If you’re looking for Kamala Harris at One Observatory Circle these days, you’re about a year too late. The gates of the Naval Observatory are now home to JD Vance and his family.
Since the 2025 inauguration, the former Vice President has traded the white-pillared intensity of Washington, D.C., for a lifestyle that looks a lot more like her roots. Honestly, it's been a whirlwind. People often assume that once you’ve lived in the "VeePee" mansion, you just stay in D.C. forever as a high-priced consultant. But Kamala Harris basically packed her bags and headed West.
Where Does Kamala Harris Live Now?
The short answer? She’s back in California. Specifically, she is splitting her time between two massive properties in the Golden State, though one of them is a very recent (and very expensive) addition to her portfolio.
For the longest time, the primary home for Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, was their house in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. They’ve owned that since 2012—well, Doug bought it before they married, and then they moved it into a joint trust. It’s a 3,500-square-foot spot that’s worth somewhere around $5 million now. It’s posh, sure, but it’s "quiet luxury" compared to what came next.
The big news that started circulating in late 2025 and was confirmed just this month, in January 2026, is their new Malibu mansion.
They reportedly dropped roughly $8.15 million on a seaside property in one of the most exclusive oceanside pockets of Malibu. It’s got those "perched on a cliff" vibes with massive glass walls and views of the Pacific that most of us only see on postcards.
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The Brentwood Base
Brentwood is where the couple really feels at home. It’s tucked away in the hills, not far from the Getty Center. This house has:
- Four bedrooms.
- A pool that’s reportedly heated (California winters are "chilly" for them, I guess).
- About 3,500 square feet of living space.
It’s where she’s been spotted doing the "normal person" things that former VPs do, like grabbing groceries or helping with local community efforts. Back in early 2025, right after they left D.C., she and Doug were seen helping out with food distribution for victims of the Palisades Fire. It was a clear signal: they weren't just visiting; they were moving back for good.
That $8 Million Malibu Controversy
You’ve probably seen the headlines. The purchase of the Malibu estate caused a bit of a stir in the political world. Critics were quick to point out the irony of Harris buying a house so close to the shoreline after years of warning about rising sea levels.
The house is located near Point Dume State Beach. According to some of the climate models the Biden-Harris administration actually promoted, this exact area is at high risk for coastal erosion. Whether she’s betting against the models or just really wants that ocean breeze, the purchase is a huge statement. It’s an 8,000-square-foot fortress of privacy.
What about Washington, D.C.?
She’s basically done with the East Coast.
Back in 2021, she sold her West End condo—the one with the LEED certification and the rooftop pool. She doesn't have a private residence in D.C. anymore. When she visits the capital now for political events or to support Democratic candidates, she’s staying in hotels or guest housing.
A Typical Day in the Life Now
Life looks different. No more motorcades. Well, she still has a security detail, but it’s not the 20-car spectacle of the vice presidency.
She signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in early 2025. That means her "work" now consists of high-profile speaking gigs and working on her next book. She actually released a memoir in September 2025 called 107 Days, which was all about her 2024 campaign. Most days, if she isn't on a book tour in London or New York, she’s likely in her home office in Brentwood or Malibu, overlooking the water.
Why she didn't stay in D.C.
A lot of former VPs stay in the D.C. orbit. Look at Al Gore or even Joe Biden before he became president. They kept a toe in the Potomac.
But Harris always seemed like a California transplant in Washington. Even her cooking videos—which she’s reportedly doing more of now—always featured those fresh, West Coast ingredients. By moving back to California, she’s positioned herself away from the day-to-day "swamp" drama, which is probably a smart move if she’s actually considering a 2028 run.
Speaking of 2028, her living situation tells a story. She’s not "retired." She’s "retreating to regroup." By staying in California, she remains the most powerful Democrat in the most populous state, even though she decided not to run for Governor in 2026.
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Keeping Up With the Emhoff-Harris Real Estate
If you’re trying to keep track of her moves, here’s the quick rundown of the properties she has cycled through recently:
- One Observatory Circle: The official VP residence she vacated in January 2025.
- The West End Condo: Sold years ago for about $1.85 million.
- The Brentwood Home: The long-time family base in L.A.
- The Malibu Mansion: The new $8.15 million "seaside" retreat.
It’s a massive real estate portfolio, likely worth over $13 million combined.
Honestly, the move to Malibu suggests she’s looking for even more privacy than Brentwood could offer. In Brentwood, people know where the house is. In Malibu, behind the gates of an $8 million estate, it’s a lot harder for the paparazzi or curious tourists to get a look at her.
If you want to keep an eye on where she might go next, watch her travel schedule. She’s been spending a lot of time in New York City lately. There were even rumors in early 2025 that she and Doug were apartment hunting in Manhattan. While they haven't bought anything there yet, don't be surprised if a New York "pied-à-terre" shows up on her tax returns by the end of 2026.
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For now, though, she is firmly a Californian once again. Whether she’s hiking the trails near Brentwood or watching the tide come in at Malibu, Kamala Harris has successfully transitioned from the Naval Observatory back to the Pacific coast.
To stay updated on her public appearances or local California events she might attend, you can follow her official post-office updates through her office's press releases. If you are interested in her current political activities, checking the latest listings from her book tour is the best way to see where she will be appearing in person over the coming months.