Anderson Cooper buys Hamptons house next door

Newsman Anderson Cooper has purchased the waterfront home next door to his Quiogue house, say sources with knowledge of the deal who asked not to be named.

Cooper paid $1.7 million for the 2.4-acre property on Aspatuck Creek. It includes two structures -- a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath shingled two-story home built in 1946 featuring two fireplaces, a billiard room and a slate patio, and a garage with an office on the second floor. There is also a gunite pool and spa and a poolhouse.

The closing was Wednesday.

Cooper made the purchase so that the current property surrounding his home will remain the same, one of the sources say.

He paid $1.15 million in 2003 for his existing home. Property and real estate records  indicate that he bought a one-story lodge built in 1910 with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths with a fireplace and a heated pool. The house is on two-plus acres with a detached garage.

The house on the newly purchased property belonged to Betsy Schulberg, widow of Budd Schulberg, the Oscar Award-winning writer of the screenplay  "On the Waterfront." Schulberg died in 2009. The property came on the market in February 2010 for $3.5 million. It was reduced several times. It was last listed for $2.25 million, starting last August.

Taxes are about $22,396 a year, according to the real estate listing.

The home was listed with Paul Brennan and Kent Rydberg of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate.