Like many real estate stories, the narrative in the Hamptons begins with the pandemic. The buying frenzy on the East End of Long Island drew a wave of firms from Manhattan and beyond, eager to stamp their own seal on the hot luxury market. As agents logged deal after deal, the number of homes available across the relatively small stretch of hamlets from Westhampton to Montauk couldn’t keep up. 

Years after that rush, inventory in the Hamptons has still yet to recover, and another wave of pricey deals at the end of 2025 did little to help supply. But the brokerages that followed or launched during the rising tide have, for the most part, stuck around, making the competition for business — which starts with listings — tighter than ever.