815 Pearl Street #2, Key West - Affordale Living in the Meadows Area

The listing Realtor describes this charming 536 sq ft condo with a pool located at 815 Pearl Street in Key West this way:

"Exceptional home with a pool nestled in a quaint Old Town neighborhood. Recently renovated the full kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom are appointed with updated design and functionality including your own washer and dryer. A great combination of walkable location and carefree living this condominium in a peaceful part of town has everything you could want including a stable condominium association that recently tented and painted the entire exterior of the property. Low association fee of $211.00 per month includes insurances! With a mortgage and 10% down your payments are only around $2500.00 a month! The outdoor patio increases your living space with room for a BBQ grill, dining table and lounge chairs. And you will certainly want to take a dip in the in-ground pool right outside your back door. Walk or bike to your favorite Old Town establishments and return home to the sanctuary of your Key West home, with all the conveniences you need."

This compact home was on our Realtor Caravan last week. There were a lot of ooh's and aah's as Realtors walked thru this adorable home. I was skeptical at first because I had seen another unit years ago when it was offered as a bank foreclosure. That place had been ignored. But this place has been
"adored". Let's look at the inside.

The living area is compact. No doubt about that. But it has all the essentials packed into a very attractive space. The place is offered fully furnished. There is nothing for a new home owner to do except, maybe, replace the dinosaur television sets.

The bedroom is a delight. It's large enough to accommodate a king size bed and still move about the room. The bathroom is clean as a whistle. The tiled shower is pristine. But it is the door in the bedroom that will pique your interest in this place. It opens out to the pool at the rear which is shared by just the two ground level units. They share the cost of maintenance which is not included in the very affordable condo fees of $211 per month which includes all insurances.

815 Pearl Street is located two blocks north of Bayview Park, Key West's main city park. This is where the city hosts several civic events each year. There are tennis courts, a baseball field, lots of trees including several spectacular Royal Poincianas which are about to bloom. The hustle and bustle of Duval is a ten to twelve minute walk or a short bike ride.

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

811 United Street No. 1, Key West - The Secluded Gardens of Key West

If you have been searching for a private little Key West pied-à-terre with a pool and parking priced under half a million dollars, you ought to consider the absolutely charming one bedroom Secluded Gardens of Key West condo at 811 United Street No. 1.  The listing Realtor, not me, describes this unit this way:

"This is a wonderful corner property; well-maintained, with heated pool and off-street parking. This one bedroom condo is in move-in condition with beautifully renovated kitchen and upgraded bathroom. Located at the quiet end of the island's historic district, this condo is still within easy walking distance of a plethora of activities and good restaurants, art galleries and shopping."

 I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo of the same building that was taken in 1965. The brick building looks somewhat different today. What were once apartments were converted into condominiums. A pool was added together with an additional storage building plus assigned off street parking.

The current owners renovated the kitchen and bathroom. And while all condos have kitchens and bathrooms, most are not as cute as this. The cabinets are white and crisp. A modern day pantry was added to previous wasted space next to the now enclosed washer and dryer. The storage space and functional utility is superb.  There is actually enough space and storage here to live full time and not merely to nuke a Lean Cuisine meal.

The bathroom was totally renovated as well. A storage rail lines the east wall in the very large bedroom. The current owner has a desk in what could also be a seating area. French doors open out to the private deck which looks out to the spa and pool. The assigned parking spot is just outside the white picket fence at the rear. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property.

811 Untied Street No. 1 has 622 sq ft of interior living space plus both a private front porch sitting area and a covered rear porch that overlooks the pool.  The quarterly condominium association fees are $1275 and cover building insurances, building maintenance, pool maintenance, and management. Also there is an annual $2000 capital contribution.

CLICK HERE to see the Key West mls datasheet and 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.  This is a very attractive alternative to owning a larger home with a pool and home ownership bills and responsibilities. Think about that last sentence. You can be sitting on your porch or at the nearby beach instead of fixing stuff that goes wrong.

918 Southard Street # 204 - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 918 Southard Street Unit #204 in Southard Square Condominiums. The listing Realtor describes the property like this:

"Unique two bedroom two bath condo with a tree house living style in Old Town Key West, within walking distance of wonderful restaurants, wild Duval Street and the historic Seaport. The residence's interior views lush, tropical gardens, a sparkling pool and the condo's private club house. This two-story home is an open floor plan with natural skylighting and a spiral staircase. The guest bedroom and bath is located on the living level. Upstairs is the master suite with bath, separate sitting area for reading or napping, and a second balcony. Other amenities include central air, a washer/dryer closet, storm shutters and a total sense of security, coming and going via off-street parking with lighted entrances and exits. Come take a look today!"

Southard Square Condominiums was built in 1987. I remember hearing that part of the 918 Southard building was the former location of the De Poo Hospital. I dug down into the bottom of my old shoebox and found a photo of the De Poo Hospital that was taken in 1965.  Then I found another photo of 912 Southard which was razed so that the modern condos could be built. I don't think our Historic Architectural Review Commission would allow a similar fate to a historic house today. It is interesting to compare and contrast the two styles of architecture from the 19th and 20th Centuries.  I also took the color photos below which show the "renovated De Poo Hospital" as it looks today and the front of the condo development which would have been the location of the smaller sawtooth house that stood at 912 Southard. (There are several houses with almost identical architectural details as 912 Southard further east on Southard and around the corner on Grinnell Streets.)

918 Southard Street in 1965

912 Southard Street in 1965

Today Southard Square is a stable condominium community with just 16 units most of which are owner occupied. A few units, such as #204, are rented as monthly vacation rentals. The entrances to  Unit # 204 is located just off Griffin Lane which runs perpendicular to Southard midway back from the front entrance to the condominium main entrance. 

The club house or community room

There are just 16 units in this phase at Southard Square. The buildings are each a bit different as are each of the units. No cookie cutter community here. The units share a big beautiful sunny pool plus a nice little club house. A large deck wraps around  the club house allowing residents to follow the sun or stay in the shade. Each unit has an assigned off street parking spot.

Window above is the sitting niche

View from main level balcony off the Living Room

Unit # 204 viewed from across the pool

Unit #204 is located on the second floor of the east building. It has 1200 sq ft of living space on the second floor and third floor combined. The main floor has a guest bedroom and bath located near the front entrance. A hallway leads to the kitchen with extra high ceiling that rises to the roof. The combined living and dining area are at the rear. Sliding doors open onto the covered balcony that overlooks the pool off to west. A beautiful spiral staircase leads to the master bedroom and bath on the third floor. A "bridge" leads from the bedroom area over to a little sitting niche. The bridge looks down onto the kitchen below. A window from the niche also looks down to the kitchen and further into the living area. This place is pretty darned impressive.

View from Master Bedroom Balcony

Master bedroom with French doors that open onto private deck

The "bridge" from bedroom to the sitting niche

The best views, however, are from the decks off the living area and the master bedroom. Unlike some condo complexes (whose names I shall not mention nor infer) with decks that provide no privacy, you can lounge on either deck in your altogether and drink your morning coffee or nurse your favorite adult beverage. The views are so peaceful.

Southard Square Condominium Unit #204 is offered at $680,000. CLICK HERE   to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Or you can CLICK HERE to view MORE pics I took.

Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing for you. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

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