818 Carsten Lane, Key West - Just Listed

 

You've arrived at 818 Carsten Lane, Key West. Lucky you! This is one of the sweetest little houses in Old Town and it is now for sale. If you have been watching the Key West MLS much in the past few weeks, you'll appreciate the opportunity to buy a house that is already done and done right. Let's take a look starting from the front porch and work our way to the pool in the rear.

The listing Realtor describes 818 Carsten Lane thus:

"This quintessential conch cottage is located on a charming lane in the heart of Old Town. The picture perfect two bedroom, two bathroom home has all the features you look for in a renovated historic property. The current owners' total renovation left no detail overlooked. Historic features include a shady front porch, a wide entry hall and lots of Dade County pine on the walls and high ceilings throughout the home. The sleek kitchen and baths are beautifully appointed with modern fixtures and finishes and custom built-in cabinetry that perfectly complement the original features of the home. The spacious sunlit open living area has a vaulted ceiling and opens through glass doors to the rear porch, decked yard and pool with unique water feature.This wonderful property is fenced for privacy and has off-street parking."

I wrote about this same house several years ago after it had been updated by a different owner. The prior incarnation was retro-Victorian. The current owner brought the old house into the 21st Century. The Victoriana was removed as were the original floors. All of the interior was updated. Each bedroom has a bath. The master bath has an emergency exit to the outdoor shower. I have seen this in other houses, but this one includes a glass door which allows outside light to flood the inside. The fixtures, lights - everything flows together. One wall in the master bedroom was repurposed as a bookcase style closet with multiple storage places. The old Dade County Pine ceilings now include recessed ceiling lights.

The former new old-style kitchen was replaced by a modern newer kitchen as well, New windows were added in a side bump-out that dramatically expanded the both the light entering the room but also the sense of space. 

 

The covered rear porch was totally updated as well.  A dysfunctional banister was removed and that dramatically opened the view to the pool. New decking was added as well as the outdoor shower visible in the last photo. The side yards provide storage for bikes and water sports equipment. The fence at the rear abuts Carey Lane which I think is the cutest little lane in town. I mention this because the owners on that lane and the abutting properties on Carsten Lane are all cute cottage style homes.

Carey Lane

Carsten Lane

The cuteness of this part of Old Town is intoxicating. CLICK HERE to view the the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 818 Carsten Lane Key West offered at $1.279,000. 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. Don't wait. This will sell quickly. There are so few houses in Old Town available.This is in move-in condition.

1202 Seminary Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1202 Seminary Street, Key West.I showed this home this past week and was taken by value offered. Let's take a look.

This home was renovated about twenty years ago. The entry was relocated from the front of the house through a gated portico that opens into the pool area. Multiple sets of French doors on both sides of  the living room allow abundant daytime light to bathe the area with ambient light. This place is cheerie. The kitchen was recently updated and new floors added. 

French doors from the family room (located center) and both bedrooms open out to the rear deck with recently added Trex decking. The two bedroom, three bath home has 1,502 Sq Ft of living space under air conditioning and sits on a large 4,698 Sq Ft lot.The home was built in 1928, nearly one hundred years ago. The renovations give the place a much more contemporary feel.

The house sits across the street from the National Weather Service Building located at the Corner of United and White Street. I remember the old trailer park in the same location until after 2000. The top photo shows the Ruth Hargrove Methodist Seminary and below its well groomed and behaved Methodist children. The black and white photo with trailers is dated 1963. Seminary Street runs west to Reynolds Street and east to First Street. The MARC House is located one block to the east.That is where we all go to buy tropical plants and Christmas trees. This is a very quiet location except Saturday morning when people to to the MARC House to buy plants.

There is a real benefit from having the National Weather Service as the neighbor across the street - no pool or house parties and the yard is always well maintained. 

Fausto's and the DQ are located one block to the north.

 

The White Street Pier and Higg's Beach are located a short stroll or bike ride to the south.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 1202 Seminary Street, Key West offered for sale at $1,149,000. 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. I have lived in this area for 25 years and love it. Let me introduce you to the neighborhood.

Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 16

from: February 19, 2014

207 Julia Street - Key West - Is It Art or Is It Awesome?

 

Local artist Ronny Bailey came by our office last week to show me his latest creation - a miniature version of 207 Julia Street located in the Bahama Village area of Key West.  Everybody had to stop work and to take a peek at the cottage that got shrunk to table top size.

I wrote about Ronny before. CLICK HERE. Ronny grew up in Key West where he was a carpenter for 30 years. Recreation of Old Town Key West homes in miniature sizes is now his passion. He beams with pride as he talks about his work. This is a man in love with his life and his work. And his work is a testament to his love of the place that he has called home. He loves the Key West of yore. He recreates houses the way they looked before the gentrification and HARCifornication that has taken over so much of Old Town.

I suggested to Ronny that we drive over to the actual house to take some photos to compare his creation to the real house. He was up for it. So we drove over. He knocked on the owner's door and asked for permission to take some photos. Permission was granted.

Compare and contrast the black and white photo taken in 1965 with the modern day photos taken last week. Then compare the art with the real house. 

Ronny creates always adds the words "peace'. "love", and "joy" to each of his works of art.  Look carefully at the photos. You will see them. And you will probably see that these are words that guides this gentle man as he lives out his lifes' dream.  His is a peaceful life filled with love and joy.  This is not something I am writing. This is a testament to this man.  I wish I could be so content.  I took the last photo above with the piece of art sitting on a trash can in Julia Street.  A neighbor was walking her dog down the this quiet little street.

Ronny told me he will be showing his work this coming weekend at the 49th Annual Old Island Days Art Festival that runs from Friday, February through Saturday evening.   Free Admission. Exhibitors will set up along Whitehead Street from Greene Street to Eaton Street and on Caroline Street through the famous Presidential Gates into the beautiful Truman Annex.

Make a point of looking for Ronny Bailey.  His larger pieces are quite expensive as he works for months on those projects. He does have original artwork and reproductions that are priced for less. 

Realtor Tip - What Not To Do When Showing a Property

 

That's Asolo, Italy. It is one of the prettiest little towns I have been to. I wish I could go back. I wish I could go anywhere. We all do. I digress.

I was showing a house a few days ago. The listing agent met us at the street and previewed what we would see upon entering the home. She said the owner was inside along with his dog. We entered the house and ascended the first flight of stairs to the living area. I was the last of the group going up the stairs.

When I arrived at the turn-around I noticed what I determined to be a three tiered shrine holding two cremation urns with a light on the top tier. I said to my self "Be Careful". My mind raced back in time to that afternoon in Asolo when we were ascending the stairs to a second floor Mama Mia Italian restaurant to eat lunch.

The stairway was a little narrow and a little dark as I recall. I could hear people mumbling at the top of the stairs where light from the room bathed a tall Chinese urn resting on a table at the doorway landing. I somehow lost my balance at the last step and fell into the urn which started to teeter then totter. I must have yelled something because I remember everyone looking at me as I grasped the urn before it smashed into a thousand pieces. It did not do that. I grabbed it before that happened.

And that is why I took my time on the turn around in the house. I could not imagine the grief I would have caused had I spilled Mama on the floor.
 

P.S. I wish I could remember the name of that place. The hostess put us in a corner away from sharp objects. I had the best Fettuccine Alfredo ever. We could see the old Italian women in the kitchen making the food. It was like watching an Italian painting coming alive - but with real wonderful food at the end.