We’re just starting to look for a place in the Hamptons. Ideally we would like something central enough to be able to hook up with friends in the various “hot” areas/villages. Off the top of my head I know that East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sagaponak, Wainscott and Watermill all probably qualify. Streeteasy has a lot of other areas on the list but I don’t know which ones are considered “prime” or “central” Hamptons and which ones aren’t. Would love some input. Thanks!

throw Quogue and Amagansett on the list and I think you've got it.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Quogue????

The options on streeteasy are Amagansett, Bridgehampton, Center Moriches, East Hampton (North, Northwest, Springs and Village), East Moriches, East Quogue, Flanders, Hampton Bays, Montauk, Moriches, North Haven, North Sea, Noyack, Quogue, Remsenburg, Sag Harbour, Sagaponak, Shelter Island (too far for us), Shinnecock Hills, Southampton North, Southampton Village, Speonk, Wainscott, Water Mill, West Hampton Dunes, Westhampton and Westhampton Beach. Given what appears to be a huge amount of inventory, we would like to focus our initial search on prime areas which hopefully stand to appreciate the most.

Are there any good independent resources we can tap into for research purposes? We have a broker but clearly there’s a vested interest!

I second, please tell me Quogue was a typo or a joke Ali.

Just about anywhere east of the Sunoco station in Southampton ( i think it's magee street)

Apt boy, I wouldn't mind this one:

http://www.mlsli.com/unidetailsredo_test.CFM?MLNum=2397125&typeprop=1&start=7&rpp=10

ali

Here's an interesting bubble history and analysis (through 2006) of the five eastern-most towns: http://www.suffolkresearch.com/report.pdf

I'll bet Google has some kind of mapping application where you can flag the places you go and people you visit, to narrow things down.

Ali G-

The request was:

Ideally we would like something central enough to be able to hook up with friends in the various “hot” areas/villages

So, no matter how nice the house is, it does not fit the area per the request. Please read more carefully next time.

Lilly Pond Lane

Ali your link is not working for me but I'd certainly take a house in East Quogue on Dune rd (odd numbered address only)

ccharley
Glad to see your still around.
Can I ask you how long it took to get your security deposit back from Rivergate?

Thanks AH -- I made the similar association with Amagansett, which I think of as a little out-of-the-way and sleepy, but whose to say that all lo's friends aren't in Montauk?

ali

Hmmm... would asking for something central to most towns be even more vague? Some friends rent (so the actual location varies every summer) and other "friends" are whoever the kids have bonded with at school that year and therefore location may also vary.

Seems much more complicated than buying in the City!

There are a lot of variables besides "central" location. Need for proximity to the beach? Need to be an ocean beach (in which case Sag Harbor is 30 minutes away from any ocean beach)? Any thoughts of wanting a boat? What is your tolerance for a commute? That tolerance may vary depending upon whether you will be on a leave after-work Friday night schedule and return Sunday night, or have more flexible schedules. On a Friday night, the trip to Easthampton, Amagansett and parts east could be close to 3 hours. If you have a helicopter, of course, these things don't matter. Lot size?

If you haven't looked, HREO.com is the MLS service for the hamptons.

Just a quick geography tour of the towns you listed. If you want anyone to visit you from parts east, you would not look any further west than Quogue. That rules out the Moriches, Remsenburg, Speonk, and Westhampton. Although while there are some isolated, fabulous waterfront properties, Flanders is not part of anyone's "Hamptons," and Hampton Bays is a largely blue collar, year-round community that is probably not what you are looking for. Sag Harbor is a vibrant, cute bay-front town, and some nice houses that tend to be on smaller lots. North Haven, its neigbor, has larger lots and houses, including some very nice bay-front estates (if it is good enought for Jimmy Buffet, it may be good enough for you). North Sea and Noyac are between Southampton and Sag Harbor, mostly smaller lots and houses, a number of old bungalow communities, but also some large houses on the bay or inlets. All the rest of the towns straddle Montauk highway. "South of the highway" means closer to the ocean beach, although in some places (e.g., Quogue) Montauk highway is far from the ocean so it does not have the same cachet.

I personally place a high value on minimizing time spent in traffic. I think Amagansett is the most beautiful part of the Hamptons, but in my mind requires a helicopter or someone not doing the weekend commute. In terms of value, housing stock and convenience, I would put Shinnecock high on that list. If you are looking for something more upscale yet still relatively easy to get to, one of my favorite places is south of the highway in Water Mill near Flying Point beach. Central, avoids the single-lane Montauk highway, and a short walk to the best beach in Southampton. Many of the more "modest" houses here have been turned into McMansions in the last 10 years, so it will not be cheap by any means.

For some, the most desirable areas are the ones nowhere near any 'hot spots".

and the OP mentioned wanting the most appreciation, but wanting to be in an area that is already 'hot'. This statement has has no comments...

I am a real estate broker that owns a house in East Hampton. I love it out there.I have owned this house for over ten years and have been going out there for about twenty years. I know all the brokers out there and where the good deals are and not just in East Hampton. I can even get you a great mortgage. I'm a mortgage broker also.

I'd be happy to be your buyer's broker.

Ellen Silverman
www.esfunding.instantlender.com
Tel: 212-786-9682

nyc_sport - that's great, thanks! Will take that all into consideration.

MAV - this idea just germinated yesterday after looking at rentals. The most prudent thing would be to rent for a season and then figure it out. I assume prices take a cyclical dip post Labour Day. It's just painful when you can own for 10 months at the same cost as renting for August... I guess it would be far more painful to make a premature investment!

Alanhart - I like the way you phrased it.

if you can afford to buy/ rent in the Hamptons, maybe you can also afford to pay higher taxes!