'Bad Boy Of Real Estate' Teams Up With World Famous Artist To Sell Iconic Montauk Home

MONTAUK, NY — The self-described "Prince of Montauk" has a new gem to add to his proverbial crown.

Dylan Eckardt, top Hamptons agent at Nest Seekers International, has the exclusive on an iconic home in Montauk, owned by world-renowned celebrity, fashion photographer and artist Raphael Mazzucco.

The home, located at 53 Kettle Hole Road, is listed at $4.35 million, but is a priceless, iconic property, according to Eckardt.

Mazzucco, who has shot for Vogue and Sports Illustrated, and has hosted SI and Victoria Secret supermodels at his home, has created a masterpiece in his abode.

The property, dotted with dozens of Mazzucco’s fine art pieces — which can now be negotiated as part of the sale — features hand-sculpted fireplaces and paint-splattered floors and mirrors the artist's style and aesthetic.

Eckardt, who has sold more than $15.5 million in homes and commercial properties this year, spoke with Patch about the property — and the artist who is also a close friend.

"This is the reason I got into real estate," he said. "People like him. Everyone has always said I'm the rock star of real estate. I've partied at that house."

Eckardt recalls late nights and early mornings with the likes of Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima and other artists and models — the glorious home a study in artistic contrasts. "Naked girls outside in the pool at 6 a.m. And then the next day, a family dinner party with 10 people," he said.

The home, Eckardt said, is a veritable work of art; Mazzucco is selling because he purchased a property in Connecticut with more space for his vivid artwork.

"It's such a creative house," Eckardt said. "It's an iconic house."

Eckardt says it's his friendship with Mazzucco that represents one of the reasons he began his journey into real estate. "People like him," he said. "It's an iconic house. And he called and said, 'I want the bad boy of real estate to represent me," Eckardt said. "He said, 'No one else can do this but you.'"

And so, Eckardt said, he chose the unconventional route, reaching out to some of the biggest media outlets in the world to run stories about the sale.

Describing the home, with features including its full acre of property, 180 degree water views, just a rock's throw from a private beach, a turquoise bathroom and recycled Montauk barn wood, Eckardt said even the expansive artwork is negotiable. The home features 5 koi ponds and even a secret room, hidden behind a painting, he said.

"It's a must-see house," he said.

If the paint splatters on the floor could talk, they'd recall 3 a.m. gatherings with artists painting, signing their names onto the floor; eventually, the floor was topped with resin to preserve its artistic legacy.

"One day someone will cut that floor up and sell it," Eckardt said. "It's like Peter Beard, selling his house in his prime. It's like Andy Warhol, selling his house before the Rolling Stones" cover. Of Mazzucco, he said, "He's a creative genius and this house is a perfect expression of his work and his passion."

Eckardt foresees a buyer who's "a rock star, an actor, another artist," someone who will treasure Mazzucco's masterpieces.

And it can only be represented by one realtor, Eckardt said — the man who says he's taken Montauk by the reins and helped shepherd it into it new incarnation as a destination. It's his passion, his creative vision, that Eckardt says sets him apart and makes him the only person who can truly represent a home where artistic energy resonates.

"This house is a one of a kind masterpiece," he said.

And yet, at times, Eckardt still remembers how far he's come.

His story, how a kid from Montauk now represents a person like Mazzucco, is the stuff dreams are made of.

Describing his ascent, Eckardt said he feels he deserves the opportunity, this house, this moment in time.

"I kept it bad boy. I kept it real," he said, adding that it was Mazzucco who inspired him to pursue his real estate path. "I deserve the house; I partied in this house for 15 years. Who knew in 20 years I'd be doing this? I kept it real. This is a turning point in my career, the chance to do what he always said I would do, that I would become the rock star of real estate, because I'm passionate."

Eckardt's dream

Eckardt was born and raised in Montauk, and spent several years in Malibu, California, before returning home to the Hamptons.

He's a local through and through — his mom worked as a waitress and his father, a lobsterman.

And it's these deep roots and community connections that Eckardt says make him a natural at sharing his vision for an evolving Montauk.

He became involved in real estate just about two years ago. "I ended up being a rock star at it," Eckardt said.

While not everyone aligns with his forthright and energetic approach, Eckardt says, "If I wasn't doing something different and great, they wouldn't talk about me, and I couldn't sell these properties."

Real estate isn't something he ever imagined, Eckardt said. A surfer who grew up surrounded by the fishermen and waitresses of a blue collar Montauk, he imagined careers in football or baseball as a child. But now, of real estate, he says, "I'm making it cool. I'm bringing a different aspect to this."

What sets him apart as a realtor, Eckardt said, is the fact that not only can he sell a fantastic property, but he can also snag dinner reservations and suggest the best contractor in town. "You have to feel the streets you walk on," he said. "I'm an all-service real estate agent."

He added, "What I want to do is just paint the picture. I want people to visualize the options."

And for naysayers who doubt a surfer can soar to new heights as a realtor, Eckardt said, "It's doesn't matter what I was. It's what I've become." He added, "Let others do what they want. I'm just doing what's cool with me."

Of the listing and his gig as realtor, Eckardt said, "This is just the start of so many aspirations and dreams."

"I'm in this to win"

Reflecting on his current success, Eckardt said his rise to the top has been strategic.

"I know what I'm doing. A lot of people think I'm a loose cannon. But the end justifies the means. No matter what I've done in the past — I got to where I am now. I'm in this now. I'm in this to win. No games here, no playing around. I'm going hard," he said.

Eckardt said as a Montauk local, he's the guy to turn to for all genres, not only commercial real estate but magnificent, one of a kind properties.

And with this year's success fueling his passion, his meteoric rise is only just beginning, he said.

"This is about lifetime opportunity," Eckardt said. "This bad boy is moving ahead at warp speed in this real estate game."

Photos courtesy Dylan Eckardt and Nest Seekers International.

To view the full listing, click here.