Buying a home in Peconic

Ask folks who live on the East End about Peconic, and they are quick to boast about community beaches. "Peconic has the nicest sugar sand beaches on the North Fork," says Peggy Brodis of the Corcoran Group.

"There are a couple of amazing bay beaches at the end of sleepy roads off Indian Neck Lane," adds Vicky Germaise of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. From the bay to Long Island Sound, one is never far from the water, Brodis notes.

This tiny hamlet between Cutchogue and Southold is also home to a few vineyards, including Pindar, Lenz and Osprey's Dominion. Organic produce can be found at Sang Lee Farms on Middle Road, while the post office, a cake store and a wine-tasting room is about the extent of the commercial center on Peconic Lane, Brodis says. Greenport Brewing Company is opening a location on Route 25 at the former Lucas Ford site, Germaise notes.

House hunters can find a mix of architectural styles, including capes, Colonials, Contemporaries, postmoderns, antique homes and summer cottages. The area attracts both full-time and part-time residents, Brodis says, adding, "It's a great place."

Homes listed for $600,000 and under and within walking distance of the beach are the hot market right now, says John Nickles of Lewis & Nickles Ltd.

SEASONAL RENTALS. There are a few available from August to Labor Day, with monthly prices ranging from about $9,000 to $20,000.

SALES PRICE. Like the community, the sample size is small. From June 1, 2012, to July 1, 2013, there were nine sales with a median price of $570,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low sales price was $390,000, and the high was $1,425,000. From June 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012, there were three sales. The median sales price was $950,000 with a low of $490,000 and a high of $2,150,000.

ATTRACTIONS. Many of the vineyards host events, including concerts (Osprey's Dominion has a summer concert series); Goldsmith's Inlet Park on Long Island Sound.

BY THE NUMBERS

Town: Southold

Area: 4.8 square miles

ZIP code: 11958

Population: 561

Median age: 60.1

Median household income: $81,500

Median home value: $615,000

LIRR time to NYC: From Southold, 2 hours, 40 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket: $466

Hampton Jitney: Stops on Main Street

School districts: Southold and Mattituck-Cutchogue

Sources: 2010 Census; mlslI.com; LIRR;

*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI