No matter your political leanings, it's obvious top politicians are different from Main Street Americans. Most are extremely well-to-do, and their homes epitomize wealth and luxury. The presidential candidates' enormous, expensive houses are well beyond the economic means of many, if not most, of their supporters.

With the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary out of the way, and the race for the Republican presidential nomination moving into high gear, it's time to take a look at the real estate the GOP hopefuls are willing to swap for their very own room in the White House.

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Ron Paul
Congressman Ron Paul is making his third bid for the White House, and this time around he's found a lot of support from younger voters. Paul has been an outspoken critic of the Federal Reserve and its policies, and many of his supporters thrill to the change he vows to bring to Washington.

Paul's house in Lake Jackson, Texas, is located 10 minutes from Houston, and is currently on the market for $325,000. It features four bedrooms, five bathrooms and 5,500 square feet of living space. Paul, ever the maverick, is selling the house himself. That's not a highly recommended strategy, unless you're in a hot market or can generate a tremendous amount of home buyer interest without being listed in a local MLS. See photos of Paul's house on his website: buyronpaulshouse.com

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Mitt Romney
Former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney has drawn criticism from all corners, but most the complaints seem to focus on his wealth -- how he got it, who he fired to help him amass it, and what he spends it on. According to MSNBC, Romney is worth anywhere from $190 million to $250 million, far more than any of the other candidate.

Given his huge net worth, it's not surprising Romney has an impressive real estate portfolio. The former governor and private equity honcho owns a townhouse in Boston and a lake house in New Hampshire, according to Zillow. And that's in addition to his $12 million beachfront home in La Jolla, Calif.

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Newt Gingrich
It's far from clear that Newt Gingrich can beat out the frontrunners to clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but one thing's for certain: If Gingrich has to head home to McLean, Va., he'll be returning to an enviably comfortable abode. The former House speaker purchased this home in 2000 for $995,000, according to Zillow. It boasts five bedrooms, five bathrooms and more than 5,000 square feet of living space.

Perhaps the best part of the house is its location. McLean is only 10 miles from the White House, so if Gingrich doesn't make it into to the Oval Office, at least he can take a short drive by to see how the president is doing.

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum represented Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives in the early 1990s and moved up to the Senate in 2007. Now he's running for president, and MSNBC reports he's worth anywhere from $880,000 to $1.9 million.

Santorum and his family faced ridicule when they rented their Pennsylvania home to family members during his Senate terms, while supposedly living in Leesburg, Va., according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Santorum also faced criticism because his children were enrolled in a cyber-education program in Pennsylvania, while taxpayers footed the bill. In 2007, Santorum and his family purchased a four bedroom, five bathroom home in Great Falls, Va., for a reported $2 million. The house sits on five acres and includes a cobblestone driveway and heated pool.

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Rick Perry
Texas Governor Rick Perry took office in 2000 after George W. Bush resigned the office to become president. Since then, Perry has won three full terms as governor. He and his wife currently live in the Texas Governor's Mansion (hardly shabby digs), but the couple ruffled feathers back in 2007 when they rented a home in Austin while the mansion was being remodeled, according to USA Today.

The rental sat on 3.29 acres, featured high-end finishes and a gourmet kitchen, and cost a reported $9,900 a month in 2007.

Homes of the Republican presidential candidates

Jon Huntsman
A former governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman also served as Deputy U.S. Trade Ambassador under President George W. Bush and ambassador to China under President Obama. But now he's reportedly quitting the race. After all that campaigning and traveling, Huntsman needs a nice home where he can enjoy a little rest and relaxation.

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That's what his 5,000-square-foot, five bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom brick home in the Kalorama neighborhood of Wash., D.C., . The house may have been built in 1911, but its hardly mired in the past. The seventh season cast of the reality TV cooking show "Top Chef" called it home before the Huntsmans moved in.