The Spielvogel's Clean Up In Southampton

SELLER: Carl Spielvogel and Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel
LOCATION: 27 Gin Lane, Southampton, NY
PRICE: Upon Request, but around $35,000,000
SIZE: 2.5 acres, 13,914 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: (shortened from the listing agent's website) This luxurious Gin Lane Georgian estate is sited on 2.5 acres with dramatic southwestern views across Lake Agawam and the ocean, just steps to ocean beaches. "Longview" sits majestically withing a hedged and gated property with elaborate boxwood gardens. There are 7 ensuite bedrooms, beautiful living room, dining room, garden room and library, each with fireplace and French doors...An extraordinary state-of-the-art indoor pool, spa, separate staff quarters and screening room...

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Don't worry children, we had to Google them too. But we know we'd heard and read their names many times, but for the life of us could not remember why we knew the tongue twister name of Barbaralee Diamonstein-Speilvogel. Turns our Babslee is a high class go-getter society lady in New York City with an impressive biography as long as our left arm. Suffice to say Miz Diamonstein-Spielvogel is a very accomplished and bizzy woman who in addition to writing lots of books, is involved in lots of charities, organizations, and other entities that perform good works.

As for huzband Carl, he was a bigwig in the advertising game until he sold off his successful company to a much larger advertising conglomerate for a large sum of money. Then he became friendly with lots of Democratic politicians and was granted an ambassadorship. To the Slovak Republic. We're sure it's an honor to be offered an ambassadorship, but that can't be one of the better ones, right?

According to property records, in May of 2006 the very rich and social couple sold their New York City digs for $11,700,000 at 720 Park Avenue, a super swank and dig-nee-fied building on what is arguabley the best stretch of Park. But the movers didn't have far to schlep the Spielvogel's priceless antiques and family heirlooms. According to records, the couple had also purchased a 7th floor co-op in the very same building for $20,000,000.

Apparently it's not so unusual for this couple to stay in their same 'hood when they move from one luxury property to another. In September of 1998 they purchased the house shown in the above photographs on tony Gin Lane in Southampton for an even $6,000,000. This was not long after they sold their previous Southampton estate, a ocean front compound at 376 Gin Lane, in May of 1998 for $11,700,000.

And here we are less than ten years later and the Spielvogels have their Southampton manse on the market for a rumored $35,000,000. Not a bad investment, right? All those richie-rich folks who bought in the Hamptons 10 years ago are cleaning up on their investments. CLEANING UP we tell you. Even after the Spielvogel's pay the fat commission to the real estate brokerage, they're going to walk with more than $20,000,000. Somebody pick Your Mama up off the floor now.

We got not beef with the Spielvogels. But if we were shopping for a $35,000,000 weekend house, you can bet we'd want it to include a tennis court. Not that you'd ever catch us dressed all in white flinging a racket around at a tiny ball. But the guests might like to use it.

If we're being honest, we find this big ol' shingled house to be just another generic and too big Hamptons house. Sure, the location is stellar, and the gated and fully hedged flag lot ensures extreme privacy for nekkid romps through the backyard. And no doubt the house was built with an attention to detail that only the houses of the very rich are afforded. But otherwise it's just like hundreds of other shingled and too big weekend houses in the Hamptons.

What we do like is the vast expanse of lawn and the barely there landscaping. Likely it costs more than the landscaper's yearly income to water and maintain all that lawn, and it sure isn't environmentally friendly, but lahwd it's gorgeous.

If our mind serves correct, and it very well may not, this house has been on the market for quite some time. Even in the sky high real estate market of the Hamptons, where houses routinely sell in the eight figures, $35,000,000 is a lot of money for a house that may only get used 10 or 12 weekends a year.

Best of luck to Spielvogels. We'll be coming the Gin Lane properties that come on the market in the next few month in order to help you find your next weekend estate.