Summer Steals

While the Hamptons have seen crazy prices in the past few months - a $68 million home sold in Bridgehampton, a $1 million rental in Sagaponack - there are still summer bargains to be had, if you know where to look.

 

If you're willing to give up your dream of an East Hampton oceanfront cottage or a place in Sag Harbor, the areas of Westhampton, Quogue and Hampton Bays offer plenty of charm, proximity to the water and far more affordable rentals, even in this tight market.

 

"There's a lot less inventory than in years past," says Lawrence (Chip) Porter of Brown Harris Stevens in Westhampton. "There's a high demand for rentals because sales prices are so high and people are re-renting the same houses."

 

Yet, even with these constraints, Porter was able to show us quite a few Westhampton Beach and Quogue homes in the $40,000 range for the season. And many of the properties were right on Dune Road (most, albeit, on the bay side) with ocean access right across the street.

 

"Westhampton has a lot of really great things about it," says Porter, who has lived there for 23 years. "It's got the train, the Jitney and the airport. It's got water all around it and a marina, so it's great for boating. There are plenty of golf courses in Riverhead, about 20 to 30 minutes away.

 

"And there's a lot going on in town: the Westhampton Arts Center, good restaurants and concerts on the village green every Thursday night."

 

Indeed, Westhampton's Main Street is charming, lined with quaint boutiques, bookstores and restaurants. Porter recommends Simon's Beach

 

Bakery, Magic's Pub for hamburgers and Starr Boggs for seafood.

 

"Westhampton is really family-oriented," Porter says. "It's not about being social or conducting business - it's about being with your family."

 

That's not to say you won't run into a famous face here and there. Shoe guru Steve Madden has rented in Westhampton Beach for years, and in nearby Quogue glitterati like Susan Lucci, Michael J. Fox, Robert Evans and Scott Rudin own houses.

 

And while you might not be rubbing shoulders with Erika Kane or throwing grand dinner parties in your Westhampton Beach or Quogue rental - most affordable properties skew on the small side and have few amenities - you will have the same great views of the beach and the sunset over the bay.

 

About five miles east of Westhampton is East Quogue, which offers a lot more house for the money, although you will likely be sacrificing water views.

 

"In East Quogue, rental prices haven't changed much, and there's still a fair amount of inventory left," says Kathryn Merlo of the Corcoran Group in Westhampton Beach. "The season seems to be starting later because people are befuddled about what's going on in the real-estate market."

 

That befuddlement might work to your advantage, especially if you have a big family: The rentals in East Quogue tend to be large - in the 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot range - with yards, swimming pools and private tennis courts. But the area, surrounded by farmland and with lots of trees, has a distinctly rural rather than beachy feel, and many of the houses sit north of the highway.

 

"These homes are great for families because of all the amenities," says Merlo, opening the front door of an 1,800-square-foot Contemporary with four bedrooms, a heated pool and a Har-Tru tennis court that's available at $35,000 for the season.

 

As for East Quogue's downtown, it's just a few blocks long, with a gourmet market, liquor store, a couple of restaurants and a playhouse, but Merlo points out that "there's less gridlock here because Montauk Highway doesn't run through it."

 

Head four more miles east and you'll find yourself in Hampton Bays, a town that's been revitalized in the past decade thanks to an influx of established names including Starbucks, Chase and a King Kullen supermarket (with a Stop & Shop slated for next year). A refurbished LIRR train station sits just off Main Street; there's a five-screen movie theater downtown and a nearby mall anchored by Macy's.

 

But you'll still find plenty of local flavor in Hampton Bays, too, with dusty antique shops and quirky eateries, like Orlando's Cafe for excellent Mexican fare.

 

"It's the last town where there's a four-lane highway before it turns into two lanes," says Catherine Embrey of the Corcoran Group in Hampton Bays. "So we really miss all that dreaded traffic going east."

 

The rentals here are a true mix: everything from a 1900s-era Victorian with nine bedrooms, to a sleek Contemporary with a pool and hot tub, to a charming, secluded Cape. But what most offer, especially those in the Rampasture area, are fantastic views of the Shinnecock and Tiana bays - after all, it is called Hampton Bays.

 

"Rental prices have stayed the same, but there are definitely more people wanting to rent here," says Embrey.

 

No wonder, since the prices are astoundingly affordable - at least by Hamptons standards. You can rent a 1,600-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bath Ranch within walking distance of the bay for just $20,000 for Memorial Day through Labor Day.

 

Another similarly sized home with harbor views and a pool goes for $36,000 for the entire season. And that nine-bedroom 4,000-square-foot Victorian on the water can be yours for $55,000 for the whole summer.

 

"Not only are you surrounded by water in Hampton Bays, a water park and an aquarium that kids love are also nearby," says Embrey. "But there are also things for adults to do. Sunwater's Grill has a great happy hour and live bands."

 

And the beach isn't too far away from Hampton Bays: Just over the Ponquogue Bridge is a wide stretch of sand that doesn't look any different from the beaches in East Hampton - we promise.