East Hampton Village Oldie 695K Negotiable

THIS UNTOUCHED TRADITIONAL dates from when Montauk Highway was already a main thoroughfare, yes, but what that meant was a dirt road with horses and carts clopping along — not the never-ending stream of car and truck traffic that exists today.

Pity, because the house and property are just what I’d want in a different spot: a late 19th century cedar-shingled 4BR, with lots of original detail inside, on almost an acre, and taxes under $2,000/year.

There are lots of good things about it. The long gravel drive and the backyard actually have a secluded feeling, almost a secret-garden feeling. The house is set back a fair distance from the busy road, and perched on a hill. There’s no reason why the front yard couldn’t be enclosed with a fence and high hedge.

Needs TLC, as the ads put it, but that’s far better, in my book, than paying the price for a slick modern renovation that has de-charmed the place entirely.

To see more pics of the interior, for more info or an appointment to see, contact Dennis Avedon at Corcoran, 516/398-6751, dennis.avedon@corcoran.com

Yo, City Dwellers! It’s Summer Rental Time

CITY PEOPLE, IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN. Want to sample the Hamptons for a month or so at its hectic, high-season best? If you’re thinking of a summer rental, here’s a taste of what’s available to old-house lovers on a budget (don’t get the wrong idea — bottom-fishing for an August rental in these parts can still set you back $6-10,000).

Above, an adorable 2BR cottage in Amagansett, typical of the area’s 1920s architecture, with cedar shingles and white trim. Pros: it’s a mile from the ocean, if that, and convenient to stores, restaurants, bars, and music venues in Amagansett and East Hampton. It’s got a deck with a circular outdoor shower, below, and a tidy lawn, below that.

The one con: it’s only three houses from Montauk Highway, with its constant hum of traffic. Some people are more bothered by that than others (I’ve learned from experience that you do get quickly used to it, and summer foliage on the trees has a muffling effect).

For pictures of the interior and the owner’s contact information, go here.

There’s something of the same ilk near Three Mile Harbor in Springs, for $10,000 from Aug 1-Sept 10, here.

Both houses are tastefully decorated — better, charmingly — in an unpretentious yet sophisticated Cottage Living kind of way. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s critical. I don’t care how cute a place is, if it has plaid couches or otherwise ugly furnishings, I can’t abide there, even for a month (though white sheets, packing away clutter, and a quick trip to IKEA all help).