Abigail Mago
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Fire Island Sales & Rentals
(516) 510-3207
We’re experiencing a busy rental season this year, with a notable increase in activity compared to last year, which was a relatively slower rental market than usual. The majority of market demand is for rentals of one to two weeks. With each passing year, there are fewer full-season or even monthly rentals, as the market has shifted more towards short-term rentals, where families come for a brief vacation rather than staying the entire summer. The reason for that is twofold. From the renter’s perspective, fewer people can take more than a couple of weeks off from work at a time. From the homeowner’s perspective, you can charge significantly more for weekly stays than you would for renting on a full-season basis. The delta there is around 40 percent, which is significant, and provides the homeowner the bonus of flexibility, allowing them to use the house for several weeks throughout the summer and still enjoy rental income when they’re not there. In terms of popularity, we always see the greatest demand for oceanfront homes and homes with pools. Even though these homes command high rents — typically $10,000 to $20,000 per week — these rentals command the most interest. We tend to have a harder time filling the more modest cottages, despite their being at a more accessible price point, some as low as $4,000 a week. There is such a lack of sales inventory under $1M that when things come on the market, they tend to generate a lot of interest and sell quickly. With all the uncertainty and perceived turmoil splashing across the headlines these days, it seems that much of the middle segment of buyers is taking a wait-and-see approach. It remains to be seen if that will persist as we approach the prime summer selling season.
Maureen Putman
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Netter Beach Estates
mputman@netterbeachestates.com
(631) 988-9059
In my personal experience, both rentals and home sales hold equal importance at this particular time of year. Summer rentals are in full swing, and buyers are looking for homes with amenities they can purchase and move into to enjoy this summer. While it is rare for buyers to want to jump in full-time, there is increasing interest in having homes that can be used year-round or at least for an extended season, rather than just during peak summer. Personally, our family purchased 20 years ago as a vacation home. We found ourselves spending more and more time enjoying the beach and other special aspects, and five years ago, we winterized the home to enjoy year-round. My son lives at the beach full-time and is a captain in the Ocean Beach Fire Department while working full-time for the FDNY. We love enjoying Fire Island all year long. This decision to winterize our home has been beneficial for our family, and is a trend within communities on Fire Island. One other thing I should mention is that there are increasingly more activities outside the summer season to engage homeowners. From local community dinners to holiday events and other activities, it’s beneficial to have our property prepared to operate in the colder months.
Mike Nardone
Licensed NYS Broker
Kitty King Real Estate
(516) 815-6145
The highest demand we observe on Fire Island remains for vacation and seasonal rentals. Year-round rentals are less common due to the island’s limited winter accessibility and the lack of winter services. That said, we are seeing a noticeable shift in rental patterns. Instead of committing to full-season rentals, more renters are opting for shorter stays, especially two-to-four-week bookings. With more people working from home, there is a growing demand for larger homes. Four-bedroom homes are now more sought after than three-bedrooms as families look for extra space. Homes near the ocean or bay rarely stay on the market for long, remaining in high demand. While seasonal rentals are strong, sales are also highly desirable — yet there isn’t enough inventory to meet demand. In 2024, the average time for us to receive an acceptable offer on a home was only 30 days, and we anticipate the same for 2025 for our sales listings. Equally crucial for renters and buyers, is the experience of working with a knowledgeable, local real estate broker, someone who is part of the community and understands the island’s way of life. In a close-knit place like Fire Island, having a trusted broker as your point of contact makes all the difference.
Meg Wallace
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Wallace Real Estate
(631) 583-5596
Fire Island is often referred to as the gem of the South Shore of Long Island. We’re seeing that the demand is now for year-round homes, which will be used as second homes and/or vacation homes. Gone by the wayside are cottages and beach shacks; those are a thing of the past. The landscape has changed with the demands of the more affluent influx of buyers seeking all the comforts of a “real home” that they can use during the seasonal perfection of the Fire Island summer. With the increasing number of modern designers working hand-in-hand with local builders, the bar has been raised. These new homes are spectacular, and we’re even seeing homes built to accommodate yachts! In terms of amenities, the most popular request has been for pools. The carless, walking, and biking lifestyle of Fire Island, combined with the casual attire of flip-flops and cover-ups, is still visible on the sidewalks and boardwalks. But these newer homes do not reflect that iconic beachy look. Fire Island has become a unique dichotomy unto itself.
