Tracing its origins to 1640, Southampton is the oldest English settlement in New York. It got its start as a farming, fishing and whaling village, but when the Long Island Rail Road extended into Sag Harbor in 1872, New York’s elite began seeking it out for its ocean beaches and natural beauty. Since then, Southampton has grown, but it’s still known for its beaches, large homes and even bigger estates. “It’s just an amazing place; the most amazing, beautiful beaches in the world, world-class restaurants,” says Ed Gaetjens, a licensed real estate salesperson with Saunders & Associates who has lived in the area for about 25 years and has sold homes there for seven years. “There are many ways to be on the ocean, to be on the bay. It’s just a really beautiful, picturesque place to be.” Southampton’s history as a vacation spot endures, with some people spending summers in their second homes here and leaving when the weather cools, but it’s not exclusive. Plenty of other residents live in the village year-round.
“It’s again one of the premier spots for banking, media, finance,” Gaetjens says. Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is also a major local employer. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20.8% of residents work in professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services, while a close 20.2% work in education, health care and social assistance. Close behind at 17.4% is finance, insurance and real estate. Plenty of residents commute to work, but an usually high percentage — 23% — work from home.
Spectacular views of the Atlantic ocean.
Southamptons oceanfront community is beautiful all year round.
Southamptons beaches are ranked some of the best in the nation.
Plenty of fishing spots all throughout Southampton.
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A long coastline on the Atlantic Ocean
Southampton is home to over 7 miles of coastline, all of it dotted with gorgeous beaches and windswept dunes. There are eight named beaches along this stretch, including the popular Coopers Beach. The public beach has a concession stand, plus lifeguards and live music on the weekends during the summer. Residents get a free parking spot at the beach, though its within walking distance of many homes. There are quieter beaches, including the residents-only Dune Beach. Located at the western tip of a spit of land that’s framed by both the bay and the ocean, Shinnecock East County Park has quiet, undeveloped beaches popular for fishing and self-contained camping — a kind of camping done in a vehicle that has all the necessities like water and a bathroom. There are a few inland parks that feature athletic fields, but the water is the focus in Southampton. Beyond beachgoing, fishing and boating are popular extracurriculars.
Southamptons famous coastline goes on for miles.
Coopers Beach In Southampton has been ranked #1 in the nation.
Plenty of beachfront properties to choose from in Southampton.
Coopers Beach is located off of Meadow Lane in Southampton.
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Large homes on private streets
The streets in Southampton are often lined with tall shrubs or densely planted trees, making many homes difficult to see from the road and adding a sense of privacy. Homes usually sit on larger lots, with the median lot size falling at just over half an acre; estates on multiple acres are also pretty common. “Some of the houses in the village are smaller and closer together but the bigger properties are in the estate section south of Hill Street,” says Deborah Pirro, a licensed real estate salesperson with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty and Southampton resident. Even Southampton’s smaller homes, which tend to be north of Hill street and closer to the village center, are usually at least 2,000 square feet. Homes closer to the village are more likely to have original architecture and have increased walkability. The median home price in Southampton is $2,895,000, much higher than the national median of $416,700. Homes can soar well beyond this, though. Most max out at around $20 million, but a stretch of waterfront estates in the area known as Billionaires Row can cost well over $100 million. “It’s where all the top people in finance, media, politics live on the ocean in Southampton,” Gaetjens says.
Spacious 21st Century beachside homes in Southampton.
New Traditional Colonial style home in Southampton.
Ranch style home with cross gabled roof in Southampton.
Colonial homes overlooking Southamptons beautiful ocean.
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Hurricane season on the coast, village police department
Just like the rest of Long Island, hurricane season impacts Southampton. There’s a moderate risk of flooding in the community, but wind factor is actually usually the biggest concern; there’s a severe risk of high winds.
Southampton Village has its own police department. In 2023, 10 violent crimes were reported, a 37% decrease from 2022. Property crime decreased 18% in 2023, from 61 cases in 2022 to 50 in 2023.
Shopping, dining and art galleries in Southampton’s downtown
Southampton’s walkable downtown is an almost horseshoe-shaped curve following Hill Street, Jobs Lane and Main Street. “Southampton Village is a quaint town with super high-end, pricey, really upscale boutiques and major retailers,” Gaetjens says. A wide range of restaurants dot the streets, serving anything from traditional American diner food to Mexican or Italian food. The little downtown is also home to the Southampton History Museum and, according to Pirro, several “beautiful” art galleries. “The Southampton Art Center is really vibrant,” she says. “There are gardens and sculptures to walk through. They do different events throughout the year featuring artists and they have wonderful programming for children and adults.”
Some of the many storefront you to enjoy in Southampton.
The Southampton Arts Center holds great events to attend with friends and family.
Enjoy plenty of art galleries in Southampton.
Get a colorful new wardrobe at Johnny Was in Southampton.
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Huge Fourth of July Parade
Southampton’s annual Fourth of July Parade is among the oldest and largest on Long Island, featuring dancers and live music performances as well as Revolutionary War reenactors alongside local marching bands. Other holiday events tend to bring residents together even during the off season. “In the winter, the tree lighting is a really amazing event; everyone lines the streets for that,” Gaetjens says. The tree lighting begins with a parade, followed by the lighting and a fireworks show and wrapped up with a visit with Santa at the Southampton Cultural Center.
A small, highly-rated school district
The Southampton Union Free School District gets an A from Niche. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1, the district consists of just one elementary school, one middle school and one high school.
Southampton High School is located off of Narrow Ln.
Southampton High School has newly renovated athletic fields.
Southampton Intermediate School main entrance.
Tuckahoe School is a public institution.
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The Southampton Bypass and LIRR, but a trek to the closest airports
Southampton Bypass is the only major road that runs through Southampton, and it does so along the village’s northern edge. This helps maintain Southampton’s quiet atmosphere, but it is a bit of a drive to reach other major highways. Even though Southampton is so far east, it has its own Long Island Rail Road station. According to the USCB, 14.9% of residents rely on public transportation to get to work. From the station, it takes nearly 2 1/2 hours to reach Manhattan’s Penn Station, but other destinations are much closer. It takes just 45 minutes to reach Montauk on the LIRR. The Francis S. Gabreski Airport is about 16 miles away, but it doesn’t have commercial flights — only private jets that can be chartered. The nearest commercial airport is the Long Island MacArthur Airport about 41 miles away. It has direct flights to 13 domestic locations and connecting flights to many more.
Character and Integrity - the two main ingredients that Craig attributes to his success and that of his company. After graduating from Stony Brook University, Craig embarked on what has become an illustrious 27 year career in real estate. During his career, Craig has enjoyed bringing numerous buyers and sellers together, closing over $1 Billion in real estate transactions.
Craig credits his success to a keen understanding of the Hampton's market, a passion for what he does, a strong work ethic, and a professional staff that shares his values.
Being a man of faith has instilled in him the understanding that business is more than just dollars and cents. Craig and his beautiful wife, Vanessa, currently reside in Remsenburg where they are raising their two children. Vanessa is a local elementary school teacher who relocated from Westchester County. Craig believes that both his personal family and business family will have continued growth in the future.
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