909 Pohalski Lane - Key West - Open House - Sunday

I will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 909 Pohalski Lane in Old Town Key West from 12:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are in the area, please drop by and see this cute as can be Key West "cottage" that has just been renovated and expanded into an 1120 sq ft home with 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a designer kitchen, and oodles of Key West charm.  This home was featured in the 2012 Christmas Home Tour.  Please take a sixty second tour of the home by watching the video below. Then you will want to see the real thing in person. Offered at $695,000.

631 United Street - Old Town - Key West

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work) just listed the really sweet house located at 631 United Street. The asking price is just $675,000 or $438 per sq ft for this 1542 sq ft two bedroom home. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

" Exquisitely renovated Cigar makers cottage in Old Town Key West, close to the beach and some of our best restaurants. As you enter this home you are greeted by soaring ceilings and a beautiful foyer. Off the foyer to the right is a bright large living room with French doors that lead to the side herb garden As you go down the foyer you have a dining area, which is currently being used as a den off the Cooks kitchen. Off the dining/den are french doors which lead to a charming patio, heated pool and the two bedrooms/baths. This is perfect Key West gateaway Off Street parking or one car."

This house is a must see for the buyer that wants a darling place that is not a copy cat but a truly unique Key West property. The white picket fence and simple Conch exterior appearance belies the home hidden on the other side of the front door. Who would expect the view below in such a 'simple' shotgun or 'Cigar Makers Cottage '?

Entry hallway extends to the pool and outdoor entertaining area

Formal living area with entry hall to the right

The Family Room is shown to the rear in yellow

The chef's kitchen is flawless and can be shut-off via pocket doors

Guest room

The Master bedroom is at the rear of the house...

...which has French doors that open onto the pool

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls datasheet on this sweet home. I have more High Resolution photos which you can view HERE.

Atlantic Shores of yore...tis no more!

I remember the south end of Key West pretty much stopping at Truman Avenue when I came to Key West 25 years ago. Oh sure there were places on Duval Street but with the exception of La Te Da and Atlantic Shores Resort (which is sadly, very sadly, gone), the south end of Old Town was dead. Not anymore. Today there are great restaurants, cheap eats and coffee houses, lots art galleries, shops, some bars, an Adult Entertainment Club (wink), an ice cream destination station, and good ole' La Te Da is still ruling the roost. South Beach has always been a place to sunbathe but now its Key West destination itself.


I mention the above because 631 United Street is positioned midway between Truman and South Beach and just a block and one-half east of Duval. Many of the reasons people choose Key West are located within a short walk. And I like to remind people that after a night on Duval Street (like last night-New Year's Eve) sometimes people find it difficult to make their way back home, especially if the trek involves winding down side streets and lanes. 631 United Street is easy to find so you and your guests should always make it back to the right house without any trouble.
Because the location is easy to find, a new owner may choose to rent the home as a monthly vacation rental. I can imagine a lot of seasoned Key West vacationers would love to stay in a place like this.

If you want to see 631 United Street (or any other Key West property) please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Start the New Year right, buy a place in Key West while prices and interest rates are still low.

1217 Pearl Street - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 1217 Pearl Street which is located directly across the street from the famous Key West house "The Rose Tattoo" CLICK HERE and the neighboring former residence CLICK HERE of Tennessee Williams.

This is how the listing Realtor describes the cottage at 1217 Pearl Street:

"A Classic Cigar maker cottage sited on a beautiful private corner lot. This renovated 2 BD 2 BA home has an open kitchen and living room which exits to the exceptional out door living space with an expansive covered porch, pool area and gardens. There is a shed suitable for studio or additional guest bedroom and a carport."

The cottage is fairly good sized with 1274 sq ft of interior living space but the huge corner lot caught my attention. The lot is 4327 sq ft (44' X 98'). The house sits back from the street behind a white picket fence. There is a carport located on the right. The white picket fence ends at the rear of the house but the rear yard is protected by a large hedge to provide ultimate privacy. The rear yard has a large pool and deck area. This property is listed at $749,000 or $588 per sq
ft.

Duncan Street view

This house is located at the corner of Pearl and Duncan Streets - three blocks east of White and three blocks south of Bay View Park (on Truman Avenue). The MARC House CLICK HERE is located one block to the south. This is a must see every chance you can destination for gardeners. The Island Gym CLICK HERE is located three blocks to the west.Duncan Street is a five or six minute walk to the Atlantic Ocean. It's quicker on a bike or scooter, of course. Old Town is a ten minute bike ride, but you can walk to the restaurants and bars on upper Duval in about five to seven minutes. Another real estate agent referred to this area as "the highly desirable Arts District of Old Town Key West". I describe the location as quiet. After you have heard enough tourists and locals walking home at 3:00 AM telling each other how much they love each other or despise each other, you appreciate quiet neighborhoods. Believe me!

CLICK HERE for more detailed info on this house and to view a lot of photos. Better yet, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in Key West, Florida.

A final note: Key West is getting easier to reach by plane. You can now fly into Key West on Air Tran on a 737 jet. CLICK HERE to more info. This is not a paid announcement, but a free ticket would be appreciated!

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Affordable* Key West Houses

*How would you like to buy a cigar makers cottage made of real Dade County Pine for $2000 or less? Well, you can. Sort of. Ronny Bailey is a fourth generation conch that spent 30 years of his life restoring many of the old houses in Key West. A couple of years ago he started fooling around with some Dade County Pine and created his first new old house replica. His wife came home and expressed in amazement "I didn't know you could do that!" Ronny replied "Neither did I." And so began his new career as artist-carpenter where he creates miniature near replicas of real houses in Key West using salvaged lumber. Ronny stresses that he only uses old salvaged wood to construct the houses. He doesn't paint the pieces. Instead he relies on the ravages of our sun and the weather to create the natural patina that make each piece look so genuine. Ronny's inner artist comes out when he adds a bit of whimsy such as a rooster to his work.

CLICK HERE to visit Ronny's website. Take a couple of minutes to go through the original miniature facades and the more affordable prints. Ronny does commissioned pieces as well.

The photos above are of a piece Ronny just completed. We think. He said he's not sure it's done yet. But pretty sure. I wish I were a better photographer so that you could see the detail in his work. The real building depicted in the art is located at the corner of Frances Street and Olivia. Checkout the little birds sitting on the neon sign above the front door or the cat laying on the second floor window ledge. The buildings Ronny creates are historically correct but the whimsy he adds is purely original. I'm no art critic but Ronny's work sure looks like it will become some very collectible folk art in the not too distant future.

Ronny Bailey will be exhibiting his works in Naples December 12 and 13 and at the Old Island Days Art Festival February 27 and 28. He invites interested buyers to view all of his pieces at any time. Go to his website to make contact.

If you are looking to purchase a slightly larger Key West house CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors real mls database. If you see something that interests you, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me be email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in Key West, Florida. We sell real houses in Paradise.

Cigar Maker Cottages Galore - Key West

I've told this story before: I tried to buy a guest house in Key West for several years and was never able to get the deal I wanted. I always tried to lawyer the deal to protect myself and also to get the very best possible deal. I failed time and again because sellers in Key West will not make warranties about old houses and the improvements they may have made (legally or illegally) over the years. In good times sellers want more and more money. In bad times sellers want as much money as they can possibly get. So I wasn't all that successful as a buyer back then.

In late 1989 or 1990 I came to the conclusion that it might make more sense to simply buy one of those cute little cigar maker's cottage (Conch house) I had seen that was priced around $100,000 way back in 1987. My Realtor (Mitzi) told me "They are all gone Gary" or words to that effect. My heart sank again. My stupidity and greed had again prevented me from getting any deal--not just the best deal.

I eventually got a terrific property at bargain price, but it was with the advice of my Realtor, Mitzi, and my determination not to be stupid any longer. It was a big and beautiful guest house in a great location. I was able to leave the snow and cold of Colorado and move to Key West.

Key West is peppered with cigar maker's cottages in all areas of Old Town, Bahama Village, and The Meadows. There are a few cottages in the Casa Marina and Mid Town areas as well. Many of the original structures are gone, and most of the surviving structures have been renovated in some form. I created a sampling of such houses that may appeal to second home buyers. CLICK on Any Address to see the house at that location. 622 Southard Street,525 Louisa Street, 814 Simonton Street, 711 Elizabeth Street, 712 Southard Street, 610 Olivia Street, and 412 Louisa Street.

Please note that although the houses look quite alike, each is different is size, location, land size, and degree and quality of renovation. Some are "cherry" and others are just average. I did not include all cigar maker's cottages because not all interest me.

If you are in Key West or are traveling here in the near future, you need to go by new Gato Village Pocket Park behind First State Bank on Simonton Street. A group of residents is constructing a replica facade of a historic cigar maker's cottage. The facade will be the same as a small frame house that stood in that location from 1897 until 1945. Local contractor Bruce Neff (pictured above) and his wife, Patricia Madiedo (descendant of the owner of the original cottage at that location) are constructing the facade together with the assistance of various individuals and businesses in Key West.

If you a looking to purchase a home in Key West and think that a cigar maker's cottage might meet your needs, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. Don't let this current buying opportunity pass you by.

826 Olivia Old Town Key West -- Short Sale

I wrote about 826 Olivia Street a while back. I am totally surprised that this little gem has not sold because it is so sweet. Let me tell you the negatives before I expound on the positives. It has no off street parking, there is no pool or room for one, and it is located across the street from the Key West Cemetery. Oh, the house next door to the east isn't as cute as it could be. (But the house directly behind this home is gorgeous and it is on the market for $2,595,000.)

This charming home, with extraordinary ambiance and comfortable, convenient floor plan, is located in Old Town Key West. Upon entering the large Great Room, with soaring wooden, beamed Cathedral ceilings and wood floors, you view the landscaped yard with deck, patio and Jacuzzi. The windows, and the French doors on 3 sides, make this space spectacular! The kitchen, which is open and airy, lends itself perfectly for entertaining, is all new with wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and tile floors. The bathroom, also all new, features granite counters, neutral tile and new cabinetryIt is now offered at only $645,000 or $640 per sq ft. This is a short sale so you may be able to negotiate an even better deal. CLICK HERE to checkout what the listing Realtor/Owner says about this property.

The property has been successfully rented as a seasonal vacation rental. CLICK HERE to see the vacation rental company's website for the cigar maker's cottage.

Want to see this little charmer? Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.