Today I am once again writing about the really cute little house at 820 Windsor Lane in Old Town Key West. This property was previously listed by my company. It did not sell and is now back on the market. The home is offered at $412,000. I showed this home several times, and I can tell you I am a big fan of this little house and the neighborhood. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:
"Two-story conch home in a great location in the heart of Old Town, on corner lot across the street from the Key West Cemetery. This cozy house features a large bedroom upstairs with half bath. Original historic details include Dade County Pine walls and floors, high ceilings, spacious rooms and covered front porch. House needs TLC and would be a good candidate for renovation project. Tented for termites in 2012".
820 Windsor Lane is located at the corner of Windsor Lane and Passover Lane
In his book The Streets of Key West: a History through Street Names J. Willis Burke says Poorhouse Lane got its name because "a poorhouse was once tucked away there". I found a photo of this property taken in 1965. Poorhouse Lane is denoted by the unpainted vertical wood fence on the opposite far side of the house. See the photo below. Now look at a similar photos I took in October 2012 looking in the same basic direction and then straight forward. The tired old wood fence on Poorhouse Lane has been replaced by a concrete block wall that is painted red.
820 Windsor Lane as it appeared in 1965
820 Windsor Lane as it appears in October 2012
Bill Butler Park is located at the end of Poorhouse Lane
820 Windsor Lane is a two bedroom home that sits on a good sized 40' x 50' lot just across the street from the Key West cemetery. Click GOOGLE MAP for an aerial perspective of the location. The street view is inaccurate as it shows only the fence on Poorhouse Lane. St. Mary's Basilica is located two blocks to the south at the corner of Windsor Lane and Truman Avenue (that's where James Bond parachuted to the church to be best man at his friend's wedding). Bill Butler Park is a short one block walk at the west end Poorhouse Lane. The City of Key West ought to spend more time and more money to maintain this potential gem.When I took photos here on Monday I imagined how wonderful it would be if the city would build a community pool in this seldom used park. There are numerous small cottage homes like this house that do not have pools.
St. Mary is located at the corner of Windsor Lane and Truman Avenue
Poorhouse Lane ends is one block long and ends at Bill Butler Park
Bill Butler Park
You
can walk to Duval Street in about five minutes. The fact is you can
be just about any place in Key West within ten minutes by car. You
can be most places in Old Town by foot or bike in about the same
time. The convenient location and the ability to tweak this house make 820
Windsor Lane very appealing.
Front room used as an office or second bedroom
Open living, dining and kitchen
This home has a very comfortable Old Key West feel. All of the rooms are natural (unpainted) Dade County Pine walls including ceilings and floors. The windows and doors are painted white. The window panes are old. The glass has 'stretch marks' that ripple and show the age of the glass. The front room downstairs does double duty as an office/den and second bedroom. The full bath is located on the main floor. The living room, dining area, and kitchen are one big open space with lots of windows. The master bedroom and an half bath occupy the entire second floor. The front porch has view of the Key West cemetery. The side and back yards are private and spacious. Sadly, there is not room for a pool.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property and to view more listing photos. Or you can CLICK HERE for a slide show of more photos I took of this property. Better yet please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this cute Conch Cottage. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.
8 comments:
What does the full bath look like?
This property is very nice and it is situated at best location where people can get best atmosphere and all facilities. This is really a royal property.
I looked at this property when it was for sale last year for a bit less than 400K. it needed a bunch of work then the exterior needed TLC most window sills were shot and tons of termite damage was evident I also remember the second story floor flexed under my feet. Combine that with zero yard for a pool or parking I am not sure why it went up in asking price?
It is in a great location and the dade county inside is wonderful
i think the realtor may be the owner? isn't there something to be said about realtors and lawyers representing themselves/their property?
Dear Anonymous,
The property was previously listed by our office. It was initially listed much higher than the current asking price. Over the course of time the asking price was reduced. The market then was starting to recover. The location across from the cemetery spooks a lot of very sophisticated buyers. I get it but I think buyers miss the undeniable fact that the neighbors so nor annoy with their habits or cars screaming children playing in the streets or throwing balls inyour yard. The neighbors don't park pick up trucks in their front yards and do repairs.
Traffic is negligble on Windsor Lane after 5:00 PM. And during the daytime most of the traffic is locals, tourists on bikes or scooters,and the occasional delivery truck or Realtor.
This owner of this house is a real estate agent and acknowledges the condition in the mls " House needs TLC and would be a good candidate for renovation project." You may think it needs more the TLC. It probably needs $150,000 or more of TLC but that is figured into the asking price. A lot of buyers are looking for houses like this and expect to put new money into a house to update any place. I liked this house from the get-go. The hallway on the left means more living area in the living spaces. The old Dade County Pine is rich in tone in this home.
As for termite, any house in Key West will get termites if not regualarly treated. This is something locals learn to live with and most people have their homes tented on a recurring basis. This is not a deal killer.
I like the house. I wish it had room for a pool and parking. If it did, the price would be higher.
Gary
From what you are telling us
If it needs 150k or more then the buyer will end up with a home with zero yard no parking and a location you state sophisticated buyers shy away from for 650k++?
Dear Anon, I'm not going to argue with you. If a person bought this house for $400,000 and put in $150,000 to fix years of woes and add spiff the place all up, he or she would have a great property in a great Old Town location. Not everybody wants a single family house because they don't want all the maintenance issues so they settle on condos. A typical Shipyard condo is now approaching $550,000. There you will get parking and a pool plus someone who will either above you or below you and assuredly someone next door to you. I know a lot of people want more privacy than that. This house in this location can offer privacy and character that a buyer cannot find at Shipyard or other condos or townhomes at the same price point.
I recently previewed a nearby 1000 sq ft house with two bedrooms, two baths, a small pool, an updated but not expensively so kitchen. It is priced at $750,0000. Windsor Lane could be just as cute but won't have the pool or off street parking. I think whoever buys Windsor is getting a bargain by comparison.
Gary
Hello Gary-
Thank you for taking the time to respond and obviously thank you for this blog. I am not arguing with you either and can promise you that if you feel you feel you could sell this home for $650 today, when cleaned up and updated, there is little doubt I will be calling you if/when I decide to sell my old town home.
edit to above $550 not $650 apologies
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