712 Ashe Street, Key West Florida - All New Home in a Charming Old Town Location

712 Ashe Street in 1965

I have written a couple of blogs about the former house that used to sit at 712 Ashe Street in Key West. The old house was a tragic mess from front to back and side to side. The floors and ceiling were literally falling down. The place was not a safe place to live, but it was occupied until the very end when the sellers moved away. You can't tell it from the photos, but the old house is completely gone. The house could not be salvaged except for some members of the original porch which itself had been bastardized by the addition of siding and windows to create more interior living space.  The new owner kept the porch and built the new house in place retaining the porch element which will be restored as a porch.  The architectural rendering at the top shows the facade after it is completed.

Metal shed at the back of the 93' deep lot was taken down and all the tropical rubbish removed

I was at the property last week and took some photos of the house and pool area as it exists.  Below are several photos which show the exterior as it exists today. The house had "Novelty Siding" which is a tongue and grove with a bevel to add a bit of drama to the clapboard. This siding appears on many of the homes in Old Town. That siding is still available today and will wrap the front and both sides of the master bedroom which is at the front of the new structure.  The new entry door will be located on the right side of the house about 20 ft from the front sidewalk. Hardiboard siding will wrap the remainder of the house. Hardiboard is a concrete based material that looks like traditional wood siding. It resists the sun, heat, humidity, and rain. It is said to be 99% fire resistant and it is termite resistant - what stupid termite would eat concrete?  New wind impact resistant windows and doors will be added throughout the house as well.

The new home will have 1325 square feet of living space. The master bedroom with ensuite bath is located at the front. That room has a vaulted wood ceiling which will add dimension and character to the space. Two guest bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bath. There is also a guest bath and laundry area. The balance of the home is located at the rear. That room will have a 14 foot vaulted ceiling which is fairly dramatic in itself, especially for Old Town. More dramatic is the new rear wall which will be all glass. Windows on either side of the living space will allow additional light.

The rear wall opens onto an Ipe deck and pool area which will be lushly landscaped for the new owner as part of the final property. This home is scheduled to be completed for move-in by November. The house is being painted white throughout. If it is purchase now, a new owner could have some choices in the final touches to be added to the property prior to completion.  CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property. Don't let the mess confuse you. This is a Class A project. it will look great when completed. The owner showed me this and I could see the pride in his eyes as he described how he planned this project and how it will function for the new homeowner.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 712 Ashe Street, Key West which is offered at $1,350,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

1607 Sunshine Drive, Key West, Florida

The asking price on 1607 Sunshine Drive in Key West was just reduced to $919,000. The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"The perfect Key West home in an excellent, quiet neighborhood close to the beaches, and just a short bike ride to all Old Town has to offer. Boasting 1,672 sq. ft. with three large bedrooms, and three full baths, 9ft ceilings with custom crown moldings, ceramic tile floors, amazing free flowing layout, gourmet kitchen, and with every attention to detail taken care of. Tropical heated pool with lush landscaping and lots of privacy, with irrigation system, and two off street parking spaces. Definitely a must see!!"

I have had the opportunity to show this sharp three bedroom home a couple of times during the past few weeks. I liked it.  The house is one of several built in this small enclave of homes built in 2012-2013.  The community is located one block west of White Street and just a stone's throw from the Atlantic Ocean. Each home is a 1672 sq ft two story home with three bedrooms and three baths. While all homes have the same layout, each home is unique on the inside and also the exterior. Buyers who purchased before or during construction were able to outfit the interiors the way they want. Others, like the owners of this home, did some retrofitting after they purchased the home. This home is more custom than it is common. It has lots of upgrades, and it shows very well. You can definitely see pride in ownership in this home.. Everything looks perfect.

Let's start at the front yard and work our way through this home. Sunshine Drive is an extra-wide street. The first thing you notice upon arrival here is that the front yard is totally fenced. There are separate gates to the two off street parking spaces. The front yard is minimally landscaped which means less time gardening and more time doing fun things.  You will see that there are first and second floor front porches that look out to Sunshine Drive.

The house has Hardiboard siding and impact glass windows and doors. These features and the metal roof mean that windstorm and homeowner's insurances will be very low cost as compared to traditional stick built homes in our area.  The first floor front porch photo (above) also shows the Trex decking which the homeowners installed after purchase. Trex decking will stand up to our intense sun and humidity.

The front door opens into a center hallway which leads to the great room at the rear. Among the features are porcelain floors, crown molding, Plantation Shutters, down lights in the ceiling, custom cabinets in the kitchen. The kitchen island also has a built-in elevated breakfast bar for casual dining. Every thing looks just perfect. They did not miss a beat on this place.
The first of the three bedrooms and baths is located at the front of the first floor. The current owners use this "bedroom" space as a den. There is a full bath across the hall.

The current owners use the second floor front bedroom as a combination office and guest suite with a Murphy bed. This provides an efficient use of space which I think works well for owners who want to actually use rooms in their homes which may occasionally be used by guests. The door opens out to the second floor front porch which has sunset views.

The master suite is located at the rear. This bedroom opens out to the second floor rear deck that looks down to the private pool. The master bedroom includes an ensuite bath with shower and soaking tub.

The backyard is more lush than the front, but you won't need to spend all that much time attending to it since there is a sprinkler system. Note also the Trex decking was carried to the rear as well. If you were to relocate to this area you may fall into the routine of a morning or evening walk around the area. This will inevitably take you a couple blocks away to the White Street pier.  I dug down into my old shoebox and found an aerial photo taken of the pier back in 1987. I took the photo below it a couple of weeks ago. I think the Key West waterscape is just amazing. It changes from day to day and hour by hour. Whether you have a dog to walk or a gut to reduce, walking or biking along the ocean will add so much joy to your life in Key West. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and also to see all of the listing photos of this home which is now offered for sale at $919,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. I recently sold a nearby home in this same area. I think think this is a good value for a homeowner who wants a place that is new, does not need "fixed or updated", and that will be economical to maintain and insure for years to come. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1621 Sunshine Drive, Key West: Good Day Sunshine

I took some time off Sunday afternoon and played would-be buyer and checked out the new listing at 1621 Sunshine Drive, Key West, Florida. I had been inside this home a couple of years ago when it was still under construction. I could not believe my eyes at how quickly the landscaping has filled in and the home has taken on an identity all its own. The listing Realtor describes this 1672 sq ft three bedroom, three bath home this way:

"Located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this beautiful property was newly constructed in 2013 with custom finishes. Upgrades include travertine tile and bamboo floors, Brazilian Marinachi granite countertops, gas range, laundry/utility room with sink, custom closets and much more! French doors connect the living room to the exquisite back deck and pool area, offering the best of Key West outdoor living. Both upstairs bedrooms are en-suite and have private balconies. Built to all the latest codes, the home is elevated and has impact glass. With off street parking for two cars and a location close to the Casa Marina, Old Town and the Atlantic beaches, this Midtown Gem has it all!"

This home is one of several that were built in 2012 in a little enclave located just a couple of blocks north of the Atlantic Ocean and just east of White Street. Higg's Beach and Rest Beach are easy walking distance from here. But there is no need to go to the beach for sunshine or to swim as this home has a sunny private pool and a shady tree where the new owner can listen to The Beatles "Good Day Sunshine" and appreciate the good life in living in Key West where the days are sunny almost every day of the year. 

Lie beneath the shady tree...

Good Day Sunshine

This home is laid out somewhat similar as you would expect to find in an Old Town home where the great room is located at the rear of the main floor. The living area and kitchen are open and expansive. The ceilings are extra tall (9 feet) as compared to many homes built in earlier years. The doors at the rear open out to the covered rear porch which has steps that lead down to the sunny private pool. Three years ago this property had potential. Today it is real. Real pretty, that is! I was really amazed at how wonderful and private this pool area is and also at how sunny it is. So many houses in Key West have tiny yards and tiny pools.

Master Bedroom Balcony Overlooks Pool Below

Master Bath has a Tub and Shower plus Dual Sinks

Second Bedroom, Second Floor.

Second Floor Front Balcony

This home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. There is a first floor bed and bath which might come in handy should using the stairs becomes a challenge. Both upstairs bedrooms have private balconies. The master bath comes with a huge tub and shower.

Imagine the Sunset Views from the Front Guest Bedroom Balcony

A new owner will benefit from the materials used in the construction of this home which include Hardiboard siding, impact windows and doors, and metal roof. Hardiboard is a man-made material that looks like wood siding but bug resistant and stands up to our intense sun and humidity. The impact windows and doors and the metal roof mean your windstorm insurance costs will be much lower. And you won't have to have someone put up the shutters if we get in the path of a storm. Those lower costs multiply year over year which means your investment now will not become a money pit in the future.

Five Minutes Away by Foot

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 1621 Sunshine Drive which is offered for sale at $895,000 or $535 per sq ft. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Maybe you'll buy this home and sing "I'm so proud to know she is mine!"