Realty Check

Hot sales and listings… along with the latest real estate news in the Hamptons

Welcome to the holidays! Let’s raise a glass to the end of 2024, the beginning of a fresh new year in the always-changing world of Hamptons real estate. One interesting trend, which no one has paid much attention to, is the increase of listings in contract in time of writing (late November). This year, in one week, there are 34 listings in contract between Westhampton and Montauk. Same week in 2023, there were just 10, and in 2022, there were 16. Are these signs of a healthy, hearty market to ring in the new year? As always, we’ll know sometime in January. 

All About Joy
Was it something we said, Joy? Longtime Hamptons lover Joy Behar seems eager to shed her rather lovely Sag Harbor Victorian. Granted, Joy is now 82 and still maintains a tough schedule on The View, so it could well be she’s downsizing to make her life simpler. 

Having paid $4.75 million for the property in 2016, Behar is asking $10.95 million for the place. In 4,500 square feet of space, the house includes four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. That’s simply not enough when Aunt Marge comes to visit? No worries! The property includes a guest cottage, close to the pool. All this is set on a generous-for-Sag-Harbor plot of 0.63 acres.

The village house has a traditional aesthetic with a generous kitchen, living areas, and a spacious primary suite, most with cozy fireplaces. Even the guest house boasts a fireplace, which is fab — we’re fireplace people. A buyer without a network start salary could easily rent the cottage out, if desired. The listing is with Ed Gaetjens and John Wines of Saunders & Associates.

Of course, don’t worry that Behar will be homeless — she’s also the owner of an upper West Side apartment which she snagged in 2017 for $2.4 million.

Right to Left Coast
On the other side of the political spectrum from Behar, former Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal has bid adieu to his Westhampton Beach home after 30 years. The 1,500-square-foot home at 9 Tanner’s Neck Lane, which includes bay views from the rooftop deck, closed for $1.16 million. He left because he married an original Real Housewife, Kelly Dodd, who is emphatically an Orange County resident. Corcoran’s Ashley Farrell and Lexie Schrage had the listing.

The house is pretty cute. There are four bedrooms, storage space, and two baths, including a primary suite with access to the backyard deck. Outside, the 0.62-acre property includes a large pool surrounded by a deck and fun tiki bar. There are plenty of opportunities for beach time, with the bay just 600 feet away, while the restaurants, theater and shops of Westhampton Beach are just minutes away.

First time in 60 Years
Back in the spring, the siblings Perlbinder, yes, the feuding developers, were shopping around a family mansion as a pocket listing. The ask was a cool $150 million. The brothers have now retained Corcoran superagent Tim Davis to rep the oceanfront property on Daniels Lane in Sagaponack asking $85 million. This is the first time the estate has been on the open market in 60 years.

There is more than five acres of land, which includes 357 feet of ocean frontage, and, for extra privacy and quiet, the property borders land preserved by the Peconic Land Trust. The house itself is a generous 14,000 square feet. There are 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and two half baths. Noted architect
Peter Marino oversaw a 10,000-square-foot addition about ten years ago. Naturally, any self-
respecting Hamptons escape includes a pool, and this one also sports a greenhouse for year-round fresh vegetables and flowers for the house.

Slam Dunk for Wade
Retired NBA star Dwyane Wade and actress wife Gabrielle Union have purchased a waterfront Jamesport charmer for $2.6 million. How charming? Well, the house has been featured in Domino and Dwell magazines and is close to the Long Island Sound. NoFo powerhouse Sheri Winter Parker of Corcoran was involved, but since the deal was done off market, details are still sketchy, which is
disappointing for us looky-loos. 

The 0.47-acre property was originally home to a 1940s cabin owned by authors Julie Satow and Real Deal CEO Stuart Elliott. They bought the property in 2016 for $600,000. They then had it rebuilt and redecorated by designer Jennifer Bunsa and architect Eric Liftin. Now the modern house, clocking in at 3,500 square feet, includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms and an additional study/guest room. Gorgeous water views of the Sound are displayed throughout, at least in the design magazine articles. 

The blended Wade/Union clan numbers five kids — possibly a little tight for three bedrooms! It remains to be seen whether the family will expand their East Coast getaway.

Hannity Waves Bye Bye
It’s so common it’s a cliche: retirement-age New Yorkers flee to Florida. 62-year-old Fox News host Sean Hannity said on his radio show in January, “I am out. I am done. I’m finished. New York, New York, goodbye. Florida, Florida, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. But it’s great to be here.” Having sold his Oyster Bay property for roughly $12.7 million, Hannity has upgraded from his Palm Beach condo to an oceanfront estate in Manalapan. The new spread, set on two acres, cost him $23.5 million.

The residence, listed by Gary Pohrer and Nick Malinosky of The Exclusive Group at Douglas Elliman, last sold for $18 million in 2021. It was then renovated with new bathrooms, new floors and impact sliding windows. The property was listed initially for $29 million back in February, and had its price cut to $26 million before being scooped up by Hannity. He was represented by Vincent Spadea of Douglas Elliman.

The property is located on a barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on another, making for some incredible views. The 12,000-square-foot house
offers two sections, one facing the Intracoastal and one facing the ocean, which are connected by tunnels under the street, which also serves as an art gallery.

The house, built in 1990, has a total of eight bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms. Fabulous exterior
amenities include pool, a dock with a new seawall, balcony, and a tall observation terrace. Interior perks include a bar, wine room, and elevator.

Prices in Manalapan, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Mar-a-Lago, have
skyrocketed in recent years. Back in 2022, tech titan Larry Ellison bought a 22 acre estate there, paying $173 million, which remains the most expensive home sale in Florida history.

Ch-Ch-Changes
Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP has announced that Zachary Mike has joined the Firm as Associate Attorney. He concentrates his practice in Business and Corporate Law. 

“I am very excited to join this prestigious Firm and its growing Corporate Group,” Mr. Mike said. “I’m looking forward to working with such a skilled and knowledgeable group of attorneys in order to achieve our clients’ business needs and provide them value.” 

Prior to joining the Firm, he was an associate at a New York law firm where he specialized in complex corporate and M&A matters, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, financings, and restructurings.

Mr. Mike earned his Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University and his Juris Doctor from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. “Zach is a wonderful addition to our Corporate Group and his experience in M&A and general corporate transactions of all shapes and sizes enhances our ability to advise and serve our clients,” said Scott Handwerker, Partner and Chair of the Firm’s Corporate Group. 

December to Remember?
As we pointed out above, sales definitely seem on the uptick. With a new president and a new Administration, at time of writing all guesses are valid about how much effect new policies will have on real estate. December is always a busy season as buyers scramble to close deals before the new year. There have been some notably high trades this year, such as La Dune in Southampton selling at auction in January for approximately $88.5 million. Will some lucky billionaires be unwrapping even more expensive estates this holiday season? Time will tell. 

Happy Holidays to all!