Realty Check

Hot Sales and Listings…Along with the Latest Real Estate News in the Hamptons and Beyond

Welcome to the end of another busy summer season and to the beginning of the season of pumpkins, corn mazes, wine grapes, apples, and mellow fruitfulness. (We stole that phrase from Keats, so don’t be too impressed.)

Good news on the real estate front: According to various agents, the high-end market is going gangbusters in the Hamptons. Douglas Elliman’s second-quarter report notes the average price for the top 10% of sales was up 12% year-over-year, and properties have sold more quickly than during the same period last year. Saunders reported that sales rose 23% for homes worth between $10 million and $20 million, and 40% for those worth more than $20 million. 

Our take (and no, we’re not an agent, just an interested observer): if you are looking to buy, pounce. No, of course no one knows the future, but historically, investing in luxury goods has usually been a smart move. 

Lily Pond Gem Sold
Oceanfront estates in the Hamptons have long defined the pinnacle of coastal luxury, and the recent $31.5 million sale of a two-acre retreat on Lily Pond Lane only reaffirms that status. With 171 feet of direct Atlantic frontage, sweeping views of white sand beaches, and the rare advantage of double dune protection, the property stands among the year’s most significant transactions. Justin Agnello, Hara Kang and James Keogh of the Atlantic Team at Douglas Elliman represented both the buyer and seller on this deal.  On the seller side, they co-listed the property with Elliman colleague Erica Grossman and Hedgerow Exclusive Properties. 

The residence was recently refreshed for 2023, with brand-new contemporary furnishings that accentuated its clean lines and expansive glass walls. The result is a seamless connection between indoors and out—where the Atlantic horizon becomes the home’s most commanding design element. Situated on 1.8 acres, the compound functions as a private resort. A main residence anchors the estate, complemented by a guest house, landscaped grounds, and a suite of amenities designed for both relaxation and recreation: a pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and professionally lit tennis and basketball courts. Approvals are also in place to expand the home’s footprint to 10,000 square feet, ensuring ample room for future customization.

The buyer, Matthew Karch, co-founder of videogame publisher Saber Interactive, joins a lineage of homeowners drawn to the exclusivity of Lily Pond Lane.  “This was a truly special transaction, and we’re honored to have guided it to closing,” said Agnello. “Oceanfront estates like 33 Lily Pond Lane with both proximity to the water and the rare advantage of double dune protection are exceptionally rare. To represent both sides of the deal was a privilege, and we’re grateful to have partnered with our colleague Erica Grossman to achieve such a successful outcome for our clients.”

New in Georgica
Another day, another mega-mansion in East Hampton’s Georgica estate section — this time with a $28 million price tag and a promise to be ready by next summer. Ann Ciardullo and Keith Green of Sotheby’s are rolling out the listing at 107 Georgica Road, which they say is the biggest project the neighborhood has seen in over a decade. 

Once complete, the seven-bedroom spread will feature a 27-foot oak-beamed great room with a wall of windows framing the 60-foot pool, poolhouse, and — yes — its own pickleball court. The primary suite gets the full resort treatment: private study, double spa baths, and even a staircase down to a wellness center with steam, sauna, cold plunge, and gym. Basically, Canyon Ranch, but with a way better zip code.

The kitchen comes complete with three separate cooking zones, including a “show kitchen” for dinner parties, and a catering kitchen to hide the mess. When the weather’s nice, the whole thing opens to an outdoor kitchen with an 18-foot stone counter that practically begs for an army of sous-chefs.

Of course, the backyard isn’t just a backyard — it’s a “series of outdoor rooms,” complete with an herb garden, al fresco dining under an allée of trees, and a lawn big enough for whatever recreational flex buyers are into this year. With interiors by Alder & Tweed and landscaping by Araiys Design, the place leans heavily on “timeless elegance meets modern minimalism.” 

Construction has just started, but at $28 million, Ciardullo and Green are confident the house won’t sit long. And if you buy now, there’s still time to tweak the design—perfect for adding those extra touches that make your private resort truly your own.

Quick Sale on Meadow Lane 
501 Meadow Lane, featured on this magazine’s August front cover, has sold. Tim Davis of Corcoran was the exclusive listing broker. The last asking price was $15 million. Positioned on over two acres at the edge of Heady Creek, where it meets Shinnecock Bay and right across from the ocean, the designer decorated home came with 180-degree views, along with awe-inspiring sunsets. “This home has a setting like no other on the north side of Meadow Lane. It’s as close as one can get to living in a boathouse with tidal waters that open to Shinnecock Bay and the ocean. The jaw dropping and expansive sunset waterfront views, and a big western sky is a natural painting like no other – simply magical,” said Davis.  

It Takes a Village
Southampton Village has finally had enough of your three-day ragers and inflatable flamingo flotillas. The village trustees recently voted 4–1 to ban weekend party rentals, forcing homeowners to rent their mansions for at least two weeks at a time.

The new law, which mimics East Hampton’s restrictions, is aimed squarely at curbing “noise and disturbances” — code for the parade of bachelor parties and birthday bacchanals that have been terrorizing the hedgerows. Short version: if you wanted to rent a Hamptons house just long enough to black out, trash the lawn, and Uber back to the city on Sunday, tough luck.

Some locals think the rules don’t go far enough. One resident demanded not just longer rental terms but also headcounts, ID checks, and basically TSA-level screening for anyone stepping into a Southampton rental.

Mayor William Manger reassured everyone that East Hampton handles this with “police involvement,” which is a polite way of saying the cops occasionally tell people to keep it down before heading off to their next noise complaint.

Fore!  
Seventeen years after giving Bridgehampton its coolest clubhouse, architect Roger Ferris is back at The Bridge with another statement piece: a $29 million “upside-down” spec house that proves even golf courses can get luxury housing developments.

Dubbed “Fairway Residence,” the 7,500-square-foot home improves the view putting the living spaces and primary suite upstairs, leaving the guests to bunk below. Ferris calls it “inventive minimalism.” 

The six-bedroom spread comes with every Hamptons must-have — heated gunite pool, pool house, rooftop viewing deck, and lots of floor-to-ceiling glass. Guest rooms even have their own private entrances, giving adult children and guests the feeling of checking into a boutique resort—without ever leaving home.

Ferris, who once admitted he didn’t understand the appeal of golf (“knock a ball and chase it”), now not only plays at The Bridge but also lives there. The Bridge itself has always prided itself on being the Hamptons’ cooler, art-filled answer to the stuffy old guard of golf clubs. Its clubhouse — part turbine wheel, part golf swing — looks less like a 19th-century shrine to golf and more like MoMA on steroids.

Now, with only 20 lots total, the chance to snag one of these hilltop fairway fortresses is as rare as hitting par on Shinnecock. So, if you’ve got $29 million and a soft spot for concrete minimalism with a side of golf philosophy, Ferris has built your dream golf palace-in-the-sky. The listing is represented by Bespoke Real Estate.