Rumors have it that U.S. President barrack Obama and his family are buying a $4.2 million home in the posh city of Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The Los Angeles Times reports that though the White House has dismissed the news calling it false, the area realtors told the publication that the Obamas were in the process of buying the swanky residence at 70555 Thunderbird Mesa Dr.
The listing records show a "sale pending" sign. Marc Lange of HOM Sotheby's realty is the listing agent.
According to the Desert Sun, the home once belonged to novelist Joseph Wambaugh. The location of the residence is also a unique selling point because several high-profile people like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby lived there. In fact, Obama wouldn't be the first president to move into the city. Earlier, President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty also lived in the area.
Rumors of the Obamas buying in the Coachella Valley city started doing the rounds after the family spent the Father's Day weekend at a private residence in Thunderbird heights. The first family of America apparently stayed at White House decorator Michael Smith's home in the neighborhood, The Presidential Enterprise reports.
The home that the Obamas are rumored to be buying is just up the street from Smith's house.
Listing records at Redfin show that the home last sold in December 2004 for $397,000. It came up on the open listing market in September 2006 and went on and off several times undergoing many price cuts.
It last listed for $4.25 million in June, this year, and was put into escrow almost immediately.
The residence is an 8,232-square-feet single-family residence, comprising of seven bedrooms and seven and a half bathrooms.
Interiors of the home feature stone-tile and carpeted flooring, high coffered and drywall ceilings with skylights and floor-to-ceiling glass windows and slider doors.
Living spaces of the open-plan house include a formal living room, dining area, a family room, an eat-in modern kitchen with a breakfast bar and a great room. There is a gym, a den, an office and a wine cellar and a laundry as well.
Outside, the residence has a gunite pool with sap ad waterfall features. There is ample area for recreation, a guest house and a four-car parking garage too.
While the listing notes that the home has "spectacular views & privacy" it also states that the seller of the home is "motivated" to unload the property.
"Here you will find world-class living at this private, hilltop desert estate w/ ideal year round weather & over 100 nearby golf courses," the listing adds.
Check out the photos of the home here.
News of the buy comes just days after the White House announced that the president and his family will be heading to Martha's Vineyard again for their annual vacation this year.
Read on to find where the first family of America will be staying this time.
Update: Sources close to President Obama and his family told TMZ that they have not made an offer on the Rancho Mirage home and don't intend on staying in the area once Obama's presidency is over. Apparently, they haven't even seen the house.
Also, decorator Michael Smith disapproves of the house. He was invited by a buyer to give his opinion on the residence and Smith said that the place was too outdated and lacked light and ventilation.
