New home in Dallas for the Bushes

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Outgoing US President George W Bush and wife Laura have bought a home in one of the wealthiest areas of Dallas to live in after they leave the White House.

Mrs Bush's press secretary, Sally McDonough, said the couple had bought a home in the Preston Hollow area.

She did not give details but US media say a friend of the Bushes has purchased a ranch-style four-bedroom property on a tree-lined cul-de-sac.

They will continue to visit their ranch in Crawford, Texas, Ms McDonough said.

"The president and Mrs Bush have purchased a home in the Preston Hollow neighbourhood in Dallas, Texas, where they will live after the president leaves office in January 2009," she said in a statement.

Billionaire neighbours

The citizens of Preston Hollow, in the north of the city, were said to be abuzz with news of their new neighbours, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Journalists and photographers gathered outside the $2.1m (£1.4m) property a long-time friend and accountant of the first couple is said to have bought.

The house is reported to be more than 8,500 sq ft (789 sq m) and sits on 1.1 acres of land.

If the Bushes move in, their neighbours will include Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, billionaire T Boone Pickens and Republican donor Harold Simmons.

Laura Bush was giving little away on Thursday when she told NBC News: "We picked out a house, but we don't have occupancy of it. So as soon as we do, we'll announce exactly where it is. We're looking forward to that."

The Bushes lived in Dallas between December 1988 and January 1995, before moving to Austin when Mr Bush became governor of Texas.