Billy Joel Says He's Not Leaving New York Despite Listing Longtime Home for $49 Million

“I’m just going to spend a little more time in Florida like the old Jews from Long Island,” Joel joked on stage this week

Billy Joel is not “Movin’ Out” from New York entirely.

The “Uptown Girl” singer, 74, revealed on stage during his New Year’s Eve performance at New York’s UBS Arena that despite putting his longtime Long Island home up for sale, he has no plans to move full-time.

“Just because I’m selling that house, doesn’t mean I’m leaving Long Island,” Joel told the audience, according to USA Today. He joked that “nobody” was likely to buy the property for its outrageously high listing price and assured the crowd that he would be back in his home state shortly after the short break.

In May 2023, Joel listed the 20,000-square-foot waterfront mansion — which he’s called home for more than 20 years — for $49 million.

“I’m just going to spend a little more time in Florida like the old Long Island Jews do,” he said, adding that he also has another home on Long Island that he plans to keep.

Billy Joel Lists Long Island Waterfront Home For $49 Million — See Inside!

Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer married his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, at their Oyster Bay estate in New York in 2015, but the couple has been spending more time at their home in Florida since then. The Wall Street Journal reported. He bought that house in 2015 for $22 million, according to the outlet.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom Long Island mansion is listed with Bonnie Williamson of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. The property has a three-bedroom beach house, an in-ground pool, a helipad, and a floating dock and boat ramp.

Billy Joel on Ending New York Residency in 2024: ‘I’m Amazed We’ve Got This Far’ (Exclusive)

Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

During the concert, the singer-songwriter also noted that 2023 “was kind of a weird year for me. Nice in a way, [expletive] in other ways. Anyway, I’m looking forward to next year,” said Joel, trans USA Today.

In June, he announced that he was ending his famous month-long residency at Madison Square Garden in New York after a decade. “We made it after 10 years,” Joel told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview last month.

Billy Joel 2015 Al Pereira / Getty Images

“I mean, I didn’t know it was going to last 10 years,” he continued. “And I don’t know how long the show is, I’m sure someone somewhere is watching it, but I’m amazed that we’ve come this far and I’m honored.”

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Joel’s record-breaking residency began in January 2014 and will end in 2024 following his 150th lifetime performance at the legendary venue on July 25th.

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Source: HIS Education