604 Grinnell Street - Short Sale - Old Town - Key West

604 Grinnell Street - Short Sale - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 604 Grinnell Street, in the Old Town area of Key West. This 968 sq ft Key West cottage has been completely renovated. It is a one and one half story cottage located in the heart of Old Town. The first floor is the living and dining area that opens onto the kitchen and breakfast bar. There is a large bedroom with jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. The second level is a nice sized loft. The lot is 1472 sq ft or 32'x46' which means there is no room for a pool. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"*Short Sale* Recent renovation on this wonderful Conch Cottage located in the heart of Old Town, make this a special investment. The first floor includes a large living/dining room, open kitchen with breakfast bar, master bedroom and large bath with jacuzzi. This is a potential short sale transaction subject to lender approval."

Just as in the case of 1421 Eliza which I wrote about last week, I think this place will go under contract very quickly for the obvious reason that it is cute and has the look so many features second home buyers want; it has a great Old Town location within easy walking distance of everything; and it is priced at just $368,000. There are a couple of obvious 'negatives' I must mention: it is on a small lot and has no off street parking nor room for a pool; it is located immediately adjacent to 5 Brothers Sandwich Shop; and a prospective buyer will have to live through the short sale approval process. Irrespective of the negatives, this place ought to sell very quickly. CLICK HERE to see the Key West mls datasheet for details.

604 Grinnell Street (above) was built circa 1889

604 Grinnell Street in June 2011

You will note that the mls description says the cottage was built in 1933. I found the old photo (two above) with a notation that states the house was actually built in 1889. Look at the roof and you will see scuttle, a hatch that allowed warm air to escape through the roof. The scuttle is still in place. The jalousie windows and galvanized fence are gone and have been replaced by decorative shutters and a white picket fence.

The 600 block of Grinell Street ends one block to the south at the Key West cemetery. That means the block does not get as much tourist traffic as most Old Town blocks. I recall showing another house in the same block earlier this year. We stood out in the street for about 30 minutes or so discussing how picturesque the block is and how quiet the location is.

If you lived at 604 Grinnell Street you could walk to the Historic Key West Seaport or Duval Street within five to seven minutes. The Studios of Key West arts building on White Street is five minutes to the east. Nearby neighborhood restaurants include Cafe Sole, Mangia Mangia, Michael's and Azur.

Historic Key West Seaport is just a couple of blocks away

Mangia Mangia is a little over a block to the west

The Studios of Key West is just two blocks to the east

If you have been waiting for an affordable Old Town cottage with a great location, don't let the moss grow under your feet on this one. If you snooze, you will surely lose. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Sitting Pretty - 526 William Street Unit # 4 - Old Town - Key West

526 William Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc., (that's where I work) 526 William Street Unit No. 4, a second floor condominium in the beautifully restored and centrally located Delancey Hall building in Old Town Key West. Each unit in this five unit building is unique. Unit #4 is a smart one bedroom located on the second floor front. It shares the front balcony that has a commanding view overlooking William Street. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"In the heart of Old Town Key West is this beautiful Historic Home, that has been converted into 5 units, this particular corner unit is bright and airy, with balcony access on William Street. It has one bedroom and one bathroom with a great kitchen/living area. Kitchen has beautiful wood cabinets and granite countertops. The floors are all Brazilian Purple Heart hardwood flooring, Dade County walls, custom ceramic tile shower,crown molding and high ceilings. You would be 3 blocks from Duval and 3 blocks from the historic waterfront."

Unit #4 is second floor left side

Delancey Hall is one of the very best renovations I have seen in Key West. The quality of the workmanship and the superior interior finishes look as good today as they did ten years ago when the original renovation was completed. Buyers that work with me know that I am quick to point out shoddy construction and poor workmanship. Nobody should pay good money for unprofessional construction. Each Delancey Hall unit was built to high quality standards.

Unit #4 is located on the second floor front or William Street side of the property. The one bedroom unit has 550 square feet of interior living space (almost the same size as some two bedrooms at Shipyard). It occupies the south side of the building so you will have good light and not a lot of neighbors. The second floor front porch is your outdoor space. CLICK HERE to see the Key West mls database and to view more photos of this unit.

Offered at just $299,000 unit #4 would make a getaway place for quick trips to Key West or as a permanent home for a single person. The property has the necessary amenities (pool included) and a great Old Town location to make it worth your while to view. No need for a car because everything you want is within walking distance.

Mangia Mangia located at Southard & Margaret

You can get your daily gossip and cafe con leche at Five Brother's

Locals and frequent visitors know the value of a good location, and 526 William Street is located in the very heart of the Historic District. The Key West Seaport is three blocks to the north. There are lots of great restaurants and water based activities there. Duval Street is just a five minute walk to the west. Mangia Mangia is a block to the east at the corner of Margaret and Southard. Five Brothers is located one block further to the east where you can get your morning gossip and cafe con leche at the same time. Fausto's Food Palace is three blocks west on Fleming. Fausto's has a great wine selection plus one of the best real butcher markets in Key West. And Fausto's always has fresh sushi. One-half block off the corner of Duval and Eaton you will find the Tropic Cinema, a hangout for the elite of Key West. The point is you can eat and greet and meet just about anywhere in Old Town within a few minutes walk of bike ride.

Tropic Cinema is on Eaton Street between Duval and Whitehead

If you are looking for a very nice and affordably priced condo in Old Town, you owe it to yourself to take a look at 526 William Street unit #4. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. If you buy 526 William Street #4 you will be sitting pretty in Old Town Key West.

1006 Southard Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed (by a new Realtor and at a much better price) 1006 Southard Street, Old Town, Key West. This charming property was previously listed by an agent in my office at $869,000 in 2007. Today's new price is an incredible $599,000 or $504 per sq ft.

1006 Southard Street is a charming renovated cottage in the historic district. The cottage is secluded down a shady bricked walkway. There is a bedroom and bath downstairs and the master bedroom with ensuite bath is upstairs. French doors open from the bedroom, living room, and spacious vaulted kitchen to a decked swimming pool. This cottage home has lots of Dade County Pine and historic details, yet it has been modernized with a new roof, well-appointed kitchen and pretty baths.

The house is 1188 sq ft and sits on a 2833 sq ft lot. The house sits to the rear, not the front, of Southard Street. So you cannot see the house from the street. That adds additional privacy for the homeowner. You are a five minute walk to Duval Street or the Historic Key West Seaport. And you are a two minute walk to Five Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop where you can get your morning con leche, Michael's Restaurant where you can get your steak fix fixed, or Mangia-Mangia Restaurant to get your pasta fazooled. I'm a big fan of Five Brothers inexpensive fare, Michael's very expensive steaks, but I'll pass on Mangia Mangia. But that's me. Lots and lots of people like Mangia Mangia.

5 Brother's is half a block away

Mangia Mangia is one block west

Get your steak fixed here

CLICK HERE to details on this little charmer and more photos as well. Note the Dade County interiors, the open and eclectic feel that this house exudes, and the utter charm of the pool and garden. You won't be spending all of your vacation time tending to fixing things and working on the yard. There is something to be said and cherished about minimalism.

Season is just around the corner. If you are looking to buy a place in Key West where you can nurse your suntan in the winter, this kewl Key West cottage may be just what you are looking for. If you want to see it, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. It's not my listing, but I'll be glad to show you this place and others in the Old Town area so that you can see for yourself why I think this place will sell quickly at the new, lower asking price. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

6 Lowes Lane - Old Town - Key West

Lowes Lane another slow lane in Key West

Just listed, but not by yours truly, is 6 Lowes Lane in Old Town Key West. For the uniformed Lowes Lane is an "almost" one block long slow lane that runs from Grinnell Street toward the east. It runs parallel to Southard Stree to the south and Fleming Street to the north. The most familiar notable landmark is 5 Brothers Grocery which is located southwest corner of Grinnell and Southard Streets. Stop by 5 Brothers any weekday morning for a cup of coffee con leche and listen as all the big wheels, cops, politicians, contractors, and many tourists as they exchange notes on what is going on in Key West.

The listing Realtor describes 6 Lowes Lane this way:

"Situated between Southard & Fleming Street, you will fall in love with this 2 bedroom, 2 bath home on a quiet & friendly lane in the heart of Old Town. It even has a rare find, a detached one car garage! The master suite is on the first floor with an additional sitting area and the 2nd bedroom is up stairs with a bonus room or home office. Nice eat-in kitchen , Dade County pine floors, well & cisterns. Plenty of room to relax on your wonderful lot with a bricked patio surrounded by mature tropical foliage. Fully fenced for privacy and lovingly cared for by the same family for several generations. Room for pool. $799,000."

This 1566 sq ft home sits a fairly large lot (50.25' x 70' or 3417 sq ft) according to the Monroe County Property Appraiser. The home has been in the same family ownership for many years. Nobody ever built a pool, but there is room for one. Plus this home has a garage. In fact, many of the charming houses on this lovely lane have garages and pools. This lane, in fact, is one of the pricier locations in Old Town. I won't give out any names or addresses, but some notables live on this little lane. CLICK HERE to read more detailed info on this home and to view more photos of it.

When I show a house or Grinnell or on the oft chance I always park on Grinell Street and walk my customer down the lane. They just fall in love with this place. It is so picturesque that it is like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The houses have all been updated over the years-some more recently than others, but all look just so damned quaint and cute. I found a pic from 1965 that shows 6 Lowes Lane as it appeared then. Compare that view to the pic from this morning. The roof lines are a little different now.

6 Lowes Lane in 1965

6 Lowes Lane in 2010

6 Lowes Lane is located in the heart of the Old Town area. Other than 5 Brother's Grocery mentioned above, there are no commercial enterprises nearby, no guest houses, no apartments or condos. This little block is populated with single family residential homes most of which are of similar size on this lane. The homes on Southard Street to the immediate south are very large by contrast. And very expensive. Those expensive homes will help this location maintain its long term appeal and value. (The big house at the end of Lowes Lane has a street address of on Southard Street. The entrance to the carriage house is located there. Preferred Properties (that's where I work) sold that house in 2006 for $5.5 million in 2005.) All of the neighboring grand Key West Conch houses and small Key West cottages have the same quick access to the Historic Key West Seaport located at the foot of Grinnell Street just three blocks to the north and to the restaurants, nightlife, and attractions on or near Duval Street four blocks to the west.

If you are looking for a storybook cottage like the one at 6 Lowes Lane, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 or contact me by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the exclusive lower Fl0rida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls database. If you see something you like, let me know. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

530 Grinnell Street - Key West Cottage with the Character Thing

530 Grinnell Street is located just to the right of the decorated white picket fence.

The Perfect Couple for the Quintessential Key West Cottage reading the Key West Citizen

Just listed, but not by me, is 530 Grinnell Street - another Quintessential Key West Cottage. But this place is priced within the budget goal of many would-be second home buyers. The asking price: $475,000 or $600 per sq ft. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"A delightful cottage on one of Key West's prettiest streets in the very heart of Old Town. This cottage is a triple saw-tooth roofed, board-&-batten frame, with vaulted ceilings in all the rooms, from the living room through the dining room to the kitchen. The spacious bathroom has a laundry closet. Accent wall in the living room of Dade County pine and a stained glass window in the dining room. There's a mango tree in the back yard and the front porch invites one to have a relaxing sit to watch the world go by."

The cottage meets most of the needs of prospective purchasers that are looking for a nice house in a good Old Town location at an affordable price. It has that character thing going on for sure! CLICK HERE to see 530 Grinnell Street as it appeared in the 1960s. It looks the same today. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom. The cottage is 792 sq ft of living space and sits on a 1500 sq ft lot. There is a wood deck in the rear but there is not room for a pool. CLICK HERE to see more of the mls listing information and to view photos of the inside and exterior.


530 Grinnell Street is located between Fleming Street at the north and Southard Street at the south. Five Brothers CLICK HERE is located at the corner of Southard and Grinnell. Azur Restaurant CLICK HERE is located at the corner of Fleming and Grinnell. The Historic Key West Seaport is a five minute walk from the house. Cafe Sole, Michael's Restaurant, and Mangia Mangia are a block away. Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west.

I have not been inside 530 Grinnell Street but I was inside the house next door a few years ago during an Old Island house tour many years ago. I was just awed by that house. It is pretty much the same construction, size, and vintage as 530 Grinnell Street. The owner is designer Michael Pelkey. Every square foot inside and outside was a delight to see. CLICK HERE to see the front porch of his cottage which is also the cover photo on the book Key West A Tropical Lifestyle by Leslie Linsley with photographs by Terry Pommet. I think a lot of buyers have difficulty in visualizing how to create and live in small spaces. Perhaps buying the book or better yet engaging a talent like the incredible Mr. Pelkey would serve one well. (CLICK HERE to read more about Michael Pelkey.)

I think 530 Grinnell Street is priced to sell. It is in that magic price range that so many buyers feel is within their budget. I have an idea to overcome the lack of space to build a pool: make friends with a neighbor. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-76-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

615 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

The very charming house tucked off the beaten path at 615 Grinnell Street (Rear) just got a lot more attractive. I have shown this property several times and I think it is poised for a quick sale. The reduced asking price is now $685,000 or $538 per sq ft. This is how the listing Realtor describes this home:

"Tucked away down a quiet Old Town lane is this lovely, renovated historic home. Three bedrooms plus a loft/office, high ceilings, quality finishes with an open floor plan for comfortable island living. Lush tropical lot, inviting pool and porches make this a Hidden Island Oasis in one of the best neighborhoods of Old Town Key West."

You can't see this house from the street. It is actually located at the tail end of the little lane mentioned above. The house has a wrap around porch on two sides. The pool and deck are on the third side. The north side abuts the adjacent lot. All three "public areas" are very neat and nicely landscaped. The owner recently added a gate to permit off street parking inside of the grounds. The lot is fairly large (approximately 50' x 60').

This is definitely a Key West house. You won't find one like this in the burbs, wherever you are. All of the rooms open to the outside. CLICK HERE to see the view from the kitchen looking toward outdoor dining and the pool. (There is even a small building that is just aching to become a poolside bar.) While none of the rooms are huge, they open onto each other and the vaulted ceilings and multitudes of French doors that open to the outside make the outside feel like it is part of the inside. CLICK HERE to read more detailed information on this listing and view several very good photos and even take a virtual tour. Speaking of tours: Grinnell Street dead ends on the Key West cemetery. You won't be seeing Conch Trains or Trolleys dragging tourists down the Grinnell Street. Most locals avoid it because they can get where they want more quickly. So if you are looking for peace and quiet, this street is one of the better addresses in Old Town.

This is not my listing. But don't let that stop you from calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. It's Fantasy Fest Week in Key West. If you owned 615 Grinnell Street you could walk one block to join the People's Parade CLICK HERE on Friday. On Saturday you and your friends could walk four blocks to join in on the craziness on Duval Street. And on Sunday morning you could walk one half block to 5 Brothers CLICK HERE for a couple of shots of Cuban coffee and some Aspirin.

631 Southard Street - Old Town - Key West

Here is another real deal. The problem is you need to be kind of rich to afford it. But there are still lots of rich folks in America and some of them are looking for homes in Key West. If you are among that lucky bunch, you might want to consider 631 Southard Street that was just listed for sale at $1,995,000 or $785 per sq. ft. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Elegant, Sophisticated, and Luxurious Historic Home on Solares Hill in the Heart of Old Town Key West. Fully renovated and restored with an eye for perfection and quality. Beautiful kitchen with Jenn-air and Fisher & Paykel stainless steel appliances. High ceilings, hardwood floors, bedrooms with bath ensuite,laundry room, and open floor plan with finest details throughout. Huge tropical lot with lush vegetation, heated pool, spa and outdoor living room with privacy galore. Newly renovated guest cottage CLICK HERE offers glass tile shower room, open floor plan for easy tropical living. Off-street parking, full house generator, wrap-around porches and custom made Ipe' shutters. A Luxurious Residence in the Heart of Historic Old Town Key West."

This house is such a charm to show. The downstairs combined living-dining areas work so well for the relaxed Key West lifestyle. The French doors look out onto the gardens and pool. And unlike a lot of older Key West homes, the view is bright and cheerful on all sides. That corner location provides nice morning light on the east and the extra large yard provides sun for the pool and gardens. CLICK HERE for more details and some great photos of this special property.

631 Southard Street is located at the corner of Southard and Elizabeth Streets--just two blocks from Duval but only one block from 5 Brothers CLICK HERE to the east or Sarabeth's CLICK HERE and Nancy's Secret Garden that is hidden at the rear of Free School Lane CLICK HERE. Fausto's Food Palace CLICK HERE is a two block walk and the Key West Cinema CLICK HERE and The Red Barn Theater CLICK HERE are about three minutes away by foot. (The Waterfront Playhouse CLICK HERE to see a "chick play" is about a ten minute walk because you have to walk through hordes of tourists!) The Historic Key West Seaport CLICK HERE is five minutes by foot. So you see you cannot beat the location. The house is near everything important.

I represented some people that tried to buy this house back in 2004. My buyers offered $2.8 million cash and the then seller turned them down. The then seller eventually sold to the present owners for a lower price. Such is the fate of market timing. Greedy bastards sometimes lose even in an up market.

The present owner has put a lot of time and money improving this already superb home. If you are looking for a second home in Key West and want the lifestyle, the excellent location, and the amenities 631 Southard Street offers, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc., an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.