Is President Obama Moving to Rancho Mirage? Movoto Looks at His Potential Residence

View President Obama’s potential Rancho Mirage house listing here

Palm Springs realtors are tripping over themselves in rumors over whether President Obama is house hunting in the Coachella Valley during his mini-vacation over Father’s Day weekend. ‘On the Move With Movoto’ has an exclusive peek at the house that just may win a bid by the President. Swapping stormy winters in Chicago and the pressure cooker Oval office for sun drenched golf courses in the Palm Springs desert seems like the ideal move for the Commander-in-Chief.
The Obamas’ 3-day vacation is shrouded in secrecy, with the President and First Lady Michelle Obama venturing out only once from their hideaway in Thunderbird Heights for a commencement speech in Irvine, California on Saturday morning.
While the First Couple and daughter Malia’s lodging has not been confirmed, it’s believed they were guesting at billionaire supporter and co-founder of the Oracle Software Company Larry Ellison’s palatial pad. It sports a 19 hole golf course in Porcupine Creek.
Ellison lives just a stones throw away from a potentially ‘hot’ property at 40995 Thunderbird Road in Rancho Mirage which could be the Obama’s choice of a residence upon leaving the White House. Palm Springs realtor Jackie Storm says the 8,000 square foot, 5 bedroom, 5 bath mid-century house has all the privacy the First Family would want– and with a 360 degree mountain view and gated property, its in a secure and beautiful area with a tunnel leading to a golf course. There’s a 2 bedroom guest house and 2 bedroom kitchen staff quarters, koi pond, pool, tennis court and a putting green.
“It’s not a turn-key though,” says Storm. “The interior needs a major over haul, but that shouldn’t be a problem as one of our finest interior designers, Thunderbird Heights resident Michael Smith, would no doubt make this house gorgeous!”
Smith was the official designer for the Obama White House.



Nelda Linsk, the agent listing the house, who recently sold Betty Ford’s home after her death, denies the President is her buyer. Storm says, “No one is going to confirm this sort of sale when it happens. Confidentiality is key for the purchase of a property of this kind of international magnitude.”
Rancho Mirage is called “The Playground of the Presidents” because of the numerous former U.S. presidents such as Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, George W. Bush and John F. Kennedy, who have either lived or played golf in the desert oasis.
President Obama has a slew of neighboring “A” list star pals, wealthy political allies and golfing buddies to entertain him when he’s not preparing his presidential papers. The most obvious and convenient choice as a home for his official library is only ten minutes away from Thundering Heights. It’s The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, which happens to have a golf course. Obama has visited there twice this past year.
Palm Springs realtor Elaine Stewart of RE/MAX points out, “In the end, it really doesn’t matter where in the desert he lives. He’s the President, and he’s going to live on the golf course.”