Fact check: How many homes does bernie sanders own

1. Summary of the results

There are conflicting reports about Bernie Sanders' current property ownership. While most sources confirm he has owned three properties ^{[1] [2] [3]}, a more recent source suggests he currently owns only two homes, having sold his Washington D.C. townhouse in April 2021 ^[4].

The properties in question are:

• A primary residence in Burlington/Chittenden County, Vermont, purchased for $405,000 in 2009 ^{[1] [5]}
• A lakefront holiday home in North Hero, Vermont on Lake Champlain, purchased for $575,000 in 2016 ^{[1] [5]}
• A Washington D.C. townhouse purchased for $488,999 in 2007 ^{[1] [5]}, which may have been sold in 2021 ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points emerge from the analyses:

• While these properties represent significant wealth, viral images showing a supposed $3 million mansion belonging to Sanders are false ^[2]
• Sanders' property ownership puts him in the top 1-2% of Americans by net worth ^[3]
• The properties, while valuable, are not technically considered "mansions" ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple question "how many homes does Bernie Sanders own" often carries political implications:

• Critics may use this information to portray Sanders as hypocritical given his democratic socialist positions and advocacy for wealth redistribution
• Supporters might argue that these properties were acquired through legitimate means over a long career in public service
• The circulation of false images of supposed mansions ^[2] suggests deliberate attempts to exaggerate Sanders' wealth
• The discrepancy between sources about current ownership (p3_s2 vs others) highlights the importance of up-to-date information in political discussions