Kamala Harris snaps up $8.15M mansion in Malibu with ‘private oasis.’ How to buy prime US real estate even if you’re not a big politician

The property spans roughly 4,000 square feet, sits on three-quarters of an acre and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms and more (2): According to the Zillow listing (3), the home offers “breathtaking ocean, island and city views” and is designed for “seamless indoor-outdoor living.”

Inside, the office features vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, skylights and French windows framing ocean views. The kitchen is described as a “chef’s dream,” with a stone island, bar seating and Miele appliances. Outside, the backyard is billed as a “private oasis,” complete with a pool, built-in Jacuzzi, a landscaped water feature and a private putting green.

It’s an impressive home — though hardly surprising given the location. Known for its stunning ocean views and secluded beaches, Point Dume has long attracted high-profile residents, including Bob Dylan, Julia Roberts and Sean Penn (4).

The Malibu home is not the couple’s first property in Los Angeles. They already own a 3,500-square-foot home in Brentwood that Emhoff purchased in 2012, before they were married (5).

In 2017, Harris also bought a two-bedroom apartment in Washington, D.C., for $1.78 million (6), which she sold in 2021 for $1.85 million (7).

Building wealth through US real estate

The Zillow listing for the Malibu property also highlights the home’s transaction history — a snapshot of how sharply prices have climbed over time.

Before Harris’ purchase, the property last changed hands in 2012 for $2.61 million. Prior to that, it sold for $750,000 in 1994.

That steep rise reflects a broader trend well beyond Malibu or California. Home prices across the U.S. have surged over the decades, driven by strong demand and limited housing supply. In the last 10 years alone, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index has climbed 87.6% (8).

Real estate has also long been viewed as a hedge against inflation, as property values and rents tend to rise alongside the cost of living. Together, those dynamics help explain why many Americans see real estate as a core wealth-building asset.

Still, while Harris’ purchase reflects the upper end of the market, investing in U.S. real estate today isn’t limited to politicians, celebrities or buyers with eight-figure budgets.

Become a real estate mogul — starting with $100

Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived have made it easier than ever for everyday investors to gain exposure to America’s real estate market.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Invest alongside a $12B AUM real estate owner

Owning a rental property sounds great — until something goes wrong. One bounced check and your rental income disappears.

But institutional investors don’t face that problem. Their portfolios are diversified across hundreds — sometimes thousands — of units.

Now, accredited investors can tap into that same approach through platforms such as Lightstone DIRECT, giving you access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Over nearly-four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.

With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to that proprietary deal flow.