64 Front Street - Truman Annex - Key West

64 Front Street - Key West, Florida

If you are looking for that special Key West home with lots of space for you and your family and friends to enjoy, you may want to consider the 3213 sq ft five bedroom home located at 64 Front Street in the exclusive Truman Annex area in Old Town Key West. The listing Realtor describes this extraordinary property in an understated manner:

"Located in the gated community of Truman Annex, this 5 Bedroom/5 Bath home is the perfect Key West retreat. Designed by local architect for entertaining; blending indoor living with the tropical Key West outdoor life style. All rooms have French doors opening to covered porches. The 5th bedroom is located in the pool-side guest cottage. Opportunity exists for a 6th bedroom on the main level - adjacent to a full bath. Perfectly located for complete poolside privacy. Easy walking distance to restaurants, galleries, sunset celebration and Fort Zach."

Presidential Gates to the Truman Annex circa 1938

The house has 3213 sq ft of living space on two floors. The facade faces Front Street which winds its way from the famous Presidential Gates up to Southard Street which then exits westerly to the oceanfront or easterly past the guard booth at Thomas Street. Almost all of the large single family homes in the area were built after the City of Key West annexed the property a couple of decades ago. A few historic homes became part of the development for good measure. The private streets provide a street scape that is near breathtaking. While some potential buyers may fret about a derelict little house on an otherwise historic block in Old Town, you won't find any reason to fret about the neighboring homes on Front Street. The views from the first and second floor front balconies are priceless.

Front porch first floor

Second floor balcony overlooks the old Weather Station

Front Street

Once inside you will find large and inviting rooms throughout this spacious home. The formal entry is gracious and inviting. The extra large living room is on the left. The space is so large that the grand piano barely stands out.

The study is located opposite the living room. The kitchen is located at the rear. A center hallway provides good separation between these spaces as is no longer typical in many properties these days.

Multiple French doors open from dining room to balcony overlooking pool

Large eat-in kitchen

A grand staircase provides access to the second floor. The master bedroom with en-suite bath is located over the same octagon shaped room where the dining room is located below. The bedroom also had French doors that open out to the rear second floor balcony that overlooks the pool below. There is even a rear staircase that provides access for a midnight skinny dip in the pool.


The master bathroom is immense. It is seductive in its simplicity and design. You just gotta see it! And there is an adjacent extra large walk-in closet that will sate any clothes hound.

Just off the pool is the guest cottage which has Murphy bed on one wall, a sofa on another, and a mini-kitchen for making toast and coffee. The problem with having such a great set-up like this is that your free-loading brother in law will never leave. Of course there is the pool and the house even has covered off street parking at the rear. CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of photos I took of 64 Front Street. Take the time to take a look. You will appreciate the quality of this home and the value of this location.


64 Front Street is offered at $2,195,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos of this beautiful home. If you are shopping for a home at this price point, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Like I said, there is nothing to fret about if you buy this home.

Bank Owned Trailer Park - Lower Florida Keys

Every now and then I get a phone call or an email from a potential buyer who has had a persistent dream of buying a place in Key West that he or she or they could operate as an investment. The goal is give that potential buyer the reason to move here and have a place to go to that could turn a profit. With the rate of return banks are offering in today's diluted economy, making a profit on just about any non-risk investment ought to provide a greater rate of return. Preferred Properties is the listing brokerage for a Bank Owned Trailer Park condominium located on Summerland Key, just 29 miles east of Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property as:

"The Summerland Palms Trailer Park fronts US1 with easy highway access. The parcel consists of 21 condominium sites for monthly rental plus an on site laundry and sewer treatment plant. The well maintained property is approx. 39,328 sq. feet and has an annual income of appx. $170,000. There is potential for on site building, redevelopment and/or future use of building rights off site. A full package is available."

Summerland Palms is a trailer condominium where all of the lot spaces (except one) are owned by a single owner, the Bank. The owner leases the 21 spaces to the individual trailer owners who pay monthly rent. There is a common laundry facility that also generates income. The combined projected gross income is $170,000. According to the listing agent, this investment would generate about a 6% return on investment.

Coin operated laundry for extra cash income

Click GOOGLE MAP for an aerial view of the location. You will note the trailer park sits off highway US1 behind what is called Flagship Drive, or on the Gulf Side of the highway at Mile Marker 29.


CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view lots of listing photos. The asking price on this Bank Owned Property is $1,400,000. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com so that I can send you the listing information package on this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

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811 Washington Street #103 - Short Sale - Casa Marina Area - Key West

811 Washington Street #103 - Key West - Short Sale

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. listed 811 Washington Street Unit #103 as a Short Sale. The listing agent, not me, describes the property thus:

"Perfectly situated in the heart of the Casa Marina district is this truly beautiful 3-story townhome. Cathedral ceilings and custom-cut Carlisle Lumber pine floors welcome you to this quality home perfect for year round living. Bright & open great room, gourmet kitchen with stainless Viking appliances & granite counters, spacious bedrooms with en-suite marble baths and private balconies. Fenced for privacy, this elegant townhome boasts a private bricked patio with native tropical landscaping, relaxing pool & a rear entrance. This townhome comes with one deeded, bricked off-street parking space. Close to Duval Street but in a very quiet residential neighborhood."

Even though this small development was not completed until 2007 the landscaping is lush and mature. The front is maintained by the homeowners association and it looks really great. Like so many Key West houses, this place is built with the indoor and outdoor living areas in mind. The interior living area looks out to the private 8' x 13'pool and garden area at the rear. That area is lush with greenery and the pool is so cool and inviting. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this Key West short sale.


The developer built just nine town home units. They are all alike as far as construction, layout, cabinets, appliances, bathroom fixtures, etc. The end units, such as this unit, have extra windows on the east wall as this is an end unit. This gives the living room a bit more daytime light. Note the photos below which were taken inside another unit that show the kitchen layout, the master bedroom with vaulted ceiling and rear second floor balcony that overlooks the pool below. The second bedroom is on the second floor at the front of the house. Also see the photo of the third floor bedroom. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom. And there is guest bath located just off the living area on the first floor. This town home has 2240 sq ft of living space on three floors. There are front and rear balconies on the first and second floors. The interiors feature crown molding, real wood floors, expensive interior trim and high end amenities. And, of course, all of this and the Casa Marina location make this an outstanding value in this price range.

Viking kitchen appliances

High end kitchen cabinets and beautiful wood trim throughout this town home

Master suite with balcony overlooking the private pool for this unit only

Third floor bedroom with en-suite bath

I live in the Casa Marina Area and I love it. Houses in this area are close to the beaches and and easy jaunt to Old Town. Many full time residents live in this area whereas many of the single family homes in Old Town are part time residences. For this reason I think the Casa Marina area is more of a community than Old Town, but that is just my opinion. I know others will disagree. Most of the houses in the Casa Marina area are priced over a million dollars so the prospect for long term appreciation on your investment in the Casa Marina area home will likely prove successful in years to come. You can get to the airport or out to Searstown or the Winn Dixie in about 6 or 7 minutes. Most of the commercial activity in the Casa Marina Area is limited to White Street and runs only three blocks south of Truman. We've got a sweet little ocean front restaurant called Salute on the Beach where you can wine and dine al fresco while you watch the sunset.

Higg's Beach is a five minute walk - wouldn't that be too much fun!

There are fewer and fewer properties available with this kind of location and this low of a price. If you would like to see this short sale opportunity or if you would like more information, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Let me help you get one of the last bargains in Key West. This will not last long. Do not delay. I am serious about this!

419 Simonton Street - Key West, Florida

If you are reading this blog I am pretty sure that you are thinking of buying a home or a potential investment property in Key West. More than likely you are specifically considering a property in the ever popular Old Town area of Key West. And chances are pretty good that you might be willing to take on a bit of project if you could get your hands on a great old house with a lot of potential. If this fits your profile, read on.

419 Simonton Street - Key West - 2011

Preferred Properties (that's where I work but this is not my listing) just offers 419 Simonton Street in Old Town Key West at the asking price of $759,000. The listing broker describes this four unit investment property like this:

"Located in the heart of Old Town Key West, this beautiful historic building has four spacious apartments plus off street parking. The property sits on a very large lot with an amazing rear yard which has ample room for a pool and potential expansion. The downstairs rear apartment has a separate gated entry and features a large bedroom plus a den. It has glass doors that open to covered porch and a deck that overlooks the back yard. The front apartment is a 1/1 with an ideal front porch. There are two apartments upstairs, one with its own private deck. This property is great as is but could be enhanced for higher income. This is a great investor property or perfect for an owner/occupied with rental income."

Off Street Parking for two cars

When I initially toured this property envisioned some crazy Key West characters that might have lived in this old Key West house. It has been updated but much of the original funk is still in place. And that is why I found this place so utterly charming. The downstairs rear unit is perfect for an 'owner-user'. The space is large and has a new kitchen and bath. The covered rear porch oversees the large rear yard and the adjacent deck with hot tub. There is an apartment in the front with a front porch that oversees Simonton Street. There are two more units on the second floor. The front unit has a second floor front balcony to keep track of what is happening on Simonton Street. The rear unit has its own rear deck where the tenant can soak up the Key West sun. I swear whoever lives in this apartment will never leave. It has to have the best view in Key West. The property could from present owner to new owner without a lot of new work being necessary. However, the property could greatly benefit from a renovation and potential expansion. The asking price is $759,000.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser says the building is 2469 sq ft. Other nearby homes were built circa 1886. The Monroe County Property Appraiser's records show this was built in 1933, but I suspect the actual date is in the late 1880s as well. The lot is an irregular rectangle of approximately 44' (wide) x 83' (length). There is room for a large pool.

419 Simonton Street as it appeared in 1965

This is a big property for Old Town both in building size and lot size. The location does lend itself to several different uses including single family, upgraded four units (or less), or perhaps limited retail down with owner/user up as appears to have been the case in the 1965 (see the black and white photo above) when the property was used as Key West Florist. The first and second floor are filled with period Dade County Pine construction. The attic space is quite tall and could theoretically become additional living space of some sore. More than one potential buyer has suggested that a new owner could move one of the existing ROGO units from the main house and build a new accessory unit (less than 660 sq ft) with a bed and bath somewhere in the rear yard.

View from rear property line looking toward the building

Private deck off the second floor rear apartment

I am not sure any property in Key West earns the same type of return on an investment that a buyer might achieve up north. The units currently rent as follows: first floor front $1000; first floor rear $1200; second floor front $1200; first floor rear $1500; and second floor rear $1200. All rents are below market in my opinion.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls listing datasheet and to see the listing photos. Or CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of the property.

If you would like to see 419 Simonton Street, or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

I Saw the Harbor Lights (833 Eisenhower Drive - Key West)

If you bought the two bedroom two bath condominium listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty at Harbor Lodge you could watch the dawn rise in the morning and see the harbor lights at night from your balcony overlooking the Garrison Bight in Old Town Key West.

You could walk down to your own personal boat slip and go out to deep water within minutes of leaving your home. You could be fishing or or talking trash to friends and enjoying the waters of the beautiful Florida Keys.

833 Eisenhower Drive - Harbor Lodge Condominiums - Key West

I have previously written that I used to own a guest house in Key West. I'll never forget the phone call I received when a potential guest asked if Key West was surrounded by water. Yes, it is. Surprisingly, however, there are not that many homes with waterfront views here. More rare are homes in or near Old Town with waterfront views. Those that do exist normally sell at a premium over other properties.

Unit #2 at Harbor Lodge Condominium (located at 833 Eisenhower Drive) is a wonderful two bedroom unit overlooking the Garrison Bight and within walking distance to downtown Key West. The building is very well maintained and has only three units per floor. The condo association does not permit vacation rentals and most of the units are owner occupied. The condo association is very healthy and has not been beset by foreclosures and short sales. Best of all, this unit has a private boat slip included in the purchase price. The listing Realtor describes the property like this:

"A boat slip and gorgeous views of Garrison Bight come with this pristine 2/2 Harbor Lodge condominium. You'll love this bright end unit with extra windows, designer kitchen, high ceilings and deck overlooking the pool and sparkling water. This beautifully maintained unit also has assigned covered parking and an extra large workshop/storage area."

Imagine waking up in the morning, grabbing a cup of coffee and then walking to your balcony overlooking the Garrison Bight. Sipping coffee. Watching the sunrise and Key West come alive. Maybe later in the day you'll go down to your boat and go out for some fishing. Imagine your friends and family in New Jersey (or where ever) freezing the rear ends off in February and fighting throngs on the freeways or subways. You'll think of your dear friends late at night as you watch those harbor lights-with a smile on your face.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this property. And CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this unit. 833 Eisenhower Unit #203 (Harbor Lodge) is offered at $699,000.

If you would like to schedule a showing of this unit or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.