The Hamptons—an exclusive playground that buzzes with the movers and shakers of New York in the summer months—is a place where residents are fast discovering the advantages of moving the good times south to The Bahamas in the winter, thanks to a new partnership between Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty and premier real estate agency, Dering Harbor Real Estate, in Shelter Island. Their representative and real estate agent, Christine Matthai, is introducing unique properties in The Bahamas to her clientele in The Hamptons and New York.
Local Broker James Sarles sees an opportunity for people in The Hamptons to take advantage of the quick two-hour flight from New York to The Bahamas to beat the cold weather blues. Hopping aboard a jet to the clear turquoise seas of Grand Bahama Island—and the nearly 700 islands and cays of The Bahamas—is a short trip to a world where the summer fun of The Hamptons keeps spinning in a tropical winter.
Matthai first became acquainted with Grand Bahama when she followed friends from Manhattan who made the island their home. She fell in love with both the warmth of the community and all the warm-winter charms of the island’s sunny shores, white sandy beaches, unspoiled crystal clear aqua waters, and easy travel—finding that a flight from New York’s La Guardia airport to FPO (Grand Bahama) often takes less time than the several hours that can be spent on the iconic “Hampton Jitney” bus between New York and The Hamptons on an average weekend.
“I see the relaxed elegance of The Hamptons & Shelter Island in the summer beautifully reflected in The Bahamas in the winter”, says Matthai, who enjoys boating, snorkeling, magnificent coral reefs and underwater bounty here in Grand Bahama. “Swimming here feels like being in “God’s Pool”, enjoying these amazing waters, naturally warmed and abundant, even in the winter.”
“The community here is also such a great plus for second home buyers and seasonal renters,” says Matthai, who finds that “ … it is easy to make new friends and enjoy feeling at home here right away. I love meeting new people from the island and around the world.”
“We’re so pleased to be combining our longtime experience and local knowledge of Grand Bahama with Christine’s introductions to The Hamptons”, notes James Sarles, President of Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty. Sarles will be working alongside his son, Nikolai Sarles on acquainting The Hamptons with The Bahamas. Nikolai, who has just received his Bahamas real estate license and become a part of the firm, has family roots in the New York area—and brings fresh insights and development energy to complement his father’s many years of real estate sales expertise. Together, they are looking forward to working with Christine and Dering Harbor Real Estate to help their clients find a Bahamas winter playground version of their famous summer hot spots.
Photo caption:
Joining forces: James Sarles, broker, and Nikolai Sarles, estate agent for Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty, along with Christine Matthai—a U.S. sales associate with Dering Harbor Real Estate—are joining forces to introduce properties in The Bahamas that are an ideal warm-winter playground for Matthai’s clients in Shelter Island, The Hamptons, and New York. Photo by Adrianna Joskowiak.
