Courtesy of Curbed Hamptons:

A three acre waterfront parcel on Actor’s Colony Road in North Haven just sold and closed for $12 million, making it the “highest land transaction in the history of Sag Harbor.” The deal, which was finalized last week, was executed by listing agent Susan Breitenbach, and Felicitas Kohl, who helped bring on a foreign buyer. According to property records, Breitenbach and her husband Stephen—a well-known East End builder—picked up the property in 2004 for $4,528,000. Before that, it was last sold for $2.9 million. Looks like the new foreign buyer landed a pretty safe investment!

This weekend is the start of one of my favorite Hamptons summer events…Polo!

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge will begin this Saturday, July 24^th at Blue Star Jets Field at Two Trees Farm and continue for the next six weeks.

Never been to a polo match? Here’s a brief overview, courtesy of the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge’s website: A polo match lasts about 2 hours and is divided into 6 timed periods called chukkers. The object of the game is to hit the ball down the field and through the goal posts to score. During half time, spectators go onto the field in a social tradition call divot stomping.

This Saturday’s match is sure to be an exciting one as rivals Nacho Figueras and Black Watch take on Peter Brant and White Birch. (The polo equivalent of Yankees v. Red Sox.) Matches take place from 4pm- 6pm.

Blue Star Jets field is located at 849 Hayground Road in Bridgehampton. General admission tickets are $20 per car and are available on the day of the match.

For more information visit the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge website:

http://www.sportpolo.com/spectators/bhpolo.htm

Hope to see you there!

- L

HAPPY 4^th of JULY WEEKEND!

I cannot believe that it is already 4^th of July weekend- where has the first half of the summer gone?! But it is and if the weather forecast is accurate it’s going to be an absolutely gorgeous weekend! There are so many things to do in the Hamptons…especially on a holiday weekend. So, if you have any time check out some of my favorite events happening this weekend!

· Prevention Magazine’s FREE Yoga Studio in the Hamptons opens! Enjoy free classes with famed instructors every weekend for the entire month of July! For class schedule and to sign up visit their website: http://www.prevention.com/studio/

· Sag Harbor Yacht Club Fireworks Saturday July 3rd at 9:30pm - Shot from a barge outside of the breakwater. Viewable from Haven’s Beach, Marine Park, Long Wharf and waterfront restaurants. Best if seen from a boat in the harbor!

· July 4^th Parade in Southampton Village- The parade is on Monday, July 5^th this year. It starts at 10am from the Railroad Plaza in Southampton. One of the largest Independence Day parades on Long Island. Always nice to stop in at Barrister’s for a few Mimosas to drink as the parade goes by!

Whatever you decide to do have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

-L

‘Real Housewife’ Jill Zarin plugs Hamptons

Corcoran agent

11:16 AM By Valerie Kellogg

“The Real Housewives of New York City” gave a shout-out last night to The Corcoran Group’s Susan Breitenbach.

It took place when Jill Zarin and her husband, Bobby, were giving their daughter, Ally, a driving lesson in the Hamptons. “This is a great piece of land,” Zarin says looking out the window. “Susan Breitenbach. I should call Susan.”

Zarin sold her Sag Harbor home, shown here, in 2007, but worked out a deal to stay at the house for part of the summer for two years. Last summer, when last night’s episode was taped, she stayed at Countess LuAnn de Lesseps’ Bridgehampton house. “Can you imagine if we lived down the street from LuAnn?” Zarin asks as they drive around.

Asked about the scene, Breitenbach says Zarin gave her a heads up about it several days ago. Breitenbach says she sold Zarin’s house to her in 2003 and later was the co-exclusive listing agent on the property when Zarin put it on the market.

So is Zarin working with Breitenbach to find a new place? “She’s always looking,” was all Breitenbach would say.

http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/real-estate/real-li-1.812034/real-housewife-jill-zarin-plugs-hamptons-corcoran-agent-1.1807883

Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) — Home sales in the Hamptons, the New York vacation getaway for dealmaker Stephen Schwarzman and movie star Sarah Jessica Parker, surged 59 percent in the fourth quarter as two years of declining prices lured buyers.

Transactions climbed to 409 from 257 a year earlier, the biggest increase in seven years of recordkeeping, New York-based appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and broker Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate said in a report today. Competition for properties pushed the median price up 4.9 percent to $917,900, the first year-over-year gain since the beginning of 2008.

“This is all very good news, better than expected, but I still think we’re not through this yet,” Miller Samuel President Jonathan Miller said in an interview. “The surge in activity to more normal levels, a large portion of that is a release of pent-up demand.”

The median Hamptons home price dropped 31 percent since 2007 as financial firms recorded $1.74 trillion in global losses and asset writedowns tied to sour U.S. home loans. Wall Street executives drive Hampton’s property sales.

Part-time residents have included Schwarzman, chairman and chief executive officer of Blackstone Group LP, and billionaire Ronald Perelman. Hamptons sales slumped in 2008 and the beginning of 2009 as the financial industry cut 26,300 New York City jobs in 12 months, the state Labor Department said Jan. 21.

New York City’s unemployment rate jumped to 10.6 percent in December, the highest level since 1993.

“We have two macro issues, unemployment and credit, that are not expected to change significantly in 2010 from where we are now,” Miller said. “It’s more the second half of the year that I’m concerned about.”

Price Cuts

Hamptons home sellers cut an average of 14 percent from their asking prices to attract buyers in the fourth quarter, compared with discounts of 16 percent a year earlier, Miller said.

Peter and Annette Smergut found a buyer for their East Hampton ranch-style house after agreeing to sell it for $815,000, a 19 percent discount from their original asking price.

The 1,800 square-foot home includes a pool, pond and private beach access.

The sellers got a deal of their own, purchasing a new place in East Hampton for $715,000, 28 percent less than the asking price 10 months earlier, said Peter Smergut.

“It was a hit for us and a hit for them,” he said.

Two other real estate brokers issued Hamptons sales reports this month. The Corcoran Group, based in Manhattan, said annual home sales tumbled 22 percent in 2009 and the median price dropped 4 percent to $830,000.

Broker Views

Town & Country Real Estate said the median price across 11 towns and villages that comprise the Hamptons fell 2.5 percent to $905,000 in 2009, while the number of properties changing hands climbed 4.9 percent to 1,045.

Each brokerage report draws data from different sources.

“The fourth quarter was the saving grace for all of 2009,” said Judi Desidario, president and chief executive officer of Town and Country Real Estate.

Luxury sales throughout the Hamptons and Long Island’s North Fork climbed to 55 properties, a 53 percent increase in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, according to Miller Samuel and Prudential Douglas Elliman.

The median luxury price dropped 3.4 percent to $4.5 million. Miller defines the luxury market as the top 10 percent of sales, which in the fourth quarter included properties sold for $3 million or more.

High-end sellers cut their price by an average of 17 percent compared with 9 percent a year earlier, Miller said.

Brokers Advise Renters: Price Wisely And Advertise Amenities

By: Katy Gurley

Southampton - The summer rental market is off to an early start this year, and brokers and other experts say it’s smart to price your property wisely and advertise amenities.

“A pool is kind of like a must, it’s the number one thing renters look for,” said Matthew Breitenbach, associate broker for the Corcoran Group.

The rental market has started early, he said, and some landlords have adjusted their prices downward. Some are also asking the same as last year.

“It’s been very busy. People are definitely starting to look and inquire. It’s a stark contrast from last year when the rental market was dead until about April. Last year there was a lot of uncertainty and bad feelings that have eased this year. A lot of landlords have brought their prices down.” Rents range from $10,000 to $20,000 up to $300,000 for the Memorial Day to Labor Day season, depending on what kind of house you rent.

To be competitive in this market, amenities are more important than ever, said vacation home expert Christine Karpinski.

“Sometimes it really is a good idea to invest a few thousand dollars to make your home more desirable to vacationers,” she said. “Many upgrades will pay for themselves after just a couple of extra bookings. Besides, your expenditure may be a tax write-off.”

“You don’t necessarily have to put in a pool or tennis courts, although they are popular amenities that renters seek,” Karpinski said. Just be sure to include the distance you are from the beach or the closest tennis courts.

Karpinski is director of Owner Community (www.OwnerCommunity.com) for HomeAway.com and author of “How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment” (Kinney Pollack Press, 2007, ISBN: 0-9748249-9-2, $26).

Nowadays, people want to bring their pets on vacation, and landlords who ease up their restrictions on allowing pets are more likely to attract renters.

“I’ve known homeowners to double their bookings when they start allowing pets,” notes Karpinski. “This is a great way to add value to your home at virtually no cost.”

Barbara Feldman, broker and senior vice president for Saunders & Associates, and a dog lover, has compiled a list of landlords who will allow pets, particularly dogs.

“I kept getting phone calls from people who want to rent but ask, ‘Can I bring a dog?’ So I called a million landlords and I compiled a list and sent out an email notification to my customers. And not only did I hear from a lot of renters, but I heard from landlords as well who wanted me to put them on my list.”

Renters with dogs are usually happy to put down a deposit for their pet.

Other amenities renters seek include televisions and Internet access, Jacuzzi and or hot tub.

“If your home does not have one, purchasing a hot tub might be well worth the cost when you consider all the renters it may attract in the cooler months,” noted Karpinski.

Fireplaces, pool tables and porches are more amenities renters seek, she said.

“Adding a portable fireplace is a wonderful way to add warmth and ambiance to your property,” said Karpinski. “And there are plenty of models to be had for just a few hundred dollars.

“And, no matter what type of outdoor living area you have - a porch, deck, terrace, or patio - be sure to provide a detailed description and photos in your listing,” she added. “Another popular search term is “balcony,” so don’t forget that keyword when posting a photo of your view. Add the appropriate outdoor furniture and you have an inviting bonus living space that renters will love. Oh, and don’t forget to include pictures of that stunning view.”

The snow has finally melted from the Hamptons! The cold is still here, but at least there is not much snow left.

As I look out the window in my office in Bridgehampton, I am wondering what will happen to the Hamptons real estate market in 2010? The Christmas bonanza has finally ended. The year is at a close and it is now a time to reflect. My mother and I did over $120 millon in sale transactions in 2009. Considering the economic climate, I think that speaks directly to the true uniqueness of the Hamptons market. There were great signs there that the Hamptons real estate market was begining to balance and that 2010 would continue those feelings. The New York Times thought a little different (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/business/economy/30econ.html?ref=business). When I read these articles though, I don’t believe every word because the Hamptons is such a different market. The Hamptons is it’s own beast. These articles that broadly span the real estate markets across the whole country should not directly correlate what is going on in the Hamptons.

The Hamptons market is it’s own geographic climate all together. It moves different. It reacts different. It most certainly grows different then 98% of the real estate markets in the country.

As I sit here and reflect about 2010, I feel that if the economic calamity of 2009 could not sink the Hamptons real estate market I don’t know if anything can. I am not saying the Hamptons are as vibrant as ever, but I am saying there is something about the Hamptons that makes it special, unique, and a place that will always hold value even while the world is burning around it. That “something” about the Hamptons is tough to pinpoint exactly. It is tough to define. The Hamptons beauty is special. The connection to New York city is special. The embilical cord to Wall Street is special. The celebrities. The beaches. The clubs. All special.

I don’t know exactly where I am going with all this, but I do know I do enjoy working and living in this special place. As I gaze out the window into the cold and crisp December air, a smile is able to creep on my face because I know 2010 cannot possibly be as disheartening and scary as 2009. Maybe it can. I am optimist though and I know once 2010 comes upon us, and the grass eventually turns green again, and the beaches open as winter turns to spring to summer. I have faith the Hamptons will once again show us how special she truly is.

What am I doing…

I am up early this morning, editing and uploading listings to one of the many websites we advertise on www.luxuryrealestate.com and writing this wonderful blog.

What’s on my mind…

The epic snowstorm of 2009. The many roads of the Hamptons are still a mess. They are a interesting collage of rutted sludge and ice. The mammoth mounds of plowed snow on the either side of the road has turned simple country roads into traffic jams. The snow is rather imposing and the size and mass of the snow mounds has reduced the size of the roads by at least 1/3. This makes for interesting turns as you usually end up facing on coming traffic, before skidding sideways and praying not to end up bumper first into a snow bank. So much for the “quattro track” Audi.

Before this once and a lifetime snowstorm, the Hamptons real estate market was seeing it’s best action in years. November and December are usually quite. This year every broker, including myself was busy. I made more money in the last few months then I did my entire real estate career. My career spans 5 years, but still, I started in a red hot market and still made more money then ever during the last few months of 2009. The Holiday season which usually balloons retail sales actually made it’s way into the Hamptons real estate market for once. This was much different from last year. I was a lot more weary shopping for Christmas gifts. I didn’t know if I’d ever make a good sum of money in real estate again.

My problem with the epic snowstorm of 2009 is…

Ever since the epic snowstorm of 2009 made it’s way up the coast. Ever since that big green and white blob showed up on weather screens up and down the east coast, the Hamptons market has once again returned to it’s traditional form. It is all quiet on the western front. The storm in a way scared people away. They didn’t make their weekend trips to the Hamptons. The storm has even delayed closings. I have a showing on Saturday at one of my listings in Water Mill. The owner, a Miami based developer, refuses to plow his driveway. His exact quote, “has all the snow gone yet?” No, it hasn’t. Not even close. He has no clue. I drove by his road yesterday. The only access into the subdivision is a one way plowed path big enough to fit about one car. I don’t even want to imagine what his driveway looks like or what it would be like to bring a customer over to view the house. That is something out of a real estate nightmare.

“Isn’t this a beautiful house?”

“Now please exit the vehicle and work your way through these 5ft. snow drifts.”

I think I speak for all real estate people when I say, let this snow leave as quickly as it came and lets get back to business.

Life in the eyes of a Hamptons Broker.

-Matt Breitenbach

Southampton - Twenty years ago, the roads of the Hamptons in winter were rolled up, and everything seem to shut down. Many restaurants were closed and the only saving grace was that the movie theaters stayed open.

Then, the Hamptons Film Festival came along to help enliven the beautiful fall here. After the horrendous 9/11 disaster in 2001, people began moving out here in the winter to feel safer.

Today, the Hamptons are vibrant in the winter, with more restaurants open, a lively arts scene active year-round, and, thanks to global warming, the weather is moderate often through December.

And so the Hamptons have become a great destination in the winter, and that means opportunities for winter rentals.

“The Hamptons seem to be becoming a winter destination as well as a summer destination,” said Matthew Breitenbach, associate broker for the Corcoran Group. “Christmas and holiday times are a draw, the restaurants have great prix fixes. It’s a lot of fun out here in the winter and it’s good for people to get away.”

Winter rentals in the Hamptons range from $1,500 to $5,000 a month for a moderately-sized house with three bedrooms and two baths, he said. “You get more for your money in the winter,” he added.

Robert Westfall, of East Hampton, is marketing his two-bedroom, one-bath house overlooking Three Mile Harbor as a winter getaway. The winter price, from now through April is $1,600 a month. “It’s really the type of place where one would come and be alone and have a knockout view any time. You can see land, bluffs, water, rare birds, deer. It’s like an ever-changing landscape in the winter. When you come here it almost like taking a pill, you just go ‘ahhh’.”

Westfall said he hasn’t done anything special to the house to make it winter-ready. “I didn’t have to do anything. As soon as you enter the house, it just feels warm. It has a new heating system, new roof, new paint and carpeting. This house would be an ideal winter spot for a writer. Last year, I rented it to an artist - a painter.” The house, at the end of Harborview Lane, off Three-Mile Harbor Road, is listed on hamptonsrentals.com, and the identification number is 295.

The most popular winter rentals are on the water, according to Tom MacNiven, senior managing director of sales, East Hampton Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “The second [most popular] would be village ‘walk to everything’ homes,” he said. The attraction of winter rentals are the peace and quiet of the Hamptons in the winter. Though there are many things to do, the roads are quieter and the crowds in town minimal. “I’m sure many a novel or screenplay gets written here off-season,” MacNiven said.

If you want to rent your house out in the winter, and market it as a get-a-way, there are many things you can do to get it rented, says Christine Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com (the online vacation home rental marketplace) and author of “How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment.”

“Obviously, more people vacation during peak season,” says Karpinski. “But there are still plenty of people who prefer to travel during the cooler months. Maybe they want to avoid the crowds, maybe they want to take advantage of the lower rates, or maybe they just want a break in the February doldrums. Your mission is to make your vacation home stand out from the many others that are available to potential renters. It’s that simple. You have to go the proverbial extra mile.”

Here are some of Karpinski’s tips for making your vacation property in winter climates appealing:

• First, “winterize” your marketing. It won’t matter how perfect your place is for a mid-winter getaway if people don’t know about it. If you’re like many vacation property owners, you’re already listed on at least one “rent by owner” website like HomeAway.com. Make the most of it. Play up features like hot tubs and fireplaces. Add a few “off-season” photos of your property to your website. Photos of the home framed in brilliant autumn leaves or dusted with snow will speak louder than a thousand poetic words.

• Consider off-season specials. Everyone loves a bargain, and in the winter, they expect one. “My favorite off-season booking magnet is ‘rent three nights and get one free,’” says Karpinski. “Or, when you get a call from someone looking to book for next spring or summer, offer them a winter special-say, half-price off a weekend stay - so they can come and check out the place early. That would be tough to resist.”

• Plan for snow! If guests should happen to get snowed in at your home, you want to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Make sure to have a snow shovel, ice melt, and a windshield ice scraper on the premises. The possibility of inclement weather is a good reason to have a selection of nonperishable foods on hand, as well as movies and books. You certainly don’t want a houseful of hungry, stir-crazy, cranky renters who are cursing their vacation experience (and by association, you)!

• Make your home baby and toddler-friendly. Appeal to people with children by including baby and toddler paraphernalia. A high chair and a portable crib should cost less than $150 combined, and can drastically increase your off-season bookings.

• Accept pets. Vacation properties that accept pets increase their occupancy by 10 percent to 50 percent.

By: Katy Gurly

When you accept pets, it’s okay to take an additional $20 to $25/night or $140 to $175/week. This extra (which pet owners would have to spend anyway on boarding fees) is enough to pay for any carpet cleaning that needs to be done.

Not sold on winter renting? Consider it “damage insurance.” Winter renting can ward off property damage. “I’ve heard stories of locked-up properties that have been ransacked by families of raccoons, and of broken furnaces that have led to burst pipes,” she says. “Houses that are empty for long stretches of time, especially in freezing weather, tend to have problems. If renters had periodically visited such homes, these issues could have been avoided or at least discovered early, before things worsened.”