1621 Sunshine Drive, Key West: Good Day Sunshine

I took some time off Sunday afternoon and played would-be buyer and checked out the new listing at 1621 Sunshine Drive, Key West, Florida. I had been inside this home a couple of years ago when it was still under construction. I could not believe my eyes at how quickly the landscaping has filled in and the home has taken on an identity all its own. The listing Realtor describes this 1672 sq ft three bedroom, three bath home this way:

"Located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this beautiful property was newly constructed in 2013 with custom finishes. Upgrades include travertine tile and bamboo floors, Brazilian Marinachi granite countertops, gas range, laundry/utility room with sink, custom closets and much more! French doors connect the living room to the exquisite back deck and pool area, offering the best of Key West outdoor living. Both upstairs bedrooms are en-suite and have private balconies. Built to all the latest codes, the home is elevated and has impact glass. With off street parking for two cars and a location close to the Casa Marina, Old Town and the Atlantic beaches, this Midtown Gem has it all!"

This home is one of several that were built in 2012 in a little enclave located just a couple of blocks north of the Atlantic Ocean and just east of White Street. Higg's Beach and Rest Beach are easy walking distance from here. But there is no need to go to the beach for sunshine or to swim as this home has a sunny private pool and a shady tree where the new owner can listen to The Beatles "Good Day Sunshine" and appreciate the good life in living in Key West where the days are sunny almost every day of the year. 

Lie beneath the shady tree...

Good Day Sunshine

This home is laid out somewhat similar as you would expect to find in an Old Town home where the great room is located at the rear of the main floor. The living area and kitchen are open and expansive. The ceilings are extra tall (9 feet) as compared to many homes built in earlier years. The doors at the rear open out to the covered rear porch which has steps that lead down to the sunny private pool. Three years ago this property had potential. Today it is real. Real pretty, that is! I was really amazed at how wonderful and private this pool area is and also at how sunny it is. So many houses in Key West have tiny yards and tiny pools.

Master Bedroom Balcony Overlooks Pool Below

Master Bath has a Tub and Shower plus Dual Sinks

Second Bedroom, Second Floor.

Second Floor Front Balcony

This home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. There is a first floor bed and bath which might come in handy should using the stairs becomes a challenge. Both upstairs bedrooms have private balconies. The master bath comes with a huge tub and shower.

Imagine the Sunset Views from the Front Guest Bedroom Balcony

A new owner will benefit from the materials used in the construction of this home which include Hardiboard siding, impact windows and doors, and metal roof. Hardiboard is a man-made material that looks like wood siding but bug resistant and stands up to our intense sun and humidity. The impact windows and doors and the metal roof mean your windstorm insurance costs will be much lower. And you won't have to have someone put up the shutters if we get in the path of a storm. Those lower costs multiply year over year which means your investment now will not become a money pit in the future.

Five Minutes Away by Foot

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 1621 Sunshine Drive which is offered for sale at $895,000 or $535 per sq ft. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Maybe you'll buy this home and sing "I'm so proud to know she is mine!"

1800 Atlantic # C 441 - Key West, Florida - Rocking Rooftop Penthouse

Just listed, but not by me, a one-of-a-kind Ocean Front Penthouse in at 1800 Atlantic Condominiums - No. C441 in Key West.  The listing Realtor describes this unique Key West property this way:

"Exquisite oceanfront penthouse with a custom designed floor plan to take advantage of the breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views. Luxuriously renovated from top to bottom with stone and wood floors and built-in cabinetry throughout. The beautifully designed kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, stainless steel back splash and opens to the large living/dining room with vaulted ceiling and wood paneled walls. The original three bedroom floor plan has been modified to create an amazing master suite with a wall of closets, separate dressing area, gorgeous bath and an enormous guest bedroom with a separate sitting area with a built-in office. This elegant and very stylish condominium is a one-of-a-kind Key West residence."

I will bet you that some smart reader will say something to himself "Well there are the same units on the three floors below."  Not true.  Here's why. All of the penthouse units have extra tall ceilings which provide superior exterior views and also more interior space. The additional interior space in turn creates decorating possibilities not available in units on lower floors. This particular unit has been luxuriously renovated with the custom built-ins and materials that were combined to give this unit a very sophisticated look.  And if you look out to the ocean from the balcony you will appreciate the fact that there is nobody above you and never will be.  You alone will have the incredible ever changing ocean and sky views.

Unit C441 provides 2000 sq ft of superior living space that includes a formal entry, renovated kitchen, and combined living and dining area. The custom cabinets seen in the kitchen flow through into the living room where they become a bar and media center. Similar cabinets are used in the other areas of this home. Likewise, the tile floors flow out to the deck that wraps around this end unit.

Custom designed wood cabinets line the hallway that leads first to the guest bedroom and then the master bedroom that faces directly on to the Atlantic Ocean. The guest bedroom is used by the owner as an office. The space is extra large and could be made into two separate bedrooms which has room for an entry vestibule between the separate spaces if desired.

The master suite includes an entry hall and dressing room, the bedroom with with killer view of the ocean, and a spa-like bath.

All of the units at 1800 Atlantic Condominiums have great balconies.  This particular unit has a balcony that wraps around the unit to provide multiple outside venues for owner and guests.  Notice that the same interior floor tiles are continued out to the balcony which seamlessly integrates the two areas into one. If you look to the southeast you can see Smathers Beach. And if you look off the master bedroom you can see the private beach below and the ever-changing skyline that I find exhilarating. 

If the private decks and mesmerizing views are not enough, 1800 Atlantic Condominiums provide private tennis courts, a huge pool and spa, a private beach, and gardens.  There is covered off street parking.  If you are any kind of a fitness nut, you'll love the location for its proximity to the beach where locals and tourists jog, bike, roller blade, or do yoga or volleyball.  There is always some kind of activity (or sunbathing or reading) going on at the beach.

1800 Atlantic Condominium No. C441 is offered at $1,195,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos of this special property. And CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this unit. Better than looking at photos, why not look at the real thing. 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 think you will be really impressed with this property.  

1601 White Street - Near Waters Edge - Key West

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. just listed (that's where I work but this is not my listing) 1601 White Street which is located near waters edge in the Casa Marina Area of Key West.  This house was previously occupied by a renter who in my opinion made showings very difficult. Now the property is vacant and may be seen with relative ease.  Let me share with you why I think this is a great value for someone looking to do a little fixing-up.

1601 White Street was built new (not remodeled) in 1988.  It has many of the features that were current then including kitchen cabinets, appliances, bath fixtures, window treatments, etc.  It's funny how quickly styles change and become passe in twenty five years. But they do. What has not changed, however, is the great location.  This property is located adjacent to 1617 White Street which I have previously blogged CLICK HERE.  I have written about other nearby neighbors on nearby Casa Marina Court and Johnson Street where the property prices are much more expensive.  I mention these properties because I believe 1601 White Street as being the least expensive property in the area which ought to mean it has the potential for significant price appreciation in the future.

The 1568 sq ft two story house sits on an 8750 sq ft lot (70' wide x 125' deep) at the corner of Johnson Street at White Street - just one block from the Atlantic Ocean. A large fenced City Park is located directly across the street.  There are muted ocean views of the ocean from the second floor.  I would describe the house as being a modern re-interpretation of an eyebrow house one might see in Old Town. Or maybe it's just a late 1980's salt box. The house sits quite high on the property and is located toward the north side of the lot. There is bricked off street parking for at least two cars. The lot is extensively landscaped and provides privacy from both White Street and Johnson Street. Yet you can sit on the large front porch and watch people as they walk the dog, jog, or ride a bike. At night you can walk down to the White Street pier to watch sunset. Maybe you might stroll down to the pier to do some night time fishing - I have.  There is an almost endless parade from early morning until sunset  and later when all quiet breaks out.

The inside of the house would benefit from a remodel. I think the existing floor plan is okay at best. The house has a 'formal entry' that leads to the center of the house. The living room is on the left. It has French doors that lookout to the pool. The formal dining room is located in a boxed-in room at the front right. The kitchen is at the left rear. In my opinion the spaces are a bit too formal and too confining for a Key West lifestyle. A couple of walls need to come down and areas need to be opened so that this house becomes the beach house it ought to be. 

Upstairs there are two modest sized guest bedrooms that share a common bath which is typical of fixtures used a quarter of a century ago. The bathroom is dated and blah. The master bedroom has an odd sized sitting area with views of the park and muted views of the ocean. The en-suite bath is also in need a re-vamp. A reworking of the space layout and the introduction of 21st Century light and bath fixtures could make this master suite into something far more interesting than presently exists. 

Too many lots, especially in Old Town, have tiny back yards and tiny pools and small decks. If you appreciate big decks and big pools like I do, then you will appreciate the big deck here and the large pool with waterfall. 

This property has an adjacent unused huge rear yard located behind the pool. That space measures about 70' x 25'. I think a new owner could add a decent sized guest cottage in this location which would add significant value. The addition of a fourth bedroom and bath would give guests some isolation from the main house. When not used by guests, the space might be used as a writer's workshop or artist's studio.  Since the main house is newer construction, and is not located in HARC, I think a new owner could be quite creative in adding new living space. A 'serious' renovator might even consider blowing out the back end of the main house and redoing both first and second floors and expand the living spaces. If I were going to do a renovation to this house, that is exactly what I would do.

I think 1601 White Street has the potential of being a great vacation rental property when renovations are completed. The existing house and pool, the extra large lot with lush tropical foliage , expansive parking, and location near Higg's Beach and the Atlantic Ocean make it a sure winner. A crisp and clean update would make it more attractive. The addition of a guest cottage and some really creative changes could make the entire property sizzle. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1601 White Street. This property is offered at $835,000.

Higg's Beach playground

Higg's Beach at Sunset

I took more photos of this property which you can see if you CLICK HERE. But better than that, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this unique property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.  Someone is going to buy this property now that it actually can be seen.  Let's take a look together.