A landmark waterfront estate overlooking Nantucket Harbour traded hands for $42.5 million on November 5, 2026, establishing a new all-time benchmark for residential real estate on the Massachusetts island. The transaction for 57 Hulbert Avenue edged past the previous island threshold by $500,000—a record set in 2023 when Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy acquired his Monomoy compound for $42 million. The sellers closed the deal after five decades under single-family stewardship. Ownership shifted from Andrew, Howard, and Richard Fife, alongside a Fife family trust, to corporate buyer Stella Blue Waters LLC, according to Nantucket property deed records.
Perched along Brant Point, the estate—long christened "Blue Waters"—dates back to 1937, crafted by prominent architect William Edward Shepherd. The Fife family purchased the waterfront residence in 1972. Across 54 uninterrupted years, the family preserved Shepherd’s maritime vision: a central living room flanked by an expansive hearth beneath ribbed, vaulted ceilings shaped to mirror the hull of an ocean vessel. The main house spans 6,393 square feet across eight bedrooms, paired with a two-car garage, direct harbour beach access, and a private red clay tennis court occupying approximately 0.62 acres. A separate, adjoining 3,093-square-foot parcel along James Street was packaged directly into the deal.
The final settlement price blew past municipal tax calculations. For fiscal year 2026, island assessors pegged the property's assessed value at roughly $21.9 million—barely half what the buyer ultimately paid at closing. The appetite for historic, unreplicable coastal holdings continues to outstrip municipal models across prime New England enclaves.
| Transaction Parameter | Official Record Detail |
|---|---|
| Property Address | 57 Hulbert Avenue, Brant Point, Nantucket |
| Sale Price | $42,500,000 |
| Previous Island Record | $42,000,000 (Dave Portnoy, Monomoy, 2023) |
| Buyer | Stella Blue Waters LLC |
| Sellers | Andrew, Howard & Richard Fife; Fife Family Trust |
| Assessed Value (FY 2026) | $21.9 million |
| Land Bank Transfer Fee (2%) | $850,000 |
| Primary Parcel Size | 0.62 acres (plus 3,093 sq ft James St parcel) |
Yet the transaction delivers far beyond private balance sheets. Under local statutory requirements, property transfers on the island trigger a mandatory 2 per cent real estate fee, payable by the purchaser to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. That municipal assessment harvested an immediate $850,000 cash injection from the transaction. The Land Bank relies on these proceeds to acquire, safeguard, and maintain open green spaces, coastal access corridors, and public recreational reservations across the island.
County recording officials confirmed the deed registration and fee remittance have closed, cementing the property transfer into Nantucket’s municipal archives.