Barack Obama's homes – the properties that shaped the former president and his family

The former president, Barack Obama, may be best known for his time while living in the White House – but his property portfolio expands far beyond the US capital. 

Unsurprisingly, the 44th president, his wife Michelle, and his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, can have their pick at any of the world's best homes – including a mansion in the exclusive Kalorama district and a property in Matha's Vineyard. However, the Hawaiian-born politician has also lived in some more compact properties in his time – not least his student apartment while studying at Columbia University in New York City. 

Barack Obama's property portfolio

Here, we investigate the stand-out properties from Barack Obama's life for a deeper understanding of the homes that shaped the historic president.

1. The Obama family home – Kalorama, Washington DC

Barack Obama and his family moved from the White House to Kalorama in Northwest Washington, D.C, after his presidency ended in January 2017. Their home, which is worth $8.1m mansion (according to Hello (opens in new tab)), has nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and an expensive garden and terrace. 

The interiors (that served as the backdrop to the First Lady's podcast, The Michelle Obama Podcast, seen above) pay homage to quintessential American decorating ideas – from its white-wooden floors to its upholstered chairs and rattan coffee table. The snapshot also shows another leather sofa seen in the background, as well as a mirror and a flat-screen TV.

However, while you may be inspired by Obama's living room ideas, Michelle hinted that Barack's home office is more compact. In an interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the former First Lady shared that he has the 'smallest room for his office,' and his closet had downsized from their time in the White House, too.

2. Mansion in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

In December 2020, Barack Obama completed the purchase of an $11.75 million mansion on Martha's Vineyard – the exclusive island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

The Taylor Lombardo-designed estate spans 6,892 square feet on this celebrity-approved island – and features seven bedrooms, eight and a half baths, and a host of architectural qualities – such as wood-paneled ceilings and several stone fireplaces.

The property also includes access to a pond and includes a boat house and a private beachfront with deeded rights. It sits on nearly 30 verdant acres fronting the Edgartown Great Pond between Slough Cove and Turkeyland Cove and comes with views of the Atlantic as standard.

3. Barack Obama's student apartment, New York

Barack Obama's apartment in New York is a contrast in size to his Massachusetts mansion, but this is the Big Apple, after all. 

The former POTUS spent some time living in this rental apartment with friends in Morningside Heights, a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan. The home is located only a five-minute walk from Columbia University, where Obama studied for his political science major. 

The urban apartment exhibits a host of small room ideas, from its compact but practical bedroom (with views of the city)to the living and kitchen areas that are drenched in south-facing sunlight. 

The apartment made headlines last year when it was listed for $1.45 million. 

4. Barack and Michelle's Chicago residence 

Barack met Michelle Obama while living in Chicago, where the former first lady spent her youth, and it was in Chicago that the couple welcomed their daughters, Malia and Sasha, into the world. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the Illinois city holds such significance to the 44th President. 

The family famously lived in the Kentwood and Hyde Park area in south Chicago but decided not to reside there after his presidency (or at least, he hasn't yet). His former home (which is still a private residence) is now frequented by tourists, making it hard for the family to return to the property without sufficient security.