My Life as a Clown

That's not me in the pic.  I looked as cute, but nobody took a photo of me back in summer of 1962 when I spent many-a-day as a clown.

I was fifteen years old and had a job at a furniture store in Denver where I made $1.00 an hour. Minimum wage was $1.15 back in 1962. I guess my employer thought that since I was young I didn't have the right to be paid as much as an adult. I didn't care. It was money and the work wasn't hard.

I worked at a furniture store on West Alameda Avenue in Denver. This was an area of town where nearby Morrison Road led to the home a couple of miles west where Jack Kerouac once lived. During the 1950s and 1960s this part of town was populated by lower middle to middle class families who would shop for furniture that fit their modest budgets. Back in the 1960s the furniture store sold three rooms of furniture for a few hundred dollars - total. I remember the furniture "suites" were offered in various styles including "Early American", "Danish Modern", "French Provincial", and "Italian Provincial".  The furniture was pretty cheap in retrospect, but it was what people of modest means could afford and it offered a bit of style plus utility.

There was a large parking lot adjacent to the store where the owner set up a huge green Army surplus tent to expand showroom space beyond the building walls. The tent was crammed with new and used furniture. Strings of bare light bulbs illuminated the space at night for shoppers. There was a night watchman that stayed in the tent to make sure nobody stole anything. Looking back I can't imagine anyone would want to steal anything there.

I would work from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM five or six days a week.  In the early morning I would dust the furniture, sweep the floors, and assemble new pieces for display in the store. Sometimes I would help deliver furniture when one of the truck drivers was not present. Just before noon I would go to the bathroom and put on my clown costume, make-up and red wig with a flip-top mop that would raise a front patch of the wig to startle people. I would then go out to the front sidewalk and wave at passing cars.  There were many occasions when cars would stop and I would walk up to the car to say "Hi" to kids in the car. One day a car filled with teens stopped. One guy grabbed my arm and tried to put out a cigarette on my hand. I pulled it away quick enough not to get burned. It never occurred to me that someone would try to hurt me.  I am not wired that way. But I never extended my hand that way again.

After being a clown for a couple of years while in high school,  I went to college and later law school. I became a lawyer and later went into banking. I worked for the federal government where I worked on selling complex assets owned by the Resolution Trust Corporation until 1993 when I moved to Key West to own and operate a guest house. For the past twenty years I have been selling houses in Key West. Unlike a lot of agents with real estate licenses, that is the only thing I do.  I like to make buying a home fun but I no longer act the clown.  If you are thinking about buying a place in Key West, please consider using me as your Realtor.

Old Town Key West Price Reductions - Time to Buy

I typically tell buyers and sellers that the Key West "selling season" runs from Christmas Week and ends around May first or thereabouts. This is the time of the year when most sellers place their homes on the market thinking that more buyers will be here during those months. The stable base of full time residents in Key West has been about 25,000 for decades. Locals don't leave on May first.  They have housing needs all year long. And since Key West has become a full time destination resort, visitors come here all year long which has driven the demand for more hotel rooms, restaurant seats, and bike rentals. This is turn drives the demand for workers to make beds, prepare and serve food, and provide other tourist related services. The Key West economy is robust. Prices are high and moving higher. But the reality also is there are several houses which have been listed for sale sale that have been on the market for several months which have not sold.

I've been representing buyers of houses in Key West for twenty years. I have learned that most are buyers of houses in Key West are "pretty smart cookies".  After all most are looking to spend over $500,000 to buy a place here (any place here costs about that much and probably a lot more). The come prepared to buy a place with knowledge of our market and our past sales. They know houses that have been on the market for a prolonged period of time are either over-priced or that there is something wrong with the house or the location. Houses that don't pass the smell test often ignored by potential buyers and equally often by real estate agents. 

1216 Varela Street is a cute 2/2 single family home with a private pool located in Old Town Key West. The listing Realtor describes the home this way: "Perfect property in an excellent location for either a working couple living full time in Key West or as a “pied-a-terre” for owners wanting a problem free home to use seasonally as a “lock n’ leave”. Large master with two closets and a balcony overlooking the private pool. Wonderful kitchen with granite counters, wine cooler and a dual fuel range. X flood zone and shutters all around making insurance affordable. All reasonable offers encouraged.  Originally priced at $799,000 now reduced to $760,000. CLICK HERE for more info.

923 Angela Street has appeared in my blog several times over the past ten years. We have a limited supply of houses in Key West. We tend to sell and re-sell the same inventory over and over again. This time this house is much different than before. This time this house has been totally renovated and had a pool added. There are two factors that challenge most potential buyers who consider this house - lack of an off street parking space and location across the street from the Key West cemetery.  There is usually on street parking within 75 feet or less. The cemetery is what it is. The neighbors don't party at night. CLICK HERE for more information on this home which is now offered at $1,128,000.

The asking price on 629 Elizabeth Street was recently reduced by $100,000 to $1,599,000. This home is basically all new even though described as a renovation. Everything is perfect on this 3/3 located at the top of Solares Hill, the highest point on the island of Key West. CLICK HERE for more info.

The listing Realtor describes 816 Ashe Street as "This historic gem has been in the same family since being built in 1923. Featuring Dade County Pine, heart pine floors, first floor master bedroom, & attached laundry room/workshop. Two spacious front porches provide the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the quiet pace of Old Town Key West life. Off street parking & flood zone X. A perfect historic renovation project". This is a property for a buyer who wants to be creative and do a nice renovation to a great old house.  CLICK HERE to view MLS info on his home now offered at $795,000.

514 Elizabeth Street is another house that has appeared in my blog several times over the years. This is the first house I sold when I got my real estate license in 1996. The house had been updated by the family who had owned the house for generations. My buyers put in the pool, deck, and a small out building They have used the home and also rented it as a monthly vacation rental. Reduced asking price is now reduced to $1,350,000. CLICK HERE for more info.

1106 Grinnell Street is livable as is, but it offers a new owner all kinds of possibilities as a renovation project. Other homes in the area continue to become a part of the surge in renovations in the south of Truman area of Old Town. CLICK HERE to view MLS on this home now reduced to $490,000.

The listing Realtor describes 812 Fleming Street #5 this way: "Price Reduced!! Superb location! Here is your chance to own a top floor unit at the Seafoam Condominium on an iconic street in Old Town. Dade County pine covers the walls and floors in this 613 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bath unit. Recent updates includes new, stainless appliances, fresh paint throughout, all new fixtures, and more. The 200 sq ft balcony overlooking Fleming St." Now offered at $550,000. CLICK HERE for info. 

1509 Pine Street has everything that second home buyers want accept two things - it is newer construction and it is not located in Old Town proper. The home is one of eight built in 2008, each of which has a private pool and covered off street parking. This home has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths. And it is gorgeous. Now offered at reduced price of $1,299,000. CLICK HERE to view MLS. 

There is nothing odorous about any of these homes. They are seasoned and ready to be purchased. There are over 100 single family, condominiums, and town homes under contract and pending closing in Key West. Some lucky buyers still have really nice homes like these that are available for purchase. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up private showings. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

Key West - Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda!

Talk about mid-life crisis and the road not taken, how about the lost opportunities that people (buyers and sellers) regret day after day after day for years into the future. In a little town like Key West you can drive by that house you could have bought for a great price but didn't because you didn't like the seller, you didn't like the deal, you think you coulda bought the place cheaper,you were afraid Obama or Trump would do something stupid, etcetera. As a seller you wish you wouldn't have been such an ass, that you had been more pragmatic, that you would have accepted the all cash offer with no strings attached instead of holding out to get more money which in fact you did not get. Life's lessons in real estate: woulda, coulda, shoulda, but didn't!

About three weeks ago a couple from the northeast walked into my open house at 1500 Albury Street in Key West. I met them around 2000 when I was an agent at Knight Realty (now Berkshire Hathaway Knight and Gardner Realty).  A year later we looked at two adjacent houses in the 1000 block of Fleming Street. (One of the best blocks in town.) The houses had been hideously and cheaply redone a few years earlier. They needed revamped. Her father was a builder, so she was familiar with construction and saw the potential of this location and these properties in particular. They said they had investment properties up north they had to sell first. They said they had kids to put through school and college - first. They did not buy even though in their hearts they knew this was a really outstanding opportunity.. Somebody else bought the properties for $660,000 and did an "over-the-top" redesign of the property. That same house was resold in 2015 for $2,750,000. Sixteen years later this same couple is still dreaming about buying a place here but they are still burdened by all the things that they must do first.

Most of the buyers I have worked with have fairly simple goals. They may lay in a hammock on their guest house porch and dream about what it would be like to own a home or business in Key West. Or they may sit on their computer monitoring every new listing that appears on Zillow sometimes thinking "this may be the one if I can buy it at the right price," They may even talk with a Realtor and look at houses and maybe make a half-hearted offer on a place. Or maybe they just find excuses as to why none of the houses work.

As of today there are 434 active listings for homes, condos, and town houses in Key West. Just 70 of those are priced below $500,000. And most of those are condos or town houses. There are 178 houses and condos priced over $1,000,000 and 46 of those are priced over $2,000,000. A lot of sellers have recently reduced their asking price in hopes of selling their place this year. Would, coulda, shoulda works equally for buyers and sellers.

The dream of owning a home in Key West has not diminished. It's the price that is the problem for most buyers but not all. Earlier this week a single family home in Key West sold for $5,442,000 with furnishings. Give me a call and let's see if we can find your dream house before it is gone. Don't wait sixteen years to fulfill your dreams.

3322 Flagler Avenue, Key West - Let' Look

I wrote about 3322 Flagler Avenue in Key West a few months ago  I liked this three bedroom two bath home because it reminded me of my youth and also because of the large tropical backyard which has a lot of potential. The listing real estate agent describes this home this way:

"Centrally located and beautifully well maintained home. Full 3 bedroom 2 bath with dinning alcove. Large fenced yard that is wonderfully landscape, with covered back patio, out door shower, storage shed and plenty of room for a pool. Off street parking for 2 cars, one spot covered. This is a must see, easy to show, currently owner occupied."

I've got news for you.

This home was built in 1958 and is pretty typical of many homes of that era. It's just been updated with a new metal roof, new windows with approved storm shutters for wind insurance mitigation credit, new kitchen cabinets, new light fixtures and ceiling fans, plus sundries like curtain rods and drapes. The house is freshly painted and is in basic move-in condition. The terrazzo floor is in really good condition as well. That means someone moving to Key West from far away won't need to arrive in Key West and start to clean and redo a property before they can move in.  If you think a quick "update" or a "freshening" is quick I've got news for you: it isn't. Seemingly little projects always take longer to do and cost a lot more than anybody ever intends. Let me show you what's been done.

This home is a bachelor pad right now. The bumper pool table is confirmation of that. But the living area is large enough for a real family. The living room is quite spacious. Note the dining alcove. Muted sunlight provides a cheery place for daytime meals. The space may be large enough to become a fourth bedroom. The adjacent new kitchen gleams. A door at the rear exits out to the west side yard which leads to the front covered parking or to the rear garden where there is abundant room for a pool.

The front bedroom has three windows which adds a bit of drama to what often-times is a boring space in many mid century homes. This house is an upgrade from could be mundane. The color choices used between the various bedrooms works as well. The colors play off the whites, blacks, and grays of the terrazzo floors.

The windows of the left rear bedroom look out to the rear garden. This room is quite spacious. While it is used as an office by the current owner, it has ample space for a king, queen, or bunk beds plus bedroom furniture. Both the front and rear bedrooms share the use of the hallway bath that has also been updated.

The master bedroom has a full en-suite bath. A sliding door opens out the very large rear yard where there is ample room for a large pool. The lot measures 60' X 114' or 6840 sq ft total. That is much larger than a typical lot in Mid Town or New Town and even larger than many lots in the Casa Marina Area. This lot is much nicer than comparable other houses on the market. I know that buyers don't appreciate landscaping as much as they should. Sodding a yard and planting mature trees the size of those pictured would add thousands of dollars to place in a similarly sized lot that is a blank slate.

I took a lot of photos of this home which you can see if you CLICK HERE. They provide many angles of each space plus photos of the building exterior and garden area. I don't want potential buyers to miss the genuine money saving opportunities this house provides as it sits for immediate move-in plus potential to add a pool later on. This is a clean house where the drudge work has been done. Nothing new needs done to the inside or to the house. The yard is nicely landscaped. There is room for a large pool if that is something that a new owner wants. But the place is perfectly fine as it sits. The yard is a safe place for the kids to play.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 3322 Flagler Avenue. Then please call me,  Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's go take a look. I think you will be genuinely impressed by this home which is offered for sale at $569,000.

1911 Fogarty Avenue, Key West - Bank Owned

Just Listed - 1911 Fogarty Avenue, Key West. This is a Bank Owned property in a good Key West location. According to the Monroe County Property Appraiser this home was built in 1953 on a 5,000 sq ft lot (50' X 100'). The bungalow style house has 1195 sq ft of living space under air conditioning plus a large east poured concrete patio.

The two bedroom house was updated about ten years ago. The ceilings were vaulted, a new kitchen was added, and the house was given a new look in general. It shows nicely. It has sat vacant for a while is is offered "as is no warranties or representations".  The listing Realtor says:

"Bungalow is full of dade county pine, wood floors, beautiful kitchen and bath, gorgeous cove ceilings height throughout the home. off street parking and storage shed . Home is sold as is, no warranties or representation . To make offer prior to the online event, please click on the ''Make Offer'' button on the auction tab. Recommended to see & inspect before bidding."

The front bedroom has nice southern exposure. The windows look out to the patio which is this house is located of the front of the house near the gated driveway.  Most families may enter off the patio but there is a real "front door" entrance on the west side of the house as well.

The house has one bathroom which has also been updated. There is a laundry area attached to the house on the east side. Additionally, there is an elevated storage shed or workshop located in the large backyard. The yard is quite large and has plenty of room for a pool and a new rear deck. Alternatively, a new owner might want to expand the current house or perhaps seek permission to expand the storage area and create a guest cottage with a bath. It would not be permissible to add a kitchen to make that into a separate living unit. A licensed Florida architect or general contractor could provide more information on the development possibilities of this house and lot.  I am just offering suggestions. CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of this property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1911 Fogarty Avenue. Then please call Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule an appointment to see this bank owned property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.