17156 West Bonita Lane, Sugarloaf Key Florida

I broke one of my real estate rules this past week and I am pleased to say I am glad I did.  I did not do anything inappropriate.  Instead I only left the island of Key West and ventured up to Sugarloaf Key to show houses to a potential buyer. I consider it a big no-no to go outside my sphere of knowledge because I am just not familiar with all of what goes on just 17 miles from Old Town Key West.

Readers in New York or New Jersey probably would not consider a seventeen mile drive anything at all. I am sure most are used to daily commutes on a train of seventeen minutes or longer. I consider having to drive three miles to the grocery store a hardship. The drive to this house took us about twenty minutes from the time we crossed Cow Key Channel, the waterway that separates Key West for Stock Island Key.

We met the listing agent at the front of 17156 West Bonita Lane and then walked the property before going inside and later returned to the water's edge. I was just captivated by the beauty of this lot and the setting.  I don't boat nor fish, but I can completely understand why people would want to own a place like this. Let's look some photos of the inside and then I will discuss the property further.

This 1320 square foot home has been recently renovated. It has three bedrooms, two baths, a new kitchen and two new bathrooms. It sits on 12,500 square foot lot on a canal that leads directly to the deep fishing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a tiki hut and outdoor shower located at the water side plus a ladder for getting back onto the dock after swimming in the canal. People come to Key West from all over the country to tickle lobsters and grab stone crabs during the limited season this is permitted. As owner of this home you could go out back, grad your dinner, and have an al fresco seafood feast.

There is covered parking under the house. There is a partial enclosure under the house. This area has knock away walls and is not usable for living space. During the renovation new wind impact resistant windows were added to the house. That means you won't have to put up or close shutters, and more importantly, your wind storm insurance will be much lower. There is plenty of room for a pool at rear or side of the lot.

Imagine sitting in the hammock at waters' edge looking up to the sky. This could be your casa bonita.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and to view more photos of 17156 West Bonita Lane on Sugarloaf Key, Florida. Offered at $739,000.  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. Let's take that hammock for a test ride.

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. 

721 Georgia St., Key West - Legal Duplex

The legal duplex located at 721 Georgia Street in the Meadows Area of Key West is an unassuming two story abode waiting for a new owner. I dug down into my old shoe box and found a photo of the house taken back in 1965. There was a note on the back which states the house used be known as 1301 Petronia Street rear. I took a picture from a similar location so that readers could see how little this home has changed in fifty years. The fence is taller and more private, the  original Bahama shutters are gone. So too are the wood windows that were  replaced with impact glass. The house is still located in a very quiet location near Old Town yet not near all that noise and commotion.

The listing Realtor, not me, describes the property this way:

"Wonderful compact duplex in the Meadows. Each unit is in good condition and immediately rentable. The first floor 1 BD unit has wood floors, newly painted interior, washer and dryer, and a large wooden deck at the rear of the house. The 2nd floor 1 BD unit was owner occupied for many years and has numerous upgrades. There are tile floors, corian counter tops, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and a balcony off the rear of the unit. This home would make a great pied a terre plus income. There are impact rated windows (2010) on both units and 8' elevation."

 It looks like the duplex was renovated about twenty-five years ago. The place has been very well maintained since then. The kitchens, baths, and some of the appliances look their age. Others were replaced. The wall mounted air conditioners are much newer.  The rear decks probably need replaced and the building deserves a new paint job.

I borrowed the interior photos from the listing Realtor with her permission. I didn't take photos when I showed the property as I did not want to interfere with the showing. I was really "taken" by the second floor unit where the owner had lived. The furniture comes with this place if the new buyer wants it. There's a very nice almost "built-in" sectional in the living room. That space is located up front just off the second floor entry area. The dining area is to the left. The bedroom is up front on the south side. The very nice bathroom is located in the middle and the kitchen is at the rear. We all had a giggle at 1980s era range.

I agree with the listing agent's suggestion that this property would make a great pied a terre. So many buyers are looking for a place they can use and also rent out for income. This is that place, only here you get annual income without interruption and if you rent it yourself and don't rely on a property manager, you won't have to share part of your annual income with a property management company.

All of the windows and glass doors are impact glass. That means your windstorm insurance will be very low. The house is located in the 8' flood elevation so flood insurance will be low. The house has been well maintained. Fire and liability insurance should also be low.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

721 Georgia Street, Key West - Income Property and More

The legal duplex located at 721 Georgia Street in the Meadows Area of Key West is a pert but yet unassuming two story abode waiting patiently for a new owner. I dug down into my old shoe box and found a photo of the house taken back in 1965. There was a note on the back stating that the house used be known as 1301 Petronia Street rear. I took a picture from a similar location so that readers could see how little this home has changed in fifty years. The fence is taller and more private, the Bahama shutters are gone and replaced with impact glass, but the house is still located in a very quiet location near Old Town yet not near all that noise and commotion.

The listing Realtor, not me, describes the property this way:

"Wonderful compact duplex in the Meadows. Each unit is in good condition and immediately rentable. The first floor 1 BD unit has wood floors, newly painted interior, washer and dryer, and a large wooden deck at the rear of the house. The 2nd floor 1 BD unit was owner occupied for many years and has numerous upgrades. There are tile floors, corian counter tops, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and a balcony off the rear of the unit. This home would make a great pied a terre plus income. There are impact rated windows (2010) on both units and 8' elevation."

 It looks like the duplex was renovated about twenty-five years ago. The place has been very well maintained since then. The kitchens, baths, and some of the appliances look their age. Others were replaced. The wall mounter air conditioners are much newer.  The rear decks probably need replaced and the building deserves a new paint job.

I borrowed the interior photos from the listing Realtor with her permission. I didn't take photos when I recently showed the property as I did not want to interfere with the showing. I was really "taken" by the second floor unit where the owner had lived. The furniture comes with this place if the new buyer wants it. There's a very nice almost "built-in sectional in the living room. That space is located up front just off the second floor entry area. The dining area is to the left. The bedroom is up front on the south side. The very nice bathroom is located in the middle and the kitchen is at the rear. We all had a giggle at 1980s era range.

I agree with the listing agent's suggestion that this property would make a great pied a terre. So many buyers are looking for a place they can use and also rent out for income. This is that place, only here you get annual income without interruption and if you rent it yourself and don't rely on a property manager, you won't have to give up a part of your annual income to a third party who has very little work to do.

All of the windows and glass doors are impact glass. That means your windstorm insurance will be very low. The house is located in the 8' flood elevation so flood insurance will be low. The house has been well maintained. Fire and liability insurance should also be low.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.