Just Listed but not be me 519 Frances Street, Key West. I had the opportunity to see this historic home on Sunday afternoon. Locals and tourists were poking around trying to decide if this once lovely home with wrap-around porch could be their perfect little place in paradise.
I found a photo of the house taken in 1965. I walked around the house yesterday checking the place out. It does not look much different from the 1965 photo The wood siding and windows were in good shape. The columns and trim on the porch have been really well cared for. The wood ceiling of the porch did not show signs of leaking or damage. All but one of the original piers looked to be in very good condition. I noted also the house seemed to elevated a bit higher than I am accustomed to seeing. The house is in the AE flood zone but the higher elevation may make it compliant for X flood zone insurance savings.
I do not know if the louvers are original to the house. I suspect they are. They provided natural ventilation, light control, and privacy in former days. They still do today. Insurance companies would not give an owner "credit" for them, but they work as they were designed to do. What do bean counters know about heat, wind, rain anyway? These original structures worked well and survived over three centuries till some insurance company actuary came up with a justification for charging more money than is necessary. I digress.
The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show the house as having 950 square feet of living space a 250 square foot metal garage that sits at the right rear of the property. There is a small building on the opposite at the rear. The listing agent said there is a wood floor in the attic. Some might see that as a potential space to expand the house. I considered it and then decided different. You'd have to use up a lot of first floor space to add a staircase. Not worth it in my opinion. The lot is an irregular rectangle that measures 44.5 ' across and 99' deep or 4,335 square feet in total. I am going to show you the inside and the rear.
The current house has two bedrooms, one bath, updated kitchen, entry hall, and living room. They are single purpose rooms and probably not what a buyer seeking a place in paradise would envision.
This was never a grand house. I don't think a new owner could make it grand. But he or she could play on the simple lines and create a very beautiful space to call home. Instead of going up, I would open up the the house. I would make the front room the master suite. I would take out existing walls and re-frame the back area has wrap-around porch continues around the rear but with more usable sitting area under the new porch roof. The metal "garage" adds value to the lot because it exists on old maps and it is capable of being renovated. I would create two en-suite bedrooms plus laundry room in this building. I would convert the small stand alone building into a cabana bath with outdoor shower. And I would add a pool and decking in the middle. This has the makings of a pretty swell place.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 519 Frances Street offered at $1,200,000. 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. Let me help you find you home in Paradise.
