Realty Check

Two Historic Beauties Make Waves
If there’s one thing the Hamptons real estate market never lacks, it’s ambition—paired, of course, with a healthy dose of nostalgia and eye-watering price tags. The latest entrant into this rarified arena is a reimagined 1894 carriage house in East Hampton Village at 19 Georgica Road, now asking $19.5 million. Tucked behind gates on 1.4 acres south of the highway (because of course it is), the 4,500-square-foot home has been meticulously expanded and styled by media power couple Chris Mitchell and Pilar Guzmán—names that tend to signal you’re not just buying a house, you’re buying a point of view.

The property leans hard into what might be called “curated coziness.” Original bones meet carefully orchestrated charm: a 25-by-25-foot great room with exposed beams, 10-foot ceilings, and a stone fireplace that practically begs for a glossy magazine spread. French doors open onto a sunporch and flow into a sprawling kitchen and dining area wrapped in shiplap and outfitted with marble counters—because nothing says relaxed beach living like pristine stone you’ll be afraid to spill coffee on. Natural light pours in through a wall of casement windows, framing views of an oversized heated pool and gardens designed to look just wild enough to feel effortless (they’re not).

Outside, the estate doubles down on the lifestyle pitch. There’s a dining pavilion, outdoor kitchen, and a pool house surrounded by hydrangeas. A separate entertaining allée, anchored by a monumental stone table, suggests long summer dinners that may or may not ever happen but are very important to imagine. Inside, the home offers three primary suites (yes, three), including one on the first floor with backyard access and a spa-like bath. Upstairs, additional en suite bedrooms and a light-filled sitting area complete the picture, along with the kind of serene, shiplap-heavy aesthetic that has become shorthand for “expensive but trying not to seem it.”

Mitchell and Guzmán are no strangers to this formula. The duo—whose résumé spans Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, and Oprah Daily—have quietly built a track record of high-end Hamptons flips that trade equally on pedigree and polish. Previous projects have commanded prices north of $25 million, suggesting that for the right buyer, provenance matters almost as much as square footage. And with Frank Newbold and Beate Moore of Sotheby’s International Realty handling the listing, the expectation is clear: this isn’t just a home, it’s a brand extension with a pool.

The House That History Built 
Also in East Hampton Village, a restored 1896 Queen Anne Victorian at 30 Huntting Lane has closed for $6.15 million. Located just south of Main Street and near the ever-exclusive Maidstone Club, the home blends old-world charm with modern updates across 4,000 square feet. Original details—soaring gables, wraparound porch—have been preserved, while interiors were upgraded to meet contemporary expectations (read: marble everywhere).

The backstory is almost more compelling than the property itself. Once owned by Edward Tyler Huntting Jr., the house eventually passed to Tom Strong, a local police officer who began as a landscaper and ended up inheriting—and painstakingly restoring—the home. It’s the kind of narrative that feels refreshingly unscripted in a market otherwise dominated by strategic acquisitions and calculated design.  The property was listed with Romaine Gordon of Saunders. 

Dunes For All
Southampton Town recently made one of the most consequential land acquisitions in its history — and one of the most unexpected. The town board unanimously approved the $26 million purchase of a three-story, 11-bedroom oceanfront estate at 1950 Meadow Lane from owner Frances Katz, with Town Supervisor Maria Moore set to finalize the transaction. The property, currently valued at $27.5 million, will be demolished and converted into a public beach access parking facility — making it among the most expensive land purchases the town has ever undertaken.

The two-acre parcel sits along the Atlantic on Meadow Lane, the celebrated stretch of Southampton oceanfront, often dubbed Billionaires Row. But the acquisition is about more than access. The site encompasses sensitive maritime dunes and beachfront that previously carried no formal environmental protections. By taking the property into public ownership, Southampton preserves a fragile stretch of shoreline while opening it to all. The purchase is being funded from the town’s Community Preservation Fund. The property was listed exclusively with Tim Davis of Corcoran.

Stretch Out in Water Mill
Meanwhile, yet another expansive opportunity has surfaced in Water Mill. A 44.1-acre assemblage, held by the Sikorski family since the mid-20th century, has hit the market for $25.5 million under the guidance of
Beth E. Marano of Corcoran The offering includes four buildable estate parcels alongside a 33-acre protected agricultural reserve—meaning you can enjoy sweeping farmland views without the inconvenience of actually farming anything yourself.

The land, spanning multiple addresses along Head of Pond and Deerfield Roads, comes with zoning that allows for substantial development. Each parcel is large enough to accommodate the full Hamptons fantasy package: sprawling main residence, pool, tennis court, and whatever else one might need to fill the existential void of too much open space. Buyers can purchase the full assemblage or opt for individual lots, depending on how ambitious—or indecisive—they’re feeling.

Preserving History on the North Fork
A record-setting land deal has quietly reshaped a significant stretch of the North Fork coastline, as Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan acquired more than 100 acres of largely undeveloped shoreline in East Marion for $23.5 million. The assemblage—spread across 19 parcels west of Truman’s Beach—includes a mix of residentially zoned vacant land and expansive waterfront acreage, much of it offering direct shoreline access and sweeping views. The purchase, structured through multiple LLCs, marks the highest price ever paid for land on the North Fork and reflects increasing demand for large-scale, legacy properties in the region. The property was listed and sold by Nicholas Planamento and Joann Bischoff van Heemskerck of William Raveis.

The property itself carries a layered history and a unique balance between development potential and conservation. Approximately 69 acres are protected under easements held by the Peconic Land Trust, preserving open space and limiting future construction, while other parcels—particularly 14 along the shoreline—retain full development rights. The land includes tracts near Dam Pond and Cove Beach, as well as secluded parcels accessed by private roads, blending natural preservation with the opportunity for high-end residential use. 

Long considered one of the North Fork’s most intriguing yet elusive development sites, the property has passed through notable ownership over decades, including a portion once held by Billy Joel. Despite multiple proposals, large-scale development has never fully materialized, leaving much of the land untouched. Rowan’s acquisition—following earlier nearby purchases—signals a continued trend of high-net-worth buyers targeting the North Fork for its relative privacy, natural beauty, and investment upside, even as questions remain about the future vision for this rare and expansive coastal holding. 

Ch Ch Changes
Newly affiliated with Corcoran’s Westhampton Beach office, Michael Morrell brings a rare, multigenerational perspective to Hamptons real estate. Raised in a family with over 30 years of construction industry expertise, he developed an early understanding of how homes are built and how to spot potential in both new and existing properties. Morrell is also proud to draw on the guidance of his grandmother, a former agent with more than four decades of experience. Blending practical knowledge with a keen sense of market trends, he has quickly become a trusted advisor known for his work ethic and unwavering commitment to client service.