get out of town

Pine Floors and a Porch to Lounge On in Greenport

A Fire Island house shows off the requisite pool with flamingo drink floaties in the listing photo (hot tub not pictured). Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photo: Vinnie Petrarca

Part of living in New York City is thinking about moving out of New York City. Each month, we’ll round up the best listings within commuting-ish distance, places where entire houses go for the cost of a “junior one-bedroom” (or less), but you’ll have to fix your own toilet.

Summer approaches so this installment has a theme, which is: swimming.

Fire Island, New York

$1,600,000: 4-bedroom, 2-bath

The light-filled living room in this listing photo features wood-paneled interiors that are classic for the island. Photo: Vinnie Petrarca
The bedroom in this listing photo overlooks the pool that’s ideal for when you’re too lazy to walk to the beach. Photo: Vinnie Petrarca

Fire Island is sinking, but maybe you have money to burn and want to enjoy it while you can. Right in the middle of the Pines, this four-bedroom mid-century house has undergone a recent renovation and comes with the requisite pool and hot tub. You might hate the kitchen, but I’d counter that vacation-house kitchens are supposed to look that way (kind of terrible). It makes you less precious about all the sand being trekked in. The wood-paneled interiors are classic for the island and the living spaces are full of light. Close to the beach too, obviously.

How do I get back to the city?

Walk five minutes to the ferry, then take the shuttle on the other side to LIRR where the train will take you back to the city in under two hours.

So what do I do if I live there?

Go to the beach. Bring your own groceries so you don’t have to spend $10 for a tomato at the Pines Pantry.

Greenport, New York

$975,000: 3-bedroom, 2-bath

The front porch on the on the three-bedroom house shown in this listing photo is perfect for lounging on. Photo: Douglas Elliman
The pinewood floors throughout the house are dreamy and you can almost imagine sweeping sand off of them. Photo: Douglas Elliman

A charming 1920s farmhouse with a front porch big enough for lounging and dreamy pinewood floors throughout. The open kitchen with requisite farmhouse sink is a highlight. It even comes with a separate studio and garage where you can store your three (3) kayaks. It’s around the median price for the area. No pool except for God’s pool (the Long Island Sound).

How do I get back to the city?

It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

So what do I do if I live there?

Eat oysters at Little Creek Oyster Farm and check out the re-envisioned Greenport Theatre, now the North Forks Art Center.

Mayfield, New York

$995,000: 2-bedroom, 2-bath

The two-bedroom house sits right on Great Sacandaga Lake and you get your own access as shown in this listing photo. Photo: Global MLS
Take down the signs that they kept up in this listing photo but leave up the wood paneling, which is classic for a lake-house cabin. Photo: Global MLS

This two-bedroom house right on the Great Sacandaga Lake has all the makings of an ideal summer cabin — lake access, a dock, an outdoor shower (that admittedly needs sprucing), and a fireplace. Priced on the higher side for its square footage, but it’s hard to beat a lakeside spot. The interiors, even once you take down all the GONE SWIMMIN’ décor in the staging, are particular. But it’s a lake house. Wood paneling is kind of baked into the cake. Renovate, or just sit on your covered front porch (with ceiling fans) and look out at the water instead.

How do I get back to the city?

This is the Adirondacks so it is a bit of a drive — four hours to New York. So maybe you spend the month up there, you know?

So what do I do if I live there?

Go canoeing onto the little island on Great Sacandaga. Make it a life goal to hike all 46 Adirondack high peaks.

Cold Spring, New York

$1,500,000: 4-bedroom, 4-bath

This listing photo reveals less a house and more of a vacation compound — with a koi pond, tennis courts, and heated swimming pool. Photo: Upstate Curious Team at Compass
The cute kitchen in this listing photo comes with an island and simple white cabinets, all only an hour and a half from the city. Photo: Upstate Curious Team at Compass

This house isn’t by a beach or a lake but you don’t need it because you have a gigantic heated pool and a “Sport Court” that is both a tennis and a basketball court! You are your own vacation in your very own vacation compound.

How do I get back to the city?

It’s just an hour-and-a-half train on the Metro North.

So what do I do if I live there?

Swim. Play tennis. Repeat.

Pine Floors and a Porch to Lounge On in Greenport