After house-hunting for months, Alex DiJulio was willing to buy in any Hamptons town he could afford.
Written content from Beth Landman
The art gallery director put an offer on a Maidstone Park cabin — far off the beaten path — the day it hit the market a few months ago, but he wasn’t the only one.
“I upped [the asking price] by $25,000 and said I would take it ‘as is,’ ” said DiJulio.
Bidding wars are a way of life, but lately they’ve become crazier than ever in the Hamptons. “People now line up outside these houses as if they are trying to get into a nightclub,’’ said Elliman broker Enzo Morabito.
James Mallios can identify. He could only find a modest three-bedroom rental in the woods near Sag Harbor — “a real no-frills situation — to house the summer staff of his Water Mill restaurant, Calissa. Cost: $100,000 a year.
“It was not an offer I was psyched to make, but as soon as I did they said the price had been raised to $130,000 [overnight]!” he said. “I don’t know of any other real estate market that would jump almost 30 percent in one day. It was pure avarice.’’
The Hamptons have never been known for bargain pricing, but even the most jaded spenders say everything from housing to boat fees to food is out of control this season. Blame it on more people feeling desperate to escape out east after being cooped up.
Park Avenue cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Anetta Reszko decided to open a summer pop-up in Southampton to accommodate her eastward clients, but when she attempted to sign her two young children up for day camp out there, she met a rude awakening.
A three-week session that had been $4,000 had jumped to $5,000 for each child.
“Everything has become outrageous,’’ Reszko said. “Not only is it expensive, but it’s almost impossible to get them in.’’
And it’s hardly just kids’ play.
“I’ve kept a small boat for years at a spot in East Hampton which cost $6,000 each season. This year they cancelled our slip and said a new one would be more than double the price, which we just couldn’t pay,’’ says David Hart, co-owner of the Sag
Harbor restaurant K Pasa. “Even more incredible is that there are practically no slips available anywhere.”
Celebrity hairdresser Julian Farel, who docks at the ShagWong marina in East Hampton, says that his docking fees more than doubled. “Last year is was about $230 per foot, but this year it is over $550. If you want to keep your boat in the water, you have no choice.’’ Read more from NYPost
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