918 Southard Street # 204 - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 918 Southard Street Unit #204 in Southard Square Condominiums. The listing Realtor describes the property like this:

"Unique two bedroom two bath condo with a tree house living style in Old Town Key West, within walking distance of wonderful restaurants, wild Duval Street and the historic Seaport. The residence's interior views lush, tropical gardens, a sparkling pool and the condo's private club house. This two-story home is an open floor plan with natural skylighting and a spiral staircase. The guest bedroom and bath is located on the living level. Upstairs is the master suite with bath, separate sitting area for reading or napping, and a second balcony. Other amenities include central air, a washer/dryer closet, storm shutters and a total sense of security, coming and going via off-street parking with lighted entrances and exits. Come take a look today!"

Southard Square Condominiums was built in 1987. I remember hearing that part of the 918 Southard building was the former location of the De Poo Hospital. I dug down into the bottom of my old shoebox and found a photo of the De Poo Hospital that was taken in 1965.  Then I found another photo of 912 Southard which was razed so that the modern condos could be built. I don't think our Historic Architectural Review Commission would allow a similar fate to a historic house today. It is interesting to compare and contrast the two styles of architecture from the 19th and 20th Centuries.  I also took the color photos below which show the "renovated De Poo Hospital" as it looks today and the front of the condo development which would have been the location of the smaller sawtooth house that stood at 912 Southard. (There are several houses with almost identical architectural details as 912 Southard further east on Southard and around the corner on Grinnell Streets.)

918 Southard Street in 1965

912 Southard Street in 1965

Today Southard Square is a stable condominium community with just 16 units most of which are owner occupied. A few units, such as #204, are rented as monthly vacation rentals. The entrances to  Unit # 204 is located just off Griffin Lane which runs perpendicular to Southard midway back from the front entrance to the condominium main entrance. 

The club house or community room

There are just 16 units in this phase at Southard Square. The buildings are each a bit different as are each of the units. No cookie cutter community here. The units share a big beautiful sunny pool plus a nice little club house. A large deck wraps around  the club house allowing residents to follow the sun or stay in the shade. Each unit has an assigned off street parking spot.

Window above is the sitting niche

View from main level balcony off the Living Room

Unit # 204 viewed from across the pool

Unit #204 is located on the second floor of the east building. It has 1200 sq ft of living space on the second floor and third floor combined. The main floor has a guest bedroom and bath located near the front entrance. A hallway leads to the kitchen with extra high ceiling that rises to the roof. The combined living and dining area are at the rear. Sliding doors open onto the covered balcony that overlooks the pool off to west. A beautiful spiral staircase leads to the master bedroom and bath on the third floor. A "bridge" leads from the bedroom area over to a little sitting niche. The bridge looks down onto the kitchen below. A window from the niche also looks down to the kitchen and further into the living area. This place is pretty darned impressive.

View from Master Bedroom Balcony

Master bedroom with French doors that open onto private deck

The "bridge" from bedroom to the sitting niche

The best views, however, are from the decks off the living area and the master bedroom. Unlike some condo complexes (whose names I shall not mention nor infer) with decks that provide no privacy, you can lounge on either deck in your altogether and drink your morning coffee or nurse your favorite adult beverage. The views are so peaceful.

Southard Square Condominium Unit #204 is offered at $680,000. CLICK HERE   to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Or you can CLICK HERE to view MORE pics I took.

Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing for you. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

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1317-A Catherine Street - Key West, Florida

1317-A Catherine Street in Key West was recently listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. That is where I work but this is not my listing. However, I had the opportunity to show this home several times over the past couple of weeks while the listing agent was out of town. The people that looked at this home really liked it. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Great little 2/2 Conch cottage with a private pool, comfortable deck area and very lush privacy planting. Nice location for walking to the beach and the White Street restaurants and markets. Parking is on street but generally no problem. It was currently being used as a non-transient vacation rental and has a good history of rentals. Very private with almost no street visibility."

The side yard features a decent sized kidney shaped pool and deck. The grounds are illuminated at night. The south side of the house has an outdoor shower, laundry shed, and storage shed, none of which are visible from the pool or by passers-by on the street. In fact not much of anything about this house is visible from the street. This is not a drive-by listing. You must see the inside to appreciate the size and value of this property.

There home is attached to another unit which is owned by the same owner. There is a firewall between the two units. Each unit has a separate legal descripton  and each unit is owned in fee simple. This is not a condominium.  As the listing agent points out, there are two bedrooms, two baths, a large living area with high ceilings, a dining area with French doors that open out to the covered porch that overlooks the pool. The kitchen is spacious and nicely appointed. 

This home has a successful history as a vacation rental.   This home rented at $5700 per month during season and rents are lower rates during other times of the year. This property is offered at $629,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Please 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. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

715 Frances Street - Quintessential Key West Eyebrow House

The listing Realtor says "715 Frances Street has been featured in Monroe County Tourist Development Council literature as the quintessential Key West home. Its historic authenticity, traditional white picket fence and beautiful landscaping add curb appeal, while its front porch offers sweeping sunset views."

The listing Realtor goes on to describe this eyebrow house this way:

 "Quintessential historic Key West eyebrow house located on prestigious Frances Street features two spacious living areas, three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and closet space, quality craftsmanship including tastefully finished Dade County Pine walls, new plantation shutters, high-end kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, a downstairs half-bath and inside laundry. 715 Frances Street's 6,000 square-foot lot has a beautiful heated pool, hot tub with waterfall, outdoor shower, lush tropical landscaping and rare off-street parking. This home can be sold with high-end furnishings and accessories (not including artwork and personal items). X Flood Zone / New Shutters."

You can't drive down Frances Street and not notice this house.  It is that damned impressive. It stands out and demands that "You look at me!"  I went back to a prior blog about this property and retrieved a few photos that show how this house has been updated over the years. Each time the new owner left his or her imprint on the continuing evolution of this home.

This home is located across the street from the Key West Cemetery. That's a killer of many-a-sale. But it shouldn't be.  Frances Street is an extra wide street to start with. There is no parking on the opposite side of the street. Sunshine and island breezes illuminate and cool nearby homes which is different than many parts of Old Town where the streets are crammed tight with two story homes and giant trees that restrict light and air circulation. And the neighbors are extra quiet.

This 1792 sq ft home sits on a quite large 5859 sq ft lot. It has three bedrooms (one on the main level when climbing the stairs might become a challenge), three full and one-half baths, a new kitchen, large semi-formal living room and newly recreated solarium that overlooks the beautiful pool and gardens. We Key Westers spend as much time outside as we can. The newly landscaped garden is truly understated elegance.

Imagine sitting poolside at night having cocktails or dinner with friends living life to the fullest - in Key West.  CLICK HERE to view more photos of this really great Old Town home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of 715 Frances Street in Key West, Florida where I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1024 Southard Street Key West - A Really Sweet Dream Home

The newly listed home at 1024 Southard Street is as pretty and as charming on the inside as it is on the outside. The listing Realtor describes this 1530 sq ft two bedroom / two bath house as:

"Wonderful Old Town home on a beautiful block with a huge light filled great room that you will never want to leave! Eight French doors lead out to a heated salt generated pool with waterfall feature as well as a separate back yard garden & lounging area with a jacuzzi/spa. This artfully renovated home has 2BR/2BA + an office, stylish Ipe decking, outdoor shower, even gated & bricked off street parking!"

The central hallway leads past a home office on the left front and a guest bedroom opposite toward the great room in the rear. The painted Dade County Pine walls provide a subtle backdrop for the placement of art and furnishings. The deep cherry floors set a stark contrast to the crisp white baseboards, doors, and trim. Multiple sets of French doors add drama to the great room by providing garden and/or pool views from three different directions.

The kitchen is tucked off to the side. But it isn't small, just tucked.  There are ample food preparation areas in this kitchen as well as a nifty bar for informal dining.

A set of ancient glass doors at the main level shuts off the stairway to the second floor master suite from whatever is going on in the house. The master bedroom is the perfect nesting spot in this home. And the bathroom is quite large.

1024 Southard Street has bricked and gated off street parking - that is true rarity in Old Town.  The yards are handsomely landscaped and have nighttime illumination. The pool is large enough for a real pool party.  A hot tub is located at the rear side of the house where the current owner also has an outdoor dining area.  There is a place for everything in this house and everything is in its place.

CLICK HERE to view more of the photos I took of this really charming Old Town home. This is the kind of place buyers dream of owning.  I know a lot of potential buyers think they may "need" more bedrooms for the time the relatives or friends come to town. There's a really charming guest house a block away. Think of putting up your once a year relatives in a guest house and save yourselves a couple of hundred thousand dollars.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos on 1024 Southard Street which is offered at $1,295,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you buy this dream home in Paradise.