Off-Market in the Hamptons: What It Means and Why It Matters

The Private Market Is the Real Market

In the Hamptons luxury segment, some of the most significant properties never appear on Zillow, Realtor.com, or even the local MLS. They trade privately. through trusted broker networks, relationship-based introductions, and word of mouth.

This isn't new, but the scale has grown dramatically. At Hedgerow Exclusive Properties, over $700 million in sales volume since 2020 has been facilitated off-market. That represents nearly a third of the firm's total transactions, including some of the most notable trades on the East End.

Why Sellers Go Off-Market

Privacy. Many Hamptons homeowners are public figures: finance executives, entertainers, tech founders. They don't want their home, its interior, or its price point visible to the general public.

Control. An off-market sale allows the seller to control the timeline, the audience, and the narrative. There's no "days on market" clock ticking, no public price reductions, and no open houses.

Testing the market. Some sellers want to gauge interest at a certain price point before committing to a public listing. Off-market exposure provides that signal without the downside of a stale listing.

Exclusivity as strategy. In luxury, scarcity creates demand. A property whispered about in the right circles can generate more urgency than one sitting on a portal.

Why Buyers Need Off-Market Access

If you're searching for Hamptons luxury real estate exclusively through public listings, you're seeing less than 70% of available inventory in the ultra-luxury segment ($10M+).

The remaining 30%+ exists in private networks. accessible only through brokerages with the relationships, reputation, and deal flow to participate.

This is where firm selection matters. A brokerage like Hedgerow, with nearly $2 billion in total transactions and deep relationships across the East End, has visibility into opportunities that simply don't exist for the general market.

How It Works in Practice

A typical off-market transaction:

The entire process can take weeks rather than months, and the property may never appear in any public database.

The Bridgehampton Example

One recent example: an oceanfront Bridgehampton home with a storied past sold for $50 million in an entirely off-market transaction facilitated by Hedgerow. The property was never listed publicly, never appeared on any website, and the sale was only reported after closing.

For the seller, this meant complete privacy. For the buyer, it meant access to a generational oceanfront property that they would never have found through conventional search.

Accessing the Private Market

Working with a brokerage that operates at the top of the Hamptons market isn't a luxury, it's a necessity for serious buyers and sellers. The private market rewards relationships, reputation, and trust.

If you're considering buying or selling in the Hamptons and want access to the full market, not just what's publicly listed. a confidential conversation is the first step.

Barry McGovern is a luxury real estate broker and oceanfront & waterfront specialist at Hedgerow Exclusive Properties. For a confidential consultation or to discuss off-market opportunities, call 646-339-0154.