Donald Trump's renovated childhood home in Queens sells for $1.93 million

Terms of the Queens property sale

Donald Trump's childhood residence in Queens, New York, has sold for $1.93 million following an extensive renovation. The transaction details appeared on real estate platforms on Friday after an unnamed buyer entered into a formal purchase contract in July. Seller and real estate developer Tommy Lin completed the sale of the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home after finishing an overhaul that lasted eight months. The property had stood neglected and vacant for several years before Lin acquired it and initiated the restoration. The completed sale ends another chapter in the ownership history of the residence, which has not belonged to the Trump family for decades.

History of the Jamaica Estates residence

The Tudor-style home was constructed in 1940 by real estate developer Fred Trump, the father of the president. The house is situated in the affluent neighborhood of Jamaica Estates in the New York City borough of Queens. Donald Trump lived in the house during his early childhood until he reached four years of age. Over the subsequent decades, the house transitioned through multiple independent owners outside the Trump family. In 2017, only months after Trump assumed the presidency, the residence was sold for $2.14 million, according to data from Zillow.

Short-term rentals and the failed 2019 listing

The 2017 transaction transferred the home to an entity named Trump Birth Home LLC. Following that acquisition, the company listed the house for short-term rental on Airbnb, marketing its connection to the president. The rental property featured themed memorabilia, including a life-sized cardboard cutout of Donald Trump, multiple copies of his book "The Art of the Deal", and a framed People magazine cover featuring him. In 2019, the owners placed the house back on the market with an asking price of $2.9 million. However, the listing attracted no buyers at that valuation, and the property remained unsold until Lin purchased it.

Disrepair and the five-hundred-thousand-dollar renovation

During the years following the unsuccessful 2019 listing, the vacant structure deteriorated significantly. A burst pipe caused extensive water damage and mold contamination throughout the interior of the building. In addition, a colony of feral cats occupied the abandoned rooms where Trump spent his toddler years. Lin acquired the distressed residence last year for $835,000 and subsequently invested another $500,000 into a complete interior overhaul. The eight-month reconstruction project added amenities to the five-bedroom house, including a chef's kitchen, herringbone hardwood flooring, and spa-like bathrooms.

Real estate career and White House remodeling

The president, who is 80 years old, built his initial fortune and public profile through real estate development. Trump constructed the namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and maintained his primary residence inside the skyscraper for several decades before entering politics. As president, Trump is directing residential renovations at his official residence in Washington. Those White House modifications include the construction of a large ballroom and the installation of gold-plated fixtures inside the Oval Office. These decorative fixtures represent a hallmark of his private commercial properties and aesthetic.