With the coming of Spring, there is a palpable feeling of light at the end of the tunnel, with Covid vaccines more accessible to a broader age range in our area. Throughout the pandemic, many real estate agents have felt the fear of exposure to the virus at each in-person appointment. Vigilance for the safety of ourselves and our contacts continues, as does the robust market that rose in the late Continue Reading

Since the springtime, the real estate market on Shelter Island has continued to be robust. As I predicted in my early summer market report, there has been a veritable tsunami of closings since Labor Day. After the 2016 Presidential election and then the December 2017 SALT tax reform, in 2018 the real estate market here had flattened, with the highest sale that year a little over $2M. It has since Continue Reading

Columbus Day-Indigenous Peoples Day this year is different from prior years. Instead of the tranquility that comes post Labor Day, there is the light hustle and bustle of people who are basking in the Autumn sun and enjoying the new experience of being on the island seven days a week, jogging, strolling with baby carriages and with their dogs. The need-to-see-a-house frenetic activity that happens Continue Reading

Spring and Summer in real estate on Shelter Island this year has been a study of peaks and valleys. As Labor Day approaches, there is a combination of optimism to the future, with some uncertainty. Where real estate is concerned, sellers are optimistic, with properties that had been patiently awaiting appreciation finally getting well deserved attention from a suddenly larger audience, buyers who Continue Reading

During the first week of July, Governor Cuomo announced that Long Island was ready to enter Phase 4 of the economy reopening, as the state recovers from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Real estate agents went from working from an isolated home office environment with no physical interaction with others, to selling real estate in person within a set of NY State regulations. These have Continue Reading

The news of the past week turned our country's attention to the shocking and senseless death of George Floyd and its aftermath, amidst the backdrop of the Coronavirus epidemic. Each day, as news broadcasts show split screens of protestors, scholars, media personalities and artists have offered insight, sometimes from their own personal experience, to the history of racial inequality in the United Continue Reading

This year, Memorial Day on Shelter Island was without its annual parade, but our streets were adorned in American flags and a service was held at the American Legion for those who gave their lives in service to this country. In contrast to prior years, restaurants and hotels were not bustling with tourists and daytrippers, but there was a palpable feeling of activity, with curbside restaurant Continue Reading

Incredibly, Memorial Day weekend is already here, but with differences. The pandemonium in the days approaching the holiday weekend is no different than in years past. Last minute customers are still in the market seeking a quick rental but longer term than in prior years. The most requested is a 4 bedroom water view or waterfront with a pool for Memorial Day to July 31st for less than $25K, a Continue Reading

As the weather continues to become milder and the spring flowers bloom, more and more people yearn for beach weather and all of the summer activities that go with it. Although this is only the beginning of the second half of May, the activity, or rather the frenzy, that real estate agents are experiencing is akin to what we experience in August. Rental inquiries are through the roof, with much of Continue Reading

During the first week of May, the race for prospective tenants to find a rental transitioned from a jog to an all-out sprint, bringing an average of eight new rental customers per day. Over the past week, my office transacted approximately ten leases, most of them hard-fought but thankfully successful. Two hurdles have been explaining to customers the concept of security and utility deposits. In Continue Reading