Key West - Open House Event - Sunday 12-4 PM

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc is hosting an Open House Event at some very nice homes in various locations in Key West on Sunday, February 8, 2009 from Noon until 4:00 PM. Come by one or all of the Open Houses.

3300 Riviera Drive ($2,895,000) a stunning 3402 sq. ft. home with 4 bedrooms, 7 baths on the Riviera Canal. Pool, two car garage, boat lift, and lots of wow factor. CLICK HERE for more info.

416 Elizabeth Street ($3,900,000) Historic home on one of the best blocks of Old Town. Property includes a pool house w/ bath and a two story guest house by the pool. CLICK HERE for more details and photos.

904 Washington Street ($1,429,000) Mission style Casa Marina Area home renovated with top of the line amenities. Pool, carport, Viking & Bosch Appliances and Gary Thomas as a nearby neighbor. CLICK HERE for more info and pics.

1110 Curry Lane ($999,500) Old Town hidden gem tucked away between White & Frances Streets. Two story 2 bed 2 bath cottage with a pool, off street parking, and lots of charm. CLICK HERE for details and photos.

233 Southard Street ($775,000) Located at the front gate of Truman Annex is this 2 bedroom 2 1/12 bath two story town home in President's Walk. Unit was recently renovated with a sparkling new kitchen with granite counter tops. Ditto on baths.

64 Front Street ($2,295,000) This elegant 5BR/5BA home is located on prestigious Front Street in Truman Annex where every property is a million dollar+ property.
All rooms boast French doors opening onto covered porches. Guest house and pool.

628 William Street ($1,295,000) Splendid heart of Old Town two story home with everything! Meticulously maintained with two bedroom, two baths, den upstairs. Downstairs is a large living area with unique office area overlooking the pool.

929 United Street ($1,395,000) Key West Conch Style home built in 2007. This house has everything and all finishes are top of the line.

927 United Street ($1,425,000) Award winning restoration of an Historic Conch home, originally built in 1933. Owner financing available for a qualified buyer.

CLICK any of the addresses or "CLICK HERE" links to see more information and photos of the featured properties that will be open for your casual inspection on Sunday, February 8, 2009 from Noon until 4:00 PM. Stop by and take a look. Please mention to the hosting Realtor that you read about the Open House on my blog so that we all know somebody is reading it. If you see a place you like, I would really appreciate it if you would let me be your Realtor. Let me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, be your Realtor and let me help you find your place in Paradise. See you on Sunday.

707 Washington Street - Key West - Short Sale

Big Short Sale, Price Just Reduceded: 707 Washington Street, Key West, Florida. This large property consists of a large main house and a substantial two story guest house. The property records show it as a legal duplex so the uses are many.

This property was designed by local noted architect Tom Pope and was constructed in 2004. I live a couple of blocks away and remember riding my bike past the property during the lengthy construction. I was excited to see the interiors once the houses were completed. Each property is distinct, but they share a common design theme. The rooms are large and the bedroom ceilings on the second floor of each residence soar. This property would be great for a buyer with a large family or lots of friends. There is plenty of room for lots of people. The guest house is the perfect place for guests, or maybe an aging parent, or perhaps a caretaker, or even a rent paying tenant.

707 Washington has 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, two kitchens, two living rooms, a big pool, and a great Casa Marina location. The houses have 3257 sq ft of living space and sits on a 5300 sq ft lot. The property is offered at the Short Sale price of $1,199,000 or $368 per sq ft. Nothing is certain in this world, and short sales breed an uncertainty of their very own. But I believe that an ALL CASH, QUICK CLOSE offer at a much lower price is achievable. This house is crying for a cash paying, aggressive buyer.

The property is just a stone's throw to Louie's Backyard and Dog Beach. The newly renovated Reach Resort is within walking distance. Duval Street is just a 5 minute walk. The other houses in the 700 Block of Washington are quite nice. CLICK HERE, or CLICK HERE for photos of neighboring homes.

CLICK HERE for more information on 707 Washington Street. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com for more information.

614 Frances Street - Key West - Short Sale

This is how the listing Realtor at Preferred Properties describes 614 Frances Street:
"Three units on a wonderful block in Historic Key West. All units have private outdoor space. Rented on a month to month basis. Studio, a one bedroom loft, and a one bedroom with loft. Storage shed on back of property. Room for a pool. Live in one unit and allow the rents from the other two units to assist you in living in Key West! Hurry priced right." CLICK HERE for more detailed information and photos.

Let me add that this really cute sawtooth house at 614 Frances Street is offered at only $749,000. The lot is very large and totals 3627 sq ft (90.05' x 40'). The highest and best use for this house would be to renovate it, put in a pool, and live the Life of Riley. This place is just aching for some tender loving care. It has not been abused. It looks just fine "as is". And it is perfectly livable just as it sits. It had a 1970s'ish Hippie Renovation. Some far out stained glass was incorporated into the property. I do not believe every house needs to be dragged forcefully into the 21st Century by adding stainless steel and granite kitchens, vessel sinks in baths, and all of that other silliness. But a real nice and clean redo with the addition of a pool would seal the deal on this already sweet place.

Look at the surrounding houses in the two top photos above. I refer to these types of houses as "great houses". The grounds on these particular houses stretch all the way to Ashe Street where the guest cottages are located. No need to worry about those neighbors dragging your property values down. Off to the right of 614 Frances is Roberts Lane. It extends about 200 feet where it dead-ends. That translates into more quiet. Most of the other houses on this block are much larger than 614 Frances so this house might be considered by some as the worst house on the best block. And in a normal economy that usually translates into opportunity for property appreciation.

But we are experiencing a difficult time in our entire economy. 614 Frances Street is offered as a short sale. A short sale occurs when the lender permits the property to be sold for less than the remaining balance on the mortgage loan. The lender in this particular house (614 Frances)is a local bank, so the possibility exists for getting a quick response.

There is another multi-unit property also offered as a short sale that is located just a little over one block away and on the other side of Frances Street. I have shown it as well. CLICK HERE to see 719 Frances Street. It has been used as a monthly vacation rental. It does not have a pool. That house has great views of the Key West Cemetery. I am not being facetious. I love properties that face the cemetery. Frances Street is very wide at this location, the views are big and bright, and the neighbors are quiet. There are no parking struggles either.

If you are looking for an investment property in Old Town Key West or maybe looking for that "worst house on the best block", please call me to see either of the two houses mentioned here. (Or any other property!) Please call Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Don't wait too long, either. The listing Realtor told me he has shown this property five times in the past week. You snooze, you lose. P.S. the temperature in Key West was 82 degrees at 11:00 AM. Jealous?

The Grand Dame - 1307 Truman Avenue Key West

This is how the listing Realtor describes The Grand Dame at 1307 Truman Avenue: "This beautifully renovated Victorian home was built by a Cigar factory owner from Cuba in the early 1900's. The home was expertly renovated in 2002 to restore the original elegance while adding all the modern amenities. Spanning two lots from Truman Ave. to Albury St, where the pool is surrounded by a lush indigenous tropical garden . There is over 4000 sqft of living space plus 1500 sf of porches. Bedrooms are spacious with 12 ft ceilings. In addition separate guest quarters on second level with a private porch. Original Dade County pine floors are preserved as well as crown molding. Each floor has its own CA/C zone. Kitchen including soap stone counters and a large white marble island tops."

I know a Grand Dame when I see one, but I thought I best go to my Wikipedia just to make sure my context about 1307 Truman is correct. Wikipedia describes a Grand Dame thus: "In popular culture, the grande dame is usually portrayed as a slightly flamboyant woman, prone to extravagant and eccentric fashion, such as feather boas, large hats, and excessive costume jewelry. She may be overly pre-occupied with the concept of "acting ladylike" and expect all those around her to conform to her own high standards of etiquette." That definition fits 1307 Truman Avenue to a tee. The house has a prominence that cannot be denied. The wrap around verandas are her boa; the height is her large hat; and the impeccable gardens are her costume jewelry.

This house on millionaires row was built circa 1900. From Eisenhower Drive on the east all the way west to Duval only a few of the old dames on Truman survive today. They were built in sizes and to standards (and lifestyles) that are no longer current. Many of the houses that do remain have been converted into guest houses or re-configured into a combination of commercial and/or retail with some residential. This house has not been messed around with and sits almost like a virgin, albeit an old virgin.

This house is in beautiful condition. Everything I saw looked great, clean, and well maintained. I did not see any deferred maintenance. The baths are nicely appointed with new fixtures with classic lines. They fit the style without being gimmicky. There are two large formal living areas on the main floor. The kitchen sits at the rear. The kitchen is huge and would make a great gathering place for modern living in an old house. The wrap around verandas at the front and rear seem to envelop the house. Each of the rooms on all three levels of the house (including the third floor) have very tall ceilings, crown molding, and exude a sense of formality we don't see in current architecture. For readers who have been in dozens of Key West Conch houses, this isn't one. You have not been in a house like this before in Key West.

The house has five bedrooms, each of which is quite large. And most have en-suite baths. The third floor has a sitting room off the bedroom. The ceiling up there must be 15 feet tall. There is a small porch off the front of the third floor where you can see the treetops and rooftops of much of the southern end of the island. Bayview Park is just across the street. What a view! There is a rooftop deck at the rear with an amazing view of the north. I could see water on the Gulfside. You could not build a house of this height in Key West today. But if you buy it, you have the view forever. CLICK HERE for more details and photos of this one of a kind properties.

This house is listed by Preferred Properties Christie's Great Estates at the asking price of $1,998,000 or $451 per sq ft. The house has 4426 sq ft of living space under roof and sits on a large 7418 sq ft lot. The rear veranda overlooks the garden and pool area. Off street parking is provided as well. There is even a small apartment off to the west side of the house which could be used by a caretaker for an owner who would use the house as a second home.

But I have an alternate use suggestion. I think this house would make a one of a kind guest house with grand rooms and a sense of elegance missing from other guest houses in Key West. Zoning is HMDR which may permit such a usage. But a buyer will have to move heaven and earth to get the property converted to such a use.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of 1307 Truman Avenue. Buyers looking for a big house ought to take a look and compare the size and features to other similarly priced homes. The Grand Dame of Truman Avenue will put them all in their place.

628 William Street - Old Town - Key West Elegance

Located on one of the Most Beautiful Blocks In The Historic District you will find this quintessential two story Key West house at 628 William Street. There are two bedrooms en-suite baths plus an office. There is a recent Award Winning Artist Studio/Den addition. There is a 30 Foot Pool and an excellent outside dining/living area. Lush landscaping creates a very private atmosphere. Off-street Parking.

The color tones are just perfect. The living area is formal without being stuffy. The floors in the living area are just plain beautiful. A few steps off the living room is the artist studio / office that is elevated over the 30 foot pool. That is not a typo. What a glorious way to incorporate functional living space and provide a large lap pool at the same time. A set of French doors looks down to the pool from the studio. That little location could inspire lots of creativity, of that I am certain.

There are two real bedrooms and a third room large enough to be a guest room, but it doesn't have a closet so we can't call it a bedroom. That's a nice feature actually. Your guests can't hang their clothes. Maybe they'll stay in a hotel and not eat you out of house and home. CLICK HERE to read more detailed info on this house and view more photos.

The house is 1630 sq ft and sits on a deep 2931 sq ft lot. The home is priced at $1,295,000 or $794 per sq ft. William Street is extra wide in this block, and there are no guest houses or commercial spaces to compete for off-street parking. Yet, the location is only a short three block walk to the Historic Key West Seaport and a five minute walk to Duval Street.

628 William is a listing Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc, (Christie's Great Estates) listing. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this really beautiful Old Town home.