Buying in Quogue, the ‘quiet Hampton’
In winter Quogue, "the quiet Hampton," has about 1,000 residents. In summer it blossoms to about 5,000 residents. This is part of the 2.7 miles of waterfront from the Post Lane bridge on Feb. 11, 2016. Credit: Barry Sloan
The East End Village of Quogue has fewer than 1,000 year-round residents, but the population blooms to 5,000 during the summer, says Mayor Peter Sartorius. Quogue’s 2.7 miles of waterfront are part of the draw, but Sartorius says it’s also the village’s “low-key feel” that is prized by the people who live there.
Quogue is often referred to as “the quiet Hampton,” says Theresa Thompson of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Thompson says the village lacks the Hamptons traffic, crowds, hustle and bustle — and that’s what makes it so desirable. Residents like the “privacy and serenity of the area,” Thompson says, and Quogue’s location makes it more accessible than points farther east.
Thompson says as you drive through the heart of Quogue village you may feel like you are in Nantucket, “surrounded by quaint shingled homes.” There’s a wide variety of homes on the market, both in style and price, she says, ranging from modest cottages to sprawling oceanfront estates.
Mayor Sartorius says the small village has a lot to offer — its own school, police department, volunteer fire department and the Quogue Public Library, the latter started in 1896 by a small group of residents who each donated $1 and a book. Quogue has a historical society, and the village is registered in the New York State Register of Historic Places.
Quogue attractions include Community Village Hall, where you can take in performances by the Hampton Theatre Company and the Quogue Junior Theater Troupe. Residents can also enjoy the village beach and the 300-acre Quogue Wildlife Refuge — a preserve that’s home to forests, ponds and diverse wildlife, as well as seven miles of walking trails that are open from sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year.
SALES PRICES
Between Jan. 1, 2015, and Feb. 5, 2016, there were 46 home sales, with a median sale price of $1,337,500, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $400,000, and the high was $5.7 million. During that same period a year earlier, there were 56 home sales, with a median sale price of $1,244,500. The price range was $300,000 to $14.4 million.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE
Students attend Westhampton Beach High School. In 2015, 62 percent of graduates earned Regents diplomas with advanced designation. That’s down from 68 percent in 2014.
OTHER STATS
Town: Southampton
Area: 4.2 square miles
ZIP code: 11959
Population: 967
Median age: 58.5
Median household income: $90,227
Median home value: $1.2 million*
LIRR to NYC: From Westhampton, 2 hours and 1 minute; one train at peak
Monthly ticket: $485
School districts: Quogue and Westhampton Beach
Sources: 2010 Census; mlsli.com; LIRR;
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI
RECENTLY SOLD
Quaquanantuck Lane, $4,087,500
Originally listed for $4,295,000, this five-bedroom Postmodern sold after 136 days on the market. The 2008 home offers five bathrooms and one half-bath, an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops and a formal dining room. There’s a screened-in porch, two fireplaces and a full finished basement. The home has a front porch and a two-level deck overlooking a gunite pool, hot tub and pool house. There’s a two-car garage on the .72-acre property, which is equipped with in-ground sprinklers. Taxes are $9,585.
Old Depot Road, $1.85 million
This five-bedroom house sold for $250,000 less than its asking price after 134 days on the market. The renovated 1910 home offers 2 1⁄2 baths, an eat-in kitchen with a butler’s pantry and a living room with a fireplace. An atrium-style family room overlooks the yard, which features a gunite infinity pool, porch, deck and stone patio. The .52-acre corner lot has a two-car garage and sprinkler system, and comes with beach rights. Taxes are $7,550.
Wintergreen Way, $705,000
After 296 days on the market, this four-bedroom Contemporary sold for $70,000 less than its asking price. The 1973 home offers two full baths, an eat-in kitchen and a master bedroom on the first floor. Amenities include a fireplace, hardwood floors and central air-conditioning. The .84-acre property is on a cul-de-sac and features an in-ground pool. Residents have use of a community tennis court and playground and access to Quogue Beach. Taxes are $4,110.
NOW ON THE MARKET
Starter, $849,000
This five-bedroom Contemporary offers four bathrooms, a fireplace, skylights and a finished basement. The 1.2-acre cul-de-sac lot features an in-ground pool and a tennis court. Taxes are $3,853. Steve Rosmarin, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-255-2213
Trade-up, $1.695 million
This five-bedroom Postmodern has 3 1⁄2 baths, a master and junior suite, a fireplace and hardwood floors. The .53-acre property offers an in-ground pool, porch and patio and comes with beach rights. Taxes are $4,871. Kimberly Misuraca and Eugene Gilyutin, Hampton Estates Realty, 631-288-6333
High-end, $19.995 million
This nine-bedroom waterfront estate offers nine bathrooms and two half-baths, a formal dining room, two kitchens and four fireplaces. There’s a heated, gunite pool, pool house, mahogany deck and tennis court on the 2.9-acre property. Christopher Foglia, Norma Reynolds Sotheby’s International Realty, 631-831-2515.
ON MULTIPLE LISTINGS
Number of houses: 52
Price range: $495,000 to $24 million
Tax range: $2,287 to $48,509