907 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West

Just Listed (but not by me) 907 Elizabeth Street in Old Town Key West. You know the neighborhood. Seven Fish Restaurant is on the corner at Olivia Street (CLICK HERE).
It's an easy to walk to St. Mary's Sar of the Sea Catholic Church CLICK HERE up on the opposite corner on Truman Avenue. Duval Street is two blocks west. The new Old Town Gym is a three block walk east of Elizabeth. The Coffee Mill is a couple of blocks beyond that. The point is the location is really convenient for the second home owner who wants proximity to everything. And here is the best part: this house is listed at $625,000 or $406 per sq ft. CLICK HERE for an aerial perspective of 907 Elizabeth Street. I even noted the location of Seven Fish to help the viewer.

This is how the listing Realtor describes 907 Elizabeth Street:

"Just an easy stroll to Duval Street, this is a lovely Conch House built in 1928 with two bedrooms and two baths, living and dining rooms with high ceilings and a nice eat in kitchen with Viking gas range and new refrigerator. Laundry room, 2 zone central air, a covered rear sitting porch that leads to a bricked patio and loggia with many mature palms and flower beds, and room for a pool."

The 1540 sq ft house sits on a very large lot (3275 sq ft or 25' x 131'). The house has the obligatory white picket fence. But the front has an electric gate that opens onto bricked off street parking CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for more detailed information on this listing and to view more photos of the inside and outside.

CLICK HERE for a look-back at what this house looked like in 1965. CLICK HERE to see it from a different angle.

If you are looking for a second home in Key West and would like to see 907 Elizabeth Street (or any other house) please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc.

710 Chapman Lane - Old Town - Key West

Think quick. Be prepared to act quicker. This property is so cute, so well done, and so affordably priced it likely will be under contract within a couple of days. The new listing (but not mine) at 710 Chapman Lane in the Bahama Village section of Old Town Key West was just listed at the incredible price of only $400,000 or $333 per sq ft.

CLICK HERE to see the listing info provided by the listing Realtor.

You can tell a lot about a property by a picture. I wish I were a better photographer. The pics I took do not do this house justice. But you may help you to appreciate all of the love that went into creating this house.

CLICK HERE to see the bricked courtyard entryway with a gurgling fountain CLICK HERE surrounded by hibiscus and other plants. Look up at the CLICK HERE custom shutters that set off the front porch so smartly.

The listing Realtor allowed me to take photos for a potential buyer who decided he could not make an offer. But I have to tell you that when I saw the outside I was really excited to see the inside. The listing Realtor opened the door and I saw a really bright, cheerful, and super clean entry hallway CLICK HERE. Off to the immediate right is the large master bedroom CLICK HERE and master bath. Unlike so many vintage Conch houses, the bedroom here was large and actually livable. I looked quickly at the master suite, but I was so captivated by the entry that I was like a kid at Christmas: I wanted to see what was at the back of the house.

There is a large dining area located at the end of the entry hallway. It shares space with the open and inviting kitchen with the living room just to the rear. There is an open stairway at the far side of the dining area that provides access to the two bedrooms and bath on the second floor. Every inch of the second floor is used creatively. The result is pure charm.

Just off the rear of the house is a good sized yard that I think is large enough for a decent pool. And I don't mean a cocktail pool. I can't guarantee anything, however.

Almost all of the neighboring houses have been redone. Chapman Lane runs just one block and is accessed off Petronia and Angela Streets. It's an easy two or three minute walk to Duval Street. The new Key West boardwalk will be a two or three minute walk when it is completed.

I hope I've got your attention. This place is really sweet. If your "other" Realtor didn't tell you about this, forget him or her. Please call me , Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule an appointment.

Wanna Buy a Painted Lady?

San Francisco isn't the only place with Chic Chicks, Painted Ladies that is. Key West has its own Painted Ladies. They hold court nightly under the street lamps on Truman Avenue between Duval Street and Whitehead Street. By coincidence, happenstance, or whatever, two of the old dames are now offered for sale.

409 Truman Avenue is located right at the corner of Whitehead and Truman. This very unique property is located one block from the Hemingway House. Three Bedrooms and three bath Conch house with central air and off street parking. The house is 1790 square feet and sits on a large 3918 sq ft lot. CLICK HERE to read more detailed information on the house but especially to see the quality photos of the house and lot. There is room for a pool! What'smore, the listing agent told me the seller is motivated to sell. 409 Truman has been reduced from $900,000 to $750,000 or $419 per sq ft. It's worth a look.

411 Truman Avenue is just next door. It is half the size of the house at 409 Truman, or just 800 sq ft. It is offered at $425,000 or $531 per sq ft. For that price you get a two bedroom one bath abode with off street parking. It offers a sunny loft with treetop view, newly remodeled kitchen, Corian counters, stainless steel appliances, fresh paint, impact windows and central AC. No room for a pool, however. CLICK HERE for more info and pics of 411 Truman.

If you would like to see either of these painted ladies (or any other property in Key West) please call me,Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. One very positive feature of owning either of these homes is the fact that neither you nor your guests will ever get lost and be unable to find your way from home. Everybody in Key West knows where the Painted Ladies are--under the street lamps on Truman.

630 Elizabeth - Old Town - Key West - Bank Owned

630 Elizabeth Street in Old Town Key West sits at the top of Solares Hill. The public records show the house was built in 1933 but the house is much older than that. This Old House has seen better days, for sure. It has been used and abused and now it is Bank Owned. It went through that earlier Florida Real Estate Auction and went unsold. So now it is back on the market with a new listing Realtor and a new price.

This is how the listing Realtor describes 630 Elizabeth Street: "This historical building, located atop Solares Hill, was the Solares family General Store circa 1884. It sits on the corner of Elizabeth and Angela Streets just 2 blocks from Duval St. In addition to the excellent curb appeal and 2012 sq ft of living area, it has approximately 936 sq feet of bonus attic space. It is a duplex with infinite possibilities for renovation. The location and square footage make this property an investor's dream. Foreclosure."

I've shown this property a couple of times. It's gonna take some hard work and mucho denaro, but this place has possibilities of being transformed from a sow's ear into a spiffy place in a great location. Here's why. At the asking price of $321,900 this 3068 sq ft house is now affordable as a redo. The cost per sq ft is only $105 and that's incredible for Old Town. There is a crappy addition on the back that I would try to get permission to demolish and that would create space for a nice pool and deck. The house is so big that the loss of the small addition would really be a plus, not a minus. The property is such an eyesore that I bet HARC would work with a responsible buyer to restore this property.

CLICK HERE to view more detailed info and lots of photos of this property. I would suggest that you forget about what the interiors look like now and concentrate instead on tearing everything on the interior out. Think of re-inventing the inside the way it would work for you as a homeowner. Gear your plans toward Key West living with the main living area at the rear overlooking the pool and gardens. You will never have off street parking, so get over it.

This is a great neighborhood with some very expensive homes. The house is two blocks to Duval Street and three to the Historic Key West Seaport. CLICK HERE to see a photo of the area in 1970. The area has changed, but 630 Elizabeth looks like it just got a little more tired.

I can't promise that HARC or the City of Key West will let you do anything with this property should you buy it. I always suggest that prospective buyers consult with a local knowledagle architect and a builder before making any decision to buy a renovation project. But I do have good feelings that this house could be a good investment for a buyer who wants a project house in a good location at a good price.

If you are looking for a place in Paradise, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. Someday you could be standing on that front porch looking down on the tiny little houses and rooftops in Old Town Key West. Turn this Bank Owned REO into Your Place in Paradise.

825 Southard Street - Old Town - Key West

Recently listed you will find this genuine Conch House at 825 Southard Street right in the smack dab middle of Old Town Key West. This is how the listing Realtor describes this property:"Great location, bones, and footprint characterize this historic property which has tall ceilings, offstreet parking, and a capped cistern which could become a dipping pool. Built w./ Dade County Pine, this renovation project awaits your creative magic."

Back before Christmas I wrote about a nearby neighboring house at 811 Southard Street. CLICK HERE to see the very beautiful house located a couple of doors away. And 811 Southard isn't the only nearby beauty. Southard Street is rich is historic homes that have been restored to the original beauty, and there are some houses like 825 Southard Street that are crying for attention.

Many people over the years have said they would like to find a nice re-do in a good location. I normally tell buyers to be cautious about such an adventure. Because re-doing a house anywhere is time consuming and costly. But if you are a buyer aching to show off your creative nature, this house may be your ticket to the Big Show. And the asking price on this house is only $525,000.

The listing agent told me that the small cottage (CLICK HERE)at the left rear of the main house is not part of this real estate parcel. It is owned by a different party. However, she encouraged me to find a buyer who wants both houses because a two parcel contract may be possible.

CLICK HERE for more details and photos of this 825 Southard Street.

If you are looking to find a house in Key West please consider using me as your scout. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

825 Ashe Street - Old Town - Key West

A couple of years ago I purchased the right to use the image of the quintessential Key West Cottage from Kimberlee Clark, the artist who created it. CLICK HERE to see more of Kimberlee's art. She has a lot of great Key West images.

When I decided to write about 825 Ashe Street in Old Town Key West I thought, that's the house Kimberlee used as the model for my logo. Maybe it was; maybe it wasn't. You decide.

This is how the listing Realtor describes 825 Ashe Street: "This historical Conch charmer in the heart of Old Town Key West has been beautifully restored with great attention to detail. Located on a quiet street in a very desirable neighborhood this home has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom downstairs and 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom upstairs (with it's own private entrance). Dade county pine and bald cypress throughout, wood floors, guest cottage/art studio, two car off-street parking with carport, cocktail/dip pool and rear deck area are just some of the amenities you will appreciate." CLICK HERE for more detailed information and photos of this beautiful property. 825 Ashe is now priced at $699,000 or $567 per sq ft for this 1232 sq ft home on a 2530 sq ft lot on a quiet street in Old Town Key West.

For the uninitiated, Ashe Street is a small two-way street that runs between Olivia on the south and Southard on the north. It is one-half block to the west of White Street. And it is one block east of Frances Street, the eastern border of the Key West Cemetery. I feel the need to explain where Ashe Street is located, because many locals don't even know. And that means you probably won't see any Conch Trains or tour buses on the street. And I doubt that you will see many tourists on bikes or motor bikes. But Ashe Street is close enough for a short walk to Duval, the Historic Key West Seaport, or the neighborhood coffee shops, art galleries, gyms or small restaurants on White near Truman.

I have been warning readers for quite a while that they should not put off buying too long. Well, the number of really nice houses like this is shrinking. I urge serious buyers to take a look at this house as a potential dream house.

If you would like to see 825 Ashe Street or any other charming house in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

Little Big Short Sale -- Old Town Key West

I try to let readers know about properties that I think are potentially good buys in these difficult times. Such is the case of 412 Louisa Street. For those who are not familiar with Louisa Street, it is located one block north of United Street and runs from Bahama Village east to Grinnell Street.

The cute little two bedroom Conch Cottage at 412 Louisa Street is offered as a short sale for the already low price of only $425,000 or $567 per sq. This is what you can get: a topical getaway with a pool. The Conch style home has two bedrooms each with en-suite baths. It is 750 square feet on a 2457 sq ft lot that is located less than a block from upper Duval Street in Old Town. The living area is an expansive great room (kitchen and dining area included) with vaulted ceiling with French doors that open onto a covered deck, outdoor dining area and a nice sized pool. And there is brick paved and gated off-street parking.

This property was under contract as a short sale. The "buyer" recently pulled out of the short sale. The appraisal was done this present week. That means the lender has this particular property in the zone to get a deal done within a relatively short period of time. I encourage buyers who are looking for properties of this type to seriously consider this house. Let me add a final comment. This house was previously listed by one of the Top Agents in Key West. The asking price was $985,000. Our office (preferred Properties) currently has the house next door at 412 Louisa Street on the market. It is priced at $799,000. CLICK HERE to see our listing.

CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE to see a couple of photos of this charming little street and see the types home that make up this little neighborhood.

CLICK HERE for photos and more detailed information on this big deal on a short sale in Old Town Key West, Florida.

I don't think this little gem will last very long at this price. Please give me, Gary Thomas, a phone call at 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing--preferably to see both 412 and 414 Louisa. Act now while the opportunity is available.

518 William Street - Old Town - Key West -Short Sale

The house at 518 William Street is offered as a Short Sale at the asking price of $875,000 which amounts to about $515 per sq ft. The listing agent (not me) shows the square footage as 1700 s.f. The County Appraiser's Office shows the square footage as 1485. An actual survey or appraisal should provide a better statement as to the true size of the house. I mention this because errors in the size of a building can lead to errors in valuing it, even in a down market.

The house sits on a 2132 sq ft lot (20' frontage X 98' depth). The house has had several updates in the past few years and it appears to be in good condition, at least to my untrained eyes. The County property records show a new roof, new air conditioning, new floors in some rooms, and other improvements. There are two living rooms and two kitchens (that's odd!), two baths, three bedrooms plus a large sleeping loft. There is a great set of french doors that lead from the rear living room onto a deck. There is a spa and garden at the rear. There is no off street parking. And there is no room for a pool.

A Short Sale occurs where the seller tells prospective buyers that the seller may be willing to sell below the asking price of the house if the lender will accept less than payment in full of the mortgage held as security for the home and forgive any further indebtedness on the part of the borrower (seller).

I saw this property right after it went on the market. I have not been able to get anybody to go look at it. That's a shame. It is located on one of Key West's best blocks. The house across the street sold about 18 months ago for $3.5 million. The house across the street and down at the end of Pinder Lane is priced just under $4 million. Like many streets in Old Town there is a mix of condos, shotgun houses, and couple of great old Conch houses. I think the location would be great for a second home owner who does not need a car or a pool--just a place to relax and enjoy life. The home did not appear to need any repairs. If I am right on that, any extra money a buyer spends would be on fun stuff like Tommy Bahama Furniture or local art.

The listing agent is not located in Key West. But I can get interested folks inside to see the house at 518 William Street without too much advance notice. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. You may be pleasantly surprised.

730 Southard Street - Historic Key West Landmark

Just Listed (but not by me) 730 Southard Street an historic Key West Landmark.
the listing Realtor describes the property this way: "Here in the heart of Old Town Key West sits this jewel of an original Conch home built in the 1800's waiting for your special touch. The widows walk was once used by the original owners to watch wrecking vessels come into Key West bight. The history behind this home spans several generations of just one family. The rooms are large, the ceilings are high and everything is original in this 2 story home including Dade County pine throughout. There's a standup attic running the entire length with accesses from the second floor landing and master bedroom and the over sized corner lot sits in a prime location of historic Old Town."

This house sits at the corner of William and Southard Street right smack dab in the middle of Old Town. So you could not ask for a better location. The lot is huge and measures 100' X 68'.53" or 6853 sq ft. That is huge for Old Town. The house is equally large. The listing Realtor says the house is 2838 sq ft. The house has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a garage. an incedible facade and a widos walk. One of the photos to the right shows the view from the widows walk. CLICK HERE for more information and additional photos of the house.


The asking price on this house is $2,990,000 or $1,054 per sq ft. That's pretty high for this market, especially since the house is a virgin. It was in the same family since it was built and there is only one building permit of record in the County Appraiser's records. The house is pretty much just as it was when it was built expect for the updated appliances in the kitchen. (Look at the pics.) Of course, there is another even more expensive virgin on the market at 616 Eaton. I wrote about it on September 3 when it was listed for $5.5 million.

Maybe back in 2004 or 2005 when people were throwing money away someone would have paid the very high asking price on either of these great properties. I think it is going to be a real hard sell in this market. But don't let my pessimism dissuade you from looking--if you have the money to make a deal like this happen. I'd be delighted to show it to you. I did speak to the recently departed owner one day in October two years ago. We stood on the front porch pictured to the right and she told me stories of her growing up in the house and the way Key West used to be.

If you are looking for a place in Key West that is a a little less expensive, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Prices on most properties are at historic lows so I think now is a great time to buy bargain priced properties. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls database and then call me.

612 Griffin Lane Old Town Treasure Key West

Way back in February I wrote about a (then) new listing at 612 Griffin Lane in Old Town Key West. CLICK HERE to read what I wrote then.

I got to show the property this past Monday to a prospective buyer who did not want a place with granite, marble, and stainless steel appliances. Griffin Lane was right on target. It is Left-0ver-Hippie to the Hilt. I love it!

The yard is immense and densely populated with all kinds of tropical vegetation and palms a plenty. You walk the path to the wood steps and enter the very large open living - dining - kitchen area. There is a bedroom to the rear and the bath. In the center of the room is a stairway to the second floor where there is another open bedroom with doorway to an second floor deck with a view that is absolutely incredible. I took a couple of photos that appear to the right. They do not do the view any justice whatsoever.

From the second floor deck you look down into the massive yard where there is a second building (a shack with a hole in the roof) but a building which may be allowed to "grow". It is built pretty much on the property line. But the advantage is that you may be able to get permission from the city to keep the existing set backs and increase the usable square footage. A possible usage may be a pool house or a guest bedroom and bath.

Don't let the inside of the present main house scare you. So much of old Key West used to look this way. It's too bad so much of that look is now gone in my opinion. But a new owner will probably want to gussie up the place with more modern amenities. And that can be done.

And what a property you would have if you are the person to buy this secret little treasure that is hidden away from everything and everyone. The "owner" is an estate. The asking price is not cut in granite. The best way to approach this property is to look at it; determine what you think you can do and what it will cost; speak with an architect and contract to see what your vision will cost to bring to life; and then, maybe, submit an offer. CLICK HERE to read what the listing agent has to say about Griffin Lane and see additional photos. Don't let the asking price or the amount of work scare you. You will end up owning a Key West Treasure when this project is done. And I think the actual sales price will probably be much less than you think based on the asking price. Remember,this is an estate sale.

If you are the adventurous sort, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or email me at kw1101v@aolcom. The property is rented so 24 hour advance notice is required.