Hamptons, New York

The Hamptons are a group of villages and hamlets in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton, which form the South Fork of Long Island, New York. The Hamptons form a popular seaside resort, one of the historical summer colonies of the American Northeast. They have some of the most expensive residential properties in the U.S. The Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, the Montauk Highway, and the Hampton Jitney connect the Hamptons to the rest of Long Island and to New York City, while ferries provide connections to Shelter Island, New York and Connecticut. The Summer Colony's residents include many of New York City's affluent residents, as well as a number of affluent people from other nearby states, executives, and increasingly, foreigners from Europe and South America. Villages and the hamlets of the Summer Colony are distinguished by their significant population increases during the summers, a large number of retail shops and restaurants and extensive arts community. Residential real estate prices in the Hamptons rank among the highest in the nation, and, as of 2013, the real estate market was hot with prices rising for both home buyers and sellers and rentals.  Source