Hamptons Real Estate Agent Spotlight: Kathleen Warner, Prudential Douglas Elliman

“I really enjoy the farms, seeing the fishermen, and the beautiful homes, the deer and delicious and fresh seafood.” Kathleen Warner is waxing poetic on what she loves about living on the East End, the surrounding nature and what it brings to life here in the Hamptons. Her unmistakable passion is apparent in a very personal connection to the Hamptons, a connection she also enjoys professionally as an agent with Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate in their Hampton Bays office.

Warner grew up in Glendale, Queens, but the East End was a frequent spot for family vacations. Her parents enjoyed it so much, they decided to make it their full-time home and moved out here after they retired, when Warner was 17 years old. She has lived here for 36 years now, having married into a well-established fishing family. Enjoying life in Hampton Bays with her husband, two children and their dog, Salty, Warner knows all the special spots the area has to offer, from the canal, inlet and three bays to the creeks and ponds off the beaten path. “It offers more waterfront than any other of the Hamptons. Great restaurants and an award winning (LEED-certified) green school,” says Warner, who was a certified teacher and a homemaker before she got into the business of selling houses and property six years ago.

Assessing the current state of real estate, she notes that the market is picking up and expects that, in the upcoming season, it’s going to be very busy and things will continue to move. And regardless of which side of the deal you’re on, Warner has some advice share.

For people looking to buy, “it is a really good idea to rent if you’re looking to buy a house,” Warner says. “Then you’re able to find out what exactly you want in a future home. This is especially important for people who are just getting started.”

On the other side of the real estate coin, Warner points out that a huge mistake many sellers make is that they don’t use agencies and their websites to reach the vast number of potential buyers. “Ninety-six percent of all buyers today see property online,” she reveals. “You should deal with a big outreach online. You’ll receive maximum exposure.”

As for new real estate agents, she recommends they not take on too many listings at once, and to take time with each listing. Warner dedicates extra time to finding and selling each home because each one is unique and deserves special attention, she offers. But she makes sure there’s time to enjoy the very area in which those homes are found, too. When she isn’t in the office or showing property to potential buyers, Warner can be found at one of the many beaches in Hampton Bays, walking around the downtown are, or biking. She is also a fan of reading and going to local yard sales.

Hampton Bays offers a wide variety of homes, with ready access to all that the Hamptons have to offer. Warner describes three of the most interesting houses that she is selling in Hampton Bays right now:

First is a stunning 1930s Victorian-style house, which is totally renovated with three bedrooms, two baths, a wood-burning stove and original crown molding. It has stained glass windows, fir floors and central air conditioning, as well as a legal one-bedroom cottage, a 300-square-foot shed and a one-car garage. This is all on three quarters of an acre and is listed for $669,000.

The second is a great starter house or investment property. It needs a lot of TLC but for $319,000 this half-acre property is well worth it. It has wood floors, a new generator, a new furnace, and a new hot water heater. It was built in 1947 and features three bedrooms and two baths.

The third listing Warner mentions is a five-bedroom, traditional home with a fireplace in the living room, French doors and an outdoor Trex deck overlooking a 20-by-40-foot heated pool on a half acre lot. It has a formal dining room, a family room, full basement, two baths and a wood-burning stove. This house is listed at $549,000.

You can contact Kathleen Warner at Kathleen.warner@prudentialelliman.com or call 516-317-3157. 
Douglas Elliman Real Estate
, 14 West Montauk Highway Hampton Bays and online at www.askelliman.com.