More than a month after President Barack Obama vacationed in the opulent desert community of Rancho Mirage, speculation is again swirling that the first family is in the process of buying a home there.
The possible purchase? A $4.25 million, 8,232-square-foot hilltop estate in the gated community of Thunderbird Heights.
The listing agent, Carl Blea of HOM Sotheby’s International, declined to comment Monday. The White House has denied the rumors via social media.
Meanwhile, local real estate agents with listings in the neighborhood, including Palm Springs Realtor Nelda Linsk, said they have heard the Obamas are in the process of buying the compound, but no one is confirming it.
THE (POSSIBLE) ESTATE
The home, which reportedly went into escrow June 16, sits on 3.29 acres with panoramic views of the Coachella Valley.
The main home, built in 1993, includes four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a gym. A 2,000 square-foot casita includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms, according to the listing.
There is a 20-foot waterfall, a “rock formed lagoon,” a misting system, plus elevators, a pool and two spas.
The property sold for $397,500 in 2004, records show. It was listed for $8 million as recently as 2011.
RANCHO MIRAGE RUNDOWN
Rancho Mirage, with a growing population of nearly 18,000, is well-known for its high-end resorts, gated communities and year-round warmth, just down the road from Palm Springs.
About 44 percent of residents are over the age of 65 and the average household income is about $77,000, according to the U.S. Census. Dealerships that sell Maseratis, Bentleys and Porsches are just down the road from the Obamas’ prospective home.
While Rancho Mirage has traditionally leaned Republican – residents voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 – the president would also have several Democratic allies in the city. In 2012, Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz upset Republican Mary Bono Mack for the 36th Congressional district seat representing Rancho Mirage. Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer also lives in the city.
PRESIDENTIAL VISITORS
After his time in office, former President Gerald R. Ford lived in Rancho Mirage, dubbed “playground of the presidents.”
The Annenberg estate at Sunnylands in the city, nicknamed “Camp David of the West,” has been the epicenter of presidential activity in Rancho Mirage for decades.
Obama’s first visit was for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June 2013, focused on cybersecurity and climate change. The president returned in February to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss the Syria conflict.
Nearly every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has visited the desert resort city.
GOLF COURSES ABOUND
The president loves to play golf, and Rancho Mirage has numerous options to challenge his swing.
On his most recent trip, the president played rounds at both the nine-hole course at Sunnylands and the private 19-hole Porcupine Creek course, owned by billionaire Obama supporter Larry Ellison, the Oracle software company co-founder.
If the president cared to play the nearby Thunderbird Country Club course, there is a private tunnel that runs under Highway 111 for easy – and private – access.
But he could also stay home. The Thunderbird Heights home includes a putting green and sand trap.
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS
During Father’s Day weekend, the president, his wife, Michelle, and daughter Malia stayed the weekend at a private residence in Thunderbird Heights. White House decorator Michael Smith and his partner, James Costos, the U.S. ambassador to Spain, own another hillside home in the neighborhood, just up the street.
The couple raised more than $500,000 for Obama’s 2012 re-election, before the president appointed Costos to the diplomatic post last summer. Obama also paid them a visit during his last trip to the Coachella Valley in February.
Veteran CBS News White House reporter Mark Knoller tweeted that the Obamas had stayed as guests at the Smith-Costos home.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9775 or lramseth@pressenterprise.com
