Shelter Island Home for Sale Could Set $25M Price Record
A stunning Shelter Island home for sale may soon set a new benchmark in New York’s high-end property market. Listed at $25 million, the century-old residence, owned by developer and reality TV figure Zach Vella, is already turning heads for its size, location, and history.
Built in 1925 and extensively renovated, the property sits on 1.4 waterfront acres on Clinton Avenue. It offers nearly 10,000 square feet of living space, including a dramatic 33-foot great room featuring a rose marble fireplace and panoramic bay windows looking out to Dering Harbor and the Shelter Island Yacht Club.
Vella connected the original home to a former detached guest house via this grand addition. “It has become the center of the home,” he shared. The house is now listed by Seth Madore of the Corcoran Group, who noted that if the home fetches its asking price, it will become the most expensive property ever sold on Shelter Island, surpassing the previous record of $12.95 million set in 2023.
What makes the estate particularly unique is its pre-zoning status, allowing it features that modern rules prohibit. These include irrigated gardens, a private dock, a boat ramp, and a waterside gym — all highly coveted but rarely available on the island. The property also includes a pool, screened-in porch with storm shutters, and a secret wood-storage panel beside the five-foot-tall fireplace.
Vella, who bought the estate in 2016 for $6.3 million, said the island was ideal for raising his kids. “It’s a great place to spend the summers and the weekends,” he noted.
Just a ferry ride from Sag Harbor or Greenport, Shelter Island offers walkable access to local amenities and scenic tranquility. The Shelter Heights neighborhood, where the home sits, is prized for its privacy and proximity to the northern ferry terminal — making travel from New York City via public transport and ferry surprisingly simple.
Known for his real estate ventures across New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, Vella has also been featured on Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing”, working with celebrity broker Fredrik Eklund to close deals like Manhattan’s 250 Bowery and 290 West Street.
From its Tudor-style architecture and historic charm to its modern spa-like comforts, this Shelter Island home for sale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for luxury buyers.
Read more about New York’s luxury housing trends at The Real Deal.
Check the official Corcoran Group listing for viewing appointments and details.
