Andrew Doud 0:08

It's Thursday, everyone. I'm Andrew Doud. Time for our Happening in the Hamptons podcast, our weekly breakdown of the Hamptons market, new listings, and events on the East End. We are sponsored as always by New York Title Abstract, the Hamptons leading title insurance firm. Visit New YorkTitle.com. Today we are back from our Thanksgiving episode. Yep. So we have Steve Glick, Dave Rattiner, and joining us today. Talia Miller and Lisa Fox of the Miller Fox team. How are you?

Tahlia Miller 0:33

Good morning. We're great. We're great.

Andrew Doud 0:35

Welcome in. A quick thank you for the holiday treats. Yes. Now that we're in December, people generously stop by with cookies. Love it, yeah. And it turns out that Talia is an excellent baker.

Tahlia Miller 0:47

Thank you.

Andrew Doud 0:47

So these are great.

Tahlia Miller 0:49

Thank you.

Andrew Doud 0:50

Um so you guys got a lot going on, both with work and some events. So where should we start?

Tahlia Miller 0:56

Well, I think we should start with East Quag's holiday on Maine. It is a fantastic event. This is year four. We shut down the main street in East Quag from the fire department to Lewis Road, and this year we have about 120 vendors all making different items, food, gift. It really spreads the gamut. We have a DJ, we have the Southampton Showmobile with a full schedule of performers.

Andrew Doud 1:24

It's like a block party.

Tahlia Miller 1:25

It is, it's kind of like a holiday block party. If it's actually the brainchild of my Aunt Jen, who had this vision of like an old-timey town with lights strung up and a holiday craft fair, and she's really brought it to life.

Andrew Doud 1:42

That's awesome.

Tahlia Miller 1:43

Yeah, it's fantastic.

Steve Glick 1:43

It's very cool. So you put this all together? You're you're part of the committee?

Tahlia Miller 1:47

Yeah, so I'm on the so I'm on the committee, and Lisa and I also run our own table where we give away like slime. So we make holiday slime. Yeah, it's geared towards kids.

Steve Glick 1:58

Did you make the slime? I actually did this year.

Tahlia Miller 2:01

I did this year. I ordered the Amazon slime. Good for you. And it came and my kids and I sat at the kitchen table and we had an assembly line. That's incredible.

Dave Rattiner 2:10

Wow, you just leave it. Awesome. You are into it. Homemade slime.

Tahlia Miller 2:14

Well, I have to say, I think that I think that taking care of people, there's an art to it, and it really lends itself well to our business because how you do one thing is how you do everything, right? So if you can take care of people in your life, I like that. It translates to taking care of your clients, and that's something I think we pride ourselves in is we're always gonna treat people.

Andrew Doud 2:34

That's an excellent sound bite. Yeah, love it. That was good. That was she didn't even write that down. That was off the cuff. She genuinely means it. That's good.

Steve Glick 2:41

So hold on. So this holiday on Maine, this is gonna be Saturday, December 6th. And it starts at what time?

Tahlia Miller 2:47

One to five.

Steve Glick 2:48

One to five.

Tahlia Miller 2:49

The roads will be closed down at noon. So if you are going through or planning to be traveling that day, just know that the roads do close down at noon, but the event starts at one and it goes all the way until five. And at five, the elementary school chorus will be singing carols down Main Street and leading to the tree at the Lewis Park, which is where the Civic Association does their annual tree lighting. So the band, the chorus, they'll all be performing, and then the tree gets lit.

Dave Rattiner 3:18

Now, this almost sounds like a wedding. Your involvement in this, are you just like, are you in the zone like the whole time, like coordinating, or are you in general?

Tahlia Miller 3:27

I will tell you that my aunt does an unbelievable job. Really? She really does. She has an unbelievable job. She's got her hands in almost every part of this. This year we had a little group that siphoned off to curate what we're calling the Holiday Unmain swag bag, which is a $50 donation. And with that $50 donation, you receive a custom tote bag and discount cards and free giveaways from a lot of the vendors that we have at the fair. So all told, you'll probably be getting a hundred and fifty dollar value for your $50 donation, and that will help us keep going. It's an event that we, you know, we scrape together for next year. Exactly. It's really put together on like hours of community volunteering, uh, but we still need funds to help produce the event.

Andrew Doud 4:22

Okay. Um and to that point, tell us about these bags.

Tahlia Miller 4:25

Oh, so the bags are great. So there's they will have, like I said, a ton of different discount cards, some freebies, some samples. There is a custom West of the Canal Market Report from by our awesome Kelly Shelley at the marketing team in West Hampton. She did that for me. And a couple little cute giveaways from us at the Miller Fox team, some slime, some chocolate covered pretzels.

Andrew Doud 4:53

Uh so this is like it's like a tote bag. And when we're we're gonna take our picture as we do and post this on social media. So we'll put the bag in the photo with us afterwards. So you can get a look at that if you're if you're listening to this podcast from our Instagram page or go to so you can see what you'd be purchasing. But that helps raise funds to put this in the page. Exactly.

Tahlia Miller 5:12

So we are doing a pre-sale because it's a whole VIP experience. So the VIP experience includes the first half an hour of the day with Santa. So there's only a hundred there's only a hundred bags being sold.

Andrew Doud 5:24

Sold.

Tahlia Miller 5:25

So those hundred people get those first 30 minutes with Santa and they don't have to wait on that line for a photo. Wow. Um, so that's ideally you would if you want to.

Lisa Fox 5:34

I think you sold a couple of bags already.

Tahlia Miller 5:36

Ideally, if you want to do that, you would do the pre-sale, but they will be being sold at the event, at the Holiday on Main table. Um, and until you'd be able to pick them up then if you'd like to.

Andrew Doud 5:47

Nice. Okay. Um, all right, that's perfect. So let's talk a little real estate. What do you guys got going on as far as listings or anything? I know you guys got a listing that's gonna be coming on in January, a little bit bigger launch, but right now it is available.

Tahlia Miller 6:04

Yes, it's definitely available. 11 Peppy Court in Hampton Bay's is a beautiful redesign that a client of ours did. And we're just keeping it quiet through the holidays. It is definitely available. And if you're looking for a four-bed, four and a half bath, beautifully designed house with a pickleball court, outdoor kitchen, and pool, then you should call us. That's everything. Everything in the world.

Dave Rattiner 6:25

How important is the pickleball court these days? Is it I feel like everyone was talking about pickleball? Is it is it fading?

Lisa Fox 6:31

Um I don't think it's fading. I just think it's it's not new anymore. But I think a lot of people, from my experience, a lot of people play. It's just easier to play. And in all ages. Yeah, kid from kids to you know older adults. Like I everybody plays.

Tahlia Miller 6:48

And if you live on 1.6 acres, you should have a pickleball court. Yeah, you know, and also that doesn't have to be always what you do. It maybe your kids want a scooter on it. Maybe you want to play it, but there's also a basketball hoop there. So, basketball hoop there, yeah.

Steve Glick 6:59

Yeah, multi-purpose, you know?

Lisa Fox 7:02

Does it multi-purpose court?

Steve Glick 7:04

Yeah, this this house checks all the boxes. This is like an awesome entertainment house. It's a must see, guys. It's a musty. This is a beautiful renovation. 11 Pepe Court.

Dave Rattiner 7:13

Interesting like the street name. Pepe Pepe. Pepe, yeah. Yeah, it does look.

Andrew Doud 7:17

Um, all right, big picture. Uh Steve, what do we got for the numbers?

Steve Glick 7:21

Well, we're coming up Thanksgiving week. So the numbers were a little slower this week, obviously, because everyone was enjoying the holiday. So don't be alarmed. This is typical for this time of year, certainly for this week. 11 listings went into contract. Last year there was 17. That's a decrease of 35%. Two years ago there were only nine listings. So we're having an increase there of 22%. The breakdown of the 11 transactions, there was one between 5 and 10 million, 6 between 3 and 5 million, two between 2 and 3 million, one between 1 and 2 million, and one under a million. Dollar volume was 40 million. Last year it was 115 million, so it's a decrease of 65%. But two years ago it was only 26 million, so we're increased there of 54%. 13 new listings came onto the market. So it increases the inventory by two listings, the breakdown of 13 new listings, one between 10 and 15 million, five between five and ten, one between three and five, one between two and three, and five between one and two million. There were not any under a million dollars this week. However, the inventory is at 1,786 total listings, 1,364 active and 422 in contracts. So the active listings fell below 1400. So we're we're starting to see that happen.

Dave Rattiner 8:34

So low inventory right there.

Steve Glick 8:35

Low inventory. Now that we're in December, it's the in-contracts numbers will remain in the in the low teens, I guess, for the remainder of the year. And but that's normal. So I wouldn't, it's not alarming to me. This is pretty healthy data for the last week of November.

Andrew Doud 8:56

Yeah, and what are you guys seeing? I mean, is it I I guess this is just generally a quieter time of year, but what would be your advice for buyers or sellers if if they're going through December at this point? Do you stick with it? Do you do you wait to wait to list if you're if you're selling?

Lisa Fox 9:13

I I think it I uh yes. I I think the short answer is yes, because you don't want to have time on the market and people look at that even though the time on the market might be a very slow time because people aren't focused. I mean they're focused on Christmas and the logistics of all that and and maybe traveling and going away and all that.

Andrew Doud 9:36

And you're talking about a difference of three weeks, you know.

Lisa Fox 9:38

Yeah, I yeah, you're not losing, you're not losing anything. I think actually you're gaining quite a bit if you wait until after the holiday hub.

Tahlia Miller 9:46

But also, this is the time to prep. This is the time to contact your real estate agent. This is the time to get all of your ducks in a row, make sure that you're ready. So when you launch, you're going to hit with your feet on the ground and running.

Andrew Doud 9:59

Yeah, your real estate agent's still working. There's no need to all of a real estate agent.

Steve Glick 10:02

Well, you want to you want to have that listing ready. You want to take the photos now, get it ready, like like Tally said.

Lisa Fox 10:07

So time is great, you know, to have the time, you know, to look you're under the gun, you know, we can really make it make it great.

Dave Rattiner 10:12

And if you're a buyer, is is it an opportunity, an opportunistic time of year?

Tahlia Miller 10:17

Well, I would say, especially if the house is unoccupied, and that is traditionally the case here. Yeah, they have to. You know, strike while the iron's hot. If someone's not gonna be using the house, they might be a they're gonna be a lot more negotiable in getting it off their plate. Yeah, yeah. Because it's just something that they're gonna have to think about come January again.

Lisa Fox 10:36

And they also they have to carry it. So there's there's a money issue, you know. Exactly. Everyone's situation is different. You've got to heat it, you got you know, you gotta take care of it, and all that stuff. So yeah, no, I I I don't think it's a bad time to start looking for sure.

Dave Rattiner 10:50

Nice. That was always something when I was a kid, uh, you know, I always thought like, oh, it'd be great, I'll just buy a house and then I don't have to work because I just own the house. Wrong. I had that thought in like you know, high school. I was like, ah, these people that own houses, they don't have to work, they're just they're so lucky. You know, I remember thinking about it. Some people are very lucky.

Andrew Doud 11:12

I was talking to a buddy yesterday who's like, so like this broke in my house, this broke, this broke, and I was like, Yeah, man, that's how it that's home ownership.

Dave Rattiner 11:20

You know, like that show, home improvement. Remember that back in the day? It's a great show. Oh, that was so good.

Tahlia Miller 11:26

Um I will say there is nothing like owning your home and being able to like pull up your rocking chair and sit in front of your fireplace and just watch the crackle of the fireplace. That is my favorite spot, especially in the off season, like the holidays. Everything starts rolling, it's cozy, it's kind of cold outside, so you want to snuggle in. Yeah, I really that is the best part about being out here.

Dave Rattiner 11:48

Yeah, home ownership. There's something about it that puts you at ease for sure. I don't know what it is, but while simultaneously stressing you out.

Andrew Doud 11:55

Yeah. Um, so what do you got this weekend, Dave?

Dave Rattiner 12:00

What's what's well, like you said, and then let's also talk about Talia. I did my homework today. If you want to know what's going on in the world of Hamptons, you just gotta email Talia and say, sell me a house and then tell me where that is also a huge key, right?

Tahlia Miller 12:18

You want to be where you will live best. Yes, right? So for some people that's East Hampton Village, for some people that's northwest, for some people that's west of the canal. So you really gotta know what is my speed. It's your personality. Yeah, there's a personality behind each time. How does my personality fit into the Hampton? What are you needs? Exactly. So But talk to me about if you're an East Hampton Village person, you've got Guild Hall this weekend, you've got it tomorrow and on Sunday, which is fantastic. If you are a Wainscot lady, then maybe you want to go sip some wine at Wolfer for the win for their winter wonderland.

Andrew Doud 12:56

Yeah.

Tahlia Miller 12:57

Also, if you're looking to get wowed by a set of lights, you should just drive through East Hampton Village and look at the palm because it is as bright as the sun over there. Oh, really? They light the whole thing up. They light the whole thing up.

Dave Rattiner 13:10

It's so beautiful. East Hampton Village is so beautiful. It really is. It's crazy.

Tahlia Miller 13:13

And you know, all the towns, I have to say, all the villages are really doing a good job with keeping up with keeping up with it because their trees are lit. Southhampton is a little bit. You can tell like the leadership really cares about the town. Absolutely. Southampton Village does the best job with the Santa that goes across the street. It's unbelievable. It's really it gives you such a nice, warm holiday feeling when you're talking about the street.

Dave Rattiner 13:35

Talk to us about the holiday stroll in West Ham Beach on December 5th.

Tahlia Miller 13:39

So a lot of the businesses push out. Saunders does. Saunders does. Yep. They'll be handing out some fun goodies at Saunders. And the stores will push out and do discount racks and for holiday shopping and give out some give out candy canes. And it's just a really again, it's a lovely time to just kind of put on your coat and take a walk.

Andrew Doud 14:01

Mm-hmm.

Lisa Fox 14:02

And free and frequent and frequent local businesses too. Shop mom and pop. We need it.

Dave Rattiner 14:08

You know, the beat goes on. Like in East Hampton on Saturday, December 6th. Uh I think Santa flies in. Oh, by helicopter. My dad used to be my dad used to be Santa. Wow.

Andrew Doud 14:20

Phillish. He was the Jewish Santa. Well, I can see that actually.

Dave Rattiner 14:26

But he's retired. There's, you know, whatever. But um, but anyway, so from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. you got the holiday market, and 11 a.m. you got the East Tampa Middle School band, and at 12 p.m. you have the Santa Parade.

Andrew Doud 14:40

Wow.

Dave Rattiner 14:40

Go see Santa. So there is like a lot going on. There is a lot going on.

Tahlia Miller 14:44

And there's also some health trends going on too, because if you want to jump in on the cold plunge, on the cold plunge phenomenon, you can go with any of the beaches in Hamptons. They all have their own specific cold plunge. So they'll do a polar blare plunge. Also, Heart of the Hamptons does their polar plunge on the 13th, which is at Cooper's Yeah, and it's a fundraiser to help. I'm psyching myself up for that.

Dave Rattiner 15:06

I'm psyching myself.

Andrew Doud 15:07

You just gotta go. Just just do it.

Dave Rattiner 15:10

And then but you mentioned Wolfra, they have so at Wolfra on December 6th, they have the lighting of the vines, which is raises money for the Bridgehampton Childcare and Recreation Center, and tickets are 175 bucks, and that's December 6th. And they they light up the vines.

Tahlia Miller 15:25

Yeah, the all the vines.

Dave Rattiner 15:26

But you can also go to Wolfra for a bunch of other stuff too. There's a lot going on, man. There is a lot, it's awesome. December is awesome in the Hamptons. Yes. I will, I gotta say.

Andrew Doud 15:36

So if we could skip right from like the end of December to like May, yeah, yeah. That would be sort of like weather-wise and everything. Because like the holidays are great, a little chill in the air, that's cool. Then you get in like January, February, like, okay.

Dave Rattiner 15:48

I think the hardest month for me is March for me. Because February. It's a March month, and the weather's awful. Yeah, like February, you're like, it's gonna, this is awful. And so you plan a vacation in February. You you kind of expect it to be mentally, you're prepped for that. And it's like it's slow. But March feels like spring. But it is like it should be spring. It is not spring. Yeah. Mentally, when you hear the word March, you're like, oh, it's before May. You know, it's like school's almost up, you know. But it is cold in March.

Andrew Doud 16:17

Yeah.

Dave Rattiner 16:18

Hits me every year.

Andrew Doud 16:19

But that's all alright, that's good stuff. Anything else?

Dave Rattiner 16:22

That's what's happened in the Hantas. Oh wow.

Andrew Doud 16:25

Um well listen, anything you guys want to touch on before you let you go? Obviously, Holiday on Main is one more time soon.

Tahlia Miller 16:31

It's Saturday, December 6th, 1 to 5 East Quag Main Street. Please come come say hi, come make some slime. Grab some cookies, bags, grab some cookies. There is there are a ton of food and libations that will be served. Um, it's like an adult drink. It's an adult drink. An adult beverage. Yeah.

Dave Rattiner 16:53

Oh, a chocolate wit. Yeah, yeah.

Tahlia Miller 16:55

Yeah, the fire department's gonna be selling beer. There's gonna be coquito, there's gonna be all sorts of stuff. That's great.

Dave Rattiner 17:01

Topo chico? Is that what you said?

Tahlia Miller 17:03

No, coquito, which is actually kind of like a cinnamony bailey's type drink.

Dave Rattiner 17:07

Oh wow. And it's delicious.

Andrew Doud 17:09

It's delicious. You're so worldly, Dave. What did you say though? What did you say?

Dave Rattiner 17:13

Topo chico?

Tahlia Miller 17:14

What's the topo chico? It's a seltzer.

Dave Rattiner 17:17

It's a seltzer.

Andrew Doud 17:18

Is it really? It's a thing?

Dave Rattiner 17:19

It's a thing. It's Mexican seltzer. It's Mexican seltzer. And it's weird. It's like it's like brighter. That's the only way I would describe it.

Andrew Doud 17:26

Brighter in flavor or brighter in color? Yes.

Dave Rattiner 17:29

Yeah. How would you describe it? It's better. I think it's the best seltzer that you can get. I really do.

Steve Glick 17:33

Is it carbonated water? I gotta try this.

Dave Rattiner 17:35

The bubbles are smaller.

Tahlia Miller 17:37

Maybe.

Dave Rattiner 17:38

I don't know.

Lisa Fox 17:39

Wow.

Dave Rattiner 17:40

It's a thing. It's a real thing.

Andrew Doud 17:42

That's funny.

Lisa Fox 17:43

It's like a revelation over here.

Dave Rattiner 17:44

Anyway. Sure.

Andrew Doud 17:50

Well, thanks for joining us.

Tahlia Miller 17:51

Thank you for having us.

Andrew Doud 17:52

We're gonna let Dave get to whatever he's gotta get to today. Um, until next week, everybody, have a great weekend. I guess we'll maybe see you out in East Quag this weekend. And um, I'm Major Dell. That's what's happening in the Handits.