(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) President Joe Biden made a pit stop in Tysons this afternoon (Tuesday) to visit the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which is in a complex off of Lewinsville Road.

According to a pool report, Biden’s motorcade left the White House at 2:11 p.m. and arrived at the ODNI headquarters at 1500 Tysons McLean Drive at 2:26 p.m.

“The president is to meet with DNI Avril Haines and director of National Counterterrorism Christine Abizaid, and then tour the facility before delivering remarks to intelligence community staff,” the pool report from the White House Press Office said.

The presidential motorcade only took 15 minutes to travel the 12 miles from D.C. to Tysons, but the drive across the Potomac still required a temporary shutdown of George Washington Memorial Parkway in the Roosevelt Island area near Rosslyn.

@ARLnowDOTcom @ArlingtonVaPD @DCPoliceDept what’s going on at Roosevelt Island/ on GW Parkway? Tons of police, traffic shut down NB, a helicopter flying low…

— Graham Weinschenk (@GWeinschenk) July 27, 2021

The director of national intelligence serves as the head of the U.S. intelligence community, which includes the CIA, National Security Agency, and intelligence units in the military and other federal agencies.

The DNI advises the president, National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and other officials on issues related to national security, including counterterrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

While the agency typically doesn’t attract many headlines, it did draw some attention last month when the office released a preliminary report detailing all of the information that the intelligence community has gathered on what it calls Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, better known as UFOs.

To the disappointment of many an “X-Files” fan, the report shed little light on the nature or origin of the phenomena.

In contrast to Tysons, where the skyline is evolving, McLean is more well-known for its established neighborhoods that include historic mansions and estates.

Given McLean’s proximity to the nation’s capital, there have been several noteworthy community members who decided to take up residency at these prominent homes.

According to various sites, like the Washington Post, many of the D.C. area’s most expensive properties are located in McLean. The average home in McLean is around a million dollars, according to Zillow.

The Merrywood mansion, built-in 1919, is known as Jackie Kennedy’s childhood home and is valued at around $50 million today.

The home was designed by the same architect that was responsible for the White House, according to Curbed. Amenities includes nine bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms, a pool, an elevator, a library and a grand fireplace.

Another nearby property which was owned by the Kennedy family is Hickory Hill. Though it is usually given more historical merit than anything else, according to Architectural Digest, its origins are thought to date back to around 1870.

While he doesn’t own the home, former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden also rents a multi-million dollar mansion in the McLean area.

Per month, the property costs the Biden family around $20,000, Reuters reported, adding that the property was purchased for $4.25 million in 2016.

According to the Fairfax County Times, two of Virginia’s most expensive homes can be found in McLean — one of which is found at 801 Turkey Run Road. The property is valued at a little under $10 million, according to Zillow. It is unclear if the home has any historical or noteworthy ties.

On the upper end of private properties, for a price tag of $75 million, a home hidden behind clever landscaping at 409 Chain Bridge Road, includes 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms, according to Homes of the Rich.

The property — called The Falls — was built in 2000 by AOL co-founder Jim Kimsey. features of the property include wine cellars, an outdoor swimming pool, a private tennis court and ample living space. A guest home adjacent to the house was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

At 1173 Dolley Madison Blvd, sits another home worth over $5 million, according to Zillo. The six-bedroom, 10-bathroom house sits on just over an acre of land but offers sweeping stairways, bright windows and even a personal movie theatre.

During holidays and other times of the year, groups like the McLean Woman’s Club offer tours of some of the estates to raise money for charity but the group only shows off a few of McLean’s larger properties. There is no guarantee that these will be homes of prominent figures, though.

Catherine Douglas Moran contributed to this report. 

Photo via Woman’s Club of McLean/Facebook

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

Everyone seems to be talking about the report that Joe Biden and his wife Jill rented a luxury home in McLean for $20,000 a month.

So, what about McLean makes a $20,000 a month rental even possible? We can start with the big names who live there. The home Biden is renting is owned by the Chairman and CEO of Capitol Investment Corp. IV, Mark Ein. Mark Ein also owns the Washington Kastles and is a well-known entrepreneur in the D.C. area.

Lockheed Martin’s CEO, Marillyn Hewson, purchased a home in McLean last year. McLean is home to the rich and powerful including CEOs, NFL players, politicians and even family dynasties. It’s no surprise that the city just minutes from D.C., Arlington and Tyson’s Corner can command a $20,000 a month rental.

It’s also home to some of the region’s most expensive homes. Stately mansions with every luxury you could wish for line the McLean landscape. These luxuries include wine cellars, tennis courts, pools, personal gyms, full spas, elevators and even separate guest homes.

This week’s feature home is located on one of the most prestigious streets in McLean. 1181 Ballantrae features a Versailles styled pool and plaza, a gym, sauna, wine cellar and a beautiful bar.

1181 Ballantrae Lane McLean (Reduced $150,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7109 Benjamin Street McLean (Reduced $101,000)
• 1181 Ballantrae Lane McLean (Reduced $150,000)
• 6547 Old Chesterbrook Road McLean (Reduced $95,001)
• 9600 Brookmeadow Court Vienna (Reduced $52,000)
• 1221 Kelley Street SW Vienna (Reduced $34,999)
• 1024 Timbercreek Trl Great Falls (Reduced $82,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has taken up a new residence in McLean.

Biden and his wife Jill are renting a Georgian-style, nearly 12,000-square-foot home in McLean, according to the Washington Post.

Built in 1989, the two-story house features five bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen and a gym. The monthly rent for the house is about $20,500, according to Zillow.

The house was previously owned by former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, according to county documents. Investor Mark Ein bought the house in 2016 for more than $4 million, according to the Washington Post.