The Oakley-Leicht Team won’t share their secrets for success, but we can almost see the materialization of the specific talents and knowledge that Patty Oakley and Brian Leicht bring to the table as a power team for Saunders & Associates. It’s in the blending of their history. Leicht brings 30+ years of direct real estate sales experience to the table while Oakley’s 18+ years as a high-ranking executive in the pharmaceutical industry, and her being privy to their sales and marketing methodologies, make for one powerful team. We asked them to elaborate on their partnership and their thoughts on the future of Hamptons real estate.
When asked about teams in the Hamptons, your names come up often. Some words used to describe you are integrity, tech savvy, great marketers, and more. Why do you think your team is the best on the East End?
Patty Oakley: Both of us bring over 30+ years of individual sales experience to our careers. We know how to sell and know what works and doesn’t work. We are committed, support each other’s ideas and value what we both bring to the table. We mutually respect each other and are in total sync with the A-Zs of our business and family life. We truly love what we do and find it very rewarding when we are able to find our clients and customers the right property for their needs. It means a lot to us that we are a very respected team among our peers. We are on it 100% and that matters! This all translates into success.
Brian Leicht: I think Patty and I bring an enormous amount of experience to the table. I have been selling Hamptons Real Estate for over 30 years now. While it is hard to comprehend where that time has gone, it has allowed me to develop a strong knowledge of how to manage many phases of a real estate transaction. Over that stretch of time it has been very beneficial to have developed strong relationships with people that are also connected to real estate. There are many moving parts of a transaction and having the forethought and experience is something you can only have with time. I believe it is paramount to work with a real estate team that has their client’s best interest at hand and a team that has the tools to successfully navigate the complexities of a real estate transaction. The industry has certainly changed the way things are done especially with marketing and advertising. Most people start their search online. Patty and I have a strong online presence with different search engines, ads and local advertising. Saunders also has a great marketing team that continues to impress with new ideas with a fresh approach to current advertising trends.
How did you become a team? What do you both individually bring to it?
PO: Brian was given a desk next to mine in the Southampton Village office. Having just moved over from another brokerage and seeing that I was busy he asked me if I needed any help. Feeling a bit overwhelmed and knowing that he was a strong broker, we started to help each other out and the rest is history.
We both bring much skill, experience and trust to our team. We literally work almost 24/7. Seriously, you can reach us up until midnight to 1 AM and then around 5 AM – but if you need us at 5 AM, call Brian. I am the up-late one! Brian keeps spreadsheets for everything, so I am going to say he is super organized and always on time. I am the one who is running in 10 different directions, so being energetic may be how you would describe me. Collectively, our goal is the same.
BL: As Patty mentioned, we sat next to each other in the Saunders Southampton office and at some point started helping each other out with customers and appointments. We are now heading into the fifth year as a team, and I wouldn’t have my business model any other way. Having a partner with the same work ethic, integrity and trust is priceless. Because this is a 24/7 business, it is equally comforting to know that our business can continue uninterrupted when one of us needs time off.
Are you local to the East End? If not, how did you land here?
PO: Yes, I am originally from St. James on the North Fork and summered most of my life at my family’s bayfront summer home in Southold. I landed in the Hamptons when my husband and I were newlyweds and he joined a medical practice in Southampton. We have now been residents living in Water Mill for over 26 years.
BL: I have been living here full time for about 35 years now. As I am sure a lot of people who now call the Hamptons home, I would visit and stay with family for the summer and fell in love with all that the East End of Long Island has to offer. I eventually met my wife and live here full time.
What were your backgrounds before entering the luxury real estate market?
PO: I was offered a sales position job straight out of college with Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals. I spent over 18 years with them and rose to the senior executive level.
BL: I went to school for landscape design and architecture and eventually started a landscape company up the island that quickly accelerated to operating a larger business employing about 15 people. It was years later that my focus returned to the Hamptons with a complete change of career and ultimately into real estate.
Are you keeping some of the methodologies you used to get through 2020-2021 going forward, and if so, what are they?
PO: Our business became pretty crazy during the Pandemic. The last couple of years have been very busy for us. Unlike many agents, 2021 and 2022 were two super strong years for us. Looking back, I cannot say we really did anything different other than not going to the office as much as we had in the past. With life now turning back to a form of normalcy, we are starting to spend more time back in the office. It is nice to see our fellow colleagues and brain storm with other talented agents.
BL: I would never have been able to predict the affect the pandemic was going to have on our business here. I was planning to hunker down, ride it out, and the complete opposite happened. Our business went from a crazy rental market to a crazy sales market. Since 2019 it has been exciting, challenging and tiring all at the same time. Our methods and business points have pretty much stayed the same throughout. Our attention to our clients and customers has always been paramount during the pandemic and will continue to be a large part of business model.
You’ve closed an amazing amount of homes!
BL: As the market moved from a busy rental market to a busy sales market, we have been very fortunate to close on a large number of homes. 2020 was a terrific year and we have continued to maintain the same number of transactions throughout this year.
PO: We have a number of new properties coming to the market in 2023 and are looking forward to another great year.
With all the talk about recession and interest rates having gone up so dramatically, how do you think this will affect our region? Or does it not matter that much in a luxury market?
PO: Southampton inventory remains low but we are seeing new listings come to market every day. Correct pricing is key now, more than ever. The market is efficient. It is very simple: if you are priced right, you will sell. This is nothing new but something we forgot when Covid hit and the market went out of control. Many homeowners listed their houses over the last 6-8 months with prices that are too strong. For those that have not sold it is a clear indication to them that they need to reassess their price and goal for their property. Some buyers have recently put a pause on their purchase with the rise in interest rates and are going to rent this summer with hopes of purchasing in 2024. While others have cash aside, waiting for the right fit. Historically, the Hamptons market has always been a solid place to invest while diversifying one’s portfolio. There is no longer a sense of urgency because people are settling back into their lives as they were before Covid. There seems to be a return to normalcy. We have definitely seen an earlier up-take of rentals for the summer of 2023. July seems to be the most popular month while August has been committed to European travel. We do expect 2023 to be busy and already have buyers and sellers lined up to join into the luxury market here in the Hamptons.
BL: There is always a lot of talk about the potential negative affect that higher interest rates and the over-all health of the economy has on our market, but I don’t really think it hits too hard in this luxury market. There are many buyers still looking to purchase. The inventory supply is really the key factor right now. It is still too early to tell how the over-all market will adjust, and it might take the first quarter for things to shake out to give us a better sense of direction. We are very optimistic and looking forward to working with our clients in 2023.
Why Saunders? What makes them the best agency for your team?
PO: Having worked for a corporation for so many years, I came to Saunders to truly be a part of a “Higher Form of Realty.” I realized that what mattered to me was representing a firm that knows who I am and supports my efforts. Anyone can get their real estate license and try to sell and list a home. But what matters is your support system to achieve that goal. Andrew and Colleen Saunders are very approachable and truly have the agents best interest and needs in mind. We work for the only firm that has an award winning in-house marketing team. Our admins are here to help do paperwork, such as prepare listing agreements and leases. Legal counsel is able to answer legal questions and get answers to questions about property issues, zoning etc… It is all about doing what is best to help the agent set up for successfully representing clients.
BL: The beginning roots of my real estate career began when there were more “boutique” style real estate firms in the Hamptons. Companies that had owners present and working closely with a “hands on” approach that help with agents and staff. Companies like Agawam Realty, Cook Pony Farm, and Allen Schneider. All of those agencies are long gone now, and combined into large corporate owned entities, except for Saunders & Associates. Andrew and Colleen Saunders have built and created a company with that “hands on” approach. There is a tremendous support team to help with all the agent’s needs, from the administrative staff, the marketing team, advertising, to legal counsel. It makes all the difference in the world to have the support and tools available so that we, as real estate agents, can provide the very best for our customers and clients.
What marketing strategies do you feel is most successful in landing new exclusives or selling the homes?
PO: As I am sure you know, our business is super competitive. We prepare a lot for our potential client meetings.
BL: One thing we do not do is share are our strategies for success.
Where would you say is the part of the East End that you are super specialized in?
PO: We represent all areas of the East End — North and South Forks, but if we had to pick an area I would say Southampton and Southampton Village are the areas we are most specialized in.
BL: After all this time, I have collected a wealth of knowledge and real estate history for all of the hamlets and towns from Westhampton to Montauk. Patty and I have the ability to work with anyone looking to do business in the Hamptons, and Saunders has offices to support our needs and the needs of our customers in all those locations.
Are there any homes that you are particularly proud of selling?
PO: So many people have touched our lives over the last five years that we have been together as a team. I am proud every time we sell a home. Big or small, each property is special, because of the client and customer we have represented.
BL: I am not sure if there is one home that really stands out. I think every home that we have sold brings a certain connection with it and the people that we get involved with during the sale. We have developed a lot of standing relationships with those people which has also made up a big part of our continued success and business.
What do you love about the Hamptons?
PO: I love the charm and quaintness of the villages along with the beach town vibes, the beauty of the various styles of homes, easy access to the ocean beaches and the vast cuisine choices. The people are friendly and very caring. I truly feel like part of the community.
BL: My new thing is to joke about the villages that we drive through, whether its Sag Harbor, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton… or any one of the other beautiful little villages, and say “gosh, wouldn’t this be a great place to live?” We are so blessed to be able to live here and sometimes it is taken for granted. What’s not to love, from the ocean and bay beaches to the open farmland, it’s all beautiful.
What do you do for fun when you’re not working? Is there any downtime?
PO: I try to take some time for myself. This year I am taking at least 45 minutes each day for me! I love spending time with my family, they are number one! Cooking large family dinners when they are home from school are special. Taking walks to the ocean is something I look forward to every day. My husband and kids are all strong golfers and I am the weakest link by far. So this year I am committed to my golf game and plan to take more lessons.
BL: My downtime is going to be more centered around my grandkids now. I am very excited to be able to spend as much time as possible with them. I am also hoping to spend more time working on my New Year’s goal of getting back to the gym and focusing a little attention to myself.
To learn more about the Patty Oakley and Brian Leicht, click here.
