The Loser of the Presidential Election Can Still Have a White House

Sure, the fate of the entire country is up for grabs in this November's presidential election. But there's another battle between President Barack Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney that we here at AOL Real Estate are particularly interested in: the war for the keys to the White House.

It's possible that the plush digs at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will switch hands next year. But for the fellow who's denied access to the most prestigious address in America, there's another presidential place that may suit him just as well: 1111 Towlston Road.

The stunning, Federal-style home at this address in McLean, Va., is nearly an exact replica of the actual White House, designed using the blueprints of the president's home and shrunk to scale. (The real White House is 40,000 square feet, while the McLean knockoff is only 14,000.) You'll still live like a president though: It boasts a full-size "Oval Office," complete with signature yellow curtains; its very own "Lincoln Bedroom," with a marble en-suite bathroom; and a library that's modeled after the White House's.

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"The owner is a Vietnamese refugee who was taken into America and found success," said the home's listing agent, Chu Nguyen. "He wanted to pay tribute to his adopted country and its history and culture."

Nguyen said that the home took two years to design and three years to build -- and though the home was a huge labor of love, Nguyen said that its empty-nest owners are ready to move on.

While you'd think everyone would jump at the chance to live like the commander-in-chief, the home's turbulent real estate history illustrates that living in a White House replica actually makes it a harder sell. The home was initially listed at $4.65 million in 2011, after which it was swiftly slashed to $4.25 million. It was taken off the market in February, and then it went up for sale again just last month -- with an asking price of $3.9 million.

"Americans like the White House," Nguyen told AOL Real Estate. "But that doesn't mean they want to live in one."

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See also:
Election 2012: Will It Affect Your Decision to Buy a Home?
Barack Obama's and Mitt Romney's Homes
Romney's Housing Fix: Let Foreclosures 'Hit Bottom'

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