Realty Check – Latest Hamptons Real Estate News

Goodbye Rachael
After removing their Tuckahoe property from the market, TV chef Rachael Ray and husband, John Cusimano, have relisted it with Angela Boyer-Stump of Sotheby’s International Realty. The couple bought the home, which is adjacent to the Southampton Golf Club, in 2008 when they paid $2.6 million. The house was on the market last year for $4.9 million but is back on at $4.69 million. Seems they will be wanting to spend more time at the home they built on a 200-acre spread in the Adirondacks.

Designing Women
High-end eveningwear designer, Carmen Marc Valvo, has lowered the ask on his Bridgehampton property by more than $1 million to $6.95 million. Known for his dresses worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Kate Winslet and Eva Longoria, Valvo listed the property in June at $8.25 million. The three-story, five bedroom house is located south-of-the-highway and boasts frontage on a creek that leads to Mecox Bay. The house features a large porch that overlooks a pool, private dock and spectacular gardens with a koi pond, fountain and flowers galore. Beate Moore of Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing.

He Says/She Says
Contractor Randall Soto of East Hampton’s Solo Construction is suing actress Jennifer Esposito (NCIS and Blue Bloods) for the $65,000 he says she owes him for renovating her East Hampton house. Bradley Cooper’s ex-wife claims that Soto’s work on her roof resulted in water damage to her wood floors. “Esposito, who has celiac disease and serious allergies, said the house is uninhabitable because of mold,” according to the New York Post. What says Soto? “She’s a liar. She doesn’t want to pay me, so she’s making excuses.”

China Doll
The waterfront North Haven home of late fashion model China Machado’s is on the market for close to $10 million. A legend in the fashion world, she was “one of the first non-Caucasian models to appear on the cover of a major American glossy magazine,” according to WWD. The Chinese-born, Portuguese-American model was the longtime muse of photographer Richard Avedon and later became a fashion editor, television producer and painter. The 3,300 square-foot, four bedroom contemporary structure boasts floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a bocce court, murals galore and a conservatory hung with Chinese lanterns and sporting a palm tree. Listed by Rima Mardoyan Smyth of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Mala Sander of The Corcoran Group and Beate Moore of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Back On The Market
Comedy icon Mel Brooks’ former waterfront Water Mill home is back on the market for almost $12 million. Brooks, who was married to actress Anne Bancroft, bought the 2,000 square-foot abode in 2000 for $3 million and sold it in 2010 for $5.3 million. The property boasts sunrise views over the ocean and sunsets over Mecox Bay. Mary Ann Cinelli of Brown Harris Stevens has the listing.

Slow Burn
Burnt Point, the 25 acre peninsula property on Georgica Pond in Wainscott, is back on the market at a deep discount. Asking $95 million in October 2015, it is now on the market for $59 million, down almost 40 percent. The 18,000 square-foot, five bedroom main residence with two elevators overlooks water on three sides and an infinity pool with waterfall and spa, a tennis court, boathouse and private dock. Repped by Frank Newbold and Marilyn Clark of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Modern art
The Amagansett home of the late iconic architect, Charles Gwathmey, has been listed for $4.85 million. Having been called a “modern work of art,” the structure boasts a double-height ceiling and a roof deck with spectacular ocean views. There is a first-floor master suite and expansive outdoor space. It is one of two properties on Bluff Road with a grandfathered in tennis court on a one acre lot. Douglas Elliman’s Atlantic Team has the listing.

Record Sale
The sale of a humongous Francis Fleetwood house on tony Further Lane is being touted as the biggest sale so far this year despite a sizable price chop. Listed in 2016 at $69 million it has been snapped up by a lucky buyer at $40 million. You do the math. The six acre spread is near the ocean but not smack dab on it. The house, which belonged to a Goldman Sachs partner who died in 2015, measures in at 10,000 square feet and features an indoor spa room with hot tub and current pool and 2,400 square feet of outdoor place with porches, porticoes, roof deck and a jewel-like glassed in pergola. Listing agents were Frank Newbold at Sotheby’s International Realty and Ed Petrie at Compass while Bespoke’s Cody and Zach Vichinsky brought the buyers.

Ch-Ch-Changes
Douglas Elliman Real Estate welcomes Jonathan Davis and John Giruzzi. Together, they comprise The Davis Team, based in the Bridgehampton office.

Jonathan, whose family name is well known in real estate circles, is an active member of the East End community. A Southampton local, he learned the business from his father, notably one of the top brokers in the country. Coupled with his experience, top-of-the-industry insight, and extensive knowledge of the landscape and the people who live, work and spend time here in the Hamptons, Jonathan has become a highly regarded agent in his own right. John also has deep roots in East End real estate, having learned about development and land usage from his father’s business. The Southampton native, a member of the Rosko family, counts a strong background in finance and investments. He lives in Sag Harbor with his fiancé, Amber, and son, Ashton, and their two dogs, rescues adopted from the Southampton Animal Shelter.

After several years at Elliman’s East Hampton office, Yorgos Tsibiridis, a top producing agent, has returned to Corcoran’s East Hampton office where he began his career. After a successful career in finance, Yorgos entered the world of East End real estate and in less than six years amassed more than $150 million in sales volume. Ranked as one of the top 10 agents in the Hamptons, he is poised to continue his stellar track record. Returning with Yorgos are his wife, agent Alicia DeFronze, a veteran of the NYC advertising world, and agent Jake Lear.