Cutchogue: North Fork vineyards, farms, space draw buyers
THE SCOOP Miles of farmland and acres of vineyards along Route 25 on the North Fork make Cutchogue desirable to both visitors and home buyers.
"Cutchogue's north side is exquisite," said Suzette Reiss, a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman who sells homes on the North Fork. "It is surrounded by open space, preserved farmland, antique homes, barns and vineyards. The south area is equally as stunning, with homes along winding roads and gardens on quiet streets nestled near creeks or the bay."
Reiss highlighted the beach at Nassau Point, a peninsula jutting out into Little Peconic Bay, as a favorite. Waterfront houses along Nassau Point often sell for millions.
The population of the roughly 10-square-mile area swells in the summer and fall, with vacation home residents and tourists who come to the many vineyards and farms for wine tasting or pumpkin picking. Summer rentals in the area range from around $20,000 to $45,000 for a Memorial Day to Labor Day season.
Looking around town, visitors might see signs that call Cutchogue the "Sunniest Place in New York State." Legend has it that when the Hargrave family was looking for a place for their vineyards — one of the first on the North Fork — in 1973, Cutchogue had the most sunny days on record.
Local restaurants are often "farm-to-table" places, securing much of their seafood and vegetables from nearby farms. Bed and breakfasts like Blue Iris and Sannino Vineyard also dot the community and are favorite weekend retreats for both New York City and Long Island residents.
Cutchogue is small,said Andrea Bakowski, executive director of the North Fork Chamber of Commerce and owner of NOFO Wellness Center. "You blink and you are through it," she said, adding that more small businesses are opening all the time.
Meaning "principle place" in the language spoken by the Corchaug tribe, Cutchogue is part of the Town of Southold, which was patented in 1640.
Close to 98% of the homes in Cutchogue are single-family houses. Children attend Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, which has 1,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students.
Cutchogue has few annual rentals and no apartment buildings, but a 55-and-older luxury residential condominium complex, Harvest Point, has 124 attached homes. The last one sold for $955,000 on July 23.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are no condos or co-ops on the market.
SALE PRICES Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, there were 46 home sales with a median sale price of $1,147,500, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 52 home sales with a median sale price of $999,500.
OTHER STATS
Population 2,792
Median age 59.9
Median home value $1,021,750
Monthly LIRR ticket from Mattituck $468
School district, graduation rate Mattituck-Cutchogue (88.1%)
Libraries Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free, Mattituck-Laurel
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 92
Sources: 2022 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$4.5 million
Set in the heart of the wine country, this property has 2 acres of vineyards, a large agricultural barn and is surrounded by development rights land that can’t be subdivided. The four-bed, four-bath, two half-bath home has a 40-by-25-foot heated gunite pool with a slate patio and built-in barbecue, as well as a sunroom leading to the pool area. An eight-car garage has an apartment with a fireplace. Annual taxes are $40,811. Sheri Winter Parker, Corcoran Group, 631-848-7730.
$1.975 million
This new construction four-bedroom, four-bathroom home, which recently had a $200,000 price cut, has open farmland views. Set on 2.62 acres, it has a putting green, fire pit and large indoor pool with fence. Two bedrooms are ensuite, with one on each floor and two more bedrooms upstairs. Annual taxes are $17,248. Suzette Keiss, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-354-8100.
$699,000
This three-bedroom, 1½ bathroom Colonial-style home has been remodeled, with an updated kitchen and appliances. Built in 1960, the home has a full basement, hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace in the living area and an expansive front porch. Annual taxes are $6,336. Laura Pollari, IPE Realty LLC, 631-773-6161.
RECENTLY SOLD
$1.15 million
Sound Avenue
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathroom 1
Built 1956
Lot size 5.38 acres
Taxes $9,684
+/- List price -$450,000
Days on market 68
$645,000
South Path
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1998
Lot size 0.92 acre
Taxes $9,570
+/- List price -$104,999
Days on market 93
$480,000
Forge Road
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 2
Built 1966
Lot size 0.38 acre
Taxes $6,350
+/- List price -$59,000
Days on market 156
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 22
Price range $632,000 to $4.5 million
Tax range $4,158 to $40,811