Hamptons.com - Real Estate

Real Estate Offices Growing; Sales Up And Inventory Down

July 30, 2009

Prudential Douglas Elliman is moving to a larger Montauk office space. Brokers report they are seeing sales up, and inventory down, inviting prices by sellers. 2 comments

Real Estate Attorneys Report Recent Uptick In Contracts

July 22, 2009

We asked attorneys to give us their view of the current state of the East End real estate market, as so many readers questioned what they referred to as the "spin" of the industry, saying there had been a turnaround, so we figured real estate attorneys, after all, do the closings and draw the contracts - so they would know, right? 3 comments

The East End By Way Of England

July 22, 2009

Next week, by the way, we hope to have a market look from East End real estate attorneys' point of view. Many question what brokers may or may not be saying, but attorneys? Well they have the closings, the deals in contract, so to my mind, what they say has some weight.

Realtors Hopes Rise As Home Sales Inch Upward

July 15, 2009

Home sales are up for May nationally. There was an almost three percent bump. Realtors everywhere are celebrating, praying it is not a blink but the beginning of the turn around. 6 comments

Showing Your Best Houses Between The Raindrops

July 2, 2009

Rain, rain go away, brokers need a sunny day. 3 comments

Market Remains A Buyer's One

June 22, 2009

The bottom line is houses are still out there on the market so that the market remains a buyer's one, unless buyers are distressed. 5 comments

While Rentals Are Up, Construction Shows A Steady Climb Too

June 18, 2009

In positive market news, rentals are on the rise, construction may be on its way back and old trends are somewhat new again. As they say, the more things change the more they stay the same here on the East End where real estate is a very strange business. 4 comments

Area Realtors Report The Long Wait Is Over

June 5, 2009

We hear local businesses thrived last weekend. Our excellent restaurants were busy. Shops on the main drags were selling, marred only by tragic accidents on the road at the start of the season. So how did business look at the end of May? 6 comments

The New Trickle Down: House Sales To Ailing Mortgage Revenues

June 4, 2009

Well those brokers that predicted heavy traffic this summer may be right. This past weekend, right before Memorial Day, was indeed heavy. Last minute renters coming out realizing that summer is about here? And are they out there? Who knows? But busy, yes. We hope businesses did well. And realtors, too.

Rentals Are On The Move

May 27, 2009

Rentals are where the market activity is now and what's more - where it usually is, weather not withstanding, in a traditional season. The difference here is that there are really fine opportunities out there on the sales market as well. 6 comments

Glimmer Of Action On The Horizon

May 13, 2009

Housing inspections on the climb in high, medium and moderate price ranges and National Associatation of Realtors reports first-time home buyers accounted for 53 percent of transactions in last 12 months. 1 comment

They're Out There

May 6, 2009

As always folks the operative principle is supply and demand. And as the inventory diminishes, the curve goes up once more. So buyers out there, you have been noticed that the time is right for you to make your move on both deals and values. 7 comments

The Exclusive Listing Debate From The Renter's View

May 1, 2009

In the interest of fairness, brokers who argued against exclusive rentals cited exceptions, including owners' wishes and high-end properties. As to knowing who and who was not there - what happened to leaving business cards and notices of showing which are sent to landlord (client) with name of customer regularly? 8 comments

Urge To Splurge No Longer Fueling Art Of The Deal

April 15, 2009

The rental season has had a slow start. The weather, the economy, the governor's tax-the-rich strategy, and Bernie Madoff's scheme haven't helped things. Summer rentals and second home sales are a discretionary expenditure of the affluent. Does an exclusive listing, which lowers the rental agent's money earned, go to the bottom of that 30,000 listing stack? You can bet your mortgage on that one. 2 comments

And Now, The Age Old Question Of Exclusive Listings

April 9, 2009

Playing devil's advocate in these hard, competitive times where, in some areas and price ranges, people aren't exactly tripping over each other for a summer rental, homeowners with a sincere broker might get an extra push for their property by granting this privilege. 8 comments

Market Moves Slowly In The Right Direction; Just Be Careful What You Say

March 26, 2009

There's a bit of activity popping now that Spring is around the corner and the news on the street is the savvy are making their way back to the negotiating table. In the meanwhile, a word to the wise - it's all in how you plug it as long as you avoid the new list of "dirty words" in real estate advertising. 1 comment

Finding Opportunity Around The Corner; And A Nod To Old East Hampton

March 17, 2009

In these times of exponential ups and downs and financial crises, it is comforting to know that, all said and done, many things last. And some families manage to "stay put" carrying on a heritage that speaks to the land on which we live as more than just real estate. 2 comments

Don't Play The Would-A, Could-A, Should-A Game

March 11, 2009

Those who are fortunate enough to negotiate in today's market can get themselves properties they might otherwise have been priced out of and the "would-a, could-a, should-a - why didn't I?" refrain might be commonplace come next year if a rebound sees prices edging back upwards. 3 comments

Looking For The Good In The Neighborhood

February 26, 2009

The good stuff came from Tom MacNiven, senior managing director of sales at East Hampton Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate: "While so many of our colleagues are worrying out loud about all the bad things that might happen, we are focusing on the good things the are happening. 2 comments