Buying in Hampton Bays

THE SCOOP. Popular for its pristine beaches, parks and waterside restaurants, Hampton Bays is the only community in the Hamptons where boaters can access all surrounding waterways -- the Atlantic Ocean, Shinnecock, Tiana Bay and the Great Peconic Bay via Shinnecock Canal. It's also home to a commercial fishing fleet.

Hampton Bays has been growing, says Jude Lyons of Fourth Neck Realty, noting new stores have come in over the years. Shoppers can find a mix of chain stores as well as mom-and-pop shops.

Despite the influx,  much has stayed the same, says town spokeswoman, Jennifer Garvey, who grew up there, adding that community fixtures like the Hampton Bays Diner and Shinnecock Hardware on Main Street remain.

Most residents live there year round, say local agents. "It's a good place -- it's really affordable and has the best water access," says Terry Thompson of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Southampton. "For $300,000 or $350,000, you can get yourself a cute little house," Lyons says.

Todd Bourgard of Coldwell Banker Trading Places in Hampton Bays, added, "The market is off-the-hook busy." Prices have dropped, and buyers are taking advantage of low interest rates, he says. There's new construction, including a 15-lot subdivision of single-family homes and a 12-unit condo development on Canoe Place. The condos are priced from $499,000 to $689,000. "Three sold, and three are in contract," Bourgard says.

CO-OPS. Prices between $140,000 and $259,900

CONDOS. Priced between $249,000 and $689,000

SEASONAL RENTALS .(Memorial Day-Labor Day) Though not as prevalent as on other communities, there are some ranging from $9,000 to $60,000.

SALES PRICE. According to Town & Country Real Estate's most recent home sales report, there were 27 sales with a median price of $420,000 in the third quarter of 2011. In the third quarter of 2010, there were also 27 sales with a median price of $395,000.

ATTRACTIONS. Fishing, boating, surfing rule. Ponquogue, an ocean beach, is on Dune Road; Meschutt Beach County Park in on the Shinnecock Canal. Parks include Sears Bellow County Park and Red Creek Park.

MORE STATS

Town: Southampton

Area: 11.5 square miles

ZIP code: 11946

Population: 13,603

Median age: 39.3

Median household income: $68,750

Median home value: $350,000*

LIRR time to NYC: 2 hours and 10 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket: $429

Hampton Jitney: Stops in Hampton Bays

School district: Most students attend Hampton Bays; others go to Riverhead

Sources: 2010 Census; mlsli.com; Long Island Rail Road

*Based on sales in the past six months according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island