Aimee Fitzpatrick Martin - Press Coverage

BEHIND THE HEDGES

November 2018

HC&G

September 2018

BEHIND THE HEDGES

August 2018

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Giving Back to the East End Community

MARY SLATTERY THE CORCORAN GROUP

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BEAU HULSE

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY GROUP

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

Winston Churchill got it right when he said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

Last year, I joined the Westhampton Rotary Club and think Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” is also inspiring. As the board member in charge of speakers, each week I help coordinate speakers from all walks of life who inspire and educate our members. Our club members hold golf outings and spaghetti dinners to raise funds for scholarships and other charitable works and help feed the homeless. I was honored to receive the Rotarian of the Year and Paul Harris Fellow awards recently.

As a supporter of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, I sponsored their annual House & Garden Tour this year. I also volunteer for the Quogue Historical Society and am on the Westhampton Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee, which is great fun.

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I’m proud to say I am a past president of Southampton Rotary Club. As an international club, we are very close to eradicating polio throughout the world, bringing clean water to countries and supporting local high school students with scholarships. One of our philanthropy partners is Bill Gates. I’m presently the co-president of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s 501(c)3. We are the only shelter in New York State with an extensive training program to have one of our trained dogs become a companion of a soldier who is suffering from post-traumatic syndrome. I also sing and entertain at the Basilica of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, Maureen’s Haven for the homeless, the Fresh Air Home for children and the upcoming Octoberfest for Rotary. I am a blessed man to be able to give back to my community locally as well as internationally.

I am very involved in local charities. I am the East End Co-Chair of Corcoran Cares, which raises money through brokers and staff for East End Hospice; Ellen Hermanson Foundation at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, which ensures access to state-ofthe-art breast health care for East End residents; and i-tri, which helps our young girls with self-respect and personal empowerment through physical fitness. I am also on the Board of Have a Heart Community Trust and am very active with Southampton Arts Center and Bay Street Theater. As a real estate broker, I believe strongly in giving back to the community.

BILL WILLIAMS COMPASS

I have always been a fan of the underdog, so I am a big fan of ARF. We sponsor several events throughout the year that benefit ARF, including Holiday Pet Portraits in November. Last year, in my Compass office in East Hampton, we took portraits of over 75 dogs and received donations of over $500. It’s a really fun event and is something we will do every year.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

July 2018

ENTERTAINING MOMENTS

Wining and Dining, Hanging and Schmoozing with Clients

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

JOHN CHRISTOPHER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE

I was entertaining clients at home and our power went out. We had to do our entertaining via a Jawbone speaker and lit only by tiki torches! Another time, I was visiting Jordan and my group was invited to meet with the king. Of course, during the meeting my cellphone started ringing and I had to negotiate a bidding war. But then again, I did sell the house.

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A few July 4th holidays ago, before Uber, during a heatwave, I happened to be traveling on Montauk Highway.

There was a family on the side of the road with a bunch of suitcases next to an obviously disabled car. I pulled over to see if I could help. As it turned out, the repair truck was 3 to 4 hours behind schedule and the family was on its way to their summer house. You could see the kids couldn’t wait to get to water. I offered to take them home while the father waited for the repair truck. Needless to say, we became friends. A few years later, I sold their house and helped them buy another on the bay. Random kindness can go a long way.

I enjoy inviting some clients to attend this year’s WHBPAC House & Garden Tour, which I’m sponsoring. It’s a great tour of some of Westhampton Beach and Quogue’s finest homes and includes lunch at Starr Boggs. It’s always a good time, and who doesn’t love a house tour?

JOHN BRADY

NESTSEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

Probably my most memorable time entertaining a client was when I took the client for an early morning sail in the Great Peconic Bay. It was early, no wind and the water was like glass.

We were accompanied by man’s best marine friend. . . six dolphins.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

July 2018

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW Our Panel of Real Estate Experts Reveal Where They Wish They’d Bought Back in the Day GARY DEPERSIA THE CORCORAN GROUP

JR KUNETH HALSTEAD

MARTHA GUNDERSEN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

Considering prices in comparison to 20 years ago especially in good locations, I would have begged, borrowed and stole to own multiple Hamptons properties!

There is a special place in my heart and soul for Montauk and Amagansett and although today’s prices are higher than back when, there are still opportunities. The rolling terrain in Montauk affords unsurpassed waterviews, “cheap” in the late 90s and to prove priceless in time. And who could have known that the dirt value in the Lanes of Amagansett would be worth its weight in gold today? Just two decades ago these two examples were sleepers, but now both are pricey and competitive niche markets. Historically, Hamptons real estate is the most certain growth play in everyone’s investment portfolio. 20 years ago, everything was a bargain.

20 years from now, I will have the same answer.

I wish I’d bought anything on the water anywhere that could support a decent sized house and pool, and a dock would have been a bonus. Mecox Bay, North Haven, Meadow Lane on the ocean or anywhere on the ocean from East Hampton to Southampton.

Also I wish I’d purchased large tracts of land bordering reserves north of the highway in Bridge and Water Mill.

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

BRUCE GRANT

DANA TROTTER

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

I would purchase any type of waterfront, preferably oceanfront. 20 years ago, the prices were a fraction of what they sell for now

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Having grown up in Amagansett, I look back and wish I had purchased real estate in the Dunes and Amagansett Lanes. But, really, anything purchased 20 years ago would have been a great investment as we are in a very unique market where the dirt only gets more expensive as the years go by....

I wish I had invested in land and built a bayfront or oceanfront home on Dune Road in Westhampton Dunes after the Perfect Storm damaged many of the properties in the area. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed its beach and dune rebuilding project in 1997, it paved the way for a real estate boom and now these properties are selling in the millions.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

June 2018

LESS-THAN-PERFECT LOCATIONS Getting the most ouf of a less-desirable location AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

In Hamptons real estate, where “location, location, location” is everything, the best thing a seller can do is to properly price their property to reflect their home’s less-thandesirable location. No matter the location, if a home is priced right, it will sell.

JOHN CHRISTOPHER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

GARY DEPERSIA THE CORCORAN GROUP

I’ve sold a number of houses off Montauk Highway, including one three times in Woods Lane for higher prices each time. I’ve even sold a property on the tracks for $3.2 million in Amagansett. With these challenges, I’ve found that making the house compelling and camouflaging the offending views is the key.

First impressions are quite important.

Power wash the dingy gray shingles. If there are no shingles, then paint the outside of the house. Paint the front door an inviting bright color. Fix that loose brick or step. Get a landscaper to make the property as beautiful as it can be. On the inside, get rid of stuff! Declutter and remove as many personal photos as possible. If your daughter’s room is painted purple, change it to off-white or linen color.

Buyers want light and beachy. Most importantly, if by the train tracks, airport or highway, price it accordingly. ‘ ‘

JOHN BRADY

NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

Bad location: go for the berm to give some height, and from there, make sure the yard is fenced and add cypress. Once above the diesel engines, these should work to minimize the sounds of main roads and trains by quite a bit. After that, make the house as cute and clean as can be.

CAROL NOBBS

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE

DANA TROTTER

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

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If you build something special that is unique and full of high-quality finishes, buyers often overlook things like train tracks or the airports because of the product. Besides, the train and planes are really not a big deal when they take seconds to pass.

I would much rather a house near the railroad or airport than one on a busy road where the noise is constant.

If a house is not in an ideal location, the best practice is to make the outside most appealing. Gardens should be full of interesting plantings and flower beds. Set the house off with a pretty gate. Pay attention to the color of house and the front door—attractive colors catch the eye.

The inside should be white. Make sure to have updated baths and a sleek kitchen. The decorating style I like to show is that of Restoration Hardware—sleek and clean lined.

MARTHA GUNDERSEN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

Power washing, fresh paint, curb appeal, cleanliness and nice landscaping can all contribute to an attractive and desirable home environment in a lessthan-desirable location.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

May 2018

LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Brokers dish on their expectations for 2018 in the Hamptons!

JAMES PEYTON THE CORCORAN GROUP

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

GEOFF GIFKINS

NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

2018 has started very strong.

We had a record first quarter in both sales and rentals, up over 120% compared to the same period last year. We are predicting the second quarter will be even stronger, as all the indicators are there: internet traffic, consumer inquiries, and showing requests. The market is very active right now and we expect 2018 to be one of our best in years.

The West of the Shinnecock Canal real estate market continues to offer great values, especially in Hampton Bays, where inventory under $700,000 is selling very quickly, at or close to asking price. Inventory is sorely needed in the under $1 million market, and up to $1.3 million, in the Westhampton Beach area. My colleagues and I lament, “There’s nothing out there!” Highend luxury and waterfront homes in Quogue, Westhampton Beach and Remsenburg continue to offer amazing values compared to out east prices–as well as a much shorter commute from NYC. The continuing trend of homeowners listing their rentals on Airbnb and VRBO.com has had a definite impact on the rental inventory and market. It will be interesting to see what happens if villages with strict rental laws start cracking down.

Although we’ve seen our share of snow this winter, and while the city market takes a healthy breather first quarter, I’m seeing steady demand for Hamptons real estate in my niche north of the highway. Buyers looking for value and new construction still have good options given the lack of inventory. Older homes and underdeveloped properties offer buyers to create their own vison. And from the farm fields of Water Mill and Sagaponack North through Noyac to Bulls Head Bay, new construction is on the rise and in demand.

JOHN CHRISTOPHER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

JUDI DESIDERIO

TOWN & COUNTRY REAL ESTATE

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The high end is experiencing a nice bump-up, in my professional opinion, due to the stock market closing out 2017 with a 25% gain AND the new tax laws. For our clientele the new tax code is favorable—the corporate tax base is significantly reduced and so on. I believe at least the first half of 2018 will see more high- end sales than the past several years.

CAROL NOBBS

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE

I think the very high end will see a lot of transfers. Billionaires are playing Monopoly. As for the mid-range, it will be stagnant unless sellers take a bath.

The high end is going fast and the rental market is already ticking along.

We had a slow start to the 2018 season, with the weather raising its wet snowy head on the weekends. But we have had some diehards looking to buy to be in their new homes by summer.

Shoppers are definitely price sensitive.

As usual, listings need to be priced to sell. Those that are, are the ones being shown and offers being made.

An interesting trend is the $3 million and below market. People in this price range are weighing the new tax law as it relates to the secondary market. We have to see how this plays out as the year moves forward.

SOCIAL LIFE MAGAZINE

August 2017

BEHIND THE HEDGES

Memorial Day 2017

MY MOST MEMORABLE CLIENT

Warring spouses and summer rentals for the mistress, Anderson Cooper and Edie Beale imitators, East End agents have seen it all and then some.

Our roundtable of Hamptons real estate professionals share the stories of the most interesting clients they’ve ever had.

GARY DEPERSIA THE CORCORAN GROUP

I have had so many memorable clients, but one of the best stories is about one of my former exclusive listings a few years ago.

On the first day we put it on the market, a woman walks in to see it. Later that day she brings her husband, who I casually knew.

When he left, he promised me an offer the next day. Sure enough, I got the offer but too low to counter. A month goes by, he sees my ad in the New York Post and raises his offer. We are now off to the races and a month later have an accepted offer. Three and a half months later, much to the dismay of the sellers, we finally have a signed contract. He was a tough, tough negotiator but always in a way that was respectful. We closed a month later. We have since become friends, and as I always tell him, he was the toughest buyer I ever had but, at the same time, the nicest.

MARCIA ALTMAN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

One of the most memorable clients I’ve had was a young family man looking for a summer home for his family…and another one for his girlfriend!

Juggling appointments with him and his wife or with him and his lady friend was a bit tricky, but eventually I was able to find rentals for both, not too far apart but definitely not very close by.

Whew—that was a close one!

DOUG SABO

AIMEE MARTIN

NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

I had a client one January who was looking for a rental for the summer and wanted to lock in a place as quickly as possible.

The date he chose to look at properties was less than ideal, as we were expected to get a big snowstorm, but he was adamant that he wanted to go out and take a look. Well, the forecast did exactly as predicted and it just wasn’t possible for me to get from Southampton to Springs in the snow. When I called to cancel, he said it wasn’t a problem but continued out by himself to do a drive-by of all the properties without me. He wasn’t going to let the snow get in his way.

I was involved in the sale of Anderson Cooper’s two homes in Quiogue. What struck me was how accessible he was throughout the sales process.

There was no layer of assistants fielding his calls and emails—he personally responded within minutes and, unlike many sellers, he listened to counsel about pricing and offers. I remember his garage was filled with old mementos owned by his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. Amid the dusty treasures were two small statues of Saint Therese. My late Catholic mother was very devoted to Saint Therese—and a big fan of Gloria Vanderbilt—so naturally I was intrigued by the statues.

Our mothers even made their communions on the same day at the same church. When I told Anderson the connections, he insisted I take the statues. He was a memorable client and a true gentleman.

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BEHIND THE HEDGES

July 7, 2017

AMAZING AMENITIES East End brokers dish on what their clients want to see

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

GARY DEPERSIA THE CORCORAN GROUP

JUDY DESIDERIO

TOWN & COUNTRY REAL ESTATE

My clients are looking for outdoor living rooms and kitchens, finished lower levels if the lot permits, and roof decks if there is any sort of view.

They want real outdoor living spaces. We are a resort town. Our visitors come for summertime fun with family and friends. Having outdoor living rooms and outdoor dining rooms with fireplaces truly accentuate the beauty of the east end, and extend the season as well.

Most buyers I’m working with don’t want a fixer-upper or a project. They want turn-key all the way. I think it ties in with wanting an easier lifestyle experience. The amenities they’re after include indoor/outdoor living spaces for a complete lifestyle experience. From large screened porches to fully equipped pool cabanas, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, amazing pools and spas, it all adds to a luxurious lifestyle experience of enjoying time in the Hamptons.

They want state-of-the-art home automation systems, designed to make lives easier with the convenience of a voice command or simple push of a button. Integrated security, entertainment, lighting, heat/air controls, fireplace turn-ons/ offs, shades opening. One more thing is wine-tasting rooms/cigar-smoking rooms, designed to be a cozy get-away after the pool gets closed for the season.

ANNE CIARDULLO SOTHEBY’S

I find that people are looking for high–end professional prep kitchens off main kitchen: outdoor fireplaces; outdoor kitchens; theater rooms with very comfy lounging sofas rather than silly theater seats.

DIANE SAATCHI

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

MARCIA ALTMAN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

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Out here, people want multiples of dishwashers, refrigerators and clothes washers and dryers; smart house technology; an elevator; walk–in wine storage in or near dining and living rooms; and service kitchens.

My buyers want remote sound/lighting technology systems, radiant heated floors, and pool houses.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

July 21, 2017

WHAT I WOULD DO IF I WEREN’T AN AGENT? East End brokers take us inside their world

MARCIA ALTMAN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

MARTHA GUNDERSEN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

I think I would be a psychiatrist, since I have the training already.

That’s an easy one! If I weren’t a broker, I’d want to host a show on HGTV about buying and selling homes and living in the Hamptons.

Segments would spotlight historic gems (such as Grey Gardens and Dick Cavett’s Tick Hall), hidden bargains, and the most over-thetop estates on the market today.

It would include interviews with top builders, tours of homes and travel tips on visiting and living in our treasured Hamptons hamlets. I always wanted to be a broadcaster and, in fact, used to host a video news magazine that was distributed to 5,000 global employees at the Fortune 500 company I worked at doing public relations and marketing.

HGTV, are you reading this!?

My early background was in design, and it colors everything I do. I went to Parsons in New York for fashion. I did work in the industry, designing sportswear and leathers, in wholesale, and I had retail boutiques in NYC, Paris, and St. Tropez. I have subsequently become a painter and dabbled in interior design. But now, after being involved with selling amazing properties, I’d like to design and decorate homes, right down to the artwork and amenities.

Then I’d sell them as is—just bring a toothbrush!

MAZ CROTTY

NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

MARY SLATTERY

If I weren’t a broker, I’d be a country singer, wildlife photographer or lion tamer.

THE CORCORAN GROUP

I really love working as a real estate broker, as it is a career that utilizes all my previous work experiences and puts them in play. If I stopped working in real estate, I would go back to acting, which was my first career.

GARY DEPERSIA THE CORCORAN GROUP

I’d be a heliski guide in British Columbia!

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BEHIND THE HEDGES

August 4, 2017

Our panel of experts dish about house styles

ARCHITECTURAL APPEAL Modern, traditional, Mediterranean: what is our experts’ favorite kind of architecture in a home, whether one they’re listing or one they live in? What styles of architecture are particularly attractive to buyers here on the East End? Find out right here.

AIMEE MARTIN

DONIELLE CARDINALE

BILL WILLIAMS COMPASS REALTY

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

I personally love history and character. Some of my favorite structures are those that have been repurposed or reinvented in some way: an old, charming house that now has new life or something converted from a church, lighthouse, barn, school or commercial space. I had never been a big fan of modern architecture, but I am gaining much greater appreciation for it recently.

I think with most people’s lives being increasingly hectic there is something very calming about the simplicity and clean lines. What seems to be a favorite among buyers is the marriage of the old and new. More texture but less color. An old farmhouse, with a bright open floor plan and simple neutral color scheme throughout— shades of white/gray. Or a more contemporary structure with interior elements of iron and reclaimed wood and other materials.

My favorite architectural style in a home, whether living there or listing, is traditional with a dash of modern, especially in the kitchen.

Open floor plans that flow into the living and outdoor spaces are perfect for second, as well as primary Hamptons residences. 75 percent of the first-floor living space can be kitchen, living, dining, while the other 25 percent is a first-floor master bedroom. The entire length of the back of the house has large sliding glass doors that open up to outdoor dining, entertaining and a pool. Hamptons architect James D’Auria is a master of this type of design.

Many East End buyers I work with are attracted to homes that marry traditional architectural elegance with modern amenities. They want that “wow” factor when you walk into a house. Luxurious traditional materials in the form of stone fireplaces and cedar ceilings paired with ultra-modern walls of glass to take in water and lush views are appealing, as are open kitchens and living areas and screened porches for informal entertaining. The hardscape architecture outside is almost as important as what’s inside, including multi-tiered decks, infinity pools, pool houses with fully equipped kitchens, and outdoor fireplaces and fire pits.

It’s all about lifestyle. As for me, I stay awake at night designing my own dream home—and then I get my next listing and fall in love with that house. One thing my dream architectural style includes is storage, storage, storage!

DANIEL GALE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

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MARCIA ALTMAN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

I adore Mediterraneans, so when our home was designed, this was the direction we took. I gravitate to them because of my years of travel to France and Spain’s Mediterranean coasts.

On the East End, the enduring style is Shingle style, highlighted by gables, Palladian windows, wraparound porches and columns. More and more, though, the fashion forward are asking for modern homes. The sleek, open spaces with minimal visible details and dramatic lines are dotting the landscape from Westhampton to Montauk.

BEHIND THE HEDGES

August 25, 2017

DREAM DWELLINGS Agents dish about their ultimate trophy homes

JUDY DESIDERIO

TOWN & COUNTRY REAL ESTATE

The Warhol estate in Montauk!

JOHN CHRISTOPHER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL

Besides my own home in Sag Harbor Village, I would have to say Tick Hall.

Living in Dick Cavett’s oceanfront mansion situated on 20 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean would be sublime.

MARTHA GUNDERSEN BROWN HARRIS STEVENS

I think it would have to be the Maidstone Clubhouse.

Is there a better spot?

AIMEE MARTIN

SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

DOUG SABO

NEST SEEKERS INTERNATIONAL

BEAU HULSE

COLDWELL BANKER BEAU HULSE REALTY GROUP

In Southampton Village on Gin Lane is a personal friend’s home. The house has spectacular water views of the ocean and a tennis court. The owners know my wife and I love their home!

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In a heartbeat, I would live in the Elliptical House off of Scuttle Hole Road on Millstone Road in Water Mill. I loved driving by it as a kid and seeing the sheep nearby and thinking it was out of a fairy tale. Even today I still love its striking whimsical appearance. It’s like nothing else in the Hamptons yet fits in perfectly.

I’ve always dreamed of owning a romantic nooks-and-crannies-filled home that sits high on a bluff with sweeping views of the sea. It would have a seaside porch with a hammock for reading, falling asleep to the crashing surf below and daydreaming about the lives of its 19th-century past inhabitants. Dick Cavett’s Tick Hall, one of the Seven Sisters grouping of houses in the Montauk Association designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, is where I’d like to live!

DESIGN/

RESTORE | RENOVA

10 Wilcox Av

BEHIND THE HEDGES

December 11, 2017

NEWSDAY

December 11, 2017