This is what Realty Takes emailed to the industry: "Okay guys, I was invited to play in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas (never been there!). I want to write the June 18 column before I leave. Actually I would like to write it this weekend. So, help me out? Want to know what you, your customers, your clients, would like to see more of in Realty Takes? What would be of particular interest to any of the above or your corporate executives as well. Include what you'd like to see less of! Why not! Any thought at all, please email back ASAP."

Below is a sample of what came back: (It is a strange business).

Property listed with Sotheby's

"Hoffman of Corcoran says 'There are approximately 35,000 homes in Southampton and 25,000 in East Hampton,'" writes George Simpson, Suffolk Research honcho. "There are 17,652 residences in East Hampton (half of the number Hoffman says). There are 35,476 residences in Southampton. Good luck, hope you win $$ and prizes, don't stay in Vegas."

Marcia Altman out of Brown Harris Stevens: "…the Westhampton/Quogue market has been heating up! I just negotiated a bidding war on a beautiful pool and tennis contemporary in Westhampton with a dock on a navigable canal. This house lingered on the market for three years, but this past month of May brought three ready buyers who fought for the deal - took only three days from an accepted offer to signing their contract. When a buyer knows they've seen the right property, it's the one who acts quickest who gets the prize. Too many buyers think there is no competition out there. I'm here to say there certainly is." (Hmmm! No good luck?).

From Sag Harbor's Brad Beyer and family: Brad is AmeriSpec Home Inspections and writes that "it is going on its 20th year with over 14,000 homes done. Yikes! We all wish you the best of luck! Knock 'em out. Love Brad, Wendy (an Amagansett Smith, known to us since her East Hampton High days), Haleigh, and Jake."

Charlene Cheshire, at Town and Country, Westhampton Beach: "Lona, you go, girl, and good luck...this is televised isn't it? Obviously, everyone right now wants to hear about GREAT DEALS and I think it's also good to point out why this is a great time to buy (which it is), so best of luck!"

Property listed with the Corcoran Group

"First and foremost - best of luck! At Town & Country our big news is our expansion into Southampton spearheaded by our new Managing Partner Nancy McGann, a 27-year veteran who worked directly with Alan Schneider himself most of those years. Have fun Lona." Judi A. Desiderio Town & Country, CEO.

Ed Bruehl, Sales Manager Montauk Panorama by the Sea Condominiums: "Lona, Congratulations and Good Luck on your Tournament - Win it Baby! And, I would selfishly like to hear more about the other UnHampton. Montauk is becoming all the rage this summer. Agreed that the Sag Harbor hamlet is our other UnHampton, but wow is this year ever off to an amazingly strong start. With several new restaurateurs opening new endeavors and several new club owners calling Montauk home, this summer should prove to be a very strong season for 'The End', and I believe this is way overdue. Again, good luck in Vegas. Hope you get to the final table."

Diana Weir, Long Island Housing Partnership: "You will LOVE Vegas! Knock 'em dead please."

Paul Monte of Gurney's Inn: "Make us proud, Lona - and bring back millions (the Town Budget needs it)!"

Barbara Feldman, home stager, BF Designs: "Might be interesting to see what the most common stumbling blocks are to making a sale in this environment, how brokers are handling the issues, where they're getting buyers from. Also what tools they could use to help market properties more effectively other than the usual open house and advertising routines. Oh, and good luck in the poker tournament. You go get 'em, girl!"

Closing with some good news by inference! The headline - "Credit-crunch-squeezed homeowners and investors are unloading second homes en masse, offering up desirable vacation properties at some pretty steep discounts," reads smartmoney.com. The omission: a list the Hamptons did not make - top ten vacation homes areas with unreal buys because of foreclosure threats, (some in Florida, Las Vegas, California).

"When the market is down and there's blood in the streets, someone else's misfortune could work in your favor," says Ken Kamen, president of New Jersey-based Mercadien Asset Management. "Buying now entails some risk. After all, prices could drop even further. But for those looking to hold a property long-term for a family vacation spot or eventual retirement retreat should feel confident that they'll recoup the investment," he says.

Other good news. I haven't been called girl in years. So thanks guys!

East End real estate? Those who write about it may also be strange.