1200 Florida Street - Key West

The recently completed renovation of 1200 Florida Street may be the dream cottage you have been waiting to find. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"Just completed renovation of a charming Historic District bungalow with separate guest cottage. This one level, two bedroom, two bath home has a large living area with pine floors and whitewashed ceiling opening to a beautiful cottage style kitchen with adjacent dining room. The spacious master suite is at the rear of the home and has a separate sitting area, large bath and open to the pool.  Additionally there is a nice sized sitting room with french doors to a rear deck. The separate cottage with bedroom and bath sits poolside and is perfect for guests who like a private space. This sunny corner property has been tropically landscaped and offers off street parking and storage."

Everything about this home is new - the floors, the interiors, the kitchen and baths. It's fresh as can be and really charming. The furnishings are negotiable which means a new owner could buy this place pretty much turn key.  That's good news because the place works perfectly. 

As with many Key West homes, the inside and outside blend together with ease. Both the kitchen and dining area and the adjacent master bedroom have French doors which open out to the deck and pool. The guest cottage likewise has French doors which open out to the pool. With a nifty view like that why would anybody want to stay inside?

I have sold three homes within three hundred feet of this home in the past five years. This is a great neighborhood with quick access to Old Town, the beaches, nearby Bayview Park, and the gyms and yoga studios in the Truman and White area.

CLICK HERE to  view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this really interesting home which is priced right at just $1,198,000. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

How to Win a Negotiation without Going Postal

I remember the time I had a few minutes to spare between showing appointments. I asked my buyer if he would like a cup of coffee. He said yes. So I drove over to Sandy's Cafe at the corner of White at Virginia Streets in Key West. I had been at Sandy's at about the same time the day before. The guy behind the counter who waited on me then was helping another customer. A new guy behind the counter asked me what I wanted.

I said "One small cafe con leche with two sugars and a decaf." He asked "Sugar?" and I said sugar in the con leche but not the decaf. He walks to the coffee machines and starts the laborious process of freshly brewing coffee just for me. He bangs the machine, cleans something, adds coffee, turns on the machine, grabs the machine and fiercely jerks it. He removes the small coffee brewer and pours hot coffee into a small white Styrofoam cup. He then added the milk and sugar and then put on a ilid. He placed the cup in front of me. He looked at me whereupon I asked where the decaf was. He said "We only have decaf for con leche decaf." I replied I did not want the decaf con leche, only the decaf. He removed the coffee can from the shelf over the coffee machines as if to prove to me that he did indeed have decaf coffee. But then he said they do not sell decaf coffee, only decaf con leche.

Since I ordered exactly the same thing the day before with no trouble at all, I was perplexed by my inability to get it a day later. I did not lose my cool. Instead, I remembered how Jack Nicholson dealt with a similar situation many years ago in the movie Five Easy Pieces.  Jack Nicholson's character (Dupea) was in a diner and tried to order plain wheat toast which wass not on the menu but which could easily be made.

Dupea:  I'd like a plain omelet, no potatoes, tomatoes instead, a cup of coffee, and wheat toast.

Waitress:  No substitutions.

Dupea:  What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes?

Waitress:  Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two - a plain omelette. It comes with cottage fries and rolls.

Dupea:  Yeah, I know what it comes with. But it's not what I want.

Waitress:  Well, I'll come back when you make up your mind.

Dupea:  Wait a minute. I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelet, no potatoes on the plate, a cup of coffee, and a side order of wheat toast.

Waitress:  I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast...an English muffin or a coffee roll.

Dupea:  What do you mean you don't make side orders of toast? You make sandwiches, don't you?

Waitress:  Would you like to talk to the manager?

Dupea:  ...You've got bread and a toaster of some kind?

Waitress:  I don't make the rules.

Dupea:  OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.

Waitress:  A number two, chicken sal san, hold the butter, the lettuce and the mayonnaise. And a cup of coffee. Anything else?

Dupea:  Yeah. Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.

Waitress:  You want me to hold the chicken, huh?

Dupea:  I want you to hold it between your knees.

Waitress:  Do you see that sign, sir? Yes, you'll all have to leave. I'm not taking any more of your smartness and sarcasm.

Dupea:  You see this sign? [He sweeps all the water glasses and menus off the table]

I got the decaf without the con leche.  And I didn't have to postal.

3414 Duck Avenue, Key West - Major Price Reduction

When most things are too big they get reduced - like bellies and high prices. Most things - not all!

Just Announced - Price Reduction on 3414 Duck Avenue, Key West.  The original asking price was $1,620,000. The new price is $1,420,000.  This 5676 square foot office condominium is located in the Poinciana Plaza center in the New Town area of Key West. Other tenants in this center include the Key West Association of Realtors, an alternative medicine clinic, an art and framing store, a real estate closing and title agent, an insurance company, and a land surveyor. The prior tenant in this space was a medical laboratory.

The listing broker describes the property this way:

"This commercial condominium has appx. 5,600 sq. ft.and can be reconfigured as needed. It is conveniently located at Poinciana Plaza with plenty of parking and close proximity to transportation, schools and housing. This large space is presently two commercial units, one formerly a diagnostic center, the other is a private medical practice. Both units front on Duck Ave. and have high visibility. The property lends itself to a variety of commercial uses and is located in the center of new town. This spacious, versatile condominium is ground level and has easy access for customers. Other well established businesses in the plaza. Equipment does not convey. Easy to see."

The Monroe County Property Appraiser website shows this concrete block building was constructed in 1945.  I dug into my old shoe box and found photos of the Poincina center that date back to 1960. It appears to me that the taller structure (Poinciana Food Centre) was added to the original center soon the building was originally built. The building became a commercial condominium in 2002. The facade was updated and a new covered walkway was added. Unit #8 is located at the far west side of the building and occupies 36.2% of the space.   

Customers have plenty of on street parking in front of this complex. There is gated housing community across the street which means which has restricted access. That means there is no competition from residents for on street parking on this section of Duck Avenue. This  building has additional parking on the side and rear for staff. 

While this commercial condominium is offered as one unit, a new owner could divide the spaces into smaller office units. In fact the prior owner created one separate unit at the far west end. There are five doors which open to the covered front walkway.  I took more photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

Click GOOGLE MAPS for an aerial view of this location and then use the toggle switch for a street view. The building is located two blocks north of Flagler Avenue and three blocks east of Kennedy Drive. This property can has quick and easy access from Old Town, Casa Marina, Mid Town, and points east.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 3414 Duck Avenue, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties.

Open House Today - 1400 White Street, Key West

Dear Readers,

I am hosting another Open House today at 1400 White Street, Key West. Please stop by between 12:00 to 2:00 PM to see this really beautiful three bedroom two bath home located in the Casa Marina Area.

I placed an ad in the Key West Citizen to notify all the people in town about today's open house. I specifically asked the ad agent to make sure the ad appears in the online version of the newspaper because the last time I placed a similar ad, the ad did not appear. Guess what - it's not there again today.

Look at the photo above. It is the Key West Citizen. Let me know if my ad is in the paper edition. No need to call. A simple comment below will suffice. 

Be the First to Live in this Freshly Renovated, 1353 Square Feet, Two Story, Three Bedroom Casa Marina Area Condo. Grand New Designer Kitchen with Eat-In Dining Area, Custom Shaker Cabinets, Carrra Marble Counters, Stainless Steel Appliances. Two New Baths. Laundry. New Impact Windows and Doors in many areas. Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors. Large 22' 14' Private Deck. Offered Furnished as Shown. Offered at $675,000.

There are only three units in the building and this unit is the largest. Just about everything inside is new. The back deck is totally private and has room for a hot tub if a new owner would want to add one. The monthly condo fees are just $544 and include all insurances. That means you this unit can qualify for a mortgage.  The building is located just a few blocks from Higg's Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.  Fausto's Food Palace on White Street is located a couple of blocks to the north.  There are numerous gyms and yoga studios within easy walking distance. You can walk to the nearby Dairy Queen for a brain freeze or go many of the nearby small eateries. If you work for the City, the new city hall is located one block away. (Your boss will know when you play hookie, however.)

Sitting Pretty at 1509 Pine Street, Key West

 I've been selling homes in Key West since 1996. Experience has taught me that the home at 1509 Pine Street in the quiet Meadows Area offers so many of the features home buyers seek in a Key West property. I am certain when any potential buyer sits on the front porch they will immediately and deeply fall in love with this location and this home because it is the epitome of what a Key West house ought to be. 

The listing Realtor describes 1509 Pine Street, Key West, as

"Built in 2008 resembling the charming historic architecture of Old Town Key West, this 3 bedroom 3 1/2 bath is all new. With 11 foot ceilings and 8 foot doors, the spacious rooms are filled with light. The gourmet kitchen has granite counters, high end stainless appliances and an incredible amount of storage. The sunny heated pool and spa with water feature are controlled by mobile app. Each
bedroom is en suite and the master has a vaulted ceiling plus a private balcony. There is two zone central air, hard wood and travertine floors, solid wood doors, high ceilings on both floors, crown molding and high end fixtures used throughout the home. This home is in pristine move in condition and will delight the most discerning buyer. Private parking is accessed through electric gates at both ends of the driveway. Plenty of street parking for guests. Great Meadows location near everything Key West has to offer. Easy to see!"

The Meadows of Key West was designed to be and is the epitome of design and high-end construction in Key West. The homes were built to with stand the challenges of our sub-tropical climate and sunny days. The Hardiboard siding and impact windows and doors will keep long term maintenance and insurance costs down as opposed to other stick built homes in our area. Each home has a private pool and carport which is accessed via private rear driveway which is managed by the home owner association whose sole function is to maintain the limited common areas. Just like in your home up north, you as homeowner of this home would be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of your front and rear yards and pool.

Like many of the Grand Conch Houses of Old Town, this home has a covered front porch located off the master suite.  The ceiling in the master bedroom is vaulted which really adds dimension to this space that includes a good-sized walk in closet and en-suite bath. Readers should study the architectural detain in the second floor porch. You just won't find this kind of quality at this price in a similarly sized historic home in Old Town - at least not at this price. You might for a million dollars more. But not at this price. And if you find one, your maintenance costs and insurance costs will still be higher.

There are two additional bedrooms on the second floor both of which have private en-suite baths and ample closets. The rear bedroom (pictured above) is locate above the carport. I guess you could refer to it as a carriage house of sorts. Note that both guest bedrooms have tray ceilings, crown molding, recessed lights, and many more design feature.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and to view more listing photos of 1509 Pine Street offered at $1,345,000.  Then 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.