Do you remember when I wrote about Melanie Ross' spec house on Peach Tree Lane in East Hampton's Northwest area? Melanie showed me her partner Mike DeSario's spec house next door as well. Both were built by Steve Schwartz, and what a marvelous builder he is. The homes were so remarkable not only in design, but the construction values on both properties were exceptional as well; the highest South of the Highway standards with North of the Highway prices; (North of the Highway, in the mid $3 million dollars). Molding in bas relief that looked like the Parthenon, laundry rooms on two levels, Vermont stone walls around the periphery, enough bathrooms for a high school, and of course a top of the line kitchen. I have seen many homes in my day, but these were like a resort unto themselves.

Property listed with The Corcoran Group.

At the time, Melanie said the properties were listed with all brokers, and on these pages we urged, "So brokers out there, if your customers in that range want value, these just completed properties should be on your show list."

In any case, despite their completion during the slow down, and besides a supposed glut in that price range in the Northwest - both homes sold - $2.85 million and $3 million dollars, respectively. Buyers were brought by The Corcoran Group's Fabio Velez and Michael Schultz. They have more land in that neighborhood, and I understand they are planning to build more. It just goes to show you that an outstanding product with exceptional value that is priced well is going to move as long as buyers are interested in coming out east.

It was just a year ago, on these pages that we quoted Prudential Douglas Elliman's Paul Brennan saying, "Bridgehampton has had a surge with Vince Horcasitas out front. The former head tennis pro at East Hampton Indoor Tennis turned real estate broker is on fire." Yes well that was some surge! Vincent was the number one selling broker for all of Prudential Douglas Elliman on Long Island in 2007. He called recently – getting beeped constantly during the conversation – to tell us he just closed on an Ocean front property, and has six more closings scheduled to date. There was such a rush that I suggested he email me with the details. Clearly a very busy guy, because the email never did come. So here's the news as I heard it. Congratulations Vincent!

And let's not forget the longstanding number one sales agent (and how-to author of "Abracadabra") on Long Island, Prudential Douglas Elliman's Lori Barbaria, also out of their Bridgehampton Office. In 2007 Ms. Barbaria was runner-up. (For the record, in 2006, Lori was first and Vincent was second). Yes, well, I'll take either one of those, please.

Property listed with Town & Country Real Estate.

Talking with broker/owner Judi Desiderio, Town & Country Real Estate founder (now with seven offices on the North and South Forks) and we came up with apprentice opportunities for local high school students. Of course, they can't get their license yet - too young - but if they are interested in that kind of career there are helpful things they can do and opportunities for them to learn from being in a real estate office.

Actually the idea wasn't as formal as I am describing. A grandson at East Hampton High School thought he might be interested in selling real estate out here and we ran into Judi at the bank. He could help out at the office and learn and she said "that would be fine." He hasn't taken advantage of that yet, but with Judi's willingness I think the idea is great for the industry as a service and as a pool for future agents. Use and train local kids, give back to the community, and at the same time our young people growing up here have a chance at making the kind of living they have to in order to stay in their home town.

And, in closing, got a note from John Golden whose real estate career started with Lona Rubenstein, Inc., then off to Alan Schneider, then to Sotheby's, then the hiatus to Maine, and now back here again in East Hampton with Prudential Long Island Real Estate. We had mentioned his huge Montauk deal ($20 some odd million) and more still going on in this column. Thanking Realty Takes for the items, John wrote as to my advertising copy at Lona Rubenstein, Inc. (I had forgotten this one along with a lot of other things).

Wrote John, "I think your best line from the annals of real estate one-liners, Lona, was '...poolfront.' I think you dreamed that up when there was nothing else to say."

Yes, well, I have told you repeatedly that East End real estate is a very strange business.