| Hampton Style - May 9, 2008 |
The Real Estate Brokers
Who Drive The Hamptons
Portraits by Lianne Alcon
Power Brokers have never looked so good. Our annual roundup of the East End's most prolific realtors features rainmakers who land such dazzling listings as the ones spot-lit here, from an $80 million dollar waterfront property to a sprawling compound with two (legal!) guest houses. These men and women are also the tireless ambassadors who know best how to match you to your dream house-at any price-point. While photographing them at some of their current listings, we had the chance to ask them about the strength of the local selling market (vibrant!), about the way to thrive in the buyers' current economic environment (cash is king!) and their favorite words to live by (location, location, location...and SOLD!).
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DePersia was drawn to the East End in the 1980s to windsurf the blustery stretch of Napeague Bay but soon found himself immersed in the equally fast-paced, adrenaline-pumped business of real estate. With an acute knowledge of the market, as well as a penchant for risk-taking and the good life, DePersia was able to sell more than 30 properties in 2007 totaling more than $200 million. Among his career milestones is a 26-acre property he sold last year off Ocean Road in Bridgehampton for $37.5 million, the largest land transaction South of the Highway to date. His most recent clients include Rudy Giuliani and Steven Cohen, but he works the entire price spectrum. "My success comes from loving what I do. I enjoy every facet of this business, from a $320-million purchase to the most modest listings." When he's not selling homes, you might find him helicopter skiing in Canada, or, of course, taking in the waves of our own Napeague Stretch. One of his current listings, pictured here and priced at $19,995,000, is Stone Meadow Farm-an 18,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom estate with horse stables, expansive patios and stone courtyards, sprawling across 8 open acres in East Hampton.
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"What I love most about this work is not the dollar amount, but the connection I make with a customer. It's the art of the deal that keeps me going," says Brody, who has been at Devlin McNiff for 15 years. "Customers are very discriminating right now; they're looking for something special, a house that has a wow factor they can be emotionally attached to, something that feels like their own." Brody explains, "That's where I come in. I'm their vision." His current portfolio includes a new subdivision off Osborne Lane. "I think the modern customer values something with charm and character. People are looking to get away from the McMansions." Brody loves the boutique-style, close-knit environment of Devlin McNiff, and despite the highly competitive nature of the business, he tries to keep it friendly. "We all need each other. And good brokers support each other. We've got to play nice."
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