1001 United Street - Key West

View from the widow's walk at 1001 United Street Key West

The house at 1001 United Street #B really does have a view of the Atlantic Ocean. In fact it has one of the very best 'tree top' views I have seen in all of Key West. The three story attached house has a widows walk with 360 degree views of Key West. I was just captivated by the sights. My prospective buyers contemplated cocktails and sunsets forever.

View of your pool from your widow's walk!

The listing Realtor describes this property like this:

"This bright and airy attached three story home, with palladium windows and French doors, has a private deck with access to a pool shared with three other homes. An extra full bath with shower is located outside off the deck. High ceilings and an open floor plan throughout the first floor create a feeling of spaciousness. Two bedrooms and two baths and laundry are located on the second level with French doors opening to an upstairs balcony overlooking the pool and deck. An exterior spiral staircase winds its way to the third floor light-filled artist's studio with half bath. The staircase continues upward to the widow's walk with incredible rooftop vistas from sea to sea. There is off-street parking with framework for a canvas cover."

Dramatic natural light from three directions

Paladin style French doors on three sides of the spacious great room

Private deck near the pool

Imagine the Key West tan you could get here!

Spiral staircase leads to the third floor and incredible widow's walk

This house is attached to the house in front and a second stand alone house is located next door to the east. The three houses share a common pool seen above. This shared pool arrangement is similar to several other homes built in the same area built nearly 30 years ago. This house has 1583 sq ft of living space on three levels. A large wrap around deck surrounds this house on three sides. The French doors open onto the decks on three sides. There is a large and private deck area off the living area. That deck extends to the dining alcove off the kitchen. The kitchen cabinets are original: 1983. The kitchen space is wonderful and this could be a very fun and relatively inexpensive redo. I think the whole house needs a fresh coat of paint, but otherwise this place would make a great second home.

Completely functional but a bit dated - could be a fun redo

The spiral staircase is located on the outside so it is not taking up valuable interior space. It provides access to the third floor which could be an office or overflow guest bedroom. That area would make a great artist's studio or writer's retreat. But it is the widow's walk that made me not want to go back to earth. What a view! What a price-$537,000!

1001 United Street is a five block walk to the restaurants and nightlife on upper Duval Street such as LaTeDa and 915 among many. South Beach is located at the end of Duval, but you could as easily walk to Higg's Beach or Rest Beach in about the same time-maybe ten minutes. The shops, gyms, and neighborhood hangouts on White Street are a five minute walk to the east.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and accompanying listing photos of this property. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

901 Thomas Street - Old Town - Key West

The slow summer sales season is upon us. Sellers are re-evaluating their pricing strategies and some are reacting by reducing the asking price of their properties. Such is the case for 901 Thomas Street in the Bahama Village area of Old Town Key West. It was originally listed on March 23 at the asking price of $524,900. The price was reduced on May 23 to $509,900. Yesterday the price was reduced to $499,000. I have shown this property a couple of times and I really like it.


The listing Realtor describes 901 Thomas Street this way:

"Immaculate renovated one level cottage in the heart of Old Town in a lushly landscaped compound of three single family homes. 3 bedrooms 1 1/2 baths, shared pool with waterfall, outdoor shower and off street parking make this tropical paradise the perfect setting for a second home getaway or investment."

The home is part of a three home compound created about a decade ago. CLICK HERE to see 306 Olivia Street and CLICK HERE to see 903 Thomas Street. Each of the houses and the ground underneath are owned in fee simple, just as most home owners own their homes up north. The three homes share a limited common area that includes a bricked courtyard, garden and pool. The "condo association" maintains the pool and courtyard, but otherwise the individual owners are responsible for the maintenance, insurance, and taxes for their respective properties.

The bar and grilling area are part of the limited common area

The 'third' bedroom is currently used as part of the living area

This 993 sq ft home is super clean and meticulously maintained. It is currently part of a monthly vacation rental program. The formal entry is at side near the front. The living area extends to the far rear where the third bedroom is currently used as part of the living area. There is a full bath adjacent to the left. There are two bedrooms at the front of the house that share a separate bath. The kitchen pictured immediately above is the heart of this lovely cottage home. Not visible is a rear door at the right rear that exits off to the pool. The exterior of this house is crisp and clean. It has a 'new' roof and gutters and the place looks like it has been freshly painted. 901 Thomas Street is now offered at $499,000. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database on this house and to listing photos of this property.

901 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 that 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. La Creperie is so cute and the food is good. 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.

If you would like to see this sweet little cottage please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. 901 Thomas Street is a lot of house for the money. You owe it to yourself to take a look - with me!

901 Thomas Street - Old Town - Key West

If you are looking for a really cute Key West cottage with a pool and off street parking just a couple of blocks from Duval Street, the new listing at 901 Thomas Street may be the home of your dreams.

The listing Realtor describes 901 Thomas Street this way:

"Immaculate renovated one level cottage in the heart of Old Town in a lushly landscaped compound of three single family homes. 3 bedrooms 1 1/2 baths, shared pool with waterfall, outdoor shower and off street parking make this tropical paradise the perfect setting for a second home getaway or investment."

The home is part of a three home compound created about a decade ago. CLICK HERE to see 306 Olivia Street and CLICK HERE to see 903 Thomas Street. Each of the houses and the ground underneath are owned in fee simple, just as most home owners own their homes up north. The three homes share a limited common area that includes a bricked courtyard, garden and pool. The "condo association" maintains the pool and courtyard, but otherwise the individual owners are responsible for the maintenance, insurance, and taxes for their respective properties.

The bar and grilling area are part of the limited common area

The 'third' bedroom is currently used as part of the living area

This 993 sq ft home is super clean and meticulously maintained. It is currently part of a monthly vacation rental program. The formal entry is at side near the front. The living area extends to the far rear where the third bedroom is currently used as part of the living area. There is a full bath adjacent to the left. There are two bedrooms at the front of the house that share a separate bath. The kitchen pictured immediately above is the heart of this lovely cottage home. Not visible is a rear door at the right rear that exits off to the pool. The exterior of this house is crisp and clean. It has a 'new' roof and gutters and the place looks like it has been freshly painted. 901 Thomas Street is offered at $524,900. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls database and to view more photos of this great Key West cottage.

901 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 that 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. La Creperie is so cute and the food is good. 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.

If you would like to see this sweet little cottage please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. 901 Thomas Street is a lot of house for the money. You owe it to yourself to take a look - with me!

1012 Varela Street - Bank Owned - Key West

Attention Bargain Hunters: This BANK OWNED property at 1012-1014 Varela Street may be the bargain you have been looking for. Here's why. This two cottage assemblage is located in the Viva Varela Condominiums just a stone's throw south of Truman Avenue in the Old Town area of Key West. The front cottage consists of a good sized living room with two story vaulted ceiling. The walls and ceiling are Dade County Pine. Thee is a small bedroom downstairs and the master bedroom is on the second floor. It is accessed by a spiral stairway from the living room. The master bedroom is open to the downstairs so both spaces have a very open feeling. The one bath is located on the first floor. The kitchen is quite large. It has two sets of French doors that open on to the rear bricked courtyard. (There is also a laundry closet in the kitchen.)

Pretty nice kitchen for the price, wouldn't you agree?

Double set of French doors looking onto private courtyard and second cottage to the rear.

The main house with deck of master bedroom as viewed from the rear cottage.

The second cottage sits near the rear of the lot. It has a good sized bedroom and large bath with a glass block wall that lets lots of light into the area. There is a deck to the rear of that cottage which has a separate gate that provides private entrance into the cottage without going through the main house. That would be an excellent place to put your guest so they won't disturb you after they return from a night on the town. That cottage does not have a kitchen. The living space is vaulted, and did I mention the front of that cottage has French doors that look out toward the bricked courtyard that separates the two cottages. That courtyard is large enough for a pool.

The rear cottage as seen from the deck off second floor master bedroom.

The interior of the rear cottage as it appeared before the foreclosure.
Note the private deck at very rear of the property.

Glass block wall is the shower in the rear cottage; private gate to right.

The listing agent shows the two properties having 1130 Sq Ft of living space on a 7598 Sq Ft lot and describes the property this way:

"This BANK-OWNED property consists of two adjacent condos originally deeded separately but now combined under one legal description. This property has been recently upgraded and only requires some TLC. The front unit is a one bedroom/one bath with a loft and the rear unit is also a one bedroom/one bath that can be used as a guest quarters or master suite. It also has a separate entrance. Both units are separated by a paved rear yard."

Prior to becoming a bank owned property, Preferred Properties listed 1012 Varela Street as a short sale. The listing agent described the same property a little differently:

"Two newly-renovated freestanding condos, originally separately deeded, now combined with one legal description. 3 bedroom 2 baths with private bricked tropical garden area between the main house (2/1) and a fully-detached 1/1 cottage in the Viva Varela Compound. Main house has dramatic vaulted ceilings in living area with a loft bedroom and access to a rooftop sun deck. Eat-in kitchen has granite counter tops with stainless steel appliances and attractive cabinets. Cute new bathroom and lovely tiled floors throughout the main house. The second unit has much charm and a separate entrance via a tree-lined garden path."

CLICK HERE to review the current mls data sheet and see more photos of 1012-1014 Varela Street.

No matter how it is described this two cottage property is now offered at $348,900 or $310 per Sq Ft. The roof over the kitchen needs a little repair. The owner previous to the present bank owner combined the two contiguous condos into one real estate parcel (to minimize taxes I suppose) without obtaining the approval of the condo association. That was a "No No" and the condo association will require the new owner to pay the cost of amending the condo docs to reflect the new reality. So a new buyer will need to spend some money(but not a lot) to make things right with the house and right with the neighbors, but this two cottage compound is a real compound investment.

If you want to see 1012 Varela Street please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in sunny Key West, Florida where today it will be 74 degrees and sunny. The streets of Key West are filled with happy campers walking around with their shirts off (the guys) and enjoying to fresh air and sunshine of the Keys.

1217 Grinnell Street - Key West

Preferred Properties just listed an absolutely wonderful two bedroom stand alone home with private pool and spa in Grinnell Gardens. This is how the listing Realtor describes this home:

"This fee-simple unattached townhome in the Grinnell Gardens Compound has it's own private, heated swimming pool and spa. In addition it has access to another heated compound pool shared with the six other homes, so you can follow the sun around. The home has a surprisingly large rear garden and an assigned parking space. The spacious, sunny house has large open rooms with many windows and French doors and four covered porches -two up and two down. The new designer kitchen was recently featured in the newspaper."

A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words. Here are some pictures I took on Tuesday of this ready-to-move-into home. I had been here before many years ago when a friend lived there. I remembered the place being really neat back then. But, baby, look at it how.

The main entry to 1217 Grinnell Street

The private pool and spa are located just off the livingroom at 1217 Grinnel Street

The spa

The new kitchen is incredible

A room with a View!

French doors open out to the private pool at the rear of 1217 Grinnell Street

French doors in living room also open onto front porch on main level

Master bedroom on west side has French doors and private balcony off sitting area

A separate master bedroom has a sitting room with French doors opening to private balcony

Shared pool with privacy entrance on the left

CLICK HERE to see the mls listing info and view numerous photos. 1217 Grinnell Street is offered at $725,000 or $465 per sq ft for this 1560 sq ft home. The home sits on a fee simple lot of 3945 sq ft. The lot includes a separate cottage the houses the laundry; the private pool and spa are located at the rear ; a lush side yard to the east offers a private sanctuary for the contemplative types; and the deck just off the kitchen provides a nice place for al fresco dining.

1217 Grinnell Street was built new in 1990 as were the other homes in this compound. Some of the other homes also have private pools but others do not. Beside the shared community pool, the compound provides lush gardens and a share off street parking area. Each unit has its own dedicated parking spot. I know a lot of potential buyers want a place of their own and have never thought of living in a compound. I "get" the resistance argument. But there is also a group of potential buyers that do not mind having nearby neighbors that live in close proximity to keep an eye on the place when the owner is not in residence. The people who live in compounds pretty much love it. Compound living may not be for everyone, but it is easy peazy with others.

This home is located at the southeast corner of the compound. There are French doors located off of each room downstairs and on the second floor. So each room has beautiful views from every room, and every room has immediate access to the beautiful outdoor spaces. The two master suites on the second floor have adjacent sitting areas and en-suite baths. There is nothing confining or claustrophobic about the separation between this home and the rest of the compound, but the separation is there just the same.

Click MAP to see where 1217 Grinnell Street is located if you are unfamiliar with the area. This property is located in the area knows as South of Truman-Old Town by Key West Realtors. It is a stones throw to the Casa Marina area. The beaches are about six blocks to the south. Upper Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west. The shops and restaurants in the arts district are a five minute walk to the east.

If you would like to schedule a visit to see this terrific home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

Compound Investment -- Key West

Price Reduced $800,000 today. Was $1,995,000. Now asking $1,195,000. This is what you get at 610 Petronia Street in Old Town Key West: Four individual cottages fully equipped. Total of 4 bedrooms and 4 baths with total square footage under air of 3468 sq. ft. that sits on a very large 8400 sq. ft. lot. The compound is priced at $345 per sq. ft. That is a very good price for a property like this. 610 Petronia is located just east of the Merlinn Inn Guest House and down a private lane. So the compound is one of those special island within the island properties that I so love.

This is not a foreclosure or short sale. So we don't have to go through brain damage waiting for bank approval. CLICK HERE for more info and photos.

Easy to show. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. This property probably won't last long at this new price.