GREENPORT, N.Y. — I'm going to ignore my selfish instincts here and go ahead and share with you a summer secret I've been keeping for almost 20 years. 

If you're a New Yorker looking to escape the city and want to really revel in the nearby sun, sand and salt water of Long Island, then skip the Hamptons — that over-hyped, over-priced, traffic-choked string of hamlets on the South Fork.

Unless of course, you like to stand around at exorbitantly priced events where you can see and be seen with bold-face names. In that case, head east on the LIE and when you reach Riverhead, where the mass of glacial till that is Long Island splits in two, stay to the right.

But if you're like me and you'd prefer instead to drop all pretense and spend your time actively exploring the prodigious, serene and scenic terrain the East End has to offer, then get off at exit 71, hang a left and head north to the Anti-Hamptons — the North Fork of Long Island.

My husband Steven and I visited both forks on our honeymoon 19 years ago and we have been North Fork regulars ever since, returning to the South Fork only under duress to visit aging relatives.

We establish a home base in Greenport and bike, hike, swim and kayak by day. By night we enjoy local wines and beer, dine at low-key, highly rated restaurants and watch the sun tinge the clouds with Technicolor precision as it sinks into the Long Island Sound. The sleepy, historic fishing village, with the frayed blue-collar feel where we quickly became known as "the honeymoon couple" that first weekend in 1994, has matured gracefully into a more sophisticated but still friendly town from which we mount our daily fitness excursions.

At the risk of ruining the North Fork's hidden, off-the-beaten-path purity, DNAinfo New York offers this insider's take on three worthwhile outings and favorite haunts:

Where to Stay

► We stay at the friendly, family-owned (for three generations) Sunset Motel on Route 48 ($110-$365/night) because every room has a screened-in porch with a view of the Sound and most have kitchenettes. There's an oversized central lawn, tailor-made for Frisbee playing, and a private beach that Steve and I cherish.

► If you need fluffy towels, a tub or sleek decor, however, you'll be happier at The Greenporter ($189-$369) on Front Street, which has a pool and restaurant, but no water frontage.

► The  Harborfront Inn ($249-$759), also on Front Street, is the only luxury hotel on the North Fork. It has a heated pool and rooms with balconies and harbor views.

► There are also plenty of B&B's to choose from, starting from about $200 a night. The only B&B we've ever stayed at on the North Fork has closed, but The North Fork B&B Association maintains a list of excellent options.

Getting Started

On the drive out, stop along the way for tastings at a few of the scores of wineries that have been instrumental in bringing positive attention to the region in recent decades. On a weekend jaunt in early May, we stopped at Castello Di Borghese Vineyard and Winery, formerly Hargrave, which was the very first winery in the region. 

While I sipped and chatted with the assistant manager, Evie Kahn, she invited us to attend their 40th anniversary celebration the following night, featuring opera music from Belle Voci and light fare from Noah's. Politely declining, tongue in cheek, Steve said he hadn't brought his tux. "No tux necessary here," Kahn assured us. "You could wear one of those tuxedo T-shirts to this event. We like to keep it simple out here."   

If you aren't bringing your own bicycle, call Brian at Eagle's Neck Paddling as soon as you arrive and he'll drop off rental bikes to any location in the area, usually within the hour. Then head to town to stock up on supplies. After picking up breakfast staples at IGA, we always hit Bruce's Cheese Emporium for an assortment of cheeses from all over the world, to pair with the wine I chose on the way out and the beer Steve fills his growler with at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company.

Once stocked up and ready to roll, head out to discover the natural beauty of the (formerly) best-kept summer secret in downstate New York. Enjoy your stay, but do me a favor and keep it to yourself, OK?

Bike and Hike — Greenport to Orient Point County Park

Start this trip with a bike ride to Orient. This 9.1 mile, easy-to-moderate ride will take about 45 minutes and will carry you along a stretch of Route 25 that is water bound on both sides, past farm stands, osprey nests, and breathtaking views of the bay to the south and inlets to the north. Birdwatchers will revel in the abundance of waterfowl.

Have lunch at Orient By The Sea. Bob Hasse and family have been serving fresh seafood from this super-friendly, prime location for 35 years. My favorite is the Orient Chowder ($8), New England style with a little kick, but everything on the menu is reasonably priced, simply prepared and delicious.

After lunch, cross the street and take a nature walk at Orient Point County Park, 48 acres at the tip of Southold Town, with a mile-long stretch of beach front. An easy 1/2-mile walk through woods will take you to the end of the island where the Long Island Sound meets Gardiners Bay (known as the Race). Scramble on the rocks, enjoy the scenic views surrounding the purportedly haunted Race Rock lighthouse and watch the Cross Sound ferries head out to Connecticut.

The ride back to Greenport is always harder than the ride there. Not only will you have a full belly, but you are also peddling against the wind. So when you get to Manhasset Avenue at the edge of Greenport turn left and reward yourself with a short detour to happy hour and live music at Billy's By The Bay. Billy's is a casual place in the Brewer Yacht Yard, known for its "Oyster-Mania," all day, every day. Appetizers are $3 to $15. Don't get carried away, though. You still have to ride back to wherever you are staying. After a shower, return to Manhasset Avenue for an elegant, delectable Italian dinner on Sterling Harbor at Porto Bello, owned and operated by Diana DiVello and her mother for 17 years.

Bike and Kayak — Greenport to Shelter Island 

For this excursion, you'll bike through the town of Greenport and take your bike on the North Ferry to Shelter Island ($5 round trip per person). From there, bike to the boat ramp at the end of Burns Road on Shelter Island and rent kayaks from Shelter Island Kayak Tours. Call ahead to reserve your kayak or book a guided tour. Shelter Island's hilly terrain will provide a much more challenging workout than biking out to Orient did. The ride from the ferry to the boat ramp will take about 30 minutes.

Once in your kayak, head to Taylor's Island and beyond to Mashomack Preserve. Home to a log cabin built around 1900, Taylor Island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds, open to the public, are the perfect spot for a picnic and a dip in the water.

After returning your kayak, on your way back to the ferry, stop at Whale's Tale for an ice cream cone and a game of miniature golf.

A nice spot for a casual lunch is The Dory ($8 to $25), just up the road from the North Ferry on Route 114. It's been there for 80 years and is the oldest and most famous watering hole on the island.

If you want to add a bonus hike to this excursion, check out Inlet Pond County Park on Route 48 when you get back to Greenport. The North Fork Audubon Society offers nature programs in this 55-acre preserve with 1.6 miles of groomed trails leading to the Long Island Sound.

Kayak-Hike — Orient Point State Park and Dam Pond Preserve

Drive or bike to Orient Point State Park. This is the same route that starts the first excursion above, but now you will go into the state park on the south side of the road when you reach the end, instead of the county park on the north side. From the entrance of the park, it's another couple of miles into the parking lot, beach and kayak launch. You may want to stop along the way as you head into the park and rest on one of the benches along the road, pausing to soak in the peaceful surroundings.

Leave the parking lot and hike west along the beach (an unmarked trail) at the edge of Gardiners Bay. When you reach the end make a U-turn to your right, heading back east on the other side of the peninsula along Long Beach Bay. Returning by the same route, you'll log a tad over 5 miles. Enjoy the solitude, since you probably won't pass more than a few fellow hikers. Dip in the water as needed to cool off.

After the hike, rent a kayak from the Eagle's Neck Paddling outpost near the parking lot. Then head east into Little Bay or west through Long Beach Bay toward Orient Harbor and Gardiners Bay.

Once back on shore enjoy a well-deserved meal and cocktail at Orient By The Sea, adjacent to the park entrance.

If you're still yearning for more nature and exercise, on your way back to Greenport stop at Dam Pond Maritime Preserve for a hike through 36 acres of woods along trails that lead to a protected bay, sound front and several distinct habitats. Even the locals are largely unfamiliar with this tranquil hideaway, frequented mostly by birdwatchers in the spring and fall.

SEE ALSO: 34 Things Every New Yorker Should Do This Summer

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The Hamptons — a favorite vacation destination of the rich and famous as well as New York's 'it' crowd — is actually composed of roughly 20 different villages, each one with its own unique flavor.

For this list, we ranked each destination on their quality of beaches, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and real estate, as well as how many celebrities live in the area. We know some people go to the Hamptons to escape nightlife and the celebrity scene, but we included them in this ranking because they have a big impact on local tourism.

We assigned each category a score between 1 and 10, meaning the highest total score any Hamptons town could get was 60.

Without further ado, here are the nine best hamlets in the Hamptons.

9. Sagaponack

This tiny village is renowned for its rural beauty, with some of the most scenic beaches in the area. 

The major downside of Sagaponack is that its too small for any theaters or shopping — for those, you would need to travel to nearby Southampton or East Hampton.

Well-known faces who have homes in Sagaponack include “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon and Goldman Sachs Chairman Lloyd Blankfein.

Beaches: 9
Restaurants: 5
Shopping: 4
Celebrity Sightings: 5
Nightlife: 4
Real Estate: 7.5
TOTAL: 34.5

8. Greenport

Often overshadowed by trendier hamlets, Greenport has both Noah's and The Frisky Oyster, easily two of the best restaurants in the Hamptons.

But don't expect to see any celebs while you're here — despite gorgeous real estate, Greenport is still dominated by locals.

Beaches: 5
Restaurants: 10
Shopping: 6
Celebrity Sightings: 5
Nightlife: 6
Real Estate: 7
TOTAL: 39

7. Amagansett

Technically within the town of East Hampton, Amagansett has its own special style with low-key, delicious restaurants and really nice, sandy beaches.

Though it's rare that you'll see a celebrity in these parts, Alec Baldwin has been known to make an appearance here.

Beaches: 8
Restaurants: 10
Shopping: 6
Celebrity Sightings: 6
Nightlife: 7
Real Estate: 7
TOTAL: 44

6. Bridgehampton

Bridgehampton has fantastic and unique boutiques and restaurants, such as Maison 24 and Candy Kitchen.

Though it currently isn't known for celebrity sightings, that could be changing soon now that Donna Karan has opened a boutique hotel in the neighborhood.

Beaches: 8
Restaurants: 9
Shopping: 9
Celebrity Sightings: 7
Nightlife: 5
Real Estate: 6.5
TOTAL: 44.5

5. Westhampton Beach

Westhampton Beach has clean, beautiful beaches.

It's also great for people watching: Not only do celebs like Anderson Cooper live here, but the restaurant Starr Boggs becomes quite the scene at night when the fabulous and wealthy mingle in the converted historic home.

Beaches: 10
Restaurants: 8
Shopping: 6
Celebrity Sightings: 7
Nightlife: 6
Real Estate: 7
TOTAL: 44

4. Sag Harbor

Known for being an artist haven, Sag Harbor is one of the prettiest villages with its cute storefronts and old-school Hamptons appeal.

It also has fantastic real estate that draws celebrities like Christy Brinkley. And if you want to see the celebs out and about, check out Italian restoTutto Il Giorno (Donna Karan’s daughter Gabby is a partner).

Beaches: 7
Restaurants: 9
Shopping: 6
Celebrity Sightings: 7
Nightlife: 6
Real Estate: 10
TOTAL: 45

3. Montauk

During the day, surfers flock to Montauk's Ditch Plains Beach for the best waves on Long Island.

Then at night, the pubs take over with a nightlife scene that draws both hipster and local crowds to this fisherman's village.

Plus, Montauk has some of the most succulent seafood in the Hamptons at restaurants like Dave's Grill and Harvest on Fort Pond.

Beaches: 10
Restaurants: 9
Shopping: 7
Celebrity Sightings: 8
Nightlife: 10
Real Estate: 6
TOTAL: 50

2. East Hampton

When it comes to nightlife, East Hampton has you covered with raging dance clubs like SL East and the Pink Elephant.

It also has stellar beaches, tons of shopping, top-notch restaurants, and plenty of celeb spottings. Essentially, East Hampton has everything.

Beaches: 9
Restaurants: 8
Shopping: 9
Celebrity Sightings: 9
Nightlife: 8
Real Estate: 8
TOTAL: 51

1. Southampton

Southampton puts all other villages to shame when it comes to three things: Shopping, celebrities, and real estate.

Southampton is packed with any kind of men's, women's, children's, home goods, or artsy store you could possibly name.

It's also a favorite spot among the rich and famous— mainly because the epic, multi-million dollar mansions that line the ocean are only affordable if you have deep pockets.

Beaches: 7
Restaurants: 9
Shopping: 10
Celebrity Sightings: 10
Nightlife: 6
Real Estate: 10
TOTAL: 52

Disagree on our ranking? Tell us your favorite Hamptons town in the comments!

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Restaurants In The Hamptons

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By the architectural standards of Southampton, New York—where magnificent old piles built by Yankee blue bloods and extravagant contemporary mansions constructed by moguls of finance and industry are perched along one of Long Island’s toniest beaches—entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch’s house is a modest affair.

Most buyers in this community would likely have torn down the ranch-style structure, which clocks in at 6,000 square feet, and replaced it with an imposing Georgian Revival or Shingle Style residence, replete with pomp and pergolas.

But its unassuming character suited Burch, the founder and CEO of Burch Creative Capital and the man behind the retro-preppy lifestyle retailer C. Wonder. “I didn’t want anything too grand,” he says. “I wanted it to feel more like a cottage than an estate.”

Modifications, however, were necessary to bring the place up to snuff—namely streamlining the awkward floor plan and upgrading the surfaces. New Jersey architectural designer Marina Lanina stripped the building down to its wood frame and reconfigured the interior, more or less hewing to the original footprint save for an expanded kitchen at the rear. Lanina, who honed her skills in the office of interior designer David Kleinberg, also added guest quarters above the attached garage and, at the opposite end of the home, constructed a second-floor master suite. Bridgehampton-based landscape designer Joseph Tyree recast the 2.75-acre grounds with, among other touches, a charming parterre garden that is visible from the master bedroom’s small balcony.

See inside Burch's unassuming cottage >

“It would have been a lot cheaper to tear it down,” admits Burch, who cofounded, with Tory Burch—his former wife, with whom he has three young sons—the clothing and accessories label that bears her name. (He also has been a major player in the development of the Faena Hotel+Universe in Buenos Aires and, in February, he became a co-owner of Nihiwatu, a 580-acre ecoresort on an island in eastern Indonesia.)

But the remodel in Southampton has resulted in an eight-bedroom retreat that is perfect for easygoing summer weekends with his companion, fashion designer Monika Chiang, and his children. (Burch also has three grown daughters from another previous marriage.) “I rarely go out when I’m in the Hamptons,” he says. “I prefer watching movies, hosting very small dinner parties, and hanging out with my kids.”

The getaway exhibits the spirited, all-American styling of C. Wonder, but the brand’s candied hues are toned down. “I didn’t really want to do my stuff in the house,” Burch says, adding that he began the renovation before launching C. Wonder in 2011 with a flagship store in Manhattan.

The residence is instead New York interior designer Christopher Maya’s interpretation of his client’s somewhat eccentric taste, which Burch himself describes as “a very quirky sense of classicism.” The decorator’s first meeting with the entrepreneur was inspiration enough. “Chris was sitting in the conference room with colleagues, a pink Hermès scarf wrapped around his head. I thought, This is going to be fun,” Maya recalls. The designer soon set about conjuring schemes for each room of the dwelling, aiming for an inviting, energetic atmosphere reflective of Burch’s playful personality.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 9 Best Towns In The Hamptons

Entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch relaxes on the porch of his Southampton, New York, retreat, which was renovated by Marina Lanina Studio and decorated by Christopher Maya.

Painted in Benjamin Moore colors, the living area features photographs by Len Prince (on the bookcase) and John Stewart (over the mantel), a Roy Hamilton Studios table lamp, and custom-made stools upholstered in a Clarence House horsehair.

Maya designed the dining area’s table and side chairs, the latter of which are clad in a Cowtan & Tout fabric; the photograph is by Han Lei, the rattan chairs are vintage, and the sisal is by Merida Meridian.

The New York Times is reporting that Bill and Hillary Clinton will be enjoying their Hamptons downtime in a different mansion than the one they usually rent this month.

For the past two years, the Clintons have stayed at the East Hampton home of real estate developer Elie Hirschfeld.

This year, however, they're renting the $200,000-a-month Sagaponack mansion of Republican donor Michael Saperstein, according to The Daily Mail.

Hirschfeld says the reason the Clintons aren't returning to his oceanfront house this year was because he didn't rent it out, but the Times counters that Bill and Hillary didn't want to return anyway since they lost a large chunk of their deposit from landscaping and utility costs last year.

"There was an issue with the security deposit last summer,"a source told The New York Post. "The Clintons were dissatisfied with how much money they got back.”

The political power couple will instead be moving into Saperstein's Sagaponack home this weekend. Their new rental is a 6-bedroom mansion with beach access, a heated pool, and a gym.

This is the summer home in Sagaponack that the Clintons are renting from Republican donor Michael Saperstein.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

The home was built in 2003 for $3.25 million, and the Clintons are renting it for $200,000 a month.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

It has a swimming pool and pool house in the backyard.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

The Daily Front Row has published an anonymous interview with a Hamptons live-in nanny who said she was only fed rice and Ramen noodles.

The New York nanny dished all about her Southampton employers, whose four children (all under 8 years of age) she is paid $250 a day to watch.

The entire interview is worth a read, but the most insane claim is that her employers only buy her rice and Ramen to eat in the house.

"All of the nannies in the past have been Filipino and they lump me in with them," she told interviewer Eddie Roche.

It's not as though the couple can't afford to buy her other types of food — the family also has their own live-in housekeeper who cooks the children's main meals, and the nanny says that the parents go out to dinner every night, either solo or together.

Here are a few other allegations from the article:

Red flags during the interview:"When I had my job interview the father pulled me aside and told me that when I worked for them I would have to make sure to babysit his wife, too, because she has no idea what she’s doing."

The absent mother:"She just goes shopping, or to the gym. They have a home gym, but she still goes to the gym in Southampton just to get out of the house. She shops and hangs out with her friends and goes to dinner while her husband is in the city working and I’m home with the kids."

The pervy father:"He has [hit on me], though I think it was unintentional — or he said it was, at least. He was drinking a lot and his wife and I are very similar looking. We’re both petite brunettes. He thought I was her and came up behind me and slapped my butt. I turned around and he looked really scared for a second, but then he smiled."

Read the rest of the interview at The Daily Front Row.

SEE ALSO: Meet The Residents Of 'Billionaire Lane' In The Hamptons

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It doesn't always pay to be a rich kid of Instagram.

A resourceful would-be thief used a photo of a lobster lunch posted to the social media site to track down Jonathan Cheban, who is featured sporadically on "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" as one of Kim's best friends.

The caption included the name of the Southampton restaurant Cheban was dining at.

Next, he posted a picture of his expensive watch with the caption "I think I overdressed my wrist today with my@jacobandco ...22 karat's is a bit much for daytime LOL cc @richkidsofinstagramm":

Shortly thereafter, according to the New York Post, a man "came over and started asking some questions" before grabbing Cheban and attempting to steal the $500,000 watch.

"Jonathan fought back to stop him, and he pushed Jonathan to the floor" before a security guard stepped in, the Post's tipster said.

Cheban reportedly declined to press charges because he was only in town for a few hours before going to Europe.

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In worst nightmare scenarios, an intruder has been found living in Jennifer Lopez's Water Mill mansion for an entire week while she was out of town.

John Dubis, a 49-year-old man from Rhode Island, was eventually found in the pool house — where he had been camping out — by workers on August 8.

Southampton police said Wednesday that the singer had an order of protection against Dubis, but it is unknown why the order was initially obtained.

After being found on the 3-acre estate, Dubis was arraigned on charges of burglary, criminal contempt, stalking and possession of burglar tools.

He's due in court Aug. 28 and is currently being held on $100,000 bail.

Lopez just purchased the Hamptons estate for nearly $10 million in May.

SEE ALSO: Someone tried to steal a reality star's $100,000 watch off his wrist in the Hamptons

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Jenny From The Block had a house guest and didn't even know it.

John M. Dubis, 49, was arraigned on charges of burglary, criminal contempt, stalking and possession of burglar tools after making himself at home in Jennifer Lopez's pool house for one week.

The singer-actress was away when workers found him.

Lopez purchased the Water Mill mansion in the Hamptons for $9.995 million in May, the New York Post reported.

The 8,660-square-foot home was built in 2004, according to Zillow, and sits on three acres of property on Bay Lane with its own cul de sac, so it's incredibly private.

According to The Post, sources said Lopez liked that there was enough room to build a guest house or tennis court in the future.

But apparently, the pool house will do.

This is the Water Mill mansion Jennifer Lopez purchased for nearly $10 million in May.

The Hamptons property sits on more than three acres of land, with the pool house tucked in the far corner.

The pool house is fenced in by shrubbery and a gate.

New details have emerged in the case of Jason Lee, a Goldman Sachs banker arrested on alleged rape charges in the Hamptons last week.

Now on leave from the bank, Lee is a managing director in Goldman's equity capital markets group. FINRA records show he has been with the firm since 1998.

According to a report in the East Hampton Star, a grand jury will soon indict Lee on charges of first-degree rape.

Here's how the Star says it went down: Lee and friend Rene Duncan went to a Hamptons restaurant to celebrate Lee's birthday where they met a group of foreign students, including the alleged victim. The party continued at Lee's rental home. At some point during the evening, Lee and the 20-year-old victim went into the house and the alleged rape occurred.

After one of the other foreign students borrowed Duncan's car to drive another home and did not return, Duncan called the police to report the car as stolen (the car was found the next day).

But the police still came to the East Hampton house. From the Star:

With police now at the scene, the source said, the brother of the alleged victim drew a female officer aside and led her into the house, where the 20-year-old, who was crying, was interviewed. According to the source, Mr. Lee then went to the driveway, got into his late-model Range Rover — which has dark, tinted windows — and tried to hide; it was there that he was found by police. Detectives were called, and the distraught woman eventually agreed to press charges.

The grand jury indictment has been fast-tracked because the victim had planned to return to her home country in the near future, according to the report.

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After five years of construction, designer Calvin Klein's minimalist mansion in Southampton, NY is nearly complete.

The home, on a 10-acre oceanfront lot on Meadow Lane, cost some $75 million to build, including the price of the land. 

The New York Times Jacob Bernstein delved into the property in this weekend's Sunday Styles section. The entire piece is worth a read, but here are some of the juiciest tidbits about the house, which has been the talk of the Hamptons all summer:

• Klein gut-renovated the original home on the property, then tore it down entirely and began building from scratch.

• Before starting construction, the designer built a life-sized mock-up of the project out of plywood, costing an estimated $350,000.

• He's been through three different architects in five years.

• Klein is extremely hands-on. "As [friends] tell it, he is here six days a week, sometimes for several hours at a time. He talks about the house nonstop," Bernstein writes. "He has personally vetted and approved every floorboard and object inside, even designed much of the furniture himself when he thought there was nothing out there that quite met his exacting design standards."

• He gets frequent construction photos and updates from his friend Aby Rosen, the well-known real estate developer who lives next door.

• Klein designed every room with sliding glass doors "so that anywhere he is can essentially become an outdoor space."

• The guest wing connects to the main home via an underground passageway. And another nearby building will be used as a screening room.

Photo above courtesy of Jeff Cully/EEFAS.

Read the full article at The New York Times >

SEE ALSO: Meet The Fabulously Rich And Famous Residents Of Southampton

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All Suffolk County wanted to do was sell a little strip of beach front property 1-foot-wide by 1,885-feet-long. The county set the bidding at $10, according to Newsday, and contacted the adjacent owners.

Simple, right?

Wrong.

Enter two bankers that would stop at nothing to get that strip — Kyle N. Cruz, a managing director at Centerbridge Partners LP and Marc Helie of Chevalier Investments. Both men showed up armed with $1,500 and the title to their properties on May 30.

And then it was war, according to the Suffolk County property manager (from Newsday):

"We've had one or two pieces start off at $400 and maybe go to $10,000, but never like this," Wayne R. Thompson said. "But you know what water's worth . . . You can say, 'Oh, yes, I have a right of way to the water.' "

Yes, Suffolk County is home to the Hamptons, and this specific piece of land sits in Napeague, a village of super-expensive homes just west of Montauk (where all the hip kids are going these days), and gives the owner beach access.

So maybe it's worth what was ultimately a bidding war that went back and forth 34 times and ended with a $120,000 price tag (Helie won, for the record).

Thompson told Newsday that he "gathered" that one man "really did not want the other one walking over his property to the water."

Cruz will now have to walk over Helie's property to get to the ocean a few hundred feet away.

Competitive much?

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Reports are in from Curbed Hamptons that model and actress Christine Brinkley has sold her gorgeous bayfront house in North Haven, New York  to Cantor Fitzgerald president Stuart Hersch for a whopping $10 million. It was on the market for $8.9 million, and Saunders Realty had the listing.

Apparently, there was an extra stipulation to the deal. As a condition of the sale, the Hersches agreed to never hire Brinkley's ex-husband, architect Peter Cook, to work on the house nor ever sell the house to him. 

The charming house was built in 1804 and sits on 2.6 acres of bayfront property. There is a private beach and plenty of space for additions. It is also just minutes from downtown Sag Harbor. 

This is the span of the property.

The house is in the town of north Haven and sits on 2.6 acres.

The house has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

Well, that was fast.

Back in July, shoe powerhouse Vince Camuto and his former beauty queen wife listed their historic Southampton estate for a staggering $48 million.

Someone obviously thought the home, known as Wooldon Manor, was worth the exorbitant ticket price because the 113-year-old property is in contract after only three months, The Real Deal reported in early October.

The gorgeous mansion has approximately 10,000 square feet of space, and sits on over five acres of land with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Agawam. It was represented by Sotheby's International Realty in the sale.

The estate — which has a gorgeous pool, pool house, formal gardens, a romantic green house, and tennis court — was previously owned by both the Woolworth family and Edmund Lynch, a founding partner of Merrill Lynch. Though it has been expanded and added upon by residents, the exterior and style of the home has remained constant for over a century.

According to celebrity real estate blog The Real Estalker, the Camutos redecorated the famous home after purchasing the 14.29 acres of land it sits on. The original $48 million price included the home plus five and a quarter acres of land — no word yet if the individual(s) who are in contract to purchase the home are also buying the nine additional acres Camuto and his wife own.

Wooldon Manor sits on the iconic oceanfront drive, Gin Lane.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

The home has plenty of room with five acres of land.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

Inside, the vaulted ceilings have exposed beams and sky lights.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

The New York Post's Jennifer Gould Keil reports that former Bernie Madoff partner/neighbor Maurice "Sonny" Cohn has sold his Amagansett beachfront home for $11 million. 

The home was listed by Elliman for $12.9 million. 

Cohn ran a feeder fund called Cohmad Securities (a combination of "Cohn" and "Madoff") that introduced investor capital to Madoff's investment company, according to ProPublica.

Madoff was convicted of running a massive ponzi scheme.  He is serving a 150 year prison sentence in Butner, North Carolina.  

Cohn and his associates settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission back in 2010.  

Now let's tour Cohn's recently sold beach digs.  

The unique oceanfront residence was designed by renowned architect Charles Gwathmey.

The home sits on one acre amid the dunes of Amagansett.

The home features three decks with breathtaking oceanfront views.

The 20 villages of the Hamptons have long been a destination for New York's "it" crowd, and there are plenty of historic mansions to prove it. 

Southampton's Normandy House, designed in 1923 and constructed over a seven-year period, was just sold to an unknown buyer for $28 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The six-bedroom mansion lies on 8.4 acres of land that front Lake Agawam. There are plenty of intricate, elegant details that are a reminder of the house's past — plus, there's a lakefront pool and a three-bedroom guest house. 

Enter the estate on a path lined with apple trees.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

The mansion lies on 8.4 acres of land.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

The main house is secluded behind old walls and lush foliage.

Source: Corcoran Group Real Estate

Outspoken conservative and Fox News host Bill O’Reilly has bought an oceanfront property in Montauk, on Long Island, which was last listed for $8.5 million, and plans to build a mansion on the site.

O’Reilly, who hails from Levittown, also on Long Island, told the New York Post that he bought the property on a 42-foot-high bluff as an investment. He razed two homes on the site to make way for his mansion, according to the newspaper, and hired Farrell Building Company – known for their so-called McMansions — for the project.

But O’Reilly told the Post that the mansion would be “low-key” and in character with the rest of the neighborhood.

“I am a Long Islander who only wants good things for the home team,” he told the Post. [NYP]

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Back in July, shoe powerhouse Vince Camuto and his former beauty queen wife listed their historic Southampton estate for a staggering $48 million.

The 113-year-old property, known as Wooldon Manor, went into contract after only three months, The Real Deal reported in early October.

But now, The Wall Street Journal reports that the property actually sold for $75 million, $27 million more than the listing price.

The reason for the price spike? The final sale price included additional property, bringing the total amount of land to 14 acres, according to the WSJ. The 10,000-square-foot mansion has more than 500 feet of ocean frontage and views of Lake Agawam.

An unnamed New York couple reportedly bought the property

The estate — which has a gorgeous pool, pool house, formal gardens, a romantic green house, and tennis court — was previously owned by both the Woolworth family and Edmund Lynch, a founding partner of Merrill Lynch. Though it has been expanded and added upon by residents, the exterior and style of the home has remained constant for over a century.

Wooldon Manor sits on the iconic oceanfront drive, Gin Lane.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

The home has plenty of room with 14 acres of land.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

Inside, the vaulted ceilings have exposed beams and sky lights.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

Steve Cohen hasn't even had the house for a full year, but he's already selling the East Hampton mansion he bought in March for $62.5 million, says the New York Observer.

However a spokesperson for Cohen has said, “As we made clear to the Observer, neither property is for sale.”

A few things about the house: It's on 52 Further Lane, has a pool, tennis court, media room etc. but the most important thing about it is that it has an ocean view.

Cohen bought the house at 52 after selling his home on 96 Further Lane. The 96 house just had to go because the ocean was blocked by fellow hedge fund manager Jim Chanos' house. And who wants that?!

Now that's all in the past. Apparently Cohen is done with Further Lane. It's over. Goodbye.

That said — now is definitely a good time for him to raise some cash. Cohen's firm, SAC Capital, plead guilty to insider trading charges last year and must pay $1.8 billion in fines to the Feds. It also returned all outside investor capital and turned into a family office.

The Justice Department has said that an investigation into Cohen himself, not just the firm, is ongoing.

Cohen is also selling his NYC penthouse, which was just price chopped from $115 million to $98 million.

Times are tough.

For the full report, head to the NY Observer>

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The New York Post reports today that Jay-Z and Beyoncé are looking to buy a Hamptons home, and recently checked out a luxurious property in East Hampton.

The home, on Further Lane, is listed through the luxury real estate firm Corcoran Group. Though the price has not been disclosed, insiders told Page Six that the home owners are asking for "around $25 million."

The 6,500-square-foot mansion has four bedrooms and over two acres of property, complete with an apple orchard, stone pathways, heated pools, and a tennis court.

There's also plenty of indoor space with dark wood floors, vaulted ceilings, and gorgeous furniture which would be included in the sale.

Last year, Jay and Bey spent a reported $400,000 to spend one month in Joe Farrell's Sandcastle home in Bridgehampton, with a bowling alley, movie theater, and spa. Looks like this year they could be ready to buy their own Hamptons hideaway.

Whether or not they buy the home, it's worth a peek inside.

Welcome to 466 Further Lane in East Hampton, the home Jay and Bey were reportedly looking to buy.

Source: Corcoran Real Estate Group

Though they'd have a few neighbors, the property is surrounded by trees and looks private. It sits on 2.11 acres.

Source: Corcoran Real Estate Group

The home has 6,500 square feet and a few fireplaces.

Source: Corcoran Real Estate Group

SP: Prices for land are fairly equal to if not surpassing pre-crash prices depending on location which has driven up the end user price, but we’ve been purchasing wisely and offering terrific product in very attractive price ranges.  The average size home currently is in the range of 5,000 to 6,000 square feet compared to earlier years where the average was 8,000 to 9,000 square feet.

Jeff Cully of EEFAS shot the video below highlighting some of Farrell's homes from 2013.

SEE ALSO: Architects Say These Are The 14 Best New Buildings Of The Year

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