1515 18th Street, Key West - Mid-Century Modern

Just Listed, but not by me, 1515 18th Street in Key West, Florida. This is an expansive Mid- Century Modern home constructed in 1958.  The CBS  (concrete block structure) is a combination of stucco over CBS and stone surface over CBS.  The roof is flat which was typical of that era. Most of the homes in this area are of similar age and construction. The lot measures 8937 sq ft (65' x 137.5') and is surrounded on three sides by an expensive CBS privacy fence. The house itself measures 2388 sq ft under air.  The backyard is pretty amazing. There is a large pool surrounded by a large deck for sunning punctuated by towering palms and tropical foliage. The asking price is just $515,000.  There's a whole lot of house here. I hope some reader who has been dreaming of buying a second home or maybe a future retirement home will take note of the opportunities this property provides.

This is a very simple house on many levels, or should I say it is a one level home that is very simple and efficient in its design.  The living room has a wall of windows the type of which can be seen throughout Key West in homes built from the 1950s forward.  The windows open and allow air to flow from the outside. Before there was air conditioning, there was natural ventilation. These windows provide both light but also lots of ventilation.  Two skylights provide additional light as well. One of the first things I noticed was the mix of the original terrazzo floor and newer tile floors in the dining area and bedrooms. I will comment more about this later. 

The house has an "L" shape design. There are two bedrooms and baths located on the east and west sides of the longer portion of the "L" shape. The smaller end of the "L" is the family room and kitchen. The kitchen was updated several years ago and has a several years of service before it needs redone.  The appliances and counter-tops are a bit dated, however. There is a pass through from the kitchen into the family room where there is a built in dining bar. The photo immediately above shows the Cuban tile floors that mark a third type of floor material used in this house. 

Both the west and east bedrooms have full baths and lots of closet space. They both also have a mix differing floor surfaces between rooms.  It may be that the living room and the bedroom areas were carpeted and that the carpet was removed.  There is no central air conditioning in this home. There are wall unit air conditioners, however. I think a new owner might want to install a new mini-split system throughout  the house. These systems are whisper and are more economical to operate than the old wall units. By the way I could not help but notice how quite and lovely the outdoor area was while I was taking photos.  This is really a lovely home. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this very interesting property.

CLICK HERE for a Google aerial view of this property which is located four blocks to the west of Cow Key Channel which leads to deep Atlantic Ocean waters via the Sunrise Canal across the street from this home. Jimmy Buffet once lived a block or so down the street on the opposite side of the adjacent Sunrise Drive.

1515 18th Street is offered at $515,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing on this very interesting and fairly priced home which has so much to offer. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Domestic Tranquility in Key West

I wrote about the new listing at 3632 Sunrise Drive in Key West last year when it was then offered for sale at the asking price of $1,395,000. It did not sell and now the property is Bank Owned.

First let me tell you that this house has been maintained and has not sat uncared for. The inside is nice and clean. The gardens are verdant. And the pool invites you to drop trousers and dive in. The guy at the bank did go and removed the smoke detector batteries, however. You can't have a bank owned property without hearing the incessant chirp of unappreciated smoke detectors.

3632 Sunrise Drive sits at the eastern edge of Key West. MAP (The map incorrectly identifies Sunrise Dive as Riviera and it places this house in the wrong location. But trust me. Google is wrong and Gary [on this point] is correct but the general location is accurate otherwise.

The canal provides boating access to the Atlantic Ocean right from your backyard. And the backyard here is just beautiful. The 30' x 15' pool is the focal point. A lovey pool house with wet bar (and shower behind) sits to the west of the pool. Tastefully landscaped gardens are located to the east (irrigated and lighted). Some large palms flank either side of the pool. And lush mangroves sit on the opposite side of the canal. The setting is just like out of a David Hockney painting except his ain't L.A. Thank God!


The listing Realtor describes the house this way:

"Very Private And Secluded Waterfront Home With Approx. 98 Ft Of Dockage, Pool And Landscaped Grounds. Screen Porch Off Great Room. Tile And Wood Floors. Kitchen With Pantry. Composite Decking Around Pool, Concrete Dock. Poolside Cabana With Water, Electric, Wetbar And Outdoor Shower With Hot And Cold Water. Sprinkler System, Outdoor Auto Mosquito Misting System. Fully Fenced And Electronic Gates."

The living and dining areas have great views of the pool, the canal and the mangroves beyond. The kitchen has those same inviting views. I don't know how the cook could manage to stay inside and work when the outside is so inviting. There is lots of room for a grill just in case the outside proves too tempting.

This house has a very nice master suite on the second floor and at least three additional bedrooms on the main level. An additional bedroom and separate bath are located near the kitchen. This are might work well for a live-in.

3632 Sunrise Drive is a 2448 sq ft ranch with 4 beds and 3 baths situated on a 9794 sq ft lot (97.5'[canal frontage] x 100.48'). I think this is one incredible home and it is priced to sell quickly at $749,000 or $306 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to compare this property to similarly priced homes in Key West.

CLICK HERE to checkout the mls listing information and to view photos. I created my own set of photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Promote your own domestic tranquility and move into this great Key West property.

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3810 Flagler Avenue - Key West Waterfront

I have written about the expansive property at 3810 Flagler Avenue before. I've shown it a few times. It is intriguing but the size of the place almost overwhelms potential buyers.

3810 Flagler Avenue is 3207 sq ft house on a gigantic (by Key West standards) 14,175 sq ft lot. It sits at the far east end of the Island of Key West. The entire rear of the property has a seawall that abuts the Sunrise Canal. The Sunrise Canal opens into the Riviera Canal and that leads to the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. CLICK HERE for an aerial perspective of 3810 Flagler. The principal view from the rear of 3810 Flagler is water, more water, and then mangroves. You can see the rear of a couple of homes. But the main view of the water and the mangroves beyond is just captivating.

I said the house is big. It has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a huge living room, a family room, laundry, garage, gazebo, spa, and a beautiful pool. Part of the rear deck is covered but most of the rear area is open to the sunny skies of Key West. Most of the exterior rear grounds are covered in brick pavers so there is not a lot of high maintenance landscaping. CLICK HERE to see the mls listing information with details about the property and view many interior and exterior photos.

3810 Flagler Avenue is offered at $1,375,000 or $429 per sq ft. If you are looking for a large home with a Key West address that has space for a large boat, 3810 Flagler Avenue might work for you. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing.