11 Birchwood Drive, Key West - Price Reduction

The asking price on 11 Birchwood Drive, Key West was just reduced from $789,000 to $759,000 and that makes this brand new and never-been-lived-in home an even better buy. This home is located in Key West's official bedroom community - Key Haven at Mile Marker 6.  This community evolved  over the decades as an alternative to Old Town which increasingly became very expensive for young locals to afford. Most of the lots here are located on canals which have relatively quick access to open waters. Locals have grown up playing on and in the water. Having quick access at night or on the weekends is a much sought after feature for many local buyers. This is a single family area where you won't find condos or multiple family situations. Other than the gas station up on US 1, there is no commercial activity here. CLICK HERE to to see a Google aerial view of the lot and the area as a whole. Use the toggle switch in the lower right side of the map for a higher or lower aerial perspective of the area. You'll see the cut from the lagoon which allows boats to pass through to the larger canal that leads to open water. Within a matter of minutes, a boat can be in open waters heading to a day of fun on the ocean. That is why so many locals favor Key Haven as a place to live.

The listing Realtor describes 11 Birchwood Drive this way:

"This brand new three bedroom, two and a half bath home is sure to please the most discerning buyer. Located on a lovely quiet street, this home is move in ready. The long list of custom upgrades include 9ft. ceilings on each floor, an over sized master suite with spa tub and separate shower, double sinks and a walk in closet. Two more bedrooms upstairs share a bath. The dream kitchen has solid wood cabinets, granite counter tops and a breakfast bar. The kitchen opens to the dining room and living room and has views of the outdoors. Adjacent to the kitchen is a bonus area which can be used as a breakfast room or an office. A half bath on the first floor adds to the convenience. The living room and dining rooms are spacious and will please those who love to entertain. This home has abundant closet and storage space. The yard is sodded and landscaped with mature trees and foliage. Most importantly, this home is built to the highest building codes and is resistant to 180 mph. wind and features hurricane rated doors and windows. Additionally, the home is built 2ft. above the required grade. The building features result in lower cost of insurance and lower cost of living. This home is a great value and will save the new homeowner on cost of living expenses. Aside from that, it's a wonderful, sunny and bright home in a great location. Easy to see."

The modern open living area concept is clearly evident as soon as you enter this home - especially when you notice the nine foot ceiling. I suspect the view from dinging area at the front of the house will create some anxious moments as it has a great view of the the lagoon across the street where a new owner might want to moor the family boat.  Imagine sitting at the family dining table looking out at the boat bobbing and weaving in the water with a bell clanging begging to go out to the sea. In the meantime, mealtime will have to do. The  opposite end of the kitchen opens directly into the living area where the rear decks looks down onto the rear yard where there is room for a private pool.

Abundant storage and counter space in this brand new kitchen

Dining area with deck overlooking the rear yard

Readers of my blog should appreciate the long term cost saving features that are built into this home. They include Hardiboard siding which is a man-made material that looks like old fashioned wood siding but that is more resistant to the sun and moisture and which does not require painting as often and wind impact resistant windows and doors that are built to withstand high winds and which coupled with the new roof and compliance with Florida's tough building code will result in lower fire and liability insurance and reduce wind insurance by 30% over homes that do not meet the new code. These savings area measurable year after year.  A cost conscious buyer who compares insurance costs will quickly appreciate the maintenance and insurance savings once he or she compares the costs of ownership of this home to a stick built house in Old Town or mid-century home in New Town.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet of 11 Birchwood Drive, Key West which is now offered at $759,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

410 Catherine Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 410 Catherine Street in Key West Florida.  The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Half a block from upper Duval Street this three bedroom, two and a half bath home is within walking distance of all the restaurants and attractions of Key West. This charming historic home has been completely restored and offers every modern amenity such as a gourmet kitchen, modern baths, a wide covered porch overlooking the pool and electronic gated parking."

When I looked at the house from the street I had no idea that it was an historic home. It doesn't look all that old. In fact it looks pretty crisp and modern. I am not suggesting the recent renovation took away the charm, it simply spiffed the place up with aplomb. The house is located one-half block west of Duval Street in an area once known for the cigar maker cottages where factory workers lived. I reviewed the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to determine the approximate age of this house and was surprised to see that it appeared on the 1889 map when it was then identified as 235 Catherine Street. The house identifier was changed to 410 Catherine on the 1892 map. True to form the Villamil Pino and Co cigar factory was located at the corner of Duval and Catherine Street. A small lane identified as Doe Alley separated the factory from the nearby cottages. That lane curved behind the cigar maker cottages and ended at Whitehead Street.  The portion of Doe Alley that ran parallel to Duval Street became Riehl Court on the 1912 Sanborn Map, and the rear alley was then identified as Louisa.  Today what was Doe Alley (Riehl Ct is known as Thompson Lane. However, GOOGLE MAP shows it as Thomas St. GOOGLE MAP is incorrect!)

410 Catherine Street, Key West - 1965

408 Catherine Street razed in 1968

Our history lesson is almost over.  I looked into my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo taken in 1965 which shows 410 Catherine Street as it then appeared. I found a photo of the former next door house at 408 Catherine Street which was damaged by fire and finally razed in 1968. In 1969 a then new CBS (concrete block structure) replaced the old house at 408 Catherine St. That house still exists today on a block where most of the homes are updated versions of the historic cottages which like 410 Catherine Street date back to the late part of the 19th Century. 

Today's house is much different than the original version of this house - that's pretty much a truism for most of the old homes in Key West. The front porch is now a small veranda off the front bedroom. The main entry was relocated to the east side of the home pictured immediately above. The interiors are all refined. The kitchen is a chef's delight. Exterior changes can be seen in the black and white photo of 410 Catherine St  which show a sapling Royal Poinciana tree once stood where today at the driveway an electronically operated gate exists.

You enter into the comfortable living area. There is plenty of Dade County Pine to lend an historic feel to the living space. Modern French doors and new windows bathe the interiors with abundant ambient light during the daytime. The kitchen and dining area are located to the left where there are views of the pool and guest cottage.  This property has been rented as a monthly vacation rental. The location one-half block from Duval Street makes this an ideal vacation rental location. The house and all the amenities will seal the deal.

There is a pool house complete with bath adjacent to the pool which runs much of the rear width of the of the property. There is a small waterfall at the far end of the pool. Native coral rock and tropical foliage and palm trees set the backdrop for the pool. The balcony complete with hammock provide outdoor entertaining area protected from the sun and those occasional days when we have rain. This is a very pleasant and spacious area to spend idle hours doing not much of anything.

The large master suite is located behind the Dade County Pine wall in the living room. French doors open out to rear covered porch and pool for a late night swim. The ceiling is vaulted giving this bedroom area a more spacious feel. 

The front bedroom is an equally restive spot. Bahama shutters provide muted daylight to enter the bedroom area as well as to provide privacy. What was the original front door is now a door to the front porch which has no entry from the yard - the Fuller Brush Man won't accidentally enter the bedroom. The porch will give the occupant a nice private outdoor space to read a book or to contemplate the meaning of life.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 410 Catherine Street, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a personal view of this new listing which is offered at $1,485,000. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1122 Von Phister Street, Key West - Welcome to My Neighborhood

There is a lot of hidden potential sitting behind the trees and tropical foliage at 1122 Von Phister Street in the tony Key West neighborhood known as the Casa Marina Area. I have lived in this area for 21 years and love it.

I looked in my old shoebox and found the above photo which shows a small conch house being relocated from 610 Dey Street in Old Town to 1122 Von Phister Street sometime around 1958. (Dey Street runs east from Simonton Street to Elizabeth Street near the seaport. There is a big commercial building at that location today.) The Casa Marina Area was developed gradually over the years after the Casa Marina Hotel was opened in 1925. Individual houses populated individual lots in the area until just after World War II ended. Undeveloped lots were purchased and new homes added, many of which were mid-century modern like the house next door to the west of 1122 Von Phister.  In the half century that has passed since the conch house was movd to it current location, the Casa Marina Area has become an alternative preference for many new home buyers who want to be in Key Weest but who prefer a home located in a quieter and less populated location. 

The above photo shows 1122 Von Phister as it appeared in 1965. You will notice two important features about the house. First, it sits back from the street and second it sits on the left side of what appears to be a large lot. The lot measures 60.25' wide by 97.5' deep or 5872 sq ft.  That's a bit larger than the typical 5000 sq ft Casa Marina lot - it offers much more ground with which to improve the house and lot. The original house measured 738 sq ft. This does not include the front porch but does include the rear bedroom which appears to be a sawtooth addition to the original cottage. In 2007 an addition was added on the right side which included a new indoor living area of 255 sq ft and a screened porch area also of 255 sq ft.  That addition has a basic flat roof which begs for a new second floor addition.

You enter the house into a wide hallway with the first of two bedrooms located up front. The second bedroom is located at the rear of the hallway with the kitchen and bathroom located in between. Both the kitchen and bath are very basic and have served this home well over the decades. You will note a cord handing from the attic hatch in the hallway. The attic runs the length of the oridinal house excluding the rear bedroom. The space has full window views from the front and rear and could incorporated into living space if either opened to the rooms below or possibly being made into a bedroom or other space if a stairway were to be added. 

The indoor and covered outdoor living areas are pictured above. The space works well with the original cottage. Noting too modern has been added here. That makes for easy living. A new owner who wants a simple place to live could move in and be quite happy.  I checked the City of Key West survey of contributing structures and determined this property is not on the list. The property itself is subject to HARC guidelines and HARC approval would be required for any additions or renovation to the property.

The side yards on either side of the building are wide. The rear yard is very large and has room for a pool. There are a couple of large trees which may have an impact on the size and location of a new pool. Otherwise, I think a new owner has many options on how and when to and maybe even whether to upgrade this property.  This is the least expensive single family home for sale in the Casa Marina Area at this time.  

1122 Von Phister Street if offered for sale at $799,000. Please CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Than call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.