718 Olivia Street - Old Town - Key West

718 Olivia Street - Old Town- Key West

If you are looking for a "project house" on a big lot and situated in a good Old Town location, you may want to take a look at 718 Olivia Street which was just listed at the asking price of $679,000. The listing Realtor describes the property thus:

"A grande historic house built between 1899 and 1912. 5 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. Large LR, DR and kitchen. Beautiful hardwood floors. High ceilings and 23 large windows create a steady flow of light and air. 9401 sqft lot with BIG 85' x 65' back yard. Easy walk or pedal to anywhere in Old Town."

The listing Realtor states "Sanborn Insurance map shows house built btwn (between) 1899 and 1912". I found a photo of the house from half a century ago that shows the house without all of the current trees and assorted foliage.

Photo from 1965

Photo from 2011 - note the cinder block front fence

Photo from January 2012

A huge Royal Poinciana tree dominates the front yard today. The front porch today still has the same wrought iron posts as shown in the 1960s vintage photo as well as the jalousie windows and the concrete block front fence.

East side of the property

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos of this home. You will note that the listing states this house has 1538 sq ft of living space. The property site is much larger than the photos suggest. The front parcel (where the house is located) occupies only about 2600 sq ft of the entire 9401 sq ft lot. The remaining lot is located at the west rear of the front parcel. That is the space where one would likely add a pool and/0r guest quarters.

If you are looking for a renovation project in the Old Town Key West area this may be the house you have been searching for. The house certainly has street appeal and the yard space is just huge. Creating a viable plan for the property as a whole is the key to making a project like this work. We have several knowledgeable local architects that could help a buyer develop a winning concept for this one of a kind property.

I sold the beautiful home next door at 716 Olivia Street a couple of years ago. Before it was recently updated 716 Olivia looked similar to the way it appeared for decades as shown in the old black and white photo.

716 Olivia Street as it looked in 1965

716 Olivia Street as it appears in January 2012

What could you do to improve 718 Olivia Street? Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a view of this property. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

January Real Estate Sales in Key West

I've been telling you that sales are picking up in Key West and advising you not to wait too long before you buy. Snoozers are Losers!

In January there were ten single family home sales in Key West (including a couple of properties that could be used as legal duplexes). Going either way is common in Key West, I guess. I have written about several of the homes that sold and I gotta tell you, I told you they were bargains to be had. Included were 701 Elizabeth, originally $1,579,000 and sold for $695,000 (Not a Short Sale nor a distress sale); 3 Pinder Lane, originally listed for $1,390,000 and sold for $900,000; 716 Olivia Street (originally listed for $2,895,000 and sold for $1,025,126 in one day). The buyers on the above referenced properties made excellent buys in my opinion. A major Key West house sold that was listed for $6,495,000 and sold for $5,700,000.

There were eight condo and townhome sales during January. Four of those were identified as either bank owned properties or short sales. Among the winners of that group are a unit at 1075 Duval with a real transient license. It sold for an incredible $439,774. A third floor bank owned unit at Sunset Marina with a terrific water view sold for $399,000. And a two story townhome at Windward Park sold for just $400,000.

Even, perhaps, more interesting is the number of contingent and pending single family and duplex properties in Key West. Fifty-three properties are now under contract. Of that number, 26 are shown as short sales and 11 were identified as bank owned properties. In case you think that all short sales are crappy little houses that could not be sold CLICK HERE. The incredible house at 811 Southard is a short sale and somebody snagged this big one. I wrote about 1212 Olivia CLICK HERE. It is a bank owned house on a really nice block. I showed that house twice within a couple of hours of when it was listed. (Just as in the case of the sold bank owned home at 716 Olivia CLICK HERE (scroll down to October 27th) mentioned above under single family sales, this unit reportedly went for a little more than the asking price just so that the buyer could seal the deal.)

Finally, thirty one condos and town homes are shown as contingent or pending sales. Of that number, 15 are short sales and 6 are bank owned properties. The most notable in my opinion is the gift at 1118 Olivia Street that was listed at only $359,000. CLICK HERE to see what I wrote about that property that went under contract just 4 days after being listed.

You need to be aware that there is some confusion about how to classify houses and condos that have signed short sale contracts. Not all properties that have signed short sale contracts are listed as such. I believe the number of actual contingent and pending sales is much, much higher. But that is just my opinion.

Buyers who are not in Key West have a bit of a disadvantage to those people who happen to be here when new properties get listed or when prices are reduced. But that should not stop you from using your computer to do some research and using your noggin to figure out if a particular property could work for you. You probably know what you want and what you can afford. I encourage potential buyers to search the real Key West Association of Realtors mls database CLICK HERE to see what kind of property they can buy for the money they want to spend. Always look at properties priced higher than you can afford and search properties with less space or amenities than you require. CASH is KING and you may be able to negotiate a real sweet deal, just like some of the lucky buyers mentioned above.

Let me, Gary Thomas, help you buy your place in Paradise. Please either call me at 305-766-2642 or 3-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Tell me what you want and how much you want to pay. You might own a place in Key West where you can snooze on the beach.

716 Olivia Street - Key West - Short Sale

The Arts & Crafts house at 716 Olivia Street is sitting vacant and looks a little forlorn. The county records say it was built in 1938 but those records have been known to be wrong because the Great Key West Fire destroyed the county records. So many buildings were given approximate dates of construction. Be that is it may, this house has been basically rebuilt with all of the features we require in the first decade of the 21st Century.

The renovation to this 2352 sq. ft house of 4 bedroom and 3 bath house is nearly complete. Interior finishes include Walker-Zanger stone baths and kitchen, Omega custom cabinetry, pre-wired multi-zoned sound system, Dade County pine, mahogany and maple floors with walnut inlays. Don't overlook the custom designed wrought iron stair rails. Outside features include attached carport, cabana with half-bath, storage and entertainment area bordering a 35'x13' heated pool with lap-lane and spa lined with imported English glass and Jerusalem stone coping. The lot is 5146 sq ft. The house is about 90% finished which means the buyer gets to complete the tiling of the pool, the cabana, the landscaping, and the installation of the kitchen appliances.

Everything that has been done or installed was done correctly and with attention to detail. The finishes and materials are first rate. The master bedroom suite takes up the entire rear of the house and it features a large balcony overlooking the pool and gardens (to be) below. The masterbath is bright, elegant, and appointed. The other bedrooms and baths are equally well appointed, but not quite as large.

The first floor has a formal living room, study, bath, dining room with french doors that open onto one of the decks, laundry room, and a very large and bright eat-in kitchen.

The house is located about a 3 minute walk to Duval. But its only one minute to Seven Fish Restaurant. You're close to everything, but far enough removed to enjoy the quiet neighborhood.

CLICK HERE for more information on this one of a kind Key West home. If you like what you see, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this property. It is priced at $1,995,000 and it is a Short Sale. This is not my listing. And this is just my opinion: this house will most likely sell at a price way below the asking price. I encourage realistic buyers to look at this property. I think this property will require a Cash Offer to get approved.

Prices are Falling! Prices are Falling!

Realization is sinking in for some would-be sellers: Selling Season is Quickly Expiring. As a result the asking price on many homes and condos are falling (being reduced). I thought it would be interesting to post a few examples of some good properties with new prices that now seem like bargains. At least bargains by Key West standards. Click on any address for a more detailed sheet and photos.

1119 Olivia This is a legal duplex located in Old Town that was totally renovated within the last two years. Originally priced at $1,275,000 and now $610,000. This is a potential short sale.

716 Olivia Street This is a new renovation that has not been lived in. Unique design, quality craftsmanship, and top of the line fixtures mark this extraordinary property. Originally listed at $2,495,000 and now offered at $1,995,000. This is a potential short sale.

814 Ashe Street New construction in Old Town. Three bedroom historic reproduction single family home with luxury finishes and features built by award-winning Key West builder. Originally listed at $2,149,999 and now priced at $1,395,000.


804 Elizabeth Street was the subject of a TV renovation project a couple of years back. The home is sharp and has a beautiful pool and garden area. Originally priced at $1,695,000 and now offered at $1,575,000.

916 Washington Street in the Casa Marina Area is a new home boasting a modern & innovative 4000 sq ft. Totaling 4 generous en-suite bedrooms and an outstanding display of luxury amenities including state of the art kitchen with pantry. Originally offered at $3,750,000 and now priced at $2,999,000.

727 Waddell Street is another newly constructed gracious home. This home boasts charming roof lines, wrap around porches & balconies located in the coveted Casa Marina Area. The home is 2800 sq ft and five en-suite bed/baths and a killer pool and garden. Originally priced at $3,300,000 and now offered at only $1,999,000 or $714 per sq ft. This home is a block from the beach friends and it is all new. Top of the line. Methinks there is a deal to be made on this one.

1800 Atlantic Unit C229 is a bank foreclosure and priced to sell now. Offered at $404,000. These CLICK HERE are the other 1800 Atlantic units. Judge the price for yourself.

There are lots of properties in all price ranges that are priced to sell. CLICK HERE to do your own search of the Key West mls database. Most of the properties are listed because the seller really wants to sell. Sometimes it takes an aggressive buyer and a good Realtor to craft an offer that gets a deal accomplished. Do your homework and find the home you think might work for you. Then give me, Gary Thomas, a call at 305-766-2642. Or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

Million Dollar Short Sales -- Key West

There are currently 222 Key West single family homes priced at $1,000,000 or more. Six of those properties are shown as either potential Short Sales or Bank Foreclosures. CLICK HERE to checkout each of the properties.

I have written about a few of the properties previously. I think there are some real buying opportunities on some of these listings. The house at 1021 Johnson for example is located on one of the most desirable streets in the Casa Marina Area. It is flanked by many multi-million dollar homes that will only continue to increase in value as the years pass by.

The home at 3500 Flagler Blvd. is listed at only $1,200,000 ($420 per sq ft) for a 4 bed 6 bath home with a pool that sits on a 10,312 sq ft lot. Its' kitchen is pictured to the right.

The house at 716 Olivia Street could make you cry. The beautiful Arts & Crafts home was renovated by a friend who is also a Realtor. He put so much into the house as far as quality and workmanship that he was not able to finish the project. That makes it difficult to sell a house in this wicked environment. So the house just sits there. Undone. If you go inside you'll see the beautiful floors, woodwork, cabinetry, custom tiles, elegant light fixtures that were so thoughtful introduced into this property. The house is listed at $1,995,000 or $845 per sq ft. It's going to take some money to finish the house. But a smart buyer ought to be able to negotiate a good deal on this property because of the shortfalls.

Then there is the big house at 23 Sea Lore Lane on Shark Key. It is offered at $1,650,000 or $628 per sq ft. The 4 bed 3 bath home sits on the water amid many multi million dollar homes. How often do you get a chance to own a waterfront home in Key West for that kind of price?

And finally there's that sweet little house on Seminary Street with a nice pool and lots of charm. It's offered at only $1,000,000 or $697 per sq ft. The house has 3 bedrooms and two baths.

The houses on the click list are those whose Realtors have shown them as Short Sale or I identified as bank owned. But there are more properties offered that are "financially challenged". I would suggest that if you are looking for a deal on a larger home that you consider looking at one of these properties. The asking prices are just that: asking. Short Sale prices can be negotiated between the seller and the buyer. The lender will ultimately decide whether to approve the deal or not or perhaps offer a compromise price. This may be your opportunity to buy a big house for a small price in Key West. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com if you would like more info or if you would like to schedule a showing.

I told you so.......

This blog entry is for you disbelievers and prophets of doom and gloom, more toil and more trouble. It is also for you dreamers who want to buy a place in Key West but who fear that we are not at the bottom of the market.

I thought it would be interesting to see how many properties that I have mentioned in my little blog have actually closed since January 1, 2009. I used the Key West mls database and found that there were 46 closings to 8:30 AM today, February 18.

Here then are the houses that got away:

5601 College Road, Unit C 303 that sold for $399,000. CLICK HERE to see the unit. This sale may actually be good news for you undecided buyers. Unlike the other houses below, there are more of this same type of unit for sale now. This sale probably set the current watermark on pricing at this location. I know some don't like the location. Don't go there to look then. But the buildings are about 15 years newer than 1800 Atlantic and all have direct water views from the balcony with no noise from any nearby road.

525 Margaret Street, hidden Old Town two story house thoughtfully redone. Originally priced at $699,000 and sold for $500,000. CLICK HERE to see this beautiful home.

701 Elizabeth Street right at the top of Solares Hill that sold for an incredible price of $695,000. (Originally priced at $1,579,000.) CLICK HERE to see what you missed dearies.

3 Pinder Lane Old Town. This is absolutely one of the sweetest places I have ever been in my life. I loved this cottage. Everybody I showed it to loved it. It did not have parking, the bedrooms and baths were small, but this place is just magical. CLICK HERE to see the house that originally was offered at $1,390,000 and that sold for $900,000.

716 Olivia Street the Arts & Crafts house that needed just a wee bit of finishing sold in just about one day after a bank foreclosed its mortgage. The original asking price was $2,895,000. The bank owner asked $999,999 and it sold for $1,025,126. CLICK HERE and weep.

With the exception of the condo at Sunset Marina I think you would agree that each of the houses whether big or small is unique. They don't make any more of them. When they are gone, they are gone.

If you are looking for a place in Key West please consider using me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. Don't live your life regretting what you could have done. Do it.

Value Buying in Key West

I have written many times about Old Town being the place to buy if you are looking for top value both short term and long term. And I've said that certain blocks within Old Town are more valuable than others. Proximity to certain locations or the "look" of certain blocks seems to create or enhance value among nearby homes. But most properties in Old Town are priced higher than many would-be buyers can pay or are willing to pay for a second or third home. So what's a prospective buyer to do?

I suggest that you Buy Value by purchasing the best property in an area that is not as popular as Old Town but is located nearby! Or Buy Value by buying top quality property that is under priced even though the price is higher than you think you can afford.

CLICK HERE for some examples. I picked properties priced between $1.8 - $2.3 million, but you can use our Key West Association of Realtors mls search engine CLICK HERE to search properties in your own price range to find properties that may meet your needs. I always suggest that you search prices higher than you think you want to pay (sales prices are usually lower than asking price) and reduce your size requirements. Be flexible. Be forward looking. Believe that America will comeback.

823 White Street is a large renovation on a busy street during the daytime, but generally quite in the evening and on weekends. This large property is priced at $568 per sq ft compared to similar properties around $900 - $1000 in the heart of Old Town.

822 Washington is in Casa Marina and for blocks to the Atlantic Ocean. Very large contemporary property and value priced at $636 per sq ft. Other area homes are in the $800+ per sq ft range.

727 Waddell is new construction also in Casa Marina area near the Casa Marina Hotel and beach. This house is new and has everything. Priced at $714 per sq ft. This house should be in the $1000 per sq ft range.

806 Truman is obviously located on busy Truman Avenue. This gracious early 20th century historical home has been tastefully updated and is a real beauty. Two guest guest houses make this a great retreat for some buyer with lots of friends and family. Priced at $805 per sq ft. This house is priced right for size and location, but the house has way more going for it than just about any similarly priced house. The location is killing the value, not the house itself.

410 Simonton is a dollhouse right in the heart of Old Town. What a beauty. Price at $388 per sq ft. Busy location during the day, but generally quiet at night.

315 Peacon Lane is priced at $828 per sq ft for a beauty on a very quiet lane in a dynamic location very near the Historic Seaport yet far enough away not to be part of the noise and hubub. This house is probably priced about $100 per sq ft under market.

716 Olivia is a stunning renovation that got derailed by the downturn in the market. Short sale offered at $844 per sq ft. Custom everything. You will get total quality and beautiful design on this babe. I think a sharp buyer may be able to swing a good deal on this one.

Finally, I need to strongly recommend that buyers look at 409 Williams Street. Priced at $769 per sq ft but should be priced around $1000 - $1100. This is a prime example of my recommendation to "Buy Value by buying top quality property that is under priced even though the price is higher than you think you can afford." There are too many homes in the $1000 and up price range. The seller really wants to sell. And the as offered now is basically what the seller paid for the house before all of the dramatic renovations were made. The seller did not pay too much for the property. But he really wants to sell it now. This is a deal not to be missed.

Give me, Gary Thomas, a call to see one of these houses, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. A few years from now people will be kicking themselves in the rear end for not having bought some of these homes at the value price offered today. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I told you so!

Several of the Key West homes that I have suggested potential buyers should consider have sold. So I thought it would be interesting to look at the asking price and the sold price on those properties. If you are in the market to purchase a house in Key West this little exercise may give you some insight into how much individual houses have been selling for during the past few months.

I have suggested the Shipyard Condominiums at Truman Annex as a good property to consider purchasing because of the units are easy to rent year after year. There were 9 sales during the past year. The least expensive sale was listed at $500,000 and sold for $475,000. The median sale was listed at $590,000 and sold at $520,000.

The condos at 1800 Atlantic is another excellent property for second home buyers because the property has so many amenities and features that other properties do not have or that cost so much more. Many of the condos in 1800 Atlantic have transient rental licenses so they can be legally rented on a nightly basis. The property is 20 years old, so many of the units have been remodeled or upgraded. But not all. That means there is a disparity among the units offered for sale. And some units have transient licenses, and others do not. The existence of licenses and the location of the unit in the building do affect the sales price. There were 5 sales with the least expensive

603 Angela Street. This property has not sold yet, but the price has been reduced from $799,000 to $749,000. I think this is a very good buy somewhere in the low $700s. The owners really want to sell, and I believe a strong cash offer with a quick closing date might receive a favorable reply.

On February 14th I wrote about falling prices and suggested several houses to consider. 1191 Oliva was $610,000 and now reduced again to $575,000; 716 Olivia is unchanged; 814 Ashe unchanged; 804 Elizabeth has been reduced again and now priced at $1,495,000; 916 Washington (originally priced at $3.75 million and reduced to $2,999,000 on Feb 11 went contingent on Feb 25th--smart buy at whatever price); 727 Waddell unchanged; 1800 Atlantic C229 reduced from $404,00 to $350,000 on March 6th.

On February 12th I wrote about a wonderful home at 724 Ashe originally sold for $1,265,000 and listed as a short sale at $995,000. This house went contingent on March 3rd. This was a deal!!!

On February 9th I wrote about units at the Key West Beach Club. I showed 3 of the units last Friday. The next day the owner of one of the units received a very good offer but it required the sale of another property. The Beach Club owner did not accept the offer, but it is being negotiated. The unit was reduced in price and the new price is very competitive.

The grand old dame at 625 Eaton ( February 5th)is our listing and we received a very good offer last week, but terms could not be finalized. This is a property that could sell quickly to a buyer ready to close the deal. Call me.

301 Peacon Lane was listed at $1,349,000 when I wrote about it on February 1st. It has been reduced to $1,295,000. It is a sweet deal in the making.

On January 25 I wrote about a short sale at 627 Southard. It was a new listing and the seller immediately received a very attractive offer. He responded by increasing the asking price from $1,500,000 to $1,700,000. Several sellers have done the same in the past couple of months. Some think the market has corrected too far and that prices are on the upswing.

709 Windsor Lane was another short sale I wrote about on January 22. It is now contingent.

Back on January 15th I wrote about 630 Eaton which is a commercial property right in the heart of Old Town. It went contingent February 19th. Don't think that buyers are not buying. They are.

1236 Washington was my subject on January 13. It was priced at $1,649,000 and now is reduced to $1,499,000. Beautiful home!

710 Caroline was priced at $1,795,000 when listed in January 2007. It was reduced to $760,000 on February 28. Somebody buy this house. Terrific location overlooking the Key West waterfront.

On January 9th I wrote about a beauty located at 1108 Southard. It was listed at $1,495,000. The price was reduced to $1,385,000 and went pending on February 25. Another sweet deal I am sure. The house is sweet and the asking price was realistic.

I wrote about 1101 Fleming several times. It was listed March 1, 2007 for $850,000 by a realtor who did not understand the market in my opinion. The house is very nice, very good location, but it was way overpriced. She thought the location warranted the excessive price. She was wrong and I think she did her client a disservice in listing the property too high for too long. The absentee owner engaged a new realtor who listed the house for $599,000 on January 4, 2008. It sold for $570,000 on March 4th. That was the best deal on a 2 bed, 2 bath house in Old Town with a pool and a great location. Ya'll should shoot yourselves for missing this one. I told you so!

The Projects of Key West - July 2017 Update

Today's blog is an update on the projects of Key West which I wrote way too long ago - January 2015. I have been taking pictures all along and will share those photos and add my comments on the various properties. I kept holding back posting this update, all the while waiting for a couple of places to finish. One of the reasons why Key West housing is so expensive is the fact that it takes so damned long to get jobs completed.  Later in today's blog you will see a few examples of extra long construction projects that are taking forever. I am a firm believer that some builders drag the construction time out as long as possible to make the owner believe it particulary diffficult and therefore should cost more than expected. We have some very good general contractors in Key West that are totally legitimate and very reliable. And we have others who may take on too many projects who hire inexperienced helpers and/or illegal workers.They show up when it fits their schedule, do a little work, and disappear.

1016 Varela Street
I wrote about this cigar make style cottage a couple of times and showed it several times. I was a big proponent of buying this place, expanding it, and making out like a bandit. The house did not look good from the street, but it had a huge rear yard that wrapped around the rear to the left which would give the new owner a lot of possibilities for varying uses. I remember having to show at limited hours of the day. There were closed circuit TV cameras to see who was at the door. The place was always tenant occupied which made showings even harder and they had to be present for all showings. They always watched who entered and what they looked at. Buyers found it diffiecult to think about the future when the present was looming over them like a hawk. But somebody bought the play, hired a good local contractor, and the place got a new lease on life in very quick order. I have not been inside and don't know what happended in the rear, but I am sure it includes a pool.

The sign states "Before and After 50 Days" That was on May 31, 2017


920 Eisenhower Drive
920 Eisenhower Drive is a big hulk of a house.  It looked abandoned for the past few years. It was once owned by the owner of Sloppy Joe. The house was elevated to add a new pier foundation,  The house was totally renovated which included re-framing much of the building, siding, and new interiors throughout the house. 

CLICK HERE for more photos of 920 Eisenhower Drive.

1116 Packer Street 
1116 Packer St is located in the South of Truman area of Old Town. This area has become a hotbed for renovation during the past couple of years. This was a small house and the renovation got completed fairly quickly by Key West standards.

CLICK HERE for more photos. Start to finish in less than a year.


716 Ashe Street
I wrote a blog about this property a couple of years ago.  It was a sad little house. It was lived in but very neglected. I will be writing a new blog about this property in the near future. Until then look at the photos of the front of the old house as that is all that remains. A whole new house has been built to replace what used to be. It supposed to be finished in less than thirty days.

704 Eaton Street
Renovation has just started at 704 Eaton Street. I understand it is going to be featured in an upcoming TV show. That should be interesting to watch. I wrote about the house before and compared it to the place where Boo Radley lived. The house used to sit on a huge lot which included space for an additional house next door. That parcel was sold off and a brand new structure is being built now. It will appear in the post immediately below.

It will be really interesting to see how town responds to the new house on the corner compared to 704 Eaton Street. One will be all new and the other will be renewed. I hope the renewal preserves the character and gets rid of the quirkiness of the past. It was odd, almost inhabited.  CLICK HERE for more photos of 704 Eaton Street.

700 Eaton Street
I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo of the dapper owner of the Curry Drug Store once located at the corner of Elizabeth and Eaton. That building was razed years ago and the lot sat vacant for decades. The lot was recently sold and the lot cleared. A new structure is being built in compliance with Florida's strict new building codes. A cement pad was laid upon which a concrete block building was erected. Fir strips were attached to CBS structure and then plywood was attached. A vapor barrier wrapped the plywood after which Hardiboard siding was hung. The city fathers in their wisdom gave the new owners permission to sell expensive wine at this place. Neighbors fought the proposed use, but lost. Don't we have enough joints that sell booze in this town?

The old garden and giant Royal Poinciana Tree were cleared to make room for the new CBS building.

Four homes on Johnson Lane are undergoing varying degrees of renovation. Each one is being undertaken independent of the other. The lead house and biggest undertaking is actually located at 820 Olivia Street. That house sits on a large L-shaped lot upon which a huge rear structure is being built that includes a pool and a covered structure that looks similar to a carport.

 826 Johnson Lane
The backyard was thick with trees and foliage. It looks like most of the debris on the outside has been removed. There interior was a separate mess. I am sure all of that is gone or will be soon so the the builders can redo the interiors.  Remember, this and the other little houses on Johnson Lane are simple little boxes.

830 Johnson Lane

 832 Johnson Lane

1 Nassau Lane
This little cottage is located on a picturesque slow lane of Key West which abruptly ends about 300 feet to the south. There are several drop dead gorgeous smaller homes on this lane. I wrote about this house a couple of months ago when it was for sale. I showed it a few times. I thought it would be a good buy for someone. It came off the market. Then a couple of weeks ago I was showing a neighboring property when I noticed the house had been painted and work was being done.

421 Simonton Street
Just about everybody in town has driven or walked by 421 Simonton Street at sometime. The 1912 Historic Sanborn Fire Map shows two nearly identical buildings situated next to each other and identified as A and B located at what is now 421 Simonton Street.  The 1899 Sanborn Fire Map showed a single totally different which had existed for at least ten years earlier. So the two twin buildings were built sometime between 1899 and 1912.  A narrow concrete block addition was added to the buildings replacing the original front porches. This concrete addition was used as commercial space for decades until March 2017 when the concrete block facade was removed and renovation of the historic buildings began.

CLICK HERE or progress photos of the ongoing renovation of 421 Simonton Street which will have five transiently licensed apartments sometime in the future.  Don't get all excited folks. The owner has had the transient licenses for several years. They did not materialize out of nowhere and there is no inside plot to put those licenses here.

419 Simonton Street

A construction permit box appeared at the front of 419 Simonton Street a couple of weeks ago. CLICK HERE for progress photos that may appear if something starts to happen at this location. I wrote about this property a few years ago when it was for sale. I thought then and believe now this is an incredible property. The rear yard extends 142 feet. 

1500 Albury Street
1500 Albury Street shows that construction can be completed if the project is managed properly. The owner acted as the general contractor on this project, but he engaged a licensed contractor to build the structure. The owner interviewed and engaged all the subcontractors ahead of construction and had each subcontractorcommitted to being on site at specific benchmark dates. The result was the house was completed by year end 2016. The finished home is available for purchase today. See me for details.

CLICK HERE for construction photos.

1500 Albury Street, Key West

1410 Washington Street
I began snapping photos of this Casa Marina East home in June 2016 just before the mid-century house was razed.  I sold the property on the back side of this lot. That owner just razed that house and began construction of a new home. I will share those pictures in the next Projects of Key West update. There are numerous projects underway where mid-century houses are being taken down and new houses being built. Most of these projects are being built in areas other than Old Town and the parts of Casa Marina and The Meadows where homes are not designated as being of historical importance, Most of the redevelopment lots are selling around $500,000. One new lot in the Casa Marina is under contract for $1.5 million. A 4200 sq ft lot at 417 Agnela Street sold for $450,000 in September 2016.  A big new houses is being built there right now. It faces public housing across the street. Naysayers who think town is over-priced don't get it. The bargain prices are history. New houses are replacing the old places and prices are on the rise.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home which has many of the same structural construction features used in 700 Eaton Street.

1100 White Street 
They say FIRE never strikes twice in the same place. But they are sometimes wrong. The commercial building located at the busy corner of White and Virginia Streets burned twice. The last time the fire was so severe that the concrete block building had to be demolished. The lot sat vacant for several years except when it was briefly used as a place where tourists could build sand sculptures. An ambitious project the original footprint was undertaken. Under theory this would involve less interference by the city and various citizen boards The new building has three separate units as did the original structure. The building is now completed.

January 2011

CLICK HERE to the construction photos of 1100 White Street and also renovation photos of 1018 White Street shown below.

1018 White Street 
Several years ago I wrote a blog about the falling down house formally located at 1018 White Street which the city fathers allowed to be razed. (First photo below.) It was beyond repair. The city wanted to add a new mausoleum at the cemetery and identified another house located  at 819 Olivia Street which the city allowed to be moved to the 1018 White location. There was an existing property already located at the rear of the lot which looks like it was updated in the process.

819 Olivia Street on wheels and ready to move to new location.

819 Olivia St as it looked in 1965

1401 Grinnell Street
It's not all that often that a relatively new house (built new in 2003) gets a thorough make-over, but that is what has been going on (and on and on) since mid July 2016.  The house is located on the corner of Grinnell at South Street in the Casa Marina Area amid homes priced in the low one million dollar to $3.5 million range. I live nearby and as snooty as I am, I was really upset when the house was built. It made no sense for the area given the value of homes here. Let's look at what has been accomplished in the one year since the trees were removed from the perimeter.

September 30, 2016

Photographed Sunday July 16, 2017

CLICK HERE for "progress photos".

1010 Whitehead Street
I wrote a blog about this modest little cottage a couple of years ago. It was once the home of one the really great men of Key West - Lawrence Formica, the entrepreneur who created LaTeDa. His house changed hands after his passing and later became a bank owned property that was priced very low. The new owner has begun to renovate.

221 Petronia Street
I wrote a blog about this fire damaged (then a bank owned property) building in January 1015. It went under contract immediately after it was listed and for good reason. The place is very well located just two blocks from Duval Street and near several popular restaurants. The new Truman Waterfront Park is two blocks to the west. 

828 Elizabeth Street
I wrote about 828 Elizabeth Street three years ago just before Christmas. The house was a duplex where an exterior stair provided access to the upper apartment. The lower level apartment was a warren of rooms where the tenants shared refrigerator and cooking privileges. The interiors were gutted and work started on giving the old girl a sturdy new foundation. Work has been stalled for the past couple of months.

903 Eaton Street
I have a nice little project site available for purchase which is located at 903 Eaton Street. This happened to be the largest lot in Old Town where the existing concrete block structure may be taken down and a brand new house can be built. The lot measures 50 feet wide and 103 deep or 5300 sq ft. CLICK HERE. If you consider what has been built and what is being built, you may just appreciate the size fo the lot and ability to take down a non-historic existing building.  

There are a lot of other projects underway. I will add a new update in the not too distant future to let my loyal readers see what is going on.  In the meantime, if you are looking to buy a place in Key West where you can create your own dream home, please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.