1012 James Street - Old Town - Key West

If you are looking for a cute Key West cottage with a pool and off street parking priced under $550,000, I may have the answer to your search. The very lovely home at 1012 James Street just had a price reduction to $535,000. The listing Realtor describes the home this way:

"This is a magical cottage with an open floor plan, saltillo tile floors, wonderful screened porch overlooking the 10 X 20 foot pool (7 feet deep with swim jets) and gardens. In addition, two sets of French doors from the living area open to a beautifully designed side porch which also opens from the kitchen and has access to the pool and gardens. There are two bedrooms upstairs each with private half baths and a full bathroom on the ground floor. Off street parking."

One of two bedrooms on second floor

Screened porch overlooks the pool and gardens

The back of the garden opens onto Thompson Lane

I wrote about this cottage the day it was listed in February 2010. I must say I am surprised it did not sell. I really thought it would go quick. I have shown the house several times since then.

The main living level is so Key Westy. You walk inside the front door and you either 'get' the house or you don't. By that I mean it has not been all fussed with. The living room isn't fancy but rather laid back and inviting. The stairs to the second floor (where the bedrooms are located) has no handrail. An accident waiting to happen for the alcohol impaired, perhaps, but the stairs become part of the architecture of this place. The kitchen is off to the left. There is no granite or marble or stainless steel. The kitchen is plain white, but it is so damned cute and utilitarian at the same time. And just beyond the living area is a screened in porch that overlooks the cool pool and bricked garden.

If this house was located on William or Elizabeth Street it would have sold in no time flat because it has all of the features second home buyers want except one: location. Oh it is in the right part of town, except it isn't. It is in Old Town but not the right street. Much of the nearby area is commercial including Manley deBoer Lumber Company, Keys Energy, Finnegan's Wake, and the Key West parking garage.

Just one block north other nearby neighbors include the Historic Key West Seaport and destination places like Dante's, Schooner Wharf, Harpoon Harry's, A&B Lobster House, etc.

If you have trouble with stairs, this is not the place for you. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and view more listing photos. If you like what you see, please call me Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 to arrange a showing of 1012 James Street. This really is a cute place and you owe it to yourself to look beyond the neighbors you may find objectionable at first. I think you will be delightfully surprised. Seriously! I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.