Won't You Be My Neighbor ? 1424 Whalton Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. just listed 1424 Whalton Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I know this area quite well, as I have lived here for 15 years. This is one of the quietest and most beautiful areas in all of Key West. Won't you be my neighbor?

The listing agent describes this wonderful home this way:

"Located in the Casa Marina framed by bamboo rolling gates sits a beautiful hidden entrance revealing a traditional Key West large home on one level with three bedrooms, three bathrooms in the main home and a separate guest cottage. As you enter you are greeted by an unusually large open living/dining area with wood flooring and French doors leading to the massive backyard, covered lanai and free form pool. To the right is the cottage which is complete with a custom kitchen, vaulted ceilings, terra cotta tile floor. Off Street parking for at least 3 cars. Close to the beach and downtown Key West."

1424 Whalton Street has the features second home buyers look for in a larger Key West home: size, convenient location, comfort & charm, room for guests, and ready to move into with no work needed. While much of Old Town has big tall two story houses or small cigar makers cottages on small lots, the Casa Marina Area is noted for its Mid Century Modern architecture with a predominance of modified homes on larger lots protected by privacy fences. In this area you will find fewer tourists, fewer houses on larger lots, more full time homeowners, and mostly broad streets without a lot of traffic. You won't see Conch Trains or Trolleys going up and down the streets. But you will see people walking their dogs with plastic bags and gloves on hand. You can ride your bike down streets lined with giant palms and trees with flowers that fall to the ground like snow. The Casa Marina Area is a genuine Key West neighborhood.

The house at 1424 Whalton Street was built in 1953 and has been updated several times. It is currently configured with three bedrooms and two baths in the main house which has a large great area and kitchen plus a self-contained guest cottage with so much cuteness that your guests will never go back home. The lanai offers protection from the Key West sun but the pool has plenty of sun. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and to view listing photos of this great property. And CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of the property.

Kitchen in the main house

Guest Cottage

Lanai "peeking" into the main house

Another kewl pool

This property is an easy five minute walk to the beach and a two or three minute bike ride to the Island Gym or any one of several yoga places on White Street. Fausto's Food Palace and the best fried chicken in Key West (at the Citgo Gas Station no less) are three minutes by bike or car. Duval Street is a 5 to 10 minute bike ride. Louie's Backyard is an easy walk for drinks and dinner - at that killer evening water view. When you move here you will find few reasons to go to Duval other than meet friends for dinner or go to the theatre. (Your friends will be so jealous!)

Higg's Beach is an easy walk and easier bike ride

Mid Century Moderns and ranches are the norm in Casa Marina Area

Recent addition to the Casa Marina Area

If you want to schedule an appointment to see 1424 Whalton Street, or any other home in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Won't you be my neighbor?

1501 Olivia Street - The Meadows Area - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 1501 Olivia Street in Key West. The listing Realtor describes the home like this:

"The Meadows Corner Lot Historic Beauty. Distinctive Historic Residence At The Quiet Intersection Of Olivia And Pearl Streets. Wrap-around Front Porch With Gingerbread Architecture. Off-street Parking. Nearly 2000 Living Sqft On 4800 Sqft Corner Lot. Opportunities For Updating, Great Bones. Wood Floors. Heart Shaped Pool And New Landscaping Provide A Very Private Setting. Historic In Every Way."

The Monroe County Property Appraiser says this house was built circa 1906. It has an understated beauty that transcends the decades. I found the photo below taken in 1965.

1501 Olivia Street as it appeared in 1965

Same house but a different view in 2006

Same location in 2007

And the way it appears in 2011

The four bedroom two bath house has 1948 square feet of living space on two floors plus that incredible 443 sq ft wrap-around porch. The lot is relatively large for the Old Town area (64' x 75' or 4790 sq ft). That may not seem large compared to lot sizes up north, but it is larger than normal in the Old Town area. The current owner bought this house in 2007 and added a pool and air conditioning plus upgraded electric and plumbing. The asking price is just $700,000 (or $359 per sq ft). That, dear readers, is a lot of house for the money.

This home is owned by the same owner that has the adorable cottage I wrote about last week that I affectionately called The Love Shack. That place is just too cute for words. It's small and would make a great guest cottage for the main house. (Methinks that is why it was purchased at the same time by the current owner.) Both properties are offered for less than the original purchase price. There is no mortgage so this is not a forced sale.

If you are looking a for a big house or a little house or both, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing of either house. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Key West - The Cure for VD*

*VD: Valentines Day

1327 White Street - Key West - Open House - Sunday

Follow your heart (and the Open House signs) to a Valentine's Weekend Open House, Sunday February 13th at 1327 White Street in the Casa Marina area of Key West.

1327 White Street - Key West

The listing Realtor describes this Key West property this way:

"This beautiful conch style home offers wonderful architectural features such as gracious front porch, polished hardwood floors, exposed wood walls and ceilings, multiple sets of tall doors and windows and custom crown moldings. This home has a den plus four bedrooms and four baths including a third story bedroom with it's own 350 sq. ft. terrace offering treetop views of the island. The kitchen has solid wood cabinetry and a separate laundry room. The grounds feature gated off street parking and a beautiful pool and spa surrounded by lush foliage and adjoining pool house."

Real Wood Floors - not this new pretend stuff in so many newer properties

Pool, Spa, and Rear Deck made for fun in the Key West sun

View from the third floor sun deck overlooking the Island of Key West

This BANK OWNED 2414 sq ft home sits a on a large 47' x 100' lot. The house is large when viewed from the street. When you open the front door the sense of "family" immediately enters your mind. This is a family home for sure. The interior rooms while large are not cavernous. The interiors have Dade County Pine walls and ceilings and the darkly finished real hardwood floors with bright white trim and crown moldings everywhere. A set of new French doors open onto the large rear deck complete with pool, spa, and a half bath. (That space could possibly be enlarged and turned into a pool bar. The third floor is configured as a very open bedroom complete with private bath and doors that open to a very large widow's walk where you can scan much of the Casa Marina area. The best thing about this home is the asking price: $1,075,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more photos of the property.

1327 White Street is located at the beginning of the Casa Marina area of Key West, that's where I live. The old Key West High School (photo at top) is a couple of blocks to the north. The new high school is out of Flagler Avenue, within walking distance if you have teens that actually walk. The house is about a five minute walk to Rest and Higg's Beach to the south. A couple of blocks to the north you will find Mo's Restaurant, Sandy's Cafe, and Fausto's Food Palace. Bayview Park is a couple of blocks to the east - that's where the city and various charities hold festivals throughout the year.

Salute on the Beach is located at Higg's Beach - great food, affordably priced and what a view!

A 'different' kind of restaurant

Walk or ride your bike - old fashioned butcher shop inside

If you aren't busy on Sunday afternoon, drop by1327 White Street and see how much house you can now buy for your money in Key West. This is a real deal. I'll be there from 12:00 to 3:00.

The Love Shack - Key West

817 Pearl Street - The Meadows Area of Old Town - Key West

Key West is filling with people who return every year during Valentine's weekend. It's appropriate that this little love shack just got listed, but not by me. It is a really cute and very tiny little love shack (okay, it's really a Key West Cottage) at 817 Pearl Street in the Meadows Area of Old Town Key West. CLICK HERE for a GOOGLE MAP view of the location and street view of the immediate area. See the photos below that I took of the cute houses across the street. Let me tell you this is one cute block. Nothing commercial in this area. Bayview Park is just a couple of blocks to the south. Duval Street is a 10-15 minute walk to the west.

Opposite side of Pearl Street

Opposite side of Pearl Street

Now for full disclosure, I have not been inside yet but I did speak with the current vacation tenant who came outside to ask why I was taking photos of the house. He said he loved the place and the location. There, you have it. End of discussion.

This 400 sq ft cottage is just one bedroom. It is so small that you actually enter the cottage through the bedroom which is located in front. The living room, kitchen and bath follow at the rear. There is a small deck area at the rear. The lot itself is 23' wide by 50' deep. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls listing data and listing photo on this property.

Bedroom is at front of house

The living room sits midway in this home

Kitchen and Bath are at the rear

The rear deck is secluded

By the way, the same owner is offering the adjacent larger corner lot home at 1501 Olivia Street at just $700,000. The two properties would make a great compound for someone seeking a bigger old home with a large lot, a pool, off street parking plus a guest cottage. Each property can be purchased separately. CLICK HERE to see the Olivia Street property.

817 Pearl Street would be perfect for the couple that wants a tiny getaway place far from the madness of Duval but still located within walking or biking distance of all the great things we expect in Key West. And here's the best part, this place is offered at just $250,000. This is not a short sale. This property will probably be under contract within a matter of days, if not hours. It won't appeal to most, but to the few who want something small and romantic, this may be your new love shack in Key West.

I'm serious about this Dear Readers, don't wait. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 if you are interested in seeing this property or making an offer. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

846 Olivia Street - Old Town - Key West

846 Olivia Street - Key West - built circa 1908

Just Listed by Preferred Properties (that's where I work) 846 Olivia Street in Old Town Key West. I found an old photo (above) of this old house (built in 1908) showing the way it appeared in 1965. The photo below shows a similar view in 2011. The listing agent says the building was originally a tobacco barn. The agent describes the current use this way:

"There are so many unique properties in Key West and this is no exception. Originally this was a Tobacco Barn which has been renovated to include a two story main living area with 3 bedrooms, two baths and a lock out suite. Most of the materials used in the renovation have been recycled. On the second story addition there are two spacious bedrooms and a spa like bathroom with its own terrace and entrance. On the first level is a bright designer kitchen with the newest energy saving stainless steel appliances. Located on the corner of Olivia and Packer across from the cemetery. Off street parking."

2011 view of 8476 Olivia Street with off street parking

Note the mother-in-law's sitting porch

Main entrance to house is on Packer Street which also has a porch

The asking price on this 1817 sq ft property (sits on a 36'x58' lot) is $529,000 or $291 per sq ft. The house is divided between the main house and what I'll call a mother-in-law suite complete with kitchen and bath. The main part of the house has a slick and sparse look that totally surprised me. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The galley kitchen is 'arty' and minimalist. The stairs to the second floor seem to float. The two bedrooms and bath are located up there. The mother-in-law part of the house is located on the main level only. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more photos of this property.

The house is located at the corner of Packer and Olivia Streets. CLICK HERE for a GOOGLE MAP view of the area. Packer is just one block long at this location. Olivia is a one way street that heads east on the south side of the Key West cemetery. Many folks won't consider a house that is located across from the cemetery. But they should. Homes on any side of the cemetery have great open skies views. And the neighbors are ever so quiet at night. There are no guesthouses, apartment buildings or commercial properties nearby so you won't have to fight for a place to park your car. The house has a parking space anyway.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida where today it is 80 degrees.

212 Angela Street - Old Town - Key West

212 Angela Street - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 212 Angela Street in the Bahama Village area of Old Town, Key West. The listing Realtor sums up this semi-recently construced house this way:

"Location! Location! Location! Owner/Contractor built home on the corner of Angela St and Chapman Ln(across Truman Annex on Angela). You can't get more Old Town Key West than this location. Built in 1995 to Category 5 specs with PT lumber throughout except for finished floor. Bonus items include: interior doors (made out of Old Growth Cypress taken from the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine FL that Flagler built), Mahogany & Cherry cabinets in dining and living rooms, whole house fan, and a R/O water system. Closet in LR was made with room for a Murphy bed. There is Off-Street parking and plenty of room for guest parking on Chapman Lane. Home is 1 block to Whitehead & 2 blocks from Duval St. X-No-Flood Zone."

Room for guest parking on Chapman Lane

Chapman Lane view

Bricked rear yard

212 Angela Street is offered at $450,000 or $317 per sq ft for this 1420 sq ft (calculated by appraiser) house that was built in 1995.

Blue Heaven is located one block east of 212 Angela St at Petronia & Thomas

You may be semi-familiar with this area of town if you have gone to Blue Heaven for breakfast or dinner. Chapman Lane is one block west of Blue Heaven. Angela Street is the proposed walking-only lane to the new Key West marina that is to be built at the Truman Annex (when the politicians and city folk stop bickering and start building). The photo just below shows the lane with the Shipyard Condos in Truman Annex across the street. Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park & Beach are nearby. And Duval Street is three blocks east where you can walk from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean any day of the week.

Someday you may be able to walk to your boat at the new marina

You can definitely walk to Ft. Zach Beach

There are a lot of buyers looking for a place in Key West that is priced under $500,000. Some are willing to settle for less and may have to do some fix-up to get the house of their dreams. At some point the price of doing major fix-up has to impact one's budget and psyche.

If you would like to see 212 Angela Street (or any other house in Key West) please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.