Real Estate

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.

As you can see from the diverse backgrounds of these "soon to be" Hamptons real estate professionals, there is more than one way to get to Carnegie Hall.

How much is enough? How much is too much?

East Hampton Town ZIPCODE 11930 - AMAGANSETT Cass,G & Kolesa,K Gohn, R & M Trusts 955,000 1844 Montauk Hwy McGee, A & Pieroni,C Rocker, H 1,400,000 7 Leeton Rd 158 Meeting House La Whalen, E 3,500,000 158 Meeting House Ln Farrell Holding Co Edwards Kelsey, A 2,350,000 112 Miankoma Ln ZIPCODE 11937 - EAST HAMPTON Jenkins,M & Fleit,R...

When it comes to money and investing, there are several lessons many people wish they would have learned when they were younger.

East Hampton Town ZIPCODE 11930 - AMAGANSETT Mullin, K & S Osaki, I & Minken, T 2,875,000 57 Cross Hwy ZIPCODE 11937 - EAST HAMPTON Wandel, P Lipomi, C by Devisee 225,000* 148 Copeces Ln Tukker, F Salter's Enterprises 700,000 59 Windward Espinoza, E Bolger, L 175,000* 12 Muir Blvd Bassin, R & S Harvey, CC Trust 1,625,400...

The new Showtime series titled, "The Affair," which is shown on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on Showtime and then is available, "On Demand," is without doubt a window into what is right and wrong about Montauk and the Hamptons.