Happening In The Hamptons - Real Estate Podcast

Episode 269 - Vincent Horcasitas

Saunders & Associates Season 9 Episode 269

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0:00 | 16:32

July 9, 2026 | Discussing The Active Hamptons Rental Market

This week on Happening in the Hamptons, we’re joined by Vincent Horcasitas, one of the most active brokers on the East End, who has already reached 84 transactions by July and expects to surpass 100 this year. Vince breaks down what that pace really requires, why the Hamptons rental market is surging, and how high interest rates, changing travel habits, and buyer caution are pushing more people toward renting instead of purchasing.

We also take a closer look at the luxury Hamptons real estate market, where the high end is gaining momentum again. Vince shares what he is seeing with $20M-plus properties going into contract before completion, why buyers are touring during construction, and what makes a new build stand out in markets like Sagaponack, Bridgehampton South, Wainscott, and Sag Harbor. The conversation also gets practical, covering open house strategy, consistent weekend access, staging, and why presentation can completely change how buyers experience large modern homes.

To round out the episode, we review the latest Hamptons real estate market numbers, including listings in contract, dollar volume, new inventory, and the price bands seeing the most activity, especially the $3M to $5M range. And because it’s summer on the East End, we close with weekend picks from Stephen Talkhouse shows to Guild Hall events and a restaurant recommendation worth adding to your list.

Topics include Hamptons real estate, East End rentals, luxury new construction, Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, Wainscott, Sag Harbor, and summer events.

About Happening in the Hamptons Real Estate Podcast

Happening in the Hamptons is powered by Saunders & Associates, the #1 locally owned real estate brokerage in the Hamptons, and Hamptons.com, the Hamptons’ leading lifestyle brand for what to do, where to go, and what’s happening across the East End.

Each week, Happening in the Hamptons covers the people, properties, market trends, events, restaurants, local businesses, charity happenings, arts and culture, and community stories shaping life on the East End. From Hamptons real estate and homes for sale to weekend events, waterfront living, village life, and local lifestyle coverage, the podcast brings a grounded, local perspective to one of the most iconic markets in the world.

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Welcome And Sponsor Message

Andrew Doud

It is 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 by New York Title Abstract, the Hamptons leading title insurance firm. Visit NewYorkTitle.com.

Vince’s 100-Deal Pace

Andrew Doud

got the group back today. Steve Glick, Dave Retiner, myself, and today Mr. Vincent Horcasitas, the hardest working broker in the Hamptons. Woo-hoo. And first of all, Vince, always good to have you on our little podcast show. We were discussing what we wanted to talk about, and we always say, hey, you're busy. You've been working hard, right? You know, we get that. You are always busy. But for a little perspective, your goal, you said, is to hit a hundred transactions every year. Where are you? We're in all we're in July July, right? Yeah.

Vince Horcasitas

You know, , we're close. I mean, it's unbelievable. We're at 84 transactions. I mean, the team That's crazy. The team has been just kicking ass. I'm super excited. We're you know moving along, and , you know, to be six months into the year and already at 84 transactions, I'm pretty excited. I think I'm gonna hit 100 this year.

Andrew Doud

Now that's rentals and sales or just rentals and sales. Okay.

Steve Glick

Yeah, your goal is set, and it definitely seems like you're gonna surpass that. Um tell us about where's been a bulk of these transactions. I know it's sales and rentals, but you know you were talking earlier about the rental market.

Why Rentals Are Surging

Vince Horcasitas

Yeah, I mean I think the rental market's just like we we've we did 70. I think we did is it 70? No, not quite 70, because like probably like 60 transactions already in rentals. That sounds easy. Like 20, 25. Oh, yeah, those are the things.

Dave Rattiner

That sounds super easy.

Vince Horcasitas

Piece of cake where complaining about the pool temperature. You know, I want to put that in a rider to the lease.

Steve Glick

You know, that's like that's like two or three a week that you guys are putting these rental deals together. And you're talking about the amount of sheer volume like these rentals consume. And you were saying how much was that $10 million?

Vince Horcasitas

Yeah, 10 10 million GCI. I mean, that's a rental. I mean, I've been doing this for 26 years. We never surpassed 10 10 million. What do you think it is?

Steve Glick

Why is why this year? Why so many people coming out here to rent?

Vince Horcasitas

You know, I I think it's a combination, you know. I think , you know, a lot of people don't want to travel. Yeah. Um you know, you have still high interest rates. I think people are just , you know, for whatever reason, wanting to rent. I don't I'm not really sure. The I mean the sales, , you know, you're gonna go over the numbers shortly on the sales, and they've been off. And I think the first six months of this year will again show that, you know, we're you know, we're not having a great year if you look at the numbers in the just in the first quarter, right? We were off 40 percent in in in transactions and we were off 20 percent in dollar volume, and I think the second quarter is gonna follow, but I think we're gonna

High-End Deals Going Faster

Vince Horcasitas

have a big year. Really feels like the high-end market is really starting to roar.

Steve Glick

Yeah, you you were talking about that. Um with you've seen a lot of listings in the high end going into contract in recently, right?

Vince Horcasitas

Yeah, yeah. Three three properties in in Sagaponic, all over $20 million, have trade are are in contract before they're built. Wild. It's unbelievable.

Dave Rattiner

And it's sort of the script has flipped, right? Like I always the super high end would kind of just sit there for a long time, and then the the lower end were the things that carried the market.

Vince Horcasitas

Sort of the low end isn't low end anymore, right? What's what's the what's the mediu home price? The mediu price, yeah. No more million dollar houses, right?

Andrew Doud

That was the thing when I you know when I started ten years ago, it was like, and you know, Andrew would give a breakdown of what the market was, and there was there was still a number of houses to be found for like under a million dollars in various parts, you know, east of the canal.

Dave Rattiner

That's just it was going by. It was always hard. It was always sick.

Vince Horcasitas

When you see what's going on with the springs, I mean I started my career my first six months of when I first started, I sold eight houses under $300,000 in the springs. That was 25 years ago. You know, look at that now, it's like three, four million, two and a half. I mean, it's it's crazy what's going on. I mean, the numbers are staggering.

Spotlight Party Listing Highlights

Steve Glick

I only knew that years ago. I would have been fine. But Vince, the summer's started off with a bang. Um I know we had a party at one of your listings with Spotlight Magazine at 27 Fresh Pond. That was a great way to kick off the summer. Tell us about that.

Vince Horcasitas

Yeah, amazing event. Um, you know, lots of people there. It was , you know, the house really, you know, showed amazing. We had a lot of great pictures of it. And you know, it's on 3.6 acres, , you know, 9,000 square feet, , eight bedrooms, eight baths. I mean, it just you know, you push a button, the doors open up. It was just like a great spot to highlight an amazing property. Yep. Um, you know, it's still on the market. Uh we're getting lots of showings on it, and , you know, it looks great.

Steve Glick

I mean, we packed it out, we had a lot of you know, fancy people there. It was your typical Hamptons party, but it just really turned the house and brought it to life. You know, you're seeing all the activity that's going on. It lit up at night. It's just beautiful, modern. So I'm surprised it's still active. But look, it's July. I'm sure you're gonna get some new activity and new a lot of new showings over there at 27 Fresh

Open Houses That Win Contracts

Steve Glick

Pond. Um, talk to us about a couple listings that recently went into contract. Um 35 Sunset. People, right?

Vince Horcasitas

We we jumped right on that. We started having three open houses every weekend. The team was really strong on it, and , we ended up selling it through through a person that came through the open house.

Steve Glick

Yeah, and that brings up a great story. You know, we were talking to some of your teammates. You know, they had the open house on a Father's Day weekend, on Sunday, on Father's Day, and a lot of agents, you know, take the time off, or they don't really push open houses, they don't believe in open houses. But you guys and your team, you guys love open houses, right? That's the thing you guys do every single week.

Vince Horcasitas

We do 10, 12 open houses every week. We're you know, we we recently sold 28 lighthouse also. That's in contract. And you know, we kept pumping out the open houses on that. And so we're happy, you know, new construction in Sag Harbor. A couple I have one more listing there that's brand new. That's that that's a very good deal. It's about seven houses from a Bay Beach, 66 Hillside Drive East. Yep, you know, have open houses there this weekend again. You haven't seen it, the price is at 4.7 now. A lot of houses Peter Cook design.

Steve Glick

You represent a lot of properties and you're always keeping them open, you know, certainly on the weekends with you're not inconveniencing any homeowners, you know, open the house, give access to the people and to

New Construction Buyers Showing Up Early

Steve Glick

the agents. Uh Vince, you have also some new construction homes that are just being built and coming on the market soon, right?

Vince Horcasitas

Paramount is nearing you know construction on 136 Trelawney, which is Bridgehampton South, at an end of a cul-de-sac, sitting next to a reserve. So you have no one will build 2.4 acres with tennis. Uh we're probably 30 days out on that now. They're putting in the large trees. I mean, it's looking very stately. I saw it the other day. I took a picture of it, I shot it around to a few people, , showed it yesterday. Um, really, really, really special house.

Steve Glick

And you're getting showings on these houses that are under construction. Sometimes, you know, they people like to wait to see it built. Do you not get in the showings? But lately it's been they're they're ready to see it at any stage of construction, which is great.

Vince Horcasitas

We had a third showing on 84 Wainscot Hollow the other day, and they were just starting to put the windows in there, and that's really going to take shape. Uh, you could never get that kind of square footage on a property in Wainscott again. They changed the codes, it backs up to a reserve. The town bought the reserve in front of it, bought all the land in front of it. So , another Peter Cook design on that. Really, really special property.

Steve Glick

It's built by Paramount Development Group. And when is so that one's like you said, the one that's like, Yeah, we're looking later.

Vince Horcasitas

That's behind Trelawani. Trelawney is is the first one that'll be done, and then Wayne Scott Hollow will follow, and probably the next three months that'll be done.

Andrew Doud

I love the location on that house.

Steve Glick

That's a great it's amazing to see the transformation as you drive by and see these houses week over week. How these houses get built. And a house at this volume, a $20 million home, is a lot different getting watching it get built than a house for like a million dollars. So it's really cool to see how it grows every single week. Um, and I can't wait to see the finished product on these.

Andrew Doud

Done a lot of videos with Vince standing at a foundation, and then you know, a couple months later, there we are at a completed house putting together the final product. It's crazy.

Steve Glick

And someone could really come in now and watch it transform into their personal house, and there's even options to like customize it if need be, you know, at this stage of the game. So I I'm not surprised you're getting calls on these properties.

Staging Strategy And Favorite Listings

Andrew Doud

Especially when you're working on the phone.

Vince Horcasitas

We're putting in furniture in these houses now when they're done with new construction, which is really making the difference. Yes, 148 middle line. We just just staged that house. It looks, you know, it was a a big 11-foot ceilings and large spaces, and now that the furniture's in on the property really, really changes the whole thing on it. I love that property.

Steve Glick

We had the social life magazine party there for Memorial Day weekend, and place was packed, typical Hamptons party, and now there's furniture in it. Yeah, I can't wait to see it again.

Andrew Doud

I like it.

Steve Glick

Uh what do you think, Dave? What do you you like that house, right? One point of the city.

Vince Horcasitas

Well, your favorite, Dave, is your favorite is your favorite is Connor on 73 Jericho, right?

Dave Rattiner

I I think that is just such a beautiful house. I mean, in terms of the location, and Connor is such a good builder. That's the best house, Gregor.

Vince Horcasitas

That's the best house Greg Connors built. I mean, it really is it's it's it's out of all the houses I've been associated with him. When if you go check that out, I have a showing there, a second showing today there at 1 o'clock. Special, special property.

Steve Glick

Yeah, yeah. My my property I love 54 Cobb, right? You have this property that's cool on the water. It's beautiful in Warnemell. You got private street. Gotta check out 54 Cobb on the process.

Vince Horcasitas

It's the best waterfront property for sure. I mean, when you look around for waterfront and you look at the prices, I mean, I'm shocked that that property is still still available.

Andrew Doud

It'll go. That's a great one.

Weekly Market Numbers And Inventory

Andrew Doud

So long. Let's talk big picture. Uh Steve, what do you got as far as the numbers?

Steve Glick

18 listings in contract this past week, which is lower than we typically see. However, it was you know coming into July, and people are traveling to the Hamptons and celebrating the holiday. Nonetheless, this time last year there were 33, a decrease of 45%. Two years ago there were 29 listings, a decrease of 38%. The breakdown of the 18 transactions, one over 20, one between 10 and 15, one between 5 and 10, 7 between 3 and 5, one between 2 and 3, 4 between 1 and 2, 300 million. Dollar volume was 88 million. Last year was 185 million, decrease of 52%. Two years ago, the dollar volume was 136 million, decrease of 35%, but there were 32 new listings that came onto the market, increasing our inventory by 14 listings. Out of those 32 new listings, four were between five and ten million, fourteen between three and five. So a lot of inventory there in the three to five million dollar category, four between two and three, seven between one and two. And Andrew, there were three listings under a million dollars. They're still there, they still exist, right? Um the inventory is at 1,735 total listings, 1,383 active, so just under 1,400, and 352 in contract. So steady week. A lot of new listings coming on. Listings going into contract. This is very healthy market.

Andrew Doud

There you go. Um what do you got going on this weekend?

Weekend Events And Local Picks

Dave Rattiner

Lots of things. You know, I'm looking at the Steven Talk House, like the the staff here, the younger staff. Man, do they love the talkhouse? They're there.

Steve Glick

I think Dave Matthews was there last night.

Dave Rattiner

No, it was the it was it was a a band, like what is it called where they protect. A tribute band. A tribute. Yeah, yeah. Ah, see, but a really good one. Like a really good tribute band. Got me fooled. Yeah, sounded just like them. Yeah. So but the Steven Talkhouse, you know, I'm looking at the calendar for the Steven Talkhouse. It's unbelievable. July 10th, you have the candy shop band, you have Rap Boys on July 11th, ticket start at 56 bucks, and also on July 11th, you have Pink Lightning. But what's really cool is Steven Talkhouse for the locals on Sundays for 10 bucks, you can go do reggae night with Winston Irie at 10 p.m. So if you want to ride out the night Sunday night, that's a great great evening at the Stephen Talkhouse. Uh if you're looking for something a little bit lighter, you have Best of the Second City, which is Saturday, July 11th at Guildhall from 8 p.m. to 9 45 p.m. And if you go all the way out to West Hampton Beach, way, way out there, Darren Chris is going to be performing. He's a Broadway actor. Um he's been in a couple of hit shows like Glee, he's an Emmy Award-winning guy. Uh he's performing July 11th at 8 p.m. at the West Hampton Beach Performing Arts Center. And then I want to give a shout-out this week. The restaurant of the week this week is Lulu's, man. Lulu's unbelievable restaurant in Sarg Harbor, potentially my favorite. It's in the top five. You're going there this weekend, right? Yeah, it's in the top five. So we're gonna give a shout out to Lulu's. That's a great restaurant in Sag Harbor. Who's at a surf lodge?

Steve Glick

Who's at Surf Lodge this weekend? Snoop Dogg was last weekend. How do you how do you surf Lodge if you want?

Dave Rattiner

Well, are you planning on going? No. No? So why do you want to know? Just fantasizing about going. Really? It's the dream, right? We should go once. Yeah. Maybe we could do like a podcast.

Vince Horcasitas

Get a table. Come on. Yeah, maybe a bottle service will tell you. Maybe we need some bottles.

Dave Rattiner

Maybe we do a podcast, you know. It's like it's like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Well, the bands there are. I'm sure you know, I'm sure you're a big fan of Cassian. No. You love Cassian, right? I don't know if Cassian. What about? Well, he's playing. What about he's so Cassian's playing on the 11th? Nope. What about Brunello? You like Brunello, right? No. He's amazing. You don't like Brunello? Brunello, look at this guy. He's a great guy. He's great, great guy.

Andrew Doud

Anybody from the early 2000s scene? Is anybody like, are we on like you know Fairwell tours yet?

Dave Rattiner

Brunello at 4 p.m. Tickets are 113 bucks. Deck tickets are 339 bucks, or if you'd like a beach table, 3,000 bucks.

Steve Glick

3,000 bucks. There you go. Bam. Go. That's all right.

Dave Rattiner

We'll all throw in a thousand. We'll stay there for an hour. We'll say, what the hell do we just do? And we'll go, and then we'll leave.

Steve Glick

That doesn't include drinks.

Dave Rattiner

Yeah, that's all right. You know? Wow. Um remember in the olden days, you know, when we were in the in our 20s, in our 20s, you know, you can remember coverage you got there.

Vince Horcasitas

Has anybody been to Bagatel in Montauk yet?

Dave Rattiner

I haven't heard such good things about I I get to Montauk twice a summer.

Steve Glick

We don't get out much on this side of the table.

Dave Rattiner

I get to Montauk twice. It's like it's terrible.

Steve Glick

It's terrible. I see it on Instagram, so it looks awesome. That's how I live my life in the hammock.

Andrew Doud

My my life was Disney last week, so like you know, that's that's where I was.

Steve Glick

Baggatel.

Andrew Doud

The opposite of cool. Yeah.

Dave Rattiner

We should pick a day. I like I now that we're in our 40s. Well you go among I like the day parties. Day drinking.

Andrew Doud

You can't go on the weekends.

Dave Rattiner

I like the day parties. The evening parties, I'm ready for bed. Uh for sleeping. I'm ready for bed.

Andrew Doud

Oh, that kind of day.

Dave Rattiner

Not like weekday. You're talking about. No, you're saying day. Yeah, yeah. Drink during the day, you sleep during the evening.

Andrew Doud

You sleep at night, you know? Can I be in bed by nine?

Dave Rattiner

Yeah, exactly.

Andrew Doud

Early bird special. Yeah.

Dave Rattiner

Yeah.

Andrew Doud

Do you have a senior citizen's discount hour? For over 40.

Rapid-Fire Wrap-Up And Favorites

Dave Rattiner

Um, but it's all good. That's what's going on in the Hantons.

Andrew Doud

I love it.

Dave Rattiner

Um then what are we what what else are we doing? Are you still doing a Pilates, Vince? You still working out? Are you still doing that stuff?

Vince Horcasitas

Uh no, I haven't done a lot of Pilates. You know, I haven't I have a machine. I've been on, I've been on the down low. I've been getting over. I've just finished my last dose of amoxicillin, so I'm through the woods. Okay, okay. He's he's a tennis.

Steve Glick

What's your favorite restaurant? I think I know the answer. Oh, there it is. I knew that answer. What's your order? What do you get? What's your go-to order at Bilboquet?

Vince Horcasitas

I like the chicken.

Steve Glick

The Cajun chicken, right? Yeah, Cajun chicken. We can't go wrong with today. Sidney said that last week. That's it's two in a row.

Dave Rattiner

All right, Bilbouquet. You're always satisfied with the best. There you go. He has very simple taste. I like it.

Andrew Doud

Let's bend on that. All right. Everybody, thanks for listening. Vince, thanks for joining us. Uh good luck with the rest of the year. It sounds like you guys got it going on, so it's great. Um, until next week, I'm Andrew Dowd. That's what's happening in the Hamptons.