A totally renovated mid-century Leisurama house in the Culloden Point community of northern Montauk has just come on the market for $849,000. But this summer house doesn’t have the original interior look that’s iconic to the Leisurama prefab brand — instead, it’s been brought fully into 2019.
Back in the early 1960s, Macy’s created the Leisurama as new kind of prefab house for middle-class buyers seeking a summer retreat on the East End of Long Island. The homes were heated, insulated and fully furnished — in fact, they were outfitted with virtually everything a family would need, from pots and pans in the kitchen to toothbrushes in the bathrooms.
Cheap, accessible, and representing then-contemporary ideas of interior design, the homes were extremely popular upon their 1963 debut. About 200 of the summer cottages were built in Montauk, and perhaps 90 percent of them still stand, according to Kathleen G. Beckmann, the Town & Country real estate agent representing the latest Leisurama listing. And as mid-century modern design has come into style once again, the homes’ popularity has surged in recent years.
But the Leisurama Beckmann represents is different from others. Though it may look classically 1960s on the outside, the 1,036-square-foot home has been completely renovated and brought into the 21st century, with new heat, central air, appliances, and a design that befits 2019. Main features include wood floors, an open floor plan, a wood-burning fireplace in the living room, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths.
While an address hasn’t been disclosed, we do know that the 0.17-acre property is located in the Culloden Shores community, which will afford homeowners access to a private community bay beach on the Block Island Sound.
And the house is available for a reasonable price. With all the necessary renovations complete, the house is on the market for $849,000. Zillow estimates its worth at about $944,000, so, especially considering how hot Montauk has become, the current asking price looks like a relative bargain.
Over the last year, Leisuramas have been giving their sellers quite a return on their investment. Homes that sold for under $20,000 in 1963 are now fetching well over $700,000.
In May 2018, for instance, the ultra-cool Leisurama at 33 Pinetree Drive went on the market for $799,000. It ended up going into contract just one week after listing, and closed for $850,000 in August.
Nearby, the prefab at 1 Gannet Drive went on the market in October 2018 for $925,000, found a buyer less than a month later, and closed for $1,000 over ask by February 2019.
Many recent-selling Leisuramas were in close-to-original condition. Beckmann tells Heading Out she’s had prospective buyers who are interested in restoring the updated Leisurama she’s representing to its original design.
But others may see it as a major plus that while the home has all the mid-century cred of a genuine Leisurama, it also offers the style and conveniences expected in the 21st century. It’s a move-in-ready option for Montauk fans who want an efficient, sensible home without having to bust their bank account.
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