Property listed with The Corcoran Group.

George Simpson's Suffolk Research Service, Inc. will be preparing the market report for Hamptons and North Fork Realtors Association (HANFRA). Contained in his report will be: 1st Quarter Unit Sale; 1st Quarter Median Price; Number of Transfers By Market Segment - 1st Quarter; $3.5 Million and Under; Over 3.5 Million, Pinnacle Properties; 1st Quarter Dollar Sales Volume; Market Figures for Five Eastern Towns - by Sub-Markets; Pinnacle Property Transfers - 1st Quarter 2008 East Hampton/Southampton/Riverhead/Southold/Shelter Island. The report covers all land use codes, and will be distributed by HANFRA, quarterly. Nice going, George. Better still, nice going HANFRA!

Moreover, Suffolk Research's second quarter report 2008 tells us that values of prime properties in the Hamptons are soaring (that's why they are called prime, Buster, less sensitive to egregious market variations) while other Hamptons area homes are experiencing price reductions. In Southampton Village, beach estates are up almost 80 percent from a year ago to a median $3.1 million and some have sold for as much as $60 million recently. In Speonk, however, in the past year prices went down 49 percent to a median of $316,000.

The reports tells us that in Sag Harbor home values are up 55 percent to a median $1.1 million. Yet in Greenport, homes have lost 29 percent of their value going to a median $298,000. North Haven, Bridgehampton, and Quogue all saw significant value increases, yet Westhampton did go down about four percent to a median value of $575,394.

Property listed with Prudential Douglas Elliman.

So the rich get richer, nothing new about that. Thanks for the numbers, George. Remember guys and gals, it is just a snapshot of now. Anything - up or down - can happen in the future.

Barbara Feldman, BFDesigns home staging and now selling for Coldwell Bankers Prestigious Properties in East Hampton has launched her website: www. BarbaraSellsTheHamptons.com and has put a link to Realty Takes on the home page. That's cool. Thanks, Barbara.

From, Ed Bruehl, sales manager, the Panoramic View in Montauk: "We are starting our "Traditional Homes' 'Design Off" television filming this Monday, July 21, around 12 noon. It is newsworthy. Plum TV and Traditional Homes will have camera crews on property, it should be quite a scene." Hope it sells units, as well, Ed. The views are breathtaking.

More from Mark Lee, Curry Realtors in Georgia: "The market at our coast is slow. I have tried to branch out to a larger pool of buyers. There is a lot of inventory which includes home sites, raw acreage, and homes. This area would appeal to folks from the North looking for a Southern getaway that might be good for winters and/or retirement. I have sold property to a gentleman from Wisconsin that comes down from October to March. He bought a three-acre homestead. Building cost is around $125 to $130 per sq. ft. - for a raised cottage, not including land. In most subdivisions lots are one-half to three-quarter acres. I have two under one acre - marsh front lots for $350,000 each. Most settling in this area are middle to upper income retirees, satisfied with 2,000 to 2,500 sq. ft. in heated space. Subdivision process is usually 90+ days if no problems are encountered.

"There is salt water fishing, boating and golf. Restaurants offer excellent locally caught seafood. For more sophisticated fare Savannah is 35 to 40 minutes by car up I-95 to the North. Sea Island and St. Simons are about the same drive to the South."

Pretty good information, I think. Why so much ink for the Georgia broker? It might trigger some innovative strategies as to reaching out, making a deal, targeting markets from away and taking advantage of currency variations. Markets can fluctuate, but we are still a prime resort with much to offer.

From Independent Insurance Agents, Brokers of NY, Inc. some more good news claiming legislative victory for coastal homeowners for those beachfront estate owners. (Didn't I tell you the rich get richer?). Sweeping legislation - developed in part by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. - designed to relieve the homeowners insurance crisis in the state's coastal areas. Both the New York State Assembly and Senate have agreed to the bill that Albany helped create. It will allow "Agents and brokers to offer their customers coverage that is similar to a standard homeowners insurance policy."

Richard F. Stott has announced the launch of Steelbone Design Company on Main Street, in Southampton: "Mr. Stott, an architect with extensive background in designing buildings, and formerly of Flynn+Stott Architects, a 10-year-old Southampton architectural firm, is the company's president and founder. Steelbone is comprised of three distinct practice areas: architecture, graphic design, and engineering. The services provided are highly integrated, supporting a continuum among architecture, custom design furniture, graphic design, and structural and civil engineering." Good luck, Mr. Stott and to all of you out there working hard in a market where, clearly too Realty Takes buyers should be buying!

But then what do I know? Except that East End real estate is a very strange business.