. But one thing you might not realize is that Andrew Jackson bought this estate before he made his way to the White House. During his time in Washington, however, he ordered the home to be remodeled with columns and porches.
With 15 rooms, the house itself was large and lavish, but the land was a real money-maker for the former president, and he used enslaved people to grow and pick cotton on the land. Hermitage also serves as his final resting place.
Richard Nixon's Oceanfront Estate
Although Richard Nixon moved to Washington to become the 37th president of the United States, he was a California man through and through. He was born in California and practised law there before moving to enhance his political career. But when he became president, he knew he wanted to have a slice of home - so he bought this oceanfront property in San Clemente called 'The Western White House.'
Surrounded by palm trees, a courtyard garden, a guest house, a pool, and tennis courts, this place was the ultimate home away from home for Nixon. It's also reported that he hosted high-profile celebrities at his home, too.
Richard Nixon's Oceanfront Estate
Although Richard Nixon loved his oceanfront estate, there's no doubt about the fact that adjustments had to be made when he decided to take a break from the White House. After all, he was the president of the United States, and that required Secret Service detail at all times. As a result, Nixon had to build a sky-high security wall around his estate and allowed his team to stay in a guest house.
Despite the heightened security, Nicon's wife Pat made it her mission to deck the home out with bright and colorful 1970s interiors that matched the oceanfront aesthetic of the place.
Richard Nixon's Oceanfront Estate
With a huge amount of space - and beachfront - to enjoy at his oceanfront estate, it's no wonder that Nixon chose to spend as much time there as possible during his presidency. But a few years after his presidency ended, he decided to swap his beachside office and his palm trees for life in the Big Apple instead. In fact, he swapped the ocean for the Upper East Side.
Nixon didn't want the house to go to just anyone though, so he made sure that it was sold to someone he knew would take care of it. That person was his good friend, Gavin Herbert.
Abraham Lincoln's Family Home
With the prestige that comes with a presidency, many of the former presidents on this list chose to buy bigger and better houses when their terms came to an end. This wasn't the case for Abraham Lincoln, though. Despite his stint in the White House, Lincoln always called the house in Springfield, Illinois, his home. The house - which was bought for $1,500 in 1844 - remained his primary residence until he died.
That's not to say that he didn't make any upgrades, though. Lincoln decided to remodel and add to his home as his family grew and his life changed. He did this six times, in fact,
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Hyde Park Mansion
Franklin D. Roosevelt was always destined for greatness, as he came from a wealthy New York family with impressive contacts and an equally as impressive house. And while the Hyde Park mansion in New York was built way before he was born, he always saw that place as his home. So, even before he made his way to the White House, he made it his mission to renovate the home and restore it to its former glory.
Despite moving his life and career to Washington for his presidential term, Roosevelt always made his way back to his sprawling mansion - famous for its classic Dutch Colonial architecture, which Roosevelt chose himself.
John F. Kennedy's Kennedy Compound
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is a popular tourist destination for many, but for the Kennedy family, it was their favorite vacation home. The home has been in the Kennedy family for centuries, and former president JFK spent his early years enjoying the six-acre plot that sits right next to the water. There was also enough space for the whole family, as the plot offered various guest houses alongside the main mansion.
Even when JFK moved to the White House, he still tried to get back to the Kennedy Compound as often as he could. He even hosted political leaders and high-profile guests at home.
Ronald Reagan's Bel Air Mansion
Ronald Reagan seemed to crave warmer climes during his stint in the White House, and we can only imagine that he looked back fondly on his former acting career. That's why he chose to escape to a Bel Air mansion on the weekends and when he had a spare moment. Interestingly, though, Reagan did not buy this mansion when he moved in in 1986. Instead, his friends bought it for him.
They then offered him a lease-to-own contract, and he eventually bought out the whole 17-room, 7,192-square-foot property three years later. He then lived there with his wife until he passed away.
Bill Clinton's Dutch Colonial Home
Although Bill Clinton grew up in Arkansas, went to college in Washington and Connecticut, and then lived in the White House during his presidency, there was something about New York that piqued his interest. So, nearing the end of his term as president of the United States, he and his wife, Hillary, bought a $1.7 million Dutch Colonial barn house in Chappaqua, New York. And the 1.1 acres of land to go with it, of course.
This five-bedroom, four-bathroom house also came with a pool to enjoy the New York summers. But as he bought it while he was still president, he also installed a sky-high fence and hired security to keep them safe.
Bill Clinton's Dutch Colonial Home
While Bill and Hillary loved the seclusion of their Dutch colonial home, it's fair to say that it proved to be extremely practical when the years went by. Spurred on by her husband's success and confidence in her own ability, Hillary launched her own bid to become president in 2016. For this, she set up a campaign headquarters in Brooklyn - just a quick and easy commute away from their home.
And while he may no longer be president, that hasn't stopped Bill from dipping his toe into the political water, either. Nowadays, he can be found working from his office in the Financial District. Again, just a short commute away.
Bill Clinton's Dutch Colonial Home
Practicality aside, the Clintons made a very savvy decision when they decided to buy this barn-style home. Although Chappaqua was an up-and-coming area back in the day, it's now considered to be one of the most expensive areas in the United States. According to Forbes, the average salary of someone living in Chappaqua is $105,000, and the average price of a home in this area is a whopping $1.2 million.
Because of this, we can only assume that the home that they bought for $1.7 million back in the day is now worth a lot more - especially as it's one of the biggest in the area.
Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago Estate
Donald Trump was already extremely rich and famous before he made his way into the White House, and some would say that his non-presidential home was much more lavish than his presidential one. After all, Trump bought the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach back in 1985 for just $5 million and has since spent years turning it into a giant compound that includes numerous guest homes and one main mansion.
Featuring 128 rooms, this mansion includes a large ballroom, gold-plated sinks, and chandeliers in almost every room of the house. It also has luscious lawns, a private beach, and a large pool.
Kamala Harris's Los Angeles Home
While Kamala Harris has only recently made a worldwide name for herself, she's been in the limelight for decades - and she also has a hefty net worth under her belt. However, it was her husband who decided to purchase this 3,500-square-foot house in Brentwood, Los Angeles back in 2012. At the time, they weren't together, but when they got married he signed half of the house over to her so she owned her own portion, too.
Located near celebrities such as LeBron James and Gwyneth Paltrow, this home offered the couple four bedrooms, a large living space, a luscious lawn, and a pool to beat the LA heat.
Kamala Harris's Washington Condo
As Kamala Harris worked her way up the political ladder, she knew that she needed to be closer to Washington D.C. And when she was elected into the Senate in 2017, she decided to take the plunge and buy a place for herself. She opted for a $1.775 condo in Washington's West End, making it perfect for her commute to work. It had everything she needed in a home, too.
The condo itself was 1,700-square-foot and had two bedrooms, and the main building offered even more amenities for her to enjoy, including a 24-hour concierge, gym, pool, and cleaning crew.
Kamala Harris's San Francisco Loft
Over the course of her political career, Kamala Harris has lived in many different cities. And when she became the attorney general for San Francisco back in 2004, she decided to set up shop in the SoMa neighborhood - an affluent area of San Francisco. In fact, the South of Market neighborhood is often compared to Silicon Valley thanks to the many tech companies that have set up headquarters in the area.
So, when Kamala bought her $489,000 loft, she knew that she was going to be in the middle of the action. She didn't just choose any old loft though. She bought the duplex penthouse that split her living space across two floors.
Joe Biden's Greenville Residence
Joe Biden has spent the last few years in the White House, but it's fair to say that he doesn't spend all of his time hanging out in the Oval Office or wandering the grounds. When he gets the rare day off or vacation from Washington, he makes his way to his primary residence in Greenville, Delaware. It's well-known that he loves this home, largely because he built it from the ground up.
He bought the lakeside plot back in 1996 for $350,000 and spent many years building the perfect home for him and his family. During his presidency, he also had the Secret Service living in the guest cottage next door.
Woodrow Wilson's DC Townhouse
Woodrow Wilson lived in the White House for two terms during some of America's most turbulent years, so it's no wonder that he decided to buy a lovely home for himself when he left. He didn't have to travel too far, either, as the Georgian Revival townhouse he bought was just a short car journey away from Embassy Row. And it's fair to say that he went from one impressive building to another.
With stunning Georgian Revival features, a billiard room, and a stacked library, Wilson loved entertaining guests at this house. Sadly, he passed away in an upstairs bedroom of the home in 1924.
Woodrow Wilson's DC Townhouse
While the whole of Woodrow Wilson's DC Townhouse is now a popular historical attraction, there's no doubt about the fact that certain rooms are more popular than most. Most notably, history buffs are excited to see Wilson's old library, which he filled with over 8,000 books. They also like to check out the home's balcony, which was where Wilson addressed a crowd of adoring fans for the last time in 1923.
Although Wilson's wife Edith lived in the house for another four decades after his death, the widow left the townhouse to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in her own will.
Dwight D. Eisenhower's Pennsylvania Farmhouse
Dwight D. Eisenhower will forever be remembered as the 34th President of the United States, but what many people don't realize about him is that he was a small-town man from a humble family. His German ancestors moved across the pond and started a new life for themselves in Pennsylvania, and while he was brought up in Kansas, he chose to honor his family's legacy when his presidential run came to an end.
Upon leaving the White House, he made his way back to his Pennsylvania farmhouse, which he'd bought with his wife Mamie in 1951. Here, they enjoyed a quieter life - but he still maintained a fairly political presence.
Dwight D. Eisenhower's Pennsylvania Farmhouse
Although Dwight and Mamie loved the overall aesthetic and the architecture of their farmhouse, they decided to remodel the whole thing just a few months into ownership. They wanted to put their own stamp on the house, and they wanted to add some more space for their growing family and the high-profile guests that would often stay with them. In the end, they had eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms and even a butler's pantry.
Mamie decked a lot of the rooms out in her favorite colour, pink, and when they weren't hanging out in their formal living room with the fire roaring, they would relax on their sun porch.
George H. W. Bush's Maine Compound
As with many of the other former presidents on this list, George H. W. Bush had a summer vacation home that served as his escape during particularly stressful moments in his career. And when his term came to an end, George and his wife intended to live full-time at a home they were building in Houston. But as construction hadn't been completed, they moved into their Maine vacation compound instead.
They called this place their 'Summer Winter House' as it was used as a base during his presidency. And while he tried to switch off and spend time with his family, he still had to use the beachside property to conduct all-important presidential business.
George H. W. Bush's Maine Compound
Thankfully, the Maine compound was plenty big enough for Bush, his team, his security detail, and any family that happened to be hanging around. After all, it offered nine bedrooms, four living rooms, a library, a boathouse, a pool, a dock, and so much more. And while it was first and foremost a family home for the Bush family, that didn't stop George from hosting other politicians and world leaders.
Of course, Barbara Bush was primarily in charge of the home's decoration and style, but she didn't want the place to feel cold or unloved. She even described it herself as a "hodgepodge."