1110 Curry Lane

I have often recommended that second home buyers purchase a home on one of Key West's quiet lanes. GO HERE to read about Key West lane life.

This delightful Conch Cottage tucked away on at 1110 Curry Lane in Old Town Key West just got more affordable. The seller has reduced the asking price to $1,095,000 or $907 per sq ft. The 2 bed, 2 bath home has 1207 sq ft of living space and sits on a 2321 sq ft lot. Curry Lane runs east-west between Frances and White Streets. The homes are compact and the lane is ultra-charming. There are two corner grocery stores within two blocks. And Duval is but a 7 minute walk.

The cottage has been lovingly restored to maintain all the character and charm you'd expect to find such as Dade pine walls, Georgia heart pine floors and beautiful attention to detail. The floor plan is open and spacious and offers indoor/outdoor living amid privacy. There are two bedrooms and two full baths plus a chef friendly kitchen with soapstone countertop and generous amenities. Outdoors you can enjoy the river rock lagoon pool, outdoor shower and lush landscaping. Relax on the front porch with a cool beverage and a good book. Off-street parking for small car. CLICK HERE for more info and photos.

If you have read this blog for very long you know that certain words signify things I think make a Key West home a good buy. The paragraph above is overflowing with those words. This is a home worth your inspection. Give me a call to arrange a showing: 305-766-2642.

Sweet William Cottage

The sweetest cottage in the very best Old town location!!! This circa 1887 conch classic has a wonderful outdoor covered porch with private garden and bricked driveway. There are extensive architectural plans for the renovation of this home which are included in this price.

The cottage is only 753 square feet at present, but it sits on a large 4560 square foot lot (46' x 100') so there is ample room for expansion. The present cottage has 2 bedrooms and one bath and is priced at $879,000 or $1,167 per sq ft. That price may seem high for today's market, but this cottage at 608 William Street really has what second home buyers look for in a Key West home: location, charm, and room to expand. CLICK HERE for more info and pictures.

CLICK HERE to see the next door neighbor's house. This house is a Key West landmark and has been in the same family for ages. The owner is an older woman who has no intention in selling, and the house will pass to her son at some future time. Broadway impresario Jerry Herman renovated a neighboring home a few years back. CLICK HERE to view.


CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtor's mls listings. Then call Gary Thomas at 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of 608 William or any other property in Key West. There may be cute little conch cottage in your future.

1101 Fleming Street

I first saw 1101 Fleming Street way back in 1987 right after the ownerthen had remodeled the cute little conch cottage located the near of Fleming Street. Way back then that location seemed like it was almost near Kansas that it was so far from Duval Street. Things change.

The cute little conch cottage has changed hands a couple of times since 1987 and the present owner is an estate in New York that has placed the property on the market. The house was originally priced at $850,000 in March of 2007. The price has now been reduced to $675,000 or $888 per square foot for the 760 sq ft cottage situated on a 1813 sq ft lot located at the corners of Frances and Fleming Streets. The cottage has not been improved upon since I saw it 20 years ago. So why is it being mentioned in this? blog you ask.

Well the cottage is what people dream about when they dream about owning a second home in Key West. It is small enough to feel cozy and can be, but large enough to have a few friends over for cocktails and dinner or a weekend stay. It has a pool and deck right off the living area and a charming yard that would be a joy to maintain. And the house is not in the hinterlands as I once thought. Instead, it is a short few blocks walk to Duval or the Historic Key West Seaport. The neighboring homes are all priced higher and most homes are larger and more impressive. See the photo of the house across the street. Neighbors like that drive the property values up for everyone.

So if you are in the market for a second home in Key West this cute little conch cottage CLICK HERE may be one that you should look at. I think the house is priced too high for today's market and believe an adjustment downward is warranted. The house is going to need a little fixing up in my opinion. And perhaps that fact can be used to your advantage in negotiation a fair price on the house. But once the new paint is applied and the new appliances and tile are installed, the cute little conch cottage will be all primed for another 20 years in a great location--almost near Kansas.

To see this property or any other home in Key West please call Gary Thomas at 305-766-2642.

Why is now a great time to Buy in Key West?

Key West Cemetery










How many of you readers were buying tech stocks and every dot.com offering in the year 2000? What happened to your investment?

So many people took a bath when the market took a dive. But then that seems to always happen.

And how many of you readers rue the fact that you failed to buy the Conch Cottage when it was available for less than $100,000 and then $200,000 and later $500,000?

Prices on Conch Cottages and every other type home in Key West on an annual basis from 1993 onward until 2005. The market started to stagnate. Then Hurricane Wilma knocked the entire island for a loop. Prices then started to go down.

What makes a downward price market a "a great time to buy in Key West?" you ask.

Those that missed the opportunity the first time around can profit from their reluctance to part with their money.

I say that current sellers in Key West have 3 1/2 months left of prime selling time. The traditional selling season is Christmas until Easter and it coincides with the tourist season. Most hotels reduce their rates immediately after Easter because the high end tourists stop coming to Key West and we get a more economical crop of vacationers. And those vacationers are usually not looking to buy an expensive second home.

So now is the time for all serious sellers to get real in their pricing. And I think it is happening to some extent. More sellers are reducing their asking price because buyers are refusing to pay. Two years ago almost every home in Old Town was being offered at $1000 per square foot or more. Today, you can buy a nice home in Old Town with a small pool for $599,000 or less. 1110 Petronia Street was originally priced at $749,000 and now is $599,000.

There are numerous nice homes in Old Town priced in the $500-$600 per square foot. There won't be another Key West and they can't grow the existing one any bigger. So I recommend that buyers take advantage of the price slump and buy now. Even if you do not get the house you want for the very lowest price ever, getting the house you want in the location you want is easier now than it has been in years. Buy!

Oh, the reason for the photos of the Key West Cemetery. Some folks shy away from even considering buying a house with a view of the cemetery. I take the contrary opinion. The skies are bright, open and inviting. And the neighbors are quite quiet. No big structure is ever going to be built there to obstruct your view.