1601 White Street - Key West - Price Reduction

Preferred Properties Key West (that's where I work but this is not my listing) just announced a price reduction on 1601 White Street, Key West, Florida from $835,000 to $795,000). What's more, the owner had the interiors repainted so that the home would show off its true potential.

The 1568 sq ft two story house sits on an 8750 sq ft lot (70' wide x 125' deep) at the corner of Johnson Street at White Street - just one block from the Atlantic Ocean. A large fenced City Park is located directly across the street. The house sits quite high on the property and is located toward the north side of the lot. There is bricked off street parking for at least two cars. The lot is extensively landscaped and provides privacy from both White Street and Johnson Street. Yet you can sit on the large front porch and watch people as they walk the dog, jog, or ride a bike. At night you can walk down to the White Street pier to watch sunset. Maybe you might stroll down to the pier to do some night time fishing - I have.  There is an almost endless parade from early morning until sunset  and later when all quiet breaks out.

The listing Realtor describes 1601 White Street this way:

"Come take a second look at this terrific 3 bedroom 2.5 bath house is situated on an exceptional corner lot, just a few blocks to the Atlantic Ocean. The house has great bones... just needs some updating... Owners just recently painted the entire interior, installed new flooring, and will continue to make improvements until the house sells. The lot has beautiful native landscaping that is easy to maintain. The swimming pool with expansive decking and outdoor shower are all elevated. The house has many great qualities... central air, lots of windows, plenty of storage, and a unique floor plan. Other features include off-street parking, privacy/security fencing and a lot with room to grow."

The main floor is divided into conventional rooms with the living area on one side, a formal dining area up front on the other side and the kitchen at the rear with a breakfast bar in the middle.  A set of stairs leads to the second level where the master bedroom and en-suite bath occupy the south side and two guest rooms with a shared bath are located on the opposite side.

I personally think the master bedroom is dated. But the good thing is that there is so much room that a new owner could revamp the space and update the bath without breaking the budget.  The same goes for the two guest bedrooms. The spaces work find but could be tweaked just a bit to make the spaces just a bit more appealing.

The freshly painted interiors will give the new owners time to live in the property and figure out what they really like and what they would like to change to make the spaces function to fit the new owners' lifestyle.  I tell buyers to do this before they start a major renovation. Most do what they want anyway. I understand the urge to splurge but it is not always necessary.

I think the rear of the existing house is under utilized and could be expanded without spending too much money. I think the kitchen could be expanded to include what is now a covered rear porch. I would add more space to the master bedroom for bedroom area (or add a second floor deck overlooking the pool).  I would definitely expand the second floor bedroom at the rear which could then permit enlarging both bedrooms a bit. That might create enough space for each bedroom to have a private bath.

The back yard and side yard are huge and provide ample ground for expanding the main house or adding a guest cottage at the rear. A couple of colleagues have suggested tearing down the house and pool and rebuilding all new - not because what exists is bad but because the space is so large and so well located that the land value itself makes such a project thinkable.  CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

Whether a new owner does some remodeling or keeps this property the way it is, I think 1601 White Street could make a great vacation rental.  The house is located one block from the Atlantic Ocean and the White Street beaches. 

The new price on 1601 White Street is $795,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. After you have done that, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 

1701 Atlantic Boulevard - Key West

The quite large home at 1701 Atlantic Boulevard in Key West is located near the beaches on southeast part of the Island of Key West.  The original house was built in 1968 and was later expanded to its present size of 2969 sq ft of living space under air. The house sits at the corner of Ashby Street and Atlantic Avenue. The 5760 sq ft lot (64' x 90')  contains the sprawling two level home, a large pool, covered off street parking, and several garden areas. The asking price is $998,000 or only $336 per sq ft.  The listing Realtor describes the property as:

"Spacious home on a sizable 5,760 sq.ft. corner lot, custom designed for family fun and entertaining. The first floor consists of an open floor plan connecting a great room, designer kitchen, dining room and wet bar overlooking the pool and deck area. A second master bedroom suite and two guest rooms with a shared bath round up the first floor. The second floor comprises the master bedroom suite with a grand master bath, walking closet, siting area, and french doors leading out to a wide covered deck overlooking the oceanfront Key West Nature Preserve. The private fenced yard features a large heated swimming pool and sunning deck for year-round enjoyment. Walking distance from the beach. Covered carport. Come see this great Island Home."

---

There are three bedrooms on the east side of the main level.  Two of those bedrooms share a bath while the third bedroom has a quite large ensuite bath plus access to the rear. 

The second floor is for the exclusive use of the owner. This area includes the bedroom, a siting area, and the extra large ensuite bath. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home. If you would like to see 1701 Atlantic Blvd or any other home in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

1222-1224 Johnson Street - Key West - Short Sale

1222-1224 Johnson Street - Key West

Want to have your cupcake and eat it too? The cute legal duplex located at 1222-1224 Johnson Street in the east area of Casa Marina may be the answer to your dream of having a place in Key West that you can use for yourself and also legally rent to pay part of your mortgage costs. The property is priced to sell at $429,000. The listing Realtor says this about the duplex:

"Legal duplex with a spacious 2/1.5 and a studio. Good condition with some nice upgrades in the large unit. Each side has a walled yard and parking. Great location near the beaches & White St. pier. Short sale subject to bank approval."

The key words or phrases in the description tell us that (1) the duplex is 'legal' as opposed to a mother-in-law that may not be legal; (2) the space you could rent (or retain for self-use) is small (expect rent of $800 on the small unit); (3) it is in good condition-meaning a new owner will not be required to do a lot of deferred maintenance; (4) it's got upgrades like travertine marble floors and nice cabinets; (5) each unit has private outdoor space (living in Key West is much nicer if you have actual private outdoor space); (6) it has private parking for two cars; and it's located near the White Street pier and the beaches. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and to view more photos of this property. Click PHOTOBUCKET to see lots of interior and exterior photos.

CLICK HERE for a GOOGLE MAP aerial view of the area. The above photos do not do the location justice. There are some really nice large Casa Marina homes located east,west, north and south of this property. The photo immediately below is the large home next door to the west and below that is the house across George Street to the east. Not bad company!

next door immediately west

Across Georgia Street on the corner

Off street parking for two cars

Private yard for the larger unit

Separate private yard for the smaller unit

Don't let the term 'short sale' scare you away. The lender that has the mortgage on this property is a local bank that can make a relatively quick evaluation of any short sale contract.

The supply of available homes for sale in Key West that are priced in the $400,000 range is shrinking. Think outside the box and consider buying a property that could throw off a little income in exchange for a small loss of total privacy.

1222-1224 Johnson Street is a listing of Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work). Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 if you would like to see this nice property neat the beaches.

1219 Margaret Street - Old Town - Key West

1219 Margaret Street - Key West

The really big two story Conch style house located at 1219 Margaret Street in the South of Truman area of Old Town was just listed for sale, but not by me, at the asking price of $799,000. While this home may look old, it was actually built brand new (not renovated) in 1999.

The listing Realtor describes this home thus:

"Fabulous 3 bedroom 3.5 bath home with private pool, and covered carport for 2 cars. This home has been owner occupied since it was built in 1999, and is in exceptional condition. There is a 25 K whole house diesel generator, covered back porch rain/wind roll down curtains, oak floors throughout, Kitchen with new corian counter tops and appliances, an expansive 720 sq. Ft. 3rd floor which is suitable for bedroom plus work/play room. This home can be sold furnished."

If you are one of the value shoppers that looks and looks until you find the right house at the right price, your shopping days may be over. The listing agent says this home has 2160 sq ft of living space on three levels. The main floor is typical Key West with a large open kitchen, dining, and living area that open via French doors out onto the rear deck and tropical pool area. There are two good sized bedrooms and baths on the second floor. And the third floor has the bonus space you hardly ever see in an Old Town home. That space is perfect for use as a guest room, office, or playroom for the kids or grand kids. The front yard has the required white picket fence and there is covered off street parking accessed by a private rear lane.

Speaking of the private rear lane, I took the photos late yesterday afternoon. As I finished with the photos of the lane and parking and was heading for my car I looked up and realized the Atlantic Ocean and the beaches are only a five block walk to the south. Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west and Faustos Food Palace is a five minute walk to the east.

RECAP: 3 beds, 3 1/2 baths, pool, covered off street parking for two cars, Old Town, move-in condition, and priced at $799,000 or $370 per sq ft. This, dear reader, is a deal! Stop procrastinating and buy it before somebody beats you to the dotted line.

Private alley behind 1219 Margaret Street

Covered Parking for two cars

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of this property. Take your time to look at the listing photos so that you can see too many features to enumerate. Don't undervalue the huge generator (either by cost and especially by value). A whole house system costs a lot to install but proves its worth when we are without power as sometimes happens.

If you are looking for a very clean and ready to move into house that is priced to sell, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

Affordable, Adorable, Doable! Southpark Condo - Key West

Southpark Condominiums pool is shared by just 16 owners

The super sweet one bedroom condo at 808 South Street in the Casa Marina area of Key West is affordable, adorable, and doable. It is not a distress sale, not a foreclosure, nor is it bank owned. It is however priced to sell: the condo is priced to sell quickly at $349,000. The listing broker describes Unit 201 this way:

" This beautiful Southpark condo has been totally renovated with all new kitchen, gorgeous cabinets and countertops, all new wood/tile floors, a lovely bathroom, cedar closet and 3 ductless AC/heat units. Off Street parking. Rarely available."

Beautiful new floors throughout the unit

CLICK HERE to locate the Southpark Condos on the Map. You will soon see that the condo is located just a short walk or bike ride to both Duval Street and the beaches near the Casa Marina Resort.

The newly listed Southpark condo has 640 sq ft of very livable space. The owner recently updated the kitchen and baths and installed new hardwood floors (real wood not the fake stuff) and new tile in the kitchen and bath. A floor to ceiling mirror in the dining room enhance the spacious feeling of the combined living and dining area. This unit is almost equal in size to the two bedroom units at Shipyard. I think this place has a lot to offer someone who respects mid century architecture and construction. This development has a feeling of solid construction that has weathered the test of time. CLICK HERE for more info on this unit and to view more photos of the unit and the complex.



There are only 16 units at Southpark condos and each has a designated off-street parking space. The four building complex has four units in each building with two units on the ground floor (such as Unit 201) and two on the second floor. The front garden is always superbly maintained. And the rear gardens and inviting pool are just too beautiful. I showed this unit on Saturday afternoon and that pool looked so tempting that I sped home right away and jumped into my own pool. This unit has its own private rear deck that is just so compfy. CLICK HERE.

For comparison purposes I created a shopping list of similarly priced units for sale in the Old Town, Casa Marina, Meadows, and near Mid Town areas. CLICK HERE to do some comparison shopping. There are some nice units in the above list. None are short sales and two have transient licenses.

The equally nice thing about this unit is that it is not bank owned so we won't have to go through hell trying to buy it. It is not a short sale so it can be purchased right away. There is nothing broken, so you won't have to fix something. All you need to do is make the offer, seal the deal, and move on in. That's why I say this property is "doable".

If you are looking to purchase a property in Key West, please consider using me as your agent. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or send me an e-mailat kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Our office is the Lower Florida Keys exclusive affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

---