TUNE IN or MISS OUT

 

Just Listed 809 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida

Just Listed: 809 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida. I have sold four units in this nine unit town home development located in the tony Casa Marina Area of Key West. I have lived in the Casa Marina Ares for 27 years and love it. We are close to just about everything that Key West has to offer but far enough removed not to be in all the hullabaloo except when we want to be.

The listing Realtor describes this 1800 sq ft town home this way:

Located in the much sought after Casa Marina neighborhood and set back from the street with mature tropical landscaping, is a well maintained townhome with 3 en-suite bedrooms and a well appointed powder room on the main floor. Custom finishes throughout with Carlisle wood flooring. The kitchen consists of stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. French doors reveal a lush tropical garden with a splash pool, completely fenced in for privacy. There are two en-suite bedrooms on the second floor with private balconies. The third floor also includes an en-suite bedroom with its own sitting area with multiple skylights. Just three blocks from Higgs beach, public tennis and pickle ball courts. Off Street parking.

These homes have the look of a traditional grand conch home you would expect to see in Old Town but all the convenience of a large modern day home. The unit has first and second floor covered porches on front and back. Inside the front door there is a charming vestibule to welcome you from a hard day at the beach or on the boat. As you enter you will immediately see the rear porch and pool beyond. But before you go there, you'll probably take a quick look at the beautiful kitchen with Viking appliances. There is a first floor powder room located under the staircase. Note also the tall ceilings, crown molding, high baseboards, and decorative wood trim. Two sets of French doors open out to the covered rear porch and private pool There is a rear entrance to the pool off a little lane to make the pool boy's work easier. The neighbors to the north are four sets of pre-war two story condominiums - each one bedroom. That development is meticulously maintained and managed. 

The second floor landing offers a sense of landing. A hallway leads to the master bedroom which is located on the back side of the second floor. The vaulted ceiling gives this room a dramatic aura, but it is the covered rear balcony that makes the space so special. This is the perfect perch for watching our wonderful sunsets without enduring the circus of Mallory Square and avoiding hundreds of tourists taking drunken selfies. Instead, you can enjoy a glass of wine with your loved one and appreciate all that you have achieved in life. 

There is a nice second floor guest bedroom on the right. Nice guests only! That bedroom has a private bath and doors that open out to the second floor covered front porch. There is plenty of people watching in the Casa Marina even from the second floor porch - joggers, dog walkers, lost tourists looking for a place to buy. The stairway continues to the third floor. That space runs the entire length of the house from front to back where there is a full bath. This bedroom can accommodate two queen beds or one queen bed and two twins. This home also has a fire suppression system built in for safety. 

809 Washington Street is ideally located a couple of blocks from Higgs Beach, public tennis courts, children's playground, Salute on the Beach, the doggie park, and Louie's Backyard. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of 809 Washington Street #102 offered for sale unfurnished at $1,525,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this lovely home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West  Let me share with you the advantages of living in the Casa Marina Area. 

1302 Reynolds Street, Key West - Just Listed in Casa Marina Area

Just Listed: 1302 Reynolds Street, Key West. This smart looking 2/2 is move-in ready and priced to sell. Offered at $1,150,000. Let's take a look outside and then sneak a peek inside.

The house sits at the corner of Reynolds and United Streets. A white picket fence with gated entrance entrance welcomes visitors into this unexpected treasure. 

I had searched through my old shoebox for historic photos of the house. I could not find any. I found photos of nearby houses and then realized the house originally faced United Street and that the enclosed east side porches and deck expansion re-oriented the house toward the east and that the address was changed to Reynolds Street. Upon seeing the house in person I saw a gate on United Street on the west side of the house with steps that led up to a new wood wall with no doorway. The interior space on the opposite side of where the doorway was is now the kitchen. The practical affect is that the interior is more functional, the original front facade is replaced by a bay window in the new dining room, and new entrance on the east if charming and expansive.

South facing French doors open out from the living area to a covered loggia with bar-b-que grill and spa not far aside.  One of the two bedrooms each with bathroom can be seen in the photo above. Each room in this house has tall ceilings compared to many of the houses in Old Town. Tall men will feel comfortable here. 

A side porch became a part of the interior and a bay window replaced what would have been the original front porch. The kitchen is cheerful and practical. It provides an open living concept which includes the now enclosed porch and the living room. There is not any wasted space with hallways. The 1020 sq ft of living space is real living space. The guest bedroom has a door that opens out to the west side of the house. I noticed the west property line fence was just replaced and that the house appears to be freshly painted. The windows were replaced and all openings have shutters. The main decks are TREX Decks. The west side deck is wood.

The house does not have parking or a pool. But there is ample parking on Reynolds Street and there is more than ample swimming available six blocks south at the Atlantic Ocean. Guests can walk to upper Duval Street in about five to seven minutes. There is a gym on Truman Avenue and numerous small shops and restaurants on White and Truman. I sold the house next door twice. It was a successful vacation rental for the previous owners. This property could be equally successful as a vacation rental, however, the current owner does not rent it. 

 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos plus Matterport tour for 1302 Reynolds Street, Key West offered at $1,150,000. 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. I live in this area and can attest to the joy of living here.  

1316 Whalton Street, Key West

It took twelve years, a lot of lawyers, bankers, Realtors, builders, plumbers, electricians, roofers, landscapers, and a lot of money to create the beautiful home at 1316 Whalton Street, Key West. But it was worth it. Don't you agree?

I first wrote about this property in 2009 when two side by side houses owned by one buyer but financed by two separate banks. The owner offered it as a short sale. The properties were offered for sale but nobody could get a deal worked out with both lenders. Each lender ultimately foreclosed its lien. The larger property at 1316 Whalton Street sold first. Both houses were in total disrepair. The swimming pool was a hazard. Both houses were taken down. 

The foreclosure on the adjacent lot dragged on. Then the new owner put the small lot on the market. Building code would have made construction of a new stand alone single family house impossible. But the lot itself gave the abutting owners an opportunity to buy the lot and further develop their parcel. The owner to the south bought the lot and built a guest cottage addition.

They finished the cottage, put up the fence, installed new landscaping, and created one of the prettiest homes in the already beautiful Casa Marina Area. That is a Royal Poinciana Tree on the property line. These trees blossom in May and June and make our little piece of Paradise even prettier.

It is not for sale. 

 

907 Washington Street, Key West - Just Listed

JUST LISTED 907 Washington Street, Key West. This 2,120 Sq Ft home sits on a huge 8,960 Sq Ft lot (80' X 112') just four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I dug down into my old shoebox and found a photo of this same home that was taken in 1965 just two years after this house was built. See below.

The listing broker describes the property this way:

"Enjoy island living in the sought after Casa Marina area. This spacious one level three bedroom two bath home has a separate one bedroom, one bath guest cottage and sits on a large beautifully landscaped 8,960 sq. ft. lot. The newly renovated kitchen has a peninsula bar with seating, double sinks, stainless appliances and a breakfast nook that opens to a separate patio. The living and dining rooms open to an expansive covered terrace and create an ideal indoor/outdoor living space. The master bedroom features a sumptuous marble bath, loads of closets and a private patio. A large heated pool is surrounded by lush vegetation and is completely private. Covered parking, a whole house generator, ample storage and an excellent location add to the desirability of this special home."

 The Casa Marina Area is named after the world famous Casa Marina Resort located  two blocks away which extends out to the ocean. While there are a few original houses that resemble the historic homes you are familiar with in Old Town, most of the homes in the Casa Marina date from the mid - 1960s and newer. Most sit on lots that are 5,000 Sq Ft or larger. There are just four houses on this particular block including a home formerly owned and renovated by author Judy Blume. Each house on this block except one has been renovated and that one is being updated at this time. Values in the Casa Marina Area continue rise year after year due partly to the size of the lots and also the proximity to the Ocean and easy access to Old Town.

Buyers who are looking for a full time home or a second residence will love the spacious covered lanai and and sunny pool. Imagine entertaining friends and family in January when it's freezing up north. I remember shoveling snow. It was horrible.

Better yet imagine walking just a couple of blocks to Higgs Beach to dine at Salute, play volleyball, or tennis or just hang out and get a tan. Louie's Backyard is a stones throw as well. You can walk or Uber to Upper Duval Street. Your friends will be so jealous.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 907 Washington Street, Key West offered for sale at $1,795,000. Better yet call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West the listing brokerage of this home.