923 Southard Street, Key West - Pretty as a Picture

Just listed, but not by me, 923 Southard Street in Old Town Key West. The original cigar maker's style cottage was built circa 1889. I found an old photo that shows pretty much the original structure as it appeared 50 some years ago (see the black and white photo below). If you look carefully you can see traditional clapboard siding at the front but board and batten siding (vertical siding) on the side.  You also will see a "sawtooth" addition at the rear. I suspect that was the kitchen at the time the photo was taken. A later owner expanded that space to include a second floor addition.  The resultant house today has 1476 sq ft of living space under air. The house sits on a large 2700 sq ft lot (approximately 27' x 100') lot located in the heart to Old Town.

Circa 1965

The listing Realtor describes this pretty as can be property as:

"This late 19th Century cottage is the perfect oasis in the heart of Old Town. Landscaped and fenced in the rear for total privacy, with an outdoor shower, arbor, heated plunge pool and a bodega for storage. The living area and hallway are bright with eastern light falling on the natural Dade County pine walls. The bright white kitchen gives onto the outdoors, and attached laundry room. Bedrooms are at opposite ends upstairs, separated by a hallway with skylights, closets and a nook. Step out of the master suite onto the deck overlooking the inviting scene below. The harbor and Duval Street are a short walk away. New roof in 2015, and 4 new split a/c units in 2016. Offered furnished."

Today this storybook cottage rests behind a picturesque white picket. The front porch provides the perfect perch for people watching.  Inside, you are greeted by a traditional long hallway on the right which leads to the kitchen and dining at the rear. The current owner removed a previously existing wall that separated a small front office from the adjacent living room. The newly expanded living room is a delight. The floors were refinished and look like new. Windows from the hallway on the east which filter into the living area.  Windows at the front and west side light the living room during the daytime. The Dade County Pine Walls are punctuated by the baseboards, trim, and crown molding all painted a crisp white.  

There is a full bathroom plus closets closets located at the rear of the living room. This space will come in handy as the second bathroom on the second floor is en-suite to the master bedroom.

The kitchen is a compact place to cook when the owner is dining at home versus going out to one of the nearby restaurants including Mangia Mangia, Michael's, Azul, or Cafe Sole. The owner created a nicely outdoor dining area under the trellis opposite the pool. The laundry room is located adjacent to the kitchen.

The turf is not real, but the sunshine, the trees, the singing birds are very real, and they are very much a part of the appeal of this magical back yard located in the heart of Old Town.

The front bedroom tells us a lot about the history of this house. There is an original scuttle located in the ceiling over the chair in the above photo. In the old days before air conditioning, scuttles were opened to allow warm air to rise through the space to the outdoors. Today the old scuttles  remind us of the miracles of electricity and interior refrigeration. The common hallway separates the two bedrooms.

The roof top balcony is the perfect spot to take an all-over Key West tan. It's also a great place to sit in the morning drinking your coffee or late at night as the warm breezes move across the island. The last couple of nights have been incredible as the full moon migrated across the sky with slow winds moving lots of clouds about. It was quite the show. When the conch trains, delivery vans, scooters, and cars stop the real noises of the island begin: the dog scratching off fleas, the occasional cat screeching, the gecko on the wall chirping, the fountain in the garden gurgling, the palms swishing. These are the sounds of Key West us locals love to hear.

923 Southard Street is offered at $1,024,900.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this treasure. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

923 Southard Street Key West

The very cute Conch Cottage located at 923 Southard Street was built circa 1889. I found an old photo that shows how the house looked nearly fifty years ago (see the black and white photo below). If you look carefully you can see traditional clapboard siding at the front but board and batten siding (vertical siding) on the side.  You also will see a "sawtooth" addition at the rear. I suspect that was the kitchen at that time. A later owner expanded that space to include a second floor addition.  The house today has 1476 sq ft of living space on a large lot 2675 sq ft (approximately 27' x 100') located in the heart to Old Town.  The listing Realtor describes this pretty as can be property as:

"Freshly painted entire exterior, new window sills, new deck and new fascia boards! The entrance under an arch of bougainvillea into this winsome two-story shotgun cottage has been the subject of many photographers and artists. Colorful and light-filled, with Dade County pine walls and floors, this home is the perfect retreat in the heart of Old Town. Both bedrooms are upstairs, separated by a hallway with skylights, closets and a nook; step out of the bright master suite onto the deck overlooking your tropical paradise, landscaped and fenced for ultimate privacy, with a bougainvillea-roofed lanai, outdoor shower, heated plunge pool and bodega. This home is a real treat."

Today the cigar maker's cottage rests behind a picturesque white picket fence and trellis that frames the house.  The front porch provides the perfect perch for people walking.  Inside, you are greeted by a traditional hallway that leads to the rear with various rooms located opposite.

The front room is used by the current owner as an office. The second room is probably best described as the living room but a new owner could easily convert this space to a ground level bedroom because there is a full bath immediately adjacent. 

The cheerful kitchen and dining area at the rear. French doors open out to a covered rear deck that looks out to the dip pool. It is, however, the expansive backyard with flowering trees and orchids that beckons "Look at me!". I have shown this home several times and each time I fall in love with the space again. I could hear birds singing from every direction. I could not get enough of this glorious space.

Two bedrooms and another bath are located on the second floor. Sometimes in our older houses bedroom spaces are super cramped. I don't think that is the case here. I found both bedrooms to be quite adequate.  As the listing Realtor points out, the bedrooms are separated by a spacious hallway that separates the two bedrooms. Rustic beams accent this space.  The rear bedroom has a deck that overlooks the tropical garden and pool below. The deck is totally private. It would be the perfect place to get that all-over Key West tan.

A table for two is located on the rear deck. It provides another perfect perch for viewing the garden.  I sat there as my buyers and the listing agent discussed the house. My eyes darted from tree to tree and flowering tropical plant to orchids hanging in trees. The peace and quiet of this delightful garden was disturbed only by the warbling of song birds and the whirl of the pool. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this pretty property in paradise.

Frequent visitors to Key West will recognize the value of this location which is across the street and down a few houses from Five Brothers Deli. Mangia Mangia and Michael's are located less than a block to the west. Duval Street is just four blocks west and the Historic Key West Seaport is four blocks to the north.  You can walk to just about anyplace important in Key West in about ten minutes or less.  I think this property would make a great vacation rental. You could not ask for a more picturesque setting in which to spend a few weeks to recuperate from living in urban madness or suburban sprawl. 

There is nothing so pleasing as to be able to walk out your front door with your dog, your mate, or your best friends and being able to take a brief walk to places others dream about all year long. When you live in Key West you are living the dream.  Many people work in tedious jobs and get a couple of weeks vacation each year. Some spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to come travel to Key West for a few days (or weeks) of rest and relaxation. Most of us who live here absolutely love it.
 

923 Southard Street is offered at $795,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing for you. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.  This house is exactly what so many potential second home buyers seek in a Key West home. 

923 Southard St - Key West - Florida

I am truly surprised that the super-cute Conch Cottage located at 923 Southard Street in Old Town Key West has not sold yet.  I thought it would get snapped up in a flash. The original cigar maker's style cottage was built circa 1889. I found an old photo that shows pretty much the original structure as it appeared 50 years ago (see the black and white photo below). If you look carefully you can see traditional clapboard siding at the front but board and batten siding (vertical siding) on the side.  You also will see a "sawtooth" addition at the rear. I suspect that was the kitchen at that time. A later owner expanded that space to include a second floor addition.  The resultant house today has 1476 sq ft of living space on a large 2675 sq ft (approximately 27' x 100') lot located in the heart to Old Town.  The listing Realtor describes this pretty as can be property as:

"The entrance under an arch of bougainvillea into this winsome two-story shotgun cottage has been the subject of many photographers and artists. Colorful and light-filled, with Dade County pine walls and floors, this home is the perfect retreat in the heart of Old Town. Both bedrooms are upstairs, separated by a hallway with skylights, closets and a nook; step out of the bright master suite onto the deck overlooking your tropical paradise, landscaped and fenced for ultimate privacy, with a bougainvillea-roofed lanai, outdoor shower, plunge pool and bodega. This home is a real treat."

Today the cigar maker's cottage rests behind a picturesque white picket fence and trellis that frames the house.  The front porch provides the perfect perch for people walking.  Inside, you are greeted by a traditional hallway that leads to the rear with various rooms located opposite.

The front room is used by the current owner as an office. The second room is probably best described as the living room but a new owner could easily convert this space to a ground level bedroom because there is a full bath immediately adjacent. 

The cheerful kitchen and dining area at the rear. French doors open out to a covered rear deck that looks out to the dip pool. It is, however, the expansive rear yard with flowering trees and orchids that beckons "Look at me!" I have shown this home several times and each time I fall in love with the space again. I could hear birds singing from every direction. I could not get enough of this glorious space.

Two bedrooms and another bath are located on the second floor. Sometimes in our older houses bedroom spaces are super cramped. I don't think that is the case here. I found both bedrooms to be quite adequate.  As the listing Realtor points out, the bedrooms are separated by a spacious hallway that separates the two bedrooms. Rustic beams accent this space.  The rear bedroom has a deck that overlooks the tropical garden and pool below. The deck is totally private. It would be the perfect place to get that all-over Key West tan.

A table for two is located on the rear deck. It provides another perfect perch for viewing the garden.  I sat there as my buyers and the listing agent discussed the house. My eyes darted from tree to tree and flowering tropical plant to orchids hanging in trees. The peace and quiet of this delightful garden was disturbed only by the warbling of song birds and the whirl of the pool. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this pretty property in paradise.

Frequent visitors to Key West will recognize the value of this location which is across the street and down a few houses from Five Brothers Deli. Mangia Mangia and Michael's are located less than a block to the west. Duval Street is just four blocks west and the Historic Key West Seaport is four blocks to the north.  You can walk to just about anyplace important in Key West in about ten minutes or less  I think this property would make a great vacation rental. You could not ask for a more picturesque setting in which to spend a few weeks to recuperate from living in urban madness or suburban sprawl. 

Let me tell you this. There is nothing so pleasing as to be able to walk out your front door with your dog, your mate, or your best friends and being able to take a stroll to places others dream about all year long. When you live in Key West you are living the dream.  People work in tedious jobs and get a couple of weeks vacation each year. Some spend hundreds and most spend thousands of dollars to come here for a few days (or weeks) of rest and relaxation.  I know I take it for granted a lot of the time. But I never forget that I am where I want to be forever.
 

923 Southard Street is offered at $795,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing for you. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.  This house is exactly what so many potential second home buyers seek in a Key West home.