How many homes does bernie sanders own

1. The simple answer — three homes, per multiple reports

Reporting from the Associated Press states Sanders and his wife own a Burlington, Vt., home, a Washington, D.C. row house and a seasonal lakefront property in North Hero bought for $575,000, and describes the North Hero purchase as the couple’s third house ^[1]. Long-form real‑estate summaries also describe a three‑property portfolio: a Vermont primary residence, a D.C. townhouse and a lakeside vacation property ^{[2] [3]}.

2. How the count reached three — timeline and context

The third property—the North Hero lakefront home—was reported as a near‑$600,000 seasonal purchase in December 2023; outlets say it joined an existing Burlington residence and a D.C. rowhouse, which together produced the “three homes” description in news coverage ^{[1] [2]}. Real‑estate writeups note previous purchases and sales over the years that affect how many properties the Sanderses have held at different times ^{[2] [4]}.

3. Why three homes is not an unusual pattern for a U.S. senator

Several outlets frame the D.C. property as practical: senators who live and work in Washington commonly maintain a residence there in addition to a home in their state, which helps explain holding multiple properties simultaneously ^[2]. Snopes and other coverage historically noted the same pattern when the Sanderses bought a lakeside place, highlighting that owning a D.C. residence plus a Vermont home is common for members of Congress ^{[5] [2]}.

4. The controversy and political framing that followed

The North Hero purchase drew scrutiny because Sanders is a prominent critic of income inequality; reporting and fact checks noted critics’ reactions that owning multiple homes clashed with his populist messaging ^[5]. AP and Snopes recount that critics contrasted the purchase price with Sanders’ public persona; those outlets also present Sanders’ team explaining the purchase as a family and seasonal decision ^{[1] [5]}.

5. Sources differ slightly on valuation and history — why that matters

Different outlets provide varying price histories and valuations for the Burlington and D.C. properties; some outlets quote past purchase prices and Zillow estimates while others focus on the North Hero sale price and the simple three‑home count ^{[3] [4]}. These differences reflect differing editorial priorities: real‑estate sites emphasize market values and purchase dates, general news organizations emphasize the political context and the fact of ownership ^{[3] [1]}.

6. What the sources do and do not report

Available reporting clearly identifies three properties and gives the North Hero purchase price and timing; real‑estate summaries add purchase prices and estimated current values for the other properties ^{[1] [3] [2]}. Available sources do not mention precise current assessed values for every property in a single consolidated document, nor do they provide the Sanderses’ most recent detailed property tax or mortgage records in the articles cited ^{[3] [4]}.

7. Competing narratives and implicit agendas in coverage

News outlets that stress the three‑home fact tend to highlight a potential contrast between Sanders’ rhetoric and personal holdings, which can feed a political narrative critical of perceived hypocrisy ^{[5] [1]}. Real‑estate and finance outlets frame the purchases in neutral wealth‑management terms—book proceeds, family funds and practicalities of living in two cities—showing an alternative, less accusatory view ^{[2] [3]}.

8. Bottom line for readers seeking clarity

Multiple reputable news reports, including AP, identify three properties owned by Sanders and his wife and name the North Hero lakefront home purchase of about $575,000 as the most recent addition ^[1]. If you need granular current valuations or legal ownership documents, available sources do not mention them; consult public property records or the Sanderses’ financial disclosures for primary documentation not contained in these news stories ^{[3] [4]}.