Real Estate

I have been reflecting on the past year, in fact, the past eighteen years that I have had the opportunity to teach real estate classes in the Hamptons and New York City. I am using this occasion to share what I have learned with our Hamptons.com readers.

Set adjacent to an open reserve this sprawling Sagaponack estate just closed for $6.95M. A short jaunt away, also in Sagaponack, a vacant parcel just sold for $9.75M. We wonder what the new owners will build this year, don't you?

For the few short years that Sagaponack has been its own Incorporated Village real estate prices have skyrocketed. The zipcode is hailed as the "Most Expensive" in the United States with good reason, an oceanfront estate in this Hamptons burg can close for $27M on any given day, and it did just that recently.

Suffolk County Human Rights Law is particularly aggressive in insuring that everyone has equal rights to satisfy the basic need for housing. How does that impact the East End where property values have risen over the years?

The Southampton house made famous as Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson's beachfront bungalo in "Something's Gotta Give" recently sold for a record-breaking $41M. We hear that while it's stunning there isn't even room for tennis on the nearly 2-acre spread.

The holidays are the time of year when the spirit of giving touches us in a variety of ways.

After lowering the price $3.5M in recent years, Billy Joel finally sold his oceanfront Hamptons estate in Sagaponack for $19M this fall.

Human nature being what it is, nobody likes to pay taxes. Certainly, no more than they have to. Real estate does offer some opportunities along those lines.

This weeks top Hamptons real estate transfer comes in from artist Ross Bleckner whose Sagaponack estate sold for $14M. The property was off and on the market since 2008, the price dropped recently from $15M. Complete with an artist's studio and pool this modest, modern mansion can be overhauled and expanded to a full 11,000 square feet.

While you won't need a billion dollars to pick up some of the Hamptons priciest pads on the market right now you will need to consider spending at least $45M for the ultimate in luxury a few hours east of New York city. Here are the six most expensive homes in the Hamptons.