From starter homes to seasonal cottages, one-bedroom houses are rare finds on Long Island. But in recent months, several have sold across the region — some in bidding wars, others for land value alone.

They're not always easy to market, experts say. Many buyers expect more space for the price, and some listings sit until the right match comes along. Still, agents say one-bedrooms can draw strong interest when the location or condition makes sense.

"You don't see many people after them," said Jane Snyder Perlee, of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, who listed a 672-square-foot ranch in Lake Grove that sold in January. "But when you do, and it's priced right, it goes."

Recent sales show the range. A fully updated home in Mastic Beach listed under $200,000 received more than 10 offers. A cottage on Marion Lake in East Marion sold to a buyer familiar with the neighborhood. And in East Hampton, a one-bedroom property sold for $1.25 million — and was later torn down.

In some cases, buyers were downsizing or seeking a low-maintenance option. Others wanted a second home or a way into a neighborhood they otherwise couldn't afford. And sometimes, the size just worked.

"There's not a ton of buyers out there for a one-bedroom," said Todd Solomon, of Douglas Elliman, who represented a one-bedroom home in East Rockaway. "But for the right person, it was exactly what they needed."

Buyers looking for easy, low-maintenance living found a match in this updated Cape Cod-style home in Franklin Square, which sold for $615,000.

Built in 1941, the one-bedroom property features hardwood and vinyl flooring, granite countertops, recessed lighting and an open kitchen with a flexible floor plan. A garage and backyard added outdoor functionality. The home is in the Franklin Square School District. Taxes are $10,509, according to the listing.

"It was a very open layout, so very, very easy for entertaining," said listing agent Lowell Ackerman, of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. "Good flow from inside to outside to the backyard, which was, for the area, a very nice-size lot — but again, a very manageable size property."

Ackerman said many prospective buyers were downsizing from larger homes or exploring alternatives to condos and co-ops. "This was comparable in price point to what you'd get for a condo or co-op," he said. "So that was a huge plus."

While its size may have narrowed the buyer pool, the home appealed to those looking to simplify, Ackerman said.

The buyers, a couple focused on easy living, felt it was the right move. "They said they couldn't have picked a better home for their stage in life," he said. "It was the perfect fit for the people who bought it."

Listed at $199,000, this one-bedroom ranch in Mastic Beach drew 11 offers and sold for $218,000 — a testament to both the price point and the area's growing appeal.

"It was the price point," said listing agent Doreen Gabrielsen, of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. "I had two open houses and it was crazy."

The 1967 home features vinyl siding, frame construction and one full bathroom on a 0.14-acre lot. It's located in the William Floyd School District, with taxes of $6,299, according to the listing. It spent 44 days on the market.

Even though the home was in need of work, Gabrielsen said buyers responded to its potential. "They really wanted it. It was really cute," Gabrielsen said. "It was a grandma's house at one point." 

Though one-bedroom homes have a narrower buyer pool, Gabrielsen said this one offered an accessible option for those priced out of surrounding areas. "People can't afford the surrounding area, so they're going to Mastic," she said. "It's really justifying the area and building it up and making it a better place to live."

A fully renovated one-bedroom bungalow in East Rockaway sold for $440,000 after just 12 days on the market — a faster sale than even the listing agent anticipated.

"It's a one-bedroom home. It's a tough sale," said Solomon. "There's not a ton of buyers out there for a one-bedroom home on Long Island."

The 1923 home was raised above flood level and is part of the National Flood Insurance Program. It's also in the Bay Park Civic Association, offering residents dock rights on Grand Canal, a major draw for the buyer, who Solomon said was a former member of the U.S. Navy.

"What made this extremely marketable was the fact that it is completely renovated," Solomon said. "It was also raised, so there was no issue with any type of flooding."

Features include granite countertops, ceiling fans, a walk-through kitchen, backup generator and an exterior elevator. Located in the East Rockaway School District, property taxes are $7,590.

Solomon said he hadn't expected a bidding war and originally priced the home higher. "It should have been on the market longer," he said. "But because of the lack of inventory, people jumped on this."

"It was the right person walking into the right house," he added.

"There are a lot of single people or couples that really don't need any more room," said listing agent Janet Markarian. "If it's a second home, it's kind of a place to hang your hat."

That mindset helped sell this one-bedroom cottage, which closed at $735,000 after 29 days on the market. Overlooking Marion Lake, the East Marion home offered a manageable footprint and peaceful water views.

Built in 1974, the house features cathedral ceilings, ceiling fans, an eat-in kitchen and a first-floor bedroom. It sits on a 0.19-acre lot with frame construction and aluminum siding. Taxes are $2,264, and the property is in the Oysterponds Union Free School District.

The buyer, a single woman familiar with the area, was drawn to the lakefront setting and affordability. "This house is located on a lake — it's very charming," Markarian, of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, said. "It's like a little cottage on the lake."

While one-bedroom homes are rare on the North Fork, Markarian said this one proved a good fit for the right buyer — especially those priced out of larger properties but still seeking a scenic retreat.

A 672-square-foot ranch-style home on Magnolia Avenue sold in January for $421,000 after 30 days on the market.

"It went so fast we never even got professional photos taken," said Snyder Perlee.

Built in 1953, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits on a 0.09-acre lot with vinyl siding, frame construction and a small fenced-in backyard. Inside, it was fully renovated with updated plumbing and electrical systems, a reworked layout and modern finishes throughout. Taxes were listed at $3,716 and it's in the Sachem Central School District.

"It was move-in ready and modern," Snyder Perlee said. "Everything was redone top to bottom."

She said smaller homes like this often appeal to retirees, singles and investors looking for low-maintenance living. "Some people just don't want to be in a condo situation, they want their own place," she said. "This was like you're walking into your own little condo, but you had your own backyard."

After 38 years in real estate, Snyder Perlee said today's competitive market continues to surprise her. "If it's priced right and finished well, people are just waiting for it to hit the market," she said.

This waterside cottage in East Hampton sold for $1.25 million, a price driven less by the structure and more by its location and long-term potential.

"It's more about land value than anything else," said listing agent Andrey Trigubovich, of Douglas Elliman. "Especially in East Hampton, the value of land is so high, even if it's just a half-acre property."

Set on a shy half-acre lot near the water in Northwest Woods, the 1940 cottage included post-and-beam construction, an eat-in kitchen and a first-floor primary bedroom. The property is in the East Hampton Union Free School District, with taxes of $5,000. It spent 92 days on the market.

The Town of East Hampton purchased the property and has since demolished the house, Trigubovich said, a move that highlights how buyers in the area focus on location over layout.

"It could have been a grand project for someone if they wanted to build something else on it," he said. "In this market, it's less about what's there, and more about what could be."

Set on Swan Lake, this ranch sold for $524,000 after attracting immediate interest. Built in 1930, the home combines water views with a bright, open layout that helped it stand out despite its size.

"It felt so much bigger than a one-bedroom," said listing agent Lina Lopes, of Douglas Elliman. "Buyers walked in and were surprised by the space and the light."

Located on a 0.36-acre lot in the Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District, the home includes an eat-in kitchen, one full bathroom and a crawl space basement. Vaulted ceilings and large windows added to the airy feel, and the interiors had been updated before the sale.

"It was adorable," Lopes said. "The light coming in was so nice, and it was updated and clean."

The property was listed at $499,000 and received multiple offers after its first weekend of showings. Lopes said the size didn't deter buyers who were drawn to the home's charm and waterfront location.

"I think people are open to something smaller if it has charm and potential," she said. "Not everyone needs three bedrooms right away."

The deal closed just over two months after listing. While one-bedrooms don't always move quickly, Lopes said this one struck the right balance: a manageable footprint, move-in condition and a rare setting on the lake — something she called "a hard thing to find in that price range."