Frequently referred to as “Silicon Valley’s most powerful tech journalist,” whip-smart and fast-talking Kara Swisher’s famously straightforward style strikes fear, consternation and sometimes vehement annoyance in the hearts and minds of some of the industry’s most powerful people. There are tongue-in-cheek rumors she gives Mark Zuckerberg heart palpitations, which is certainly hyperbole, though she seldom shows him any mercy, and Elon Musk threatened to end an interview with her last year during a conversation about the eccentric billionaire’s controversial tweets about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Swisher and former business partner Walt Mossberg sold their tech news website Re/code to Vox Media half a dozen years ago in an all-stock transaction and nowadays, in addition to writing a weekly column for The New York Times and contributing to New York magazine, she co-hosts the podcast “Pivot” and hosts her own popular podcast, “Sway.” She’s also got a self-professed penchant for buying, fixing up and selling homes.
For decades, Swisher has made her home base in San Francisco but several years ago, not too long after she split up with first wife Megan Smith, a former Google executive and the Chief Technology Officer of the United States under President Barak Obama, she and her now teenaged boys moved part-time to Washington, D.C. The plan then was to spend every other month in D.C. but it seems like she just might be planning to spend even more time there.
She initially bought a small, furnished townhouse, a transaction she touted on Twitter, and last year, after she and her then girlfriend and now second wife, journalist Amanda Katz, welcomed a daughter to their family, they upgraded to a larger, $1.7 million townhouse near Howard University. The couple has now, per tax records, ponied up another $2.6 million for an early 20th century Victorian bungalow in the capital city’s leafy, historic and charming Cleveland Park neighborhood.
-
Image Credit: Redfin Fronted by a shallow, grassy yard and a deep porch perfect for whittling time away on an iPad in a rocking chair, the circa 1912 residence has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms in just over 3,100 square feet over four floors.
The listing was held by Kimberly Cestari at Long & Foster Real Estate; Swisher and Katz were repped by Jenn Smira of Compass. -
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin Upgraded for modern life, the house retains much of its original charm and detailing. Just off the foyer, a formal sitting room with an elegant fireplace does double duty as a library.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin A separate, cozily proportioned family room with custom built-ins and French doors to the rear deck, flows easily into the top-of-the-line eat-in kitchen where a mix of polished wood and jet-black soapstone countertop are complimented by dusty celadon cabinets and premium quality appliances.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin The second floor has just two bedrooms, one of them an ample guest suite with private bath and balcony.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin The primary bedroom, also on the second floor, has a modern bath and a walk-in closet large enough to float a large built-in dresser in the center of the room. There’s also a cushioned window seat and laundry equipment.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin There’s a third bedroom and bath tucked up into the finished attic space and a fourth bedroom on the walk-out basement level, along with another bathroom and a multipurpose den with wet bar and direct access to the backyard.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin A large, curved Ipe wood deck off the kitchen and family room has a stairway down to the flat, fence and grassy backyard where Swisher and Katz could comfortably install a sandbox and/or a play structure for their toddler daughter.
-
Image Credit: Redfin -
Image Credit: Redfin In addition to her D.C. holdings, Swisher keeps a solid foothold on the West Coast, in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. Built on a steep street in the late 19th century, the property was originally purchased with Smith in early 2000 for $1.1 million but, presumably as part of their divorce agreement, the faux-quoined Victorian residence was transferred a few years ago into Swisher’s name.