506 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 506 Elizabeth Street in Old Town Key West. This 1292 sq ft property was built in the 1890s and is currently configured as a legal duplex. However, by opening a door in the front hallway the two residences can easily become one again. I found an old black and white photo of the house as it sat when photographed in 1965. I took a similar photograph this past week. The architectural detail has been preserved if not improved by fresh paint and shutters.

The house sits about 100 feet south of Fleming Street on a 50' x 28' lot  and across the Monroe County Public Library. The lot provides outdoor space for the ground floor tenant or owner. Both the main level and second floor apartments have wonderful covered front porches for people watching.  The downstairs apartment has a large rear deck. The large blue house next door to the south is nearly finished after three years of construction. A narrow driveway next to 506 Elizabeth Street leads to a parking lot for the owners of condominiums located on Fleming Street.

The listing Realtor describes 506 Elizabeth Street this way:

"2 Story Home Located In The Historic District Of Old Town; 2 Blocks From Duval and; All The Shops & Restaurants The City Has To Offer! Each Floor Has A Full Bath W/Laundry Facilities, A Kitchen, Bedroom and; Living Room. At This Moment A Legal Duplex Witch Could Be Restored Into A Single Family Residence. Covered Porches Add To The Wonderful Outdoor Living Space." 

Inside both units have Dade County Pine walls, ceilings and floors. The main level wood walls have been covered in most areas but the Dade Pine is still existent underneath and could be exposed.  Dade County Pine walls are the distinctive architectural feature on the second floor where years of paint have been removed to show off the rich deep grain and color of the native wood.

First Floor Apartment

Second Floor Apartment

The main level kitchen is 21st Century with granite and designer flair. The second floor kitchen is more 'old school' and utilitarian. The second floor kitchen is marked by a shiny tin ceiling.

The main level bedroom has ample closets for storage. A door at the rear opens out to the rear deck area that is fenced and which provides quality outdoor living area.  There is room for a hot tub in this space. (No permit is required as a hot tub is portable and can be removed.)  The main floor apartment might rent for $1800 per month.

The bedroom on the second level is quite spacious. The hallway is extra large and provides workspace for a home office.  The second floor apartment might rent between $1500 to $1700 per month. (Rentals are estimates as the owner is renting both units at below market rates to friends.)

506 Elizabeth Street just might be the answer to the dreams of many would-be second home buyers in Key West. As a legal duplex a new owner could retain one apartment for personal use and rent the second one either as full time or possibly as vacation rental. (I think the first floor unit with a hot tub on the private rear deck could work well as a vacation rental.)  But either unit could be rented for enough money to probably pay the annual taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs on the building. At some time in the future the owner could open the hallway door and return the property to single family status. CLICK HERE to view more photos.

You could not ask for a better location.  All of the wonders of Duval Street and the more relaxing elements of the Historic Key West Seaport are within a five minute walk from 506 Elizabeth Street. People from around the world go to Nearby Sarabeth's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but you could be there in just a couple of minutes. The Tropic Cinema is one of the best small movie theaters in the US. You could be there in five minutes by foot. If you are gay and want a place to swim with the boys, you could go to the Island House on White Street. But if you are straight, you could instead go over to Dante's. That's the reason this location is so great-you can go anywhere by foot in a matter of minutes. And when you get to your destination, you might just have a very memorable experience.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photographs. But better than that please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a showing to view 506 Elizabeth Street in Old Town Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

Get Fit in Key West - No dorks Allowed

I often mention that the area near the intersection of Truman Avenue and White Street has a lot of gyms and yoga studios. Commercial spaces are less expensive in this area which is still relatively close to much of Old Town Key West. The gyms and yoga studios are within walking or biking distance so cars are not necessary. Other gyms are located further east in the suburbs of Key West. I decided to take some photos of the various spots where locals and visitors go to get fit, stay fit, avoid the sun, avoid the rain, avoid the Conch Train, or avoid going to work or wherever it is that people don't want to go.

Look at the pics and click the name of the establishment to get more info.

Old Town Fitness 1010 Truman Avenue

Bargain Books (and gym!) 1028 Truman Avenue Day memberships

Island Gym 1119 White Street Day memberships and more

Stay Fit Studio 804 White Street

Island House Gay Men's Resort (and gym) 1129 Fleming Street Day and short term memberships available

Casa Marina Resort (Fitness Center) 1500 Reynolds Street Locals can buy an annual membership to the Fitness Center that includes use of Spa and Beach facilities.

Paradise Health and Fitness 1706 North Roosevelt Blvd.

Body Zone South 2740 North Roosevelt Blvd.

We Be Fit Personal Training Center 1277 1st Street Extensive personal training

The Pilates Studio (New) 1209 Truman Avenue

Shakti Yoga 1011 Truman Avenue

Coffee Mill 916 Pohalski Lane

Bikram Yoga 927 White Street

Yoga on the Beach

In addition to the gyms and yoga studios shown, Key West has lots of activities to get fit and stay fit including tennis, bicycling, running (lots of marathons, baby), and plenty of water sports.

If you are looking to buy a house, we have lots of properties available as well. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

1025 Elgin Lane - Old Town - Key West

1025 Elgin Lane - Key West, Florida - 2011

1025 Elgin Lane - Key West, Florida - 1965

Maybe it was serendipity that yesterday's blog was about life in the slow lanes of Key West. One of the lanes I mentioned was Elgin Lane. I know I went on and on about how sweet life can be on a little lane. And then late Friday afternoon another Realtor added a new listing to the Key West mls of a Bank Owned Property at 1025 Elgin Lane. The price is right, just $249,900 or $282 per sq ft for this stand alone 'condo' which is one of only two condos in the unique condo association. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"2 story, spacious home located on quiet and desirable Elgin Ln. Home renovations in 1999 included electrical, plumbing, metal roof, and central air conditioning. Classic Conch (Victorian) Architecture with front porch and shutters, and Dade County Pine walls and floors in most rooms. Excellent floorplan, and French doors leading to a shared deck. All you need to get around are your sandals or your bicycle; you can leave your auto in the off-street parking space that conveys with the unit. This home is located within walking distance to the Seaport, many restaurants, and of course Duval Street. Financing incentives available through GMAC Mortgage for borrowers purchasing this property."

The 'other' house that makes up this unique condo association is located at 1020 Eaton Street. (1020 Eaton Street is not for sale and is not offered as part of the 1025 Elgin Lane offering.) Together they are the Elgin-Eaton Condominium Association. When land and property values soared in the late 1990's and early 2000's, developers worked around the land use planning requirements of the City of Key West and used the condominium form of ownership to provide a method of sharing space to provide more usable outdoor space for property owners than might be available on a tight narrow lot. Such was the case for the Elgin and Eaton properties. The developer created a common area with a large common deck and bricked off-street parking and limited common areas for each unit.

1020 Eaton Street - the other half of the Elgin-Eaton Condominium

This large deck, the spa, and the bricked off street parking are part of the common area for the two units that make up this Elgin-Eaton Condominium. Each house is separate to itself and neither touch. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of more photos of 1025 Elgin Lane.

The "financing incentives" mentioned by the listing Realtor include "GMAC Mortgage, LLC offers One Year Basic Home Warranty and $0 cost for Pre-Approval, Loan Application, and $500 Gift Card for buyers who apply for and are approved to finance this purchase through GMAC Mortgage, LLC". The listing Realtor did not have current condo association monthly fees as of Friday.

I did a quick read of the condominium documents which are available on-line at the Monroe Clerk of Court website CLICK HERE. Click the Search Official Records button and then search Elgin-Eaton Condominium. I understood the documents to permit only 3 rentals per year for periods of not less than 30 days. A buyer who wants to occasionally rent this property as a vacation rental might have difficulty in so doing if the provision I read is enforced. Rules call always be changed. Each unit owner has an equal vote in the condo association. Read the docs and the condo rules for yourself.

Old Town Bakery is half a block away from 1020 Elgin Lane. Stop by on your way to the Historic Key West Seaport which is just two blocks to the north. There is a really nice neighborhood restaurant called Azur located up at the corner of Grinnell and Fleming Streets-one block away. There is a weekly farmer's market a block west at the corner of Margaret and Fleming. Duval Street and all the hoopla is a five minute walk to the west. The Island House gym is located just two blocks to the east at the corner of White and Fleming Streets. Blossom's and the Sunbeam market (both convenience stores) are located on White Street as well.

Old Town Bakery is half a block away from your front door.

Sunbeam Groceries & Deli - Key West

If you would like to see 1025 Elgin Lane please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

612 White Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 612 White Street in Old Town Key West. Take a look at the photos above and just imagine that the cute Conch House could be your new Key West home. It certainly has the "looks" to be considered. And while some naysayers will "boo hoo" the White Street location, I encourage people take a serious look at this little gem.

This is what the listing Realtor says about this home:

"Great house , central location in old town. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath upstairs, 1 bedroom and bath downstairs. Open kitchen to living room, great for entertaining."

Let me be a little more verbose. (I do that so well.) I previewed this house for a buyer who decided it wasn't for him. So I'll pass the info on to you. The house is much larger on the inside than it appears on the outside. The house has 1580 sq ft of living space and sits on a 26' x 90' (2425 sq ft) lot. The living room is downstairs front with a neat staircase located off to the right. A center hall takes you past bedroom number 3 downstairs right. A full bath is on the opposite side. A very large great room greets you at the back of the house where a large and cheerful kitchen, dining area, and comfortable living area share the space. A bank of new French doors let light flood in from the rear yard where you will find lots of room for that pool you want. And there is even an orange tree where you can mix your Screwdrivers or Harvey Wallbangers from freshly squeezed Key West oranges.

Upstairs there are two bedroom that share a large bath. I can just imagine someone blowing out the wall of the rear bedroom and making a nice sundeck to overlook the pool below. (I forgot to mention there is a decent sized space between the two properties to get a backhoe in to dig the pool. That ought to keep construction costs of a new pool within reason. And because the rear yard is so large, you should be able to get a good sized pool in the area.)

612 White Street is offered at $490,000 or $310 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to review the mls listing info and to view photos provided by the listing agent.

I took my own photos and you can see them if you CLICK HERE. The house next door to the north is the former office of noted Key West architect Tom Pope. This has to be one of the prettiest houses in all of Key West. The Key West Armory Building is on the corner of Southard and White. Lots of artsy people populate that building. A couple of weeks ago there was a showing of Rick Worth's art.

The neighbor to the east is former Navy housing which has only one White Street entrance (at Southard Street). The Navy property is quite large and is nicely fenced and landscaped. The Battleship Maine Cemetery occupies most of the rest of the block. It, too, is fenced and no public access is provided. There is no parking on the opposite side of the street. Although 612 White Street does not have off street parking, parking in this block does not appear to be an issue since most of the properties (except the Armory) are single family residences. The Island House gym is one block to the north. Blossom's Market is just beyond the Island House. Several small gyms and places to take Yoga classes are within walking distance. Lots of small intimate restaurants are within a five to seven minute walk as well.

I was totally surprised by how nice the inside of this house is. I think the small front yard could be dressed up a bit and the back yard could become something phenomenal. I did not notice any deferred maintenance on the inside or outside. Contrary, the inside is sharp and the outside was recently painted and looked to be in very good condition. Obviously, a new buyer will get a certified home inspection and not trust what boob writes on the Internet.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. If you bought this house you could be living life to it's fullest right here in Paradise.