Alba Jancou has been coming the Hamptons since she was a child — jetsetting between England, Gstaad and New York — as her mother had a home in Amagansett which ultimately led her to choose the East End as her permanent base. It sealed the deal after meeting and becoming engaged to her architect fiancé, Peter Cook. Let’s dive in to Jancou’s journey from her international youth, to studying psychology in New York City to becoming one of Saunders & Associates’ esteemed up-and-coming agents.
Alba Jancou of Saunders & Associates
Alba, where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in New York City where I lived and schooled full time for the first fourteen years of my life. The majority of my family lives in Europe and as a result I spent a lot of time traveling abroad. Surrey, England is where my grandparents are based so after middle school, I made the decision to attend Millfield boarding school in the UK. I stayed there throughout high school and visited home on holidays. My summers were spent principally in the Hamptons where my mother kept a summer house. The more I traveled the more the Hamptons became special to me.
Your background is quite international. How did you end up as a real estate agent on the East End?
After I finished at Millfield, I returned to the States to attend college. I lived in the city while studying Psychology at the The New School. Although I loved growing up in the city as a child, Manhattan no longer felt like the right fit for me. I started spending more and more time in the Hamptons. It was here that I met my fiancé, Peter Cook, a prominent Hamptons Architect and within a matter of months, I had moved to Sag Harbor full-time. I did the reverse commute, going to the city when I needed for classes, and doing as much as I could online.
Getting into real estate was a very natural transition for me. As a child, I used to spend hours on my mother’s laptop, scrolling through different platforms and looking at different real estate listings wherever I was in the world.
Being with Peter, I came to learn more about Hamptons architecture which gave me a whole other perspective to appreciate properties and the beauty each different town and village has to offer.
You studied psychology in college. Do you think that helps with your work as a luxury real estate agent?
Definitely. Real estate is closely intertwined with personality and psychology has certainly helped me to define what my clients are looking for in a home or property. There is also a lot of emotion that goes into both buying and selling a home and as a real estate agent it’s my goal to be make the process as effortless as possible!
Did you see your business grow during the pandemic?
I got licensed a year ago, so I never had direct experience as a realtor before the pandemic. That being said, having come to the Hamptons my whole life, I saw first-hand the dramatic surge in demand, increase in valuations and competition within the industry.
With interest rates having doubled in recent months, do you think it will or has it affected the East End?
Unfortunately, the increased interest rates have had the most impact on homebuyers who require a greater percentage of financing, which has tempered the one-to-four-million-dollar housing market. That being said, many of the Hamptons home buyers are privileged enough to be able to buy without the need for financing, so the interest rates are of little consequence to them.
Are there any East End neighborhoods we should look out for?
Each town and village in the Hamptons holds its own special charm and appeal. Most people are strict about their preferred areas. You can’t get an Amagansett client to come to Southampton Village and if you’re a boater, the bays win over the oceans hands down.
I am a die-hard Sag Harbor fan. It is, in my opinion, among the best of the East End villages. Over the past four to five years demand in Sag Harbor has dramatically increased and so have prices. There are still areas, that are beautiful with good value, North Haven being a prime example. I’ve also seen a significant increase in demand for property in the Northwest Woods and Springs. Dune Road in Hampton Bays is also spectacular with the ocean on one side of the street and the bay on the other. I also love Westhampton Beach and Remsenburg!
What is some advice you would give sellers right now?
Sellers are in a great place right now because inventory is at record lows. However, pricing is key. When a property is priced correctly, it trades quickly. I also encourage sellers to be more accepting of financing contingencies, and have all their paperwork, certificates of occupancy, deeds, etc. up-to-date and in order!
How about first-time buyers?
My advice to first time buyers is to take the plunge. The Hamptons is a niche market, that overall remains unaffected by national housing trends. Prices continue to increase, and properties are becoming scarcer. The majority of my trades have been with first time buyers looking for investments. I’m pleased to report they’ve all done very well and what started out as a working relationship has turned into several friendships.
What do you love most about living and working in the Hamptons?
I love the quality of light out here, and I love being surrounded by water as I go about my workday. I love the diversity in restaurants and retail offerings and the excitement of the summer crowd. Some of my favorite places to go are Bilboquet on Saturday nights, Sunset Beach on Sundays, and Navy Beach or Duryea’s any afternoon.
My fiancé and I have a boat and we love to go out with friends to explore different beaches and restaurants along the South and North Fork shores.
I also love the contrast and quiet of the winters and enjoying the variety of nature trails as they change from season to season, from Cedar Point County Park to Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island, and Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildife Refuge in Noyack!
Click here to learn more about Alba Jancou.
