Bank Owned - Old Town - Key West

719 Chapman Lane - Key West - 2011

The Bank Owned single family house at 719 Chapman Lane in the Bahama Village area of Old Town Key West was is now offered at $486,000 or $231 per sq ft.

The house at 719 Chapman Lane was built new (not renovated) in 1999. The same house was listed for sale in 2005 at $1,200,000 and later $1,099,000 in 2006. It did not sell. It has 2108 sq ft of living space on three floors. It sits on a 27' x 98' (2646 sq ft) lot. See the diagram and photo below that show the house layout and how it it looked in 2006.

2006

June 2011

June 2011 - minor ceiling damage related to a faulty water bed

There are double sets of French doors at the end of the living room which open onto a large rear porch that overlooks a large and barren back yard that is just ready for the addition of a swimming pool.


There are four bedrooms and four and 0ne-half baths in this house. The master bedroom is located on the second floor at the rear. French doors open from the master bedroom out onto the second floor rear balcony.

A second bedroom is located at the front of the house on the second floor. It has its own en suite bath. There are two more bedrooms on the third floor each o f which has a bath.

The City of Key West is nearing final approval on the redevelopment of the Truman Annex marina and park. It is located just a couple of blocks further west of Chapman Lane. Angela Street (on the corner to the north) is supposed to provide a walking lane type entrance into that area. When the redevelopment is completed, I believe that property values in the immediate area will increase dramatically.

Breakfast at La Creperie

Dinner in Heaven

Spend the day at Ft Zach

In the meantime if you owned the house at 719 Chapman Lane you could walk a little over one block to have breakfast at La Creperie or dinner at Blue Heaven or maybe do tapas at Santiago's La Bodega. You could ride your bike over to Ft Zach Taylor beach and work on that Key West tan. Or you could do any manner of things people in Key West do every day. This block is populated mostly by full time homeowners but there are a few second homes located here as well. After the Truman Annex marina and city park is completed I expect there will be a shift between full time and second home ownership in the immediate area.

If you are looking for a newer home in Key West and want the convenience of being located near major Key West attractions but don't want to pay the high cost of ownership by being located on the supposed best street, you should really take a serious look at 719 Chapman Lane. A similar house on a more sought after block in Old Town will cost about $500,000 more. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule your visit. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

719 Chapman Lane - Bank Owned - Key West

719 Chapman Lane - Key West - May 2011

The newly listed Bank Owned single family house at 719 Chapman Lane in the Bahama Village area of Old Town Key West was just listed for $499,100 or $237 per sq ft. The house has been bank owned since since September 30, 2010 but was just listed in the Key West mls on Friday.

The same house was listed for sale in the go-go years at $1,200,000 (2005) and later $1,099,000 in 2006. It did not sell. The house was built new (not renovated) in 1999. It has 2108 sq ft of living space on three floors. It sits on a 27' x 98' (2646 sq ft) lot. See the diagram and photo below that show the house layout and how it it looked in 2006.

2006

Above is a current listing photo of the same area

The Monroe County Property Appraiser took the above photo in 1965 but notes the house at 719 Chapman Lane was razed in 1967. Proof that the new house really is a new house.

For comparison purposes the house next door to the south (721 Chapman Lane) SOLD on March 29, 2011 for $370,000 or $195 per sq ft. (It sold 18 days after being listed at $425,000.) I wrote about that house when it was also a bank owned property. I even did a broker's price opinion on that property and pegged the probable sales price at $375,000. My estimate was pretty close. That house was livable but I felt it needed some work. It certainly needed cleaned and painted. It had a pool, but the front yard had a pretty white picket fence instead of parking.

Two years ago I wrote about the then short sale at 710 Chapman Lane. I loved that house. It was a renovated single family with 1200 sq ft of living space, a white picket fence, and room for a pool. It ended up selling for $385,000 or $321 per sq ft.

710 Chapman Lane is located across the street. It sold last year.

This Chapman Lane house did not sell and is not for sale.
It is just damned beautiful!

All three houses are located on Chapman Lane which is three blocks from Duval between Petronia Street to the south and Angela Street to the north. One block long and most of the houses have been renovated. If that block were located three blocks east of Duval, we would not be writing about any of these houses at selling or being offered for sale as such low prices.

The City of Key West is nearing final approval on the redevelopment of the Truman Annex marina and park. It is located just a couple of blocks further west of Chapman Lane. Angela Street is supposed to provide a walking lane type entrance into that area. When the redevelopment is completed, I believe that property values in the immediate area will increase dramatically.

Breakfast at La Creperie

Dinner in Heaven

Spend the day at Ft Zach

In the meantime if you owned the house at 719 Chapman Lane you could walk a little over one block to have breakfast at La Creperie or dinner at Blue Heaven or maybe do tapas at Santiago's La Bodega. You could ride your bike over to Ft Zach Taylor beach and work on that Key West tan. Or you could do any manner of things people in Key West do every day. This block is populated mostly by full time homeowners but there are a few second homes located here as well. After the Truman Annex is completed I expect there will be a shift between full time and second home ownership.

If you are looking for a newer home in Key West and want the convenience of being located near major Key West attractions but don't want to pay the high cost of ownership by being located on the supposed best street, you should really take a serious look at 719 Chapman Lane. Understand that a similar house on a more sought after block in Old Town will cost about $500,000 more. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule your visit. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

903 Thomas Street - Key West Charmer !

903 Thomas Street Key West - Classic Eyebrow House

The outdoor living area at 903 Thomas Street overlooks the cool pool !

This is what I refer to as the Cool Pool !

Vaulted ceiling in the bright and cheery kitchen that overlooks the cool pool as well

As soon as you cross the threshold and enter the Eyebrow house at 903 Thomas Street, you know you have walked into a home that was restored with love and attention to detail. This is no cookie cutter, could be located anywhere house. This is a true Key West classic. This is how the listing Realtor describes this home:

"Charm and price make this exceptionally well renovated cottage in the heart of Old Town a best buy and a must see. With 3 bedrooms/2 baths plus den/office this classic eyebrow home is in a gated compound with three single family homes lushly landscaped with an outdoor shower, shared pool with waterfall, off street parking, all new plumbing, electric, and HVAC. This is the perfect investment or your personal tropical paradise not to be missed. Seller is licensed Florida Realtor - not listing agent."

This place is captivating. The owner did the restoration himself several years ago. But the place looks as fresh today as it did then. The house is laid out like many Key West houses with the bedrooms at the front and the living area at the rear overlooking the pool and garden area.

Downstairs there are two bedrooms on either side in front. The bedroom on the left has an armoire built into the wall. What a beautiful piece of furniture and an equally novel way to use it. This was an OMG for me. The bedroom on the right is bright and cheery. The center hall leads back towards the kitchen with a vaulted ceiling. Unfortunately, the photo I took of the kitchen does not show the height or equally clever use of space. Rats!!! Just to the left is a separate office area (not a bedroom) and the downstairs bath. The dining area and living room wrap around the kitchen which is open to the living room. But the real kicker is the covered outdoor room that overlooks the cool pool with its adjacent bar and grill area to the north. There is a private garden and outdoor shower area on the right side of the house. Since this is an eyebrow house, there is a second floor where the owner located the master bedroom and bath. Everywhere you look, outside, inside, first floor, second floor or just the stairway, you can tell that his home was lovingly restored and made better than before.

This house is technically a condominium because the pool and some of the rear area are owned in common with the two other cottages that are adjacently located. But each of those houses have their own separate private spaces as well. Here each homeowner maintains his/her own residence as in "fee simple" ownership. The common areas (including pool and deck) are maintained the the association. There are many similar type of condominium, townhome, and compounds in the Old Town area of Key West. And 903 Thomas Street has its own private parking space.This just happens to be one very precious home that is oh so charming and that is now priced to sell. The new asking price is just $525,000.

903 Thomas Street is located two blocks from Duval Street and just one block west of the Ernest Hemingway House at 901 Whitehead Street. If you watch JEOPARDY, you would have known that address (Hemingway and Key West are frequent clues).) One block to the north you will find two competing eateries, Blue Heaven and La Creperie which is a new addition to the corner of Thomas and Petronia. I recently had brunch at La Creperie. It is so cute and great food. Santiago's Bodega is one block further west on Petronia. Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park and the coolest beach in Key West is a five minute bike ride.

CLICK HERE to view the mls listing information and to view 15 photos of this home. Better yet, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. 903 Thomas Street is a lot of house for the money. You owe it to yourself to take a look - with me!

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721 Chapman Lane - Bank Owned - Key West

Entrance to Bahama Village Petronia & Duval Streets Key West

721 Chapman Lane built 1906 as it appeared in 1965 (above)

721 Chapman Lane Key West as it appears in 2010

I wrote about 710 Chapman Lane in June 2009. It is located directly across the street from 721 Chapman Lane. That place was a "bargain" if I ever saw one. It was artfully renovated for today's lifestyle. That property was a short sale and the new owner got a terrific deal at the purchase price of $385,000. There are three houses for sale on that block today. One is a short sale (a cute house but a new owner will probably need to do some serious fixing); one is a regular sale and over-priced (have not been inside and probably will not-not at that price); and then there is 721 Chapman Lane. 721 Chapman Lane sold for $900,000 in December 2006. Today it is BANK OWNED and offered for $469,000 or $247 per sq ft.

The listing Realtor describes 721 Chapman Lane thus:

"Old town Key West treasure! Tucked away in Chapman Lane is this quaint, two story bungalow style single family home with private swimming pool. You will not believe the space and layout. Just a few steps from Duval Street and Fort Zachary Taylor beach. Paradise awaits you in the heart of Old Town Key West. Come see it before it's gone!!"

The pool at 721 Chapman looked like this in 2006. Not now!

The original cottage (see black and white photo above) located at 721 Chapman Lane was built in 1906 according to the Monroe County Property Appraiser. The house was enlarged and a pool was added. The house as now configured has large rooms and big spaces. This is not the cottage of yore. This photo CLICK HERE probably best demonstrates how the house grew so large. A new two story addition was added to the back of the old cottage. Downstairs you will find the livingroom complete with black and white checkerboard style floors, a bedroom and bathroom, and a large eat-in kitchen with French doors that open out onto the back deck and pool area. Upstairs you will find two other bedrooms each with private bath. The tub-shower in the master bath looks like something you might find in the International Space Station.

The 1900 sq ft home has 3 bedrooms, two and one-half baths. It sits on a 2646 sq ft lot. There is a white picket fence in front. In my opinion this place needs a serious "fluff" but I did not see any major renovation expense. I do think the master bath is odd, and a new buyer may want to redo it. The color choices and carpet selections throughout the house are a little overwhelming, but the cost to spruce this place up won't be. Most new home owners want to paint and do a bit of cleaning anyway.

Corner of Petronia Street and Chapman Lane

CLICK HERE to see photos I took of the house and the other houses on Chapman Lane. Chapman Lane is located in Bahama Village-one block west of the famous Blue Heaven Restaurant and La Crepere (notice the tourists riding the wrong way on a one-way street. Don't you just love 'em. Not a care in the world.) Many of the neighboring houses have been redone. Chapman Lane runs just one block and is accessed off Petronia and Angela Streets. It's an easy two or three minute walk to Duval Street. The new Key West marina and boardwalk will be a two or three minute walk when it is completed. I believe the new Truman waterfront development will invigorate growth and development in the Bahama Village area as well.

CLICK HERE to review the mls listing info and to view mls listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 to schedule a showing of this old-new house. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

715 Emma Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 715 Emma Street #2, in the Bahama Village area of Old Town Key West. The listing Realtor describes this 1243 sq ft condominium this way:

"Beautiful recently built two story home located in a small community of four homes with a shared pool. This luxurious home has two bedrooms, two and one half baths plus a den and is finished beautifully - gourmet kitchen with Sub-Zero and Viking appliances, Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, multiple balconies, walk-in-closets, GE Smart home wiring and off-street parking. Located adjacent to Truman Annex and near the proposed new waterfront park this gated compound is surrounded by lush tropical landscaping."

Despite what some readers may think, the number of really nice and affordable townhomes and condominiums is shrinking. This new listing may be one that a serious buyer might want to consider. Only four units were built in this uber-trendy development. The spaces were carefully crafted so that it did not have the cookie-cutter layout so common in most condos. This unit is offered at $599,000.

CLICK HERE to checkout the mls listing info on this property. And if you follow me on TWITTER you can see photos I took of the surrounding properties on this block. If and when the city fathers ever get the final plans approved and actually start construction of the proposed waterfront development a couple of blocks to the west, look for this property to become very much in demand as will be many of the surrounding homes. Until then be content with knowing you can walk around the corner and eat at such lovely places as Santiago's Bodega, Le Creperie, Blue Heaven, Better Than Sex, or any of the other fooderies nearby. The Green Parrot and lots of other watering holes are also nearby. Ft Zach Taylor is a couple of blocks and all of Old Town Key West is within easy walking or biking distance.

If 715 Emma Street looks like it might appeal to you and your budget, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

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903 Thomas Street - Key West Charmer !

903 Thomas Street Key West - Classic Eyebrow House

The outdoor living area at 903 Thomas Street overlooks the cool pool !

This is what I refer to as the Cool Pool !

Vaulted ceiling in the bright and cheery kitchen that overlooks the cool pool as well

As soon as you cross the threshold and enter the Eyebrow house at 903 Thomas Street, you know you have walked into a home that was restored with love and attention to detail. This is no cookie cutter, could be located anywhere house. This is a true Key West classic. This is how the listing Realtor describes this home:

"PRICE REDUCED on this charming renovated cottage in the heart of Old Town. This 3 bedroom/2 bath plus den/office classic eyebrow home is in a compound with three single family homes lushly landscaped with an outdoor shower, shared pool with waterfall, off street parking, all new plumbing, electric, and HVAC. A tropical paradise not to be missed."

I had not been inside of this home for several years. I forgot how captivating this place is. The owner did the restoration himself several years ago. But the place looks as fresh today as it did then. The house is layed out like many Key West houses with the bedrooms at the front and the living area at the rear overlooking the pool and garden area.

Downstairs there are two bedrooms on either side in front. The bedroom on the left has an armoire built into the wall. What a beautiful piece of furniture and an equally novel way to use it. This was an OMG for me. The bedroom on the right is bright and cheery. The center hall leads back towards the kitchen with a vaulted ceiling. Unfortunately, the photo I took of the kitchen does not show the height or equally clever use of space. Rats!!! Just to the left is a separate office area (not a bedroom) and the downstairs bath. The dining area and living room wrap around the kitchen which is open to the living room. But the real kicker is the covered outdoor room that overlooks the cool pool with its adjacent bar and grill area to the north. There is a private garden and outdoor shower area on the right side of the house. Since this is an eyebrow house, there is a second floor where the owner located the master bedroom and bath. Everywhere you look, outside, inside, first floor, second floor or just the stairway, you can tell that his home was lovingly restored and made better than before.

This house is technically a condominium because the pool and some of the rear area are owned in common with the two other cottages that are adjacently located. But each of those houses have their own separate private spaces as well. Here each homeowner maintains his/her own residence as in "fee simple" ownership. The common areas (including pool and deck) are maintained the the association. There are many similar type of condominium, townhome, and compounds in the Old Town area of Key West. This just happens to be one very precious home that is oh so charming and that is now priced to sell. And 903 Thomas Street has its own private parking space. This home is offered at $599,000.

903 Thomas Street is located two blocks from Duval Street and just one block west of the Ernest Hemingway House at 901 Whitehead Street. If you watched Friday nights episode of JEOPARDY, you would have known that address. One block to the north you will find two competing eateries, Blue Heaven and La Creperie which is a new addition to the corner of Thomas and Petronia. I had bruch at La Creperie with friends last Sunday. So nice. Santiago's Bodega is one block further west on Petronia. Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park and the coolest beach in Key West is a five minute bike ride.

CLICK HERE to view the mls listing information and to view 15 photos of this home. Better yet, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. 903 Thomas Street is a lot of house for the money. You owe it to yourself to take a look - with me!

The Incredible Shrunk ! Key West

113 Petronia Street - Key West - Re-created by Ronny Bailey

113 Petronia Street - Key West - Re-created by Ronny Bailey

113 Petronia Street - Key West - Re-created by Ronny Bailey

113 Petronia Street - Key West - Re-created by Ronny Bailey

Local artist Ronny Bailey came by our office yesterday and showed off his latest gem. Everybody had to stop work and go take a peek at portrayal of 113 Petronia Street that got shrunk to table top size.

You have to see Ronny's work in person. You cannot resist getting up close and personal with his art. You will be awed!

I wrote about Ronny before. CLICK HERE. He grew up in Key West and 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 and recreates houses the way they looked before the gentrification and HARCifornication.

Ronny told me he had discussed creating a piece about 113 Petronia Street with its owner. The owner had some of the original wood used in building the house and gave it to Ronny. Ronny cut, sawed, and carved the wood and created the incredible shrunk.

113 Petronia Street as it appeared in 1965

Ronny will be one of many artists showing their creations at The 25Th Annual Key West Craft Show January 30 to January 31 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Juried artisans and crafters display their talents at a popular show on lower Whitehead and Caroline Streets in historic Old Town.

Visit Ronny's website if you are not in town. CLICK HERE. But if you are here, stop by and see the Incredible Shrunk.

If you are looking for a life size house, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. I sell real houses. They sometimes cost a lot of money. But you can really live in them. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls. If you see a place you like, please call me. Thanks.