1317 Elizabeth Street, Key West - Dynamite Location

Buyers looking to purchase a Key West property that they could renovate, add a pool, and have off street parking with a dynamite location in Old Town ought to consider the house at 1317 Elizabeth Street. The listing Realtor describes this 952 sq ft legal duplex this way:

"Duplex in old town located on a quaint street between United & South Streets, close to Duval, the beaches, restaurants. This ideal location also comes with off street parking and a nice yard. Could use some TLC but is currently rented. One unit in front & one at the rear. The front unit has a covered porch and small front & side yard plus parking. The back unit has a gated larger side & back yard, laundry & storage shed. This would make a nice owner occupied property with rental income or keep as a rental investment."  

Here's the deal. There are just sixteen single family or duplex properties listed for sale in the Old Town area of Key West priced at or below the asking price of this property - $629,000.  But there are many potential buyers who are looking for a property which they could renovate and improve that have not seen this property in the mls. This property is located one block east of Simonton Street between United Street and South Street. Elizabeth Street in this location is a one-way street that at this location is only one block long. In essence this block is a lane. We all know that homes located on lanes are prized properties because they offer a degree of exclusivity and privacy not available in many other streets in Old Town. (like most of the other fifteen houses for sale are located on!).

I checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Mas to see if I could determine when this home was originally built. This little island enclave is not shown on any of the four maps. I did find an old photo of the  fifty years ago. See below. That photo shows that stucco siding had been applied to the house by that date. I think a new owner will probably replace the stucco with traditional wood siding.  In most instances a new renovation would probably mean that the current interiors would be totally gutted and new interiors created to meet the way we live today. 

The house is situated on a 40' X 88' lot (3520 sq ft) which is fairly large compared to many lots in Old Town. The good thing is that the lot is wide enough to provide off street plus space for a pool. If you are a buyer who wants to do a project but not at this time, you could continue to collect rents on both apartments. We have a serious housing shortage in Key West. Apartment rentals, especially in the Old Town area, are scarce. You could buy this place, sit on it for a few years, then do the renovation. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

10 Spoonbill Way, Key West - It's a Wonderful Life

Just Listed, but not by me, 10 Spoonbill Way, Key West, Florida. This 1624 sq ft home that is located in the Key West Golf Club Community is probably the best priced home in all of Key West as I write this blog.  Read on, Dear Reader, and I'll tell you how I arrived at that conclusion.

Every time I enter the golf club and start to drive down Golf Club Drive I just start to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There is not one straight street in the place. Each of the roads winds around a bit. Each of the houses is set back from the sidewalk behind a white picket fence. Now matured palm trees and other flora and fauna decorate the landscape. It's picture perfect depiction of a small American home town.  As I drove through the community after taking photos of this home I realized that this place is like a community that Frank Capra would have created were he a real estate developer. A few years ago I was standing on the front porch of a home in the Sanctuary waiting for my buyers to arrive. A couple with their children and the family dog walked past. We spoke. I asked them how they liked living at the golf course. They all said the loved it. It could have been the George Bailey family in It's a Wonderful Life.

When I entered this house my eyes were literally drawn through the living room and out to the golf course view. It is spectacular. The backyard seemed extra large for some reason. I asked the listing agent if a new owner could add a pool because there certainly is room for one. She didn't know the answer but it is worth investigating if a buyer would want to add one. However, the extra large community pool is located just across the way and past the community center. See the photos below.
The second photo above was taken from the kitchen looking through the living room out to the deck and beyond. You'll notice the study of den to the right with the door slightly ajar. That door opens out to the wrap around rear main floor covered deck. The photo also shows the well maintained Hardiboard exterior siding.

The master bedroom is at the rear of the second floor. It also has a large covered porch with its own magnificent views of the golf course. I feel compelled to state the obvious - you don't have to play golf to live here. The master bedroom has an ensuite bath and plenty of closet space. Note also the vaulted ceiling that makes the space so inviting. There are two additional bedrooms at front, both of which have vaulted ceilings and doors that open out to the covered second floor front porch. CLICK HERE to view the other photos I took of 10 Spoonbill Way.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on 10 Spoonbill Way which is offered at $599,000. This home is move in ready and is in great shape. Compare the price per sq ft with even bank owned houses that need work, you will probably agree with me that this is the best priced home in Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this great Key West property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

818 Carsten Lane, Key West, Florida

They don't make Key West cottages any cuter or more perfect than 818 Carsten Lane.  If they did or if they could, everybody would own one. But they don't.  Some places are so special that there is only one. And this is that one!

I found an old photo of 818 Carsten Lane taken fifty years ago. The house was dramatically updated a few years ago. Today the place is picture perfect down to the replica mailbox out front that greets guests as they approach this smart two bedroom two bath cottage style home. The listing Realtor, not me, describes this home as a:

"Delightful cottage on coveted Old Town Key West Lane. Behind the white picket fence a beautiful front porch welcomes you to to this perfectly appointed home. Dade County Pine floors, walls and ceilings throughout the original home that opens up to a fabulous addition with vaulted ceilings. A wall of glass doors fold open to enjoy a covered patio overlooking tropical gardens and views of the heated pool. The kitchen boasts custom cabinetry that has been built around Haitian Art, granite counters and high end appliances. Offered furnished so you could start enjoying this home immediately. It truly doesn't get more charming than this!"

The side hall leads past the bedrooms which are located at the front of the house. The kitchen in located midway in the house. It's adorable. It's so cute you'd hate to cook for fear of messing up the cuteness.  You'll immediately notice the Dade County Pine walls and ceiling. The original wood floors, high baseboards, and crisply painted white woodwork add so much character to this place. The kitchen and living room are a new addition to the home.

The great room was added to the rear of the original house. It has a vaulted ceiling and French doors that open out to the rear covered deck and pool area beyond. There are clean and neat side yards on both sides of this house. The fence at the rear abuts Carey Lane which I think is the cutest little lane in town. I mention this because the owners on that lane and the abutting properties on Carsten Lane are all cute cottage style homes.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 818 Carsten Lane. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this delightful home.  Remember this home is offered fully furnished. That means you really can just bring your toothbrush and jammies and start living the Key West lifestyle you have dreamed about. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

846 Olivia Street, Key West

The listing Realtor describes the house at 846 Olivia Street as:

"Unique property located on beautifully landscaped corner lot in the heart of Old Town. Built in 1908, this original tobacco barn boasts 3 bedrooms/3 full baths. Enter through the hand carved Brazilian mahogany door into a 20 x 30' great room with 9 ft ceilings, crown molding and Dade County Pine. 1st floor pantry with sink and entrances on both Olivia & Packer with large porches & plans in place to connect the two. Fenced yard with a bricked area for bikes, scooters, grill & 1 Off Street Parking Space. An insulated steel roof tops off the large 2nd floor and an outdoor private balcony overlooks a lush tropical yard with security lighting both front & back. Recently appraised above asking price."

I looked in my old shoe box and found a photo of the property that dates back to 1965. I took a couple of exterior photos from both the Packer Street side (same as the black and white photo above) as well as the Olivia Street view. The architectural character of the old tobacco barn remain pretty much intact. The old shed-lie warp-around porch remains. The porch at adds so much genuine character to this old house that we are starting to see disappear from newer renovations that make some places all spiffy-perfect. If you look up to the top photo (and the interior photos below) you will also see this house window unit air conditioners. The windows themselves are

This home was previously used as a duplex. This owner discontinued that use and incorporated the space into the main floor living area which now quiet large. There is a bedroom and bath on the main floor just on the back side of the stairway which the current owner also replaced,The former staircase was downright scary.  I mention this because if you saw this house when it was listed a few years ago, it is totally different now. It is a better home!

Google Map CLICK HERE shows the location which is across the street from the Key West cemetery. You will note the location is an easy walk to Duval Street - about five to seven minutes from this location. Most of the gyms and yoga studios are within a few minutes walk or bike ride as well. Seven Fish Restaurant is building a new building one block south at the corner of Packer and Truman. If you're a foodie; it may be your nirvana. There is a very obvious and quiet positive feature of being located across he street from the cemetery and it is not that the neighbors are quiet. They are, but that's not the point. The vast open space over the cemetery bathes the nearby houses with sunshine and breezes often not possible in more congested Old Town locations.The change in skies can be amazing. You can't see the changes when you are in an area with three story houses or trees blocking your views. I personally think the views are wonderful. I took a photo from inside the front door looking across Olivia Street toward the cemetery. This will be your view. I took another photo from outside the front door looking east down Olivia Street.

There are a couple of things a new owner might do to tweak this place just a bit. They include replacement of the older aluminum windows, replacement of window unit air conditioners with a mini-split system, and refine the garden area. There is not room for a pool. You could add a hot tub or maybe create a koi pond or add some other water feature on the back side of the property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more listing photos. (Photos used by permission of Doug Mayberry Real Estate.) Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.