WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CELEBRITIES, CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY AND EVERYDAY EAST ENDERS, SUPERAGENT SUSAN BREITENBACH UNDERSTANDS HAMPTONS REAL ESTATE AS FEW OTHERS DO—AND LOVES EVERY MINUTE OF IT. What attracted you to real estate as a profession? My husband is a custom builder and when we moved to the Hamptons full time (more years ago than I would like to admit!), it seemed like a natural fit. I was working on Wall Street when I decided to go to school at night to get my real estate license and started mostly with referrals and listed homes of people I knew in my spare time. After my second child, real estate seemed like the way to go. I always like working with people. How does the Hamptons market compare to others? The Hamptons is full of the most amazing real estate and a wide range of very interesting and successful people. Some say I should write a book, but most of my clients are very private, so I would never do that! You've done deals for almost three decades with some very high-profile people— Aretha Franklin, Russell Simmons, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Joel and Jeff Blau. You've also been regularly ranked as one of the top brokers in the country by the Wall Street Journal. What does it take to work at the top of your game so consistently? I have done many deals on both sides with these and many other people at the top of their fields. Last year I handled both sides of the sale of Richard Gere's waterfront estate to Matt Lauer, including three properties and a dock, and most recently I have in contract Christie Brinkley's waterfront estate in Sag Harbor. And yes, I've been ranked among the top five brokers in the U.S. by WSJ multiple times. It takes a total commitment; I live and breathe real estate and work 24/7. People in the top of their field expect you to be knowledgeable and the best negotiator, and, most important, they want to be able to reach you at any time, no matter what. How do you maintain a balance between work, family and personal time? That is hard, but I try to take a little time to play tennis, walk on the beach, boat (we keep ours in Sag Harbor) and, most important, spend quality time with family and a few good friends. But the good thing is I love what I do. What's your prediction for the market in the season ahead? The market is getting much busier. The key to selling anything in this market is to understand that every customer wants incredible value whether they are looking at $50 million or $2 million homes. Value is what is driving the market, but people are finding it and buying! susanbreitenbach.com 209 Hedges Lane in Sagaponack features a two-story foyer; the spacious kitchen at the residence on Actors Colony Road in Sag Harbor.