John Steinbeck’s Sag Harbor Haven Sells for $13.5M to a Local Not-For-Profit Organization

For those who have taken American literature courses or love diving into classic books, the name John Steinbeck is likely familiar—particularly if you’ve read Of Mice and Men or East of Eden. But, did you know he had a place in the Hamptons? The late Nobel Prize-winning novelist’s waterfront Sag Harbor haven just sold to the not-for-profit Sag Harbor Partnership, which hopes to make it into a home for a writers’ residency program. Although originally listed by Steinbeck’s family in 2021 for $17.9 million and then again in 2022, the property finally sold for $13.5 million.

Aspiring writers can experience the same inspiring spots the late author did from the 1950s until his passing, from the private beach and dock to the writer’s gazebo. In fact, it was here that Steinbeck penned The Winter of Our Discontent and Travels with Charley—happily named after his poodle.

Upon 1.27 acres on the edge of Sag Harbor cove, the 1,220-square-foot compound provides just enough indoor space for relaxation and creativity. Excellently preserved and perfect for enjoying laidback moments, the shingle-style main home offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A guest house that sleeps two and a pool, which Steinbeck referred to as his ‘cement pond,’ round out the property.

With this sale, the property will transform from a private home into a place for all. It will allow for tours on holiday weekends, and in both the summer and off-season, all by reservation. The residency program and the upkeep of the property will be the responsibility of the Michener Center for Writers and the University of Texas Foundation.

Doreen Atkins of Sotheby’s International Realty held the listing.