1126 Washington Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West - Bank Owned - Buying Opportunity

This is a RAH RAH moment. I have been waiting for this one for a long time. The foreclosure took forever. The house at 1126 Washington Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West is now Bank Owned. I am particularly interested in this property because I live nearby. This house has been an eyesore for at least 15 years, and now some new owner gets the chance to buy a real fixer with a huge lot in a truly great neighborhood at a great price.

Longtime Readers know I don't jump up and down about new listings very often. This is the exception! This is one of those times when buyers who want a really good deal need to act quickly. 1126 Washington Street is offered at just $369,000. I predict it will go under contract within a matter of a few days. The price, location, and ability to re-do or to create a new house in a great location make this property worthy of serious consideration.

There are two prime areas in Key West - Old Town and Casa Marina. Everybody knows Old Town because of the quaint old houses and nearness to dining and cultural events. Casa Marina is known for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean (a five minute walk) and the extra large lots and larger homes - most of which are valued over the one million dollar mark. Some of the houses in the Casa Marina Area that have not been renovated may qualify to be razed because they are not located on historic maps. (You basically can't tear down in Old Town and must renovate-often on small lots.) Additionally, homes that are unsafe may be approved for demolition on their own right. The house at 1126 Washington Street is a likely candidate for demolition in my opinion. It is a nasty old mess that needs torn down, or it needs a really gifted architect and contractor to turn this old house into something special. CLICK HERE to view photos I took of this house for an out of town buyer.

1126 Washington Street as it looked in 1965

Exterior photo May 2011

Garage and huge parking area

East side of house has large yard and immense decks

Steel Posts and Beams added to Prevent Ceiling Collapse

Forget about how bad the house 1t 1126 Washington Street may look now and instead focus on the location, lot size, and ability to create your own private paradise on the 8304 sq ft lot (89' x 94'). While the size may not seem like a large lot up north, it is a very big lot by Key West standards. The Monroe County Property Appraiser says the house was built in 1938 and has 1539 sq ft of living space. I suggest that you consider the asking price of the land value which is offered at $44 per sq ft. Compare that price to the lot at nearby 1426 Reynolds Street which sold April 12th at $70 per sq ft (11,500 sq ft). The Reynolds property has an excellent location closer to the beach but it is also located across from the Casa Marina Hotel. CLICK HERE to read what I wrote about that property. I think most Readers would agree that $44 is better than $70 any day of the week. Of course there are pluses and minuses for any property and each offering or sale must be judged on its own merits.

I counted five different floor levels in this house and numerous kinds of windows, doors, air conditioning units, fans, odd light fixtures, glass block walls and mirrored walls in the bathrooms. There is no cohesive style. There are orange warning cones and yellow tape to warn of potential hazards. Since costs of renovation can often be much higher than new construction, I suggest that a new owner raze this old house and build a new two story house and take advantage of the large lot to create a wonderful pool and garden area.

If you are looking for a project property in Key West, give this listing serious and prompt consideration. If you are not working with another agent, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or contact me by 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. Don't wait too long!