See one of Sacramento’s ‘most unique’ homes: Reagan’s almost mansion hits market
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Reagan-commissioned 1975 mid-century estate lists in 2025 for $7.5M in Carmichael
- Designed by Buff & Hensman and Worsley, the single-story home spans nearly 12,000 sf
- Property carries historical artifacts, time capsule set for 2076, and river access
Overlooking the American River, a storied mid-century modern estate commissioned in 1975 by Ronald and Nancy Reagan to be California’s official Governor’s Mansion hit the Sacramento housing market Thursday for $7.5 million.
“It was a labor of love for Ronald and Nancy,” listing agent Hattie Coleman of HomeSmart ICare Realty said about the property. “They built this as their vision for California’s Governor’s Mansion, and it still carries that sense of purpose and pride. It’s not just an exquisite and timeless luxury home — it’s part of our state’s story, sitting on one of the most beautiful riverfront lots in Carmichael.”
In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, Coleman talked about how the home embodies rare architectural elements, conceals a time capsule, showcases Hollywood relics and captures riverfront glamour.
“It’s been a very fun project to be a part of,” she said. “It’s a special project. I feel honored and grateful to be a part of California history.”
Designed by residential architects Buff & Hensman, along with state architect John C. Worsley, the eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom home at 2300 California Ave. sits on more than 4.3 acres and spans nearly 12,000 square feet across a single story. There are vaulted ceilings, post-and-beam construction, two kitchens, two living rooms and a ballroom.
The grounds
The grounds, which provide private river access, are spotlighted by a large, newly resurfaced pool, an outdoor kitchen, putting green, an oversized veranda, fireplaces and six water features. The large lawn was originally designed for a helipad.
Psychiatrist Dr. Janak Mehtani bought the property in 2004 for $4.1 million, according to public property records. Until recently, the sellers rented the home.
Behind closed gates and through towering 15-foot front doors — expertly restored for the sale — the story is deeply personal for the seller, Coleman said.
“He raised his children in that house, had his mother-in-law in the house with him when he was raising his own kids, had his own mom there, too,” she said. “So it’s special to him. He’s so proud of it, just the fact that he gets to own a part of California history, but also there are a lot of really good family memories in that house for him.”
In the mid-1970s, the property spoke to the Reagans’ desire for a modern and secure executive residence after Nancy Reagan deemed the original Victorian Governor’s Mansion in downtown Sacramento too old and unsafe. The land was donated to the State of California specifically for the project.
‘One of most unique’
Reagan served as California governor from 1967 to 1975. Construction was completed after his term ended. He was elected U.S. president in 1980. When Gov. Jerry Brown took office, he refused to live in the Carmichael mansion, referring to the house as “the Taj Mahal.”
“This has to be one of the most unique homes on the market in California because of the history,” Sacramento appraiser and housing analyst Ryan Lundquist said. “Very few people anywhere can say they own a house that was constructed to be a governor’s mansion. Unfortunately, no governor actually ended up living in this property, but buyers are going to recognize the history and have serious bragging rights about this iconic California home.”
The Reagans may have never moved in, but they placed a time capsule on the property to be opened in 2076, 100 years after it was buried.
“There’s a time capsule in the atrium — 2076 is when it can be opened,” Coleman said. “It’s buried about 50 to 60 feet down below. No one really knows what’s in it.”
“That’s kind of the draw of the property — you never know what’s going to be in there,” Coleman said.
For example, Great Seals of California adorn the front door and the entryway outside the garage door, she said. A home bar is a conversation piece in its own right, bearing a distinctive bullet mark from a John Wayne movie.
The bar is said to have been gifted by Wayne to Ronald Reagan for the mansion, and remains with the property today, Coleman said.
“So that’ll stay with it,” she said. “I think John Wayne donated it to Ronald Reagan when he found out that he was building a governor’s mansion.”
An extra long dining room table will also likely remain in the house.
“The dining table is something that was actually donated to the house by Nancy Reagan,” Coleman said. “The story is when Nancy found out that the house was being sold to a private party, she (contacted) them and basically said, ‘Hey, that table in there, I left it with the house, and I would like it to be sold with the house.’”
Big restoration jobs
The path to market was hardly easy and turnkey. Fine, high-quality detail work is found throughout the property, but some big restoration jobs — such as resurfacing the 100,000-gallon pool — were necessary.
“But I wasn’t going to cut corners,” Coleman said. “When you have this type of property, you can’t. And also, when you’re trying to attract a certain type of buyer, those are the most important details.”
The price point would set a record for Sacramento County and compete with the higher end of the price market in the entire region, Lundquist said. Over the past four years in the Sacramento region housing market, five residential sales topped $7 million. The highest sales ever were in Davis at $8.39 million, less than one year ago, and another in Loomis at $8.25 million, in 2024, at $8.25 million.
“I am all about restoration — that’s the old soul in me,” Coleman said. “There was nothing in the house that we were ripping out and removing the architecture idea and the inspiration that Nancy and Ronald really wanted to convey in this house.”
The listing agent identified some of her favorite showstopper spaces inside and outside. The atrium, with its turquoise-tiled fountain, is one of them.
“The atrium, when you come into the main gate, it’s eye-opening,” she said.
The home’s high ceilings and grand ballroom with chandeliers are also dramatic.
“I’m going to say there are probably 25-foot ceilings at the highest point,” Coleman noted. “The post-and-beam architecture is one of my favorites, and it’s iconic mid-century modern. There’s five hand-blown crystal chandeliers that go with the house. They’re beautiful.”
Outdoors, the pool is “one of my favorite areas,” she added. “There’s tons of entry — every room on the resident side has pool access.”
