Hamptons real estate enjoys another solid sales guarter.

The Hampton's residential real estate market, which finished the 20th century in record breaking fashion, has gotten hotter in the new millennium.

According to a mid-year report by Cook Pony Farm, one of the area's real estate brokerage firms, the total volume of home sales in the Hamptons approached a billion dollars during the first six months of 2000, a jump of 41.8% over the $705 million figure recorded a year earlier. In all, 1,522 homes were purchased from January through June, compared to 1,398 in 1999, an increase of 8.9%. The average sales price rose by a dramatic 30.3% from $504,308 in 1999 to $656,914 this year.

In what may be the most significant finding in its survey, which covers the 11 key communities comprising the Hamptons marketplace, Cook Pony Fam 1 reported a significant shift to higher priced sales. For example, the number of $2 million to $2.99 million sales surged by 104.2% (from 24 to 49) and all categories above $500,000 rose by more than 60%. Reinforcing this trend, sales in the "under $500,000 category," fell by 10.7%.

"There are more million dollar buyers in the Hamptons today than ever before," asserted Cook Pony Farm vice president Judi Desiderio. "And with demand for larger, more expensive homes continuing to grow and supply at a very slow and steady pace, appreciation is likely to continue to escalate in the coming years."

According to the Cook Pony Farm market report, which monitors and analyzes home sales activity and price trends in Amagansett, Bridgehampton, the East Hampton area, East Hampton Village, Montauk, Sag Harbor area, Sag Harbor Village, Shelter Island, Southampton area, Southampton Village, and Westhampton, average sales prices topped the million dollar mark in four Hampton communities, with the highest levels recorded in the two oldest -- the Villages of East Hampton and Southampton.

In East Hampton Village, where sales under $500,000 declined by 157% and the more than $3 million sales rose by 140%, the average sales price for the first six months of 2000 was $1.84 million, an increase of 68.8% over the comparable 1999 figure of $1.09 million. In Southampton Village, where sales under $500,000 dropped by 35.9%, the average sales price was $1.22 million, an increase of 25.1% over the 1999 figure of $975,000.