Prime Highlights:
- The median home price in the Hamptons reached $2.34 million, up 34% from last year, driven by Wall Street and tech wealth.
- Luxury summer rentals are being booked early, with some waterfront homes renting for nearly $1 million for the season.
Key Facts:
- A record 82 homes sold for more than $5 million, while the average sale price rose to $3.76 million.
- Sales of lower- and mid-priced homes remain slower due to high interest rates, while the high-end market continues to boom with all-cash buyers.
Background:
The Hamptons are experiencing a big jump in real estate prices. The median home price reached $2.34 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 34% from last year, according to Douglas Elliman and Miller Samuel. The average sale price rose to $3.76 million, and a record 82 homes sold for more than $5 million.
Industry experts say the spike is fueled by wealth from Wall Street, tech, and private investment sectors. “Wall Street had a really strong year, and that is directly reflected in Hamptons prices,” said Jonathan Miller, CEO of Miller Samuel. High bonuses for 2025, expected to be the highest on record, are helping affluent buyers invest in these luxury properties. Hedge fund managers, private equity leaders, and venture capital investors are buying homes alongside Wall Street bankers.
While luxury homes are selling quickly, lower- and mid-priced homes are moving more slowly because of high interest rates. Analysts note that the rise in median prices is not just from price appreciation but also from a shift toward higher-end home sales. Cash buyers, flush with liquidity from stock market gains over the past three years, are driving the premium market.
Despite winter’s heavy snow and freezing temperatures “out East,” the summer rental and sales season is already underway. Gary DePersia of Corcoran in East Hampton said, “I’ve already rented most of my high-end properties for the summer. People are looking and booking early this year.” Waterfront homes are commanding impressive rates, with some rentals reaching nearly $1 million from July to Labor Day.
DePersia added that wealthy New Yorkers relocating to Florida during the pandemic continue to buy Hamptons properties as escapes from hot summers, while interest is also growing from California-based buyers. Inventory remains low, particularly for premium oceanfront homes, suggesting the market is unlikely to slow anytime soon.
With high prices, fast sales, and early summer rentals, the Hamptons are once again a popular destination for the country’s richest buyers and vacationers.
