After months of dating in plain sight, Tom Cruise and his new girlfriend, Ana De Armas finally went official last month when they were pictured strolling hand-in-hand through Vermont – the idyllic, leafy state that Bond actress Ana calls home.

And while it was widely reported that that the two lovebirds had chosen to spend some time away from the hubbub of LA so that Ana, 37, could ‘romance’ Tom, 63, in her own private sanctuary, a source now tells Closer that their trip could also have marked another huge milestone in their whirlwind romance – house hunting!

It’s been just eight months since they were first spotted enjoying dinner together in London’s Soho on Valentine’s Day, but after insiders recently told us how smitten Tom could be set to pop The Question in a matter of months, the source now says Tom is looking to further cement their relationship by buying a ‘palatial’ home together, one in which they can ‘put down roots’ before the potential pitter-patter of tiny Armas-Cruise feet.

The insider says, ‘They’re definitely thinking long-term, and one of the big decisions on the table is where to put down roots together. They’re looking on both sides of the Atlantic, and money is no object.

‘Tom’s got the kind of wealth that means they can take their time and get exactly what they want, and that might mean multiple homes, but most importantly, Tom does want one massive estate as their home base.

‘He has his heart set on it because they could have their potential future kids to consider, and they will need stability.’

With an estimated net worth of $600 million, the Mission Impossible star, who has been a bachelor since his 2012 divorce from Katie Holmes, has been living the lifestyle to match.

While many of his Hollywood counterparts have been settling down in sprawling estates across Beverly Hills, Tom has been living in an ultra-swanky $233 million penthouse in the most exclusive building with views over London’s Hyde Park.

Stateside, he also lives in a similar set up in his penthouse condo in ClearWater, Florida, which boasts a swimming pool, a wraparound terrace and even a flight simulator room for Tom to relive his time as Top Gun’s Maverick.

But now the source says that with Ana by his side, Tom is ready to branch out and is looking for a more suitable family home.

And after selling the £5 million Sussex  manor house, Rede Place, which he has previously shared with ex-wife Katie Holmes, in 2015, the source says Tom could follow the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and his close pal, David Beckham, and set up home on the picturesque Cotswolds. 

Ana too, has previously shared her love of ‘escaping’ LA to her remote $7 million Vermont home, where she enjoys forest views, dog walks and log burners – all things that can be relocated in the UK countryside.

‘He wants something grander in the UK, maybe a country estate, something that feels expansive and permanent,’ the insider says.‘The townhouse setup he has in London now is good for a place in the city but he wants something bigger where he and Ana can potentially raise kids.’

On his relocation back to the US in October, a source revealed, ‘Tom has made the UK his home for five years and he absolutely loves it here.There is no doubt he’ll be back at some point when he greases the wheels for the next Mission Impossible outing, but Tom is looking forward to returning to the US to be closer to his son Connor [Cruise, whom he shares with ex-wife, Nicole Kidman] and his friends.’

But now our source confirms that his return could come sooner rather than later as his romance with Ana has led to Tom wistfully conjuring up a vision of his and his stunning ‘bride to be’ as the next Lord and Lady of ‘Cruise Castle’.

The insider says, ‘Tom has always loved living like royalty. He had that palatial place in Sussex for a number of years but then he found he was too lonely there so he sold it. But with Ana by his side he can now make that sort of grand life a reality and he’ll have someone to share it with.

‘He’s really into all that Downton Abbey style grandeur and wants to create this home base that feels stately and timeless. He’s also said he’d like the house to be a real gathering place where they can entertain friends and family.’

One guest who isn’t likely to be invited however, is Tom’s second wife, Nicole Kidman, with whom he shares daughter Bella, 32, and son Connor, 30. While we recently reported that Nicole and Bella have been back in touch, with a source telling us that Tom would be open to reconciling with Nicole when she visits the UK this summer, it seems that Tom’s schedule and his romance with Ana may have put a stop to those plans for now.
Last week, it was uncovered by shocked followers of a celebrity trolling account that Ana, or at least Ana’s official Instagram page, had ‘liked’ a post which criticised Nicole for denying that she had undergone any cosmetic work, which was posted back in February – weeks after Ana was first spotted with Tom.

However, when it comes to property, Tom and Ana could be taking a leaf from Nicole’s book, with her and husband Keith Urban boasting numerous properties globally.

The source says, ‘Ana is still very connected to the States and doesn’t want to give that up. She’s got her place in Vermont, which she loves, and Tom’s been up there with her and really likes it, but it’s not going to be their only base. They had a great time together on their yacht holiday, they want to do more traveling together.

‘Tom could well afford for them to live in the best hotels around the world but he’s a stickler for his privacy and routine so he’s open to adding even more property to his portfolio if they find other places that appeal to them.’

But while Tom is known for his intense romances after becoming engaged to ex Katie after just seven weeks of dating, the source says Ana is still adapting to the fast pace of her new romance.

They tell us, ‘She’s very attached to her independence and her work so she’s not rushing anything, but she’s definitely serious about him. Everyone around them says it feels different this time for Tom, he’s got his sparkle back. Ana brings out a really centred version of him, and he just wants to create the kind of life she’ll never want to walk away from.’