307 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West

 
Just listed, but not by me, 307 Elizabeth Street which was built circa 1885 according to a property appraiser record I found. The mls shows the property as having been built in 1928, however.  If I am correct, and I am pretty sure that it the case, 307 Elizabeth Street would be one of the older houses of Key West. It is located in the Historic Key West Seaport area on a street with other substantial homes that survived the great fire many years ago. The house has been made into three legal apartments plus appendages.  I think a new owner may want to restore this property to its former glory and take it back to being a single family home complete with a guest house and off street parking.

307 Elizabeth as seen in 1965

307 Elizabeth in 2012

The property has 2302 sq ft of living space that is divided between the main house, a second floor apartment with exterior side entrance, and a cottage that sits to the rear of the driveway. There is an existing pool as well.  The lot is 50' x 93' or 4650 sq ft.  307 Elizabeth Street if offered at $879,000. CLICK HERE to view the mls datasheet.

CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of photos I took of this property.  Better than that, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Let's take a look at this old girl and figure out how you could restore her old glory.

1026 Howe Street - Key West

1026 Howe Street - Key West

The listing agent at Preferred Properties describes 1026 Howe Street this way:

"Beautiful 2/2 home in a quiet area. Recent renovations and upgrades. Back yard would allow for a dip pool. Large kitchen working area, plenty of cabinets. Off street parking. Convenient to all downtown restaurants, galleries and shopping. No comparison in the Old Town area under $600,000. Owners are very motivated and will seriously consider all reasonable offers."

Stairway leads to second floor bedroom and bath

The property is currently rented on a long term basis (with a quick kick-out for potential buyers). As you enter the main level you immediately see a spacious living area followed by a galley kitchen to the right rear. There is a good sized bedroom and bath on this floor to the left of the kitchen with separate entries to the bedroom and bathroom which share an internal passage as well. To the left you see a modern stairway leading to the second floor bedroom and bath. The door at the rear of the kitchen leads to the large rear yard that, for now, is just 'potential'. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos for this home.

Galley kitchen with lots of cabinets and workspace

Master bedroom and bath on main floor

Second floor bed and bath

Room for a pool

Looking east across Howe Street

Two really attractive single family homes are located across the street to the east. Next door to the north is a condominium of affordably priced condos with transient licenses. And there is public housing about 150 feet to the south.

This general area is two blocks from the soon to be developed Truman Annex marina and redevelopment parcel. I am a believer that some of the very best values exist right now in this immediate area because of the long term appreciation potential. Think forward to just a few years when the Truman Annex redevelopment is complete and being able to walk to your boat, or the amphitheater, or any of the other projected amenities. CLICK HERE to read about the Truman Waterfront development plans at the City of Key West website.

1000 Block of Howe Street

If you are a buyer looking for a house that needs just a bit of TLC that you can do yourself, this may be the place you have been looking for. CLICK HERE to view a short slide show of other photos of this property. 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.

1203-1205 Von Phister - Casa Marina - Key West

Simple words can't do justice to the absolutely charming home at 1203-1205 Von Phister Street in the Casa Marina area of Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"This wonderful 1940s house is owned by well known artist Debra Yates, who has transformed it into an irresistible and artful 3BR/2.5BA residence plus an 880 SF guest house. The main house has an open living room (with fireplace), dining and kitchen area and multiple sliding glass doors that bring the extraordinary gardens in. On an oversized double lot in the Casa Marina area, the gardens are designed with rare tropical specimens and lots of out door areas for living/dining and a beautiful 35' X 11' heated pool. The guest house has its own private entrance and high open beamed ceilings, great open spaces designed for easy living on two floors with views of the gardens and patio. Two off street parking spaces. Truly special."

I have ridden my bike past this property many times. It is set back from the street and appears almost hidden behind a large privacy fence. But it is the majestic tree canopy that nestles this home and provides privacy that almost makes the house itself disappear. When you walk in the front door you immediately recognize the distinctive flair of a Debra Yates home. While there is lots of geometry going on in this house, none of it is plain. Instead, the eyes search in multiple directions to see what area to look at and be impressed by. I kid you not, you can't wait to get from room to room to see what is next.


The main house and guest house have a combined area of 3185 square feet and sit on a large 9408 sq ft lot. I was surprised to learn that the property was actually built in the 1940s because it is so "modern" in its design. But the original wood floors that have been painted clued me in that which appeared new was old and that which is new appears bold. Yates did what I tell perspective buyers to do: she removed existing interior walls and reinvented the spaces for her use. She ripped out old style windows and added new floor to ceiling windows or sliders that bring much of the outside inside. She expanded living spaces by creating adjacent outdoor spaces that invite you outside.


I repeatedly tell perspective buyers that outside space is so important when buying a place in Key West because that is where we spend so much of our time. This place has multiple outdoor places to read, sun, drink or dine, or just to contemplate the meaning of living life.

Master bedroom suite with large adjacent sun deck

Outdoor dining area just off guest cottage

Poolside terrace in the foreground with additional outdoor dining area off the main living and dining areas at the rear

The guest cottage is itself a site to behold. The two story cottage has an office, bedroom and bath on the ground level and a full kitchen, second bath and living room-cum bedroom area (privacy curtain) on the second level where there is another deck. The guest cottage is fancier than many homes in Old Town. (Your guests may move in and never move out.)

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls data sheet and to view more listing photos of this wonderful property. 1203-1205 Von Phister Street is offered at $1,795,000. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind property like this, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

1125 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Do you know the difference between Boca Raton and Key West? Key West is not Boca. Thank God! We have better weather year round. We don't have freeways and interchanges. True we have a traffic jam of tourists on Duval Street, but that helps the rest of us live here. We have real people that live in real houses in real neighborhoods. Key West has a rich history and people who are born here or who move here on purpose love just living their lives each day. The way I look at life, you get one shot at it and you ought to spend it where you want to be and do the things you want to do. If you have an jerk for a boss, you quit your job. Life is too short to deal with morons. And if you don't like where you live, you ought to do something about that too. If you put everything you want to do in life until a later date, what happens if you don't make it there?

Preferred Properties (that's where I work) recently listed the great house located at 1125 Von Phister Street. I call big impressive Key West houses "great houses" because of their size and importance. But in the instance of 1125 Von Phister "great" is an appropriate adjective that describes a very beautiful home in a great Key West neighborhood. I know the neighborhood well because I live just a few doors away. I love the neighborhood and you will love this house. This home is owned by a local family that recently purchased a business outside of Key West. This is not a distress sale of any kind. But this great house is a great value none the less. It is offered at $1,299,999.

The listing Realtor describes 1125 Von Phister Street this way:

"Located in the Casa Marina Area of Key West, is this elegantly renovated 4 bedrooom 3/5 bath with lush tropical landscaping. Some of the outstanding features are the hardwood floors, cherry cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances,wrap around porches, reverse osmosis system, landscape lighting and irrigation paved pathways and driveway, large rear deck for entertaining and beautiful pool with water features. Just 3 blocks from Higgs beach and minutes From Duval."

This house is large: 2352 sq ft under roof plus lots of covered porches and outdoor lounge area. The lot is 4621 sq ft. The house was extensively renovated a few of years ago and a large addition was built at the rear that now houses the combined kitchen and great room downstairs and the master bed and bath upstairs. The rear lounge CLICK HERE and deck area, pool, and bath house with outdoor shower were also new additions. There is a bricked driveway that could accommodate two cars but parking is not an issue in this area anyway. The surrounding houses are single family and most have off street parking.

Downstairs you will find an inviting guest room/den/office CLICK HERE with a full bath that can be accessed from the formal entry hall or from the guest room. The entry hall leads to the rear with large ceilings and lots of French doors that open the inside to the outside. The kitchen sits off to the right.CLICK HERE

Upstairs you will find two good sized bedrooms with real closets. The front bedroom opens onto the wraparound second floor porch. These two bedrooms share a bath. Then at the rear is the the third or master bedroom. It has a vaulted ceiling that adds lots of volume to the room. The owners had a special cabinet built to provide extra storage space. CLICK HERE to view. The master bath is just beautiful. CLICK HERE.

The pool sits at the back of the property and gets lots of morning and afternoon sunlight. There is a bath house CLICK HERE and a separate outdoor shower! The outdoor lounge area is covered for the most part, but part is open to the beautiful blue skies.
This house shows attention to detail everywhere. I won't bore you with for-instances. Well, maybe a couple: hardwood floors (not laminates or engineered); coffered ceiling in the kitchen and great rooms; real operable storm shutters CLICK HERE that add grace to the house; custom built cabinetry, moldings and casements CLICK HERE that adds valuable storage space and interesting places to showcase your books and collectibles; totally unique switch plates (new to me!) CLICK HERE; old fashioned floor registers for air conditioning (mimics what you saw in your grandmother's house); and a killer front porch! CLICK HERE Lots of interior and exterior photos CLICK HERE.

You may or may not want me as your neighbor, but I am sure you will really like this house. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the Exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

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1014 Elgin Lane - Key West Old Town Charmer !

Great Room at the rear with double French Doors leading to pool

The second floor bedroom at 1014 Elgin Lane

Just listed, but not by me, is the really charming two bedroom cottage at 1014 Elgin Lane MAP in the Old Town section of Key West. Elgin Lane is a one-way lane that runs westerly from White Street and ends at Grinnell Street.

The listing Realtor describes this beauty this way:

"Darling 1 & 1/2 story Key West cottage with small dip pool on quiet Old Town lane near Key West Historic Seaport area. Nicely maintained with charming details including a nice open kitchen/living area with vaulted ceilings and double french doors overlooking cozy backyard setting beneath a canopy of mature trees. Surrounded by a white picket fence with off street parking finished in brick for one car. This is a potential short sale transaction subject to lender approval."

The first floor bedroom is located up front to the right and the Great Room is at the rear

The 960 sq ft cottage is laid out most efficiently. There is a formal entry with the first floor bedroom and bath located at front behind pocket doors. The Dade County Pine walls and crisp clean white trim punctuate each room in the house. The cheerful entry leads to the rear great room which houses the living, dining, and kitchen areas in one large room with French doors that open out onto the small pool in the rear. Upstairs you will find an equally charming second bedroom and a separate bath. The rear yard has a dip pool. The asking price on this short sale property is $675,000. CLICK HERE to see the mls listing details and to view more listing photos. If you follow me on TWITTER you can see more photos I took of this charming cottage house located on one of the lovely slow lanes in Key West.

The Historic Key West Seaport is located about 5 to 7 minute walk to the north and west. Duval Street is a 7 to 10 minute walk. Strunk Ace Hardware is a block away. (There is a little Tim The Tool Man Taylor in every guy I know.) The Restaurant Store is next door where you can channel your Inner Bobby Flay. Cole'z Peace Bakery is next door to the east where you can buy Artisan (code: expensive homemade) bread that tastes really great. And the uber-new Old Town Bakery is one block west. Azur Restaurant is around the corner 1/2 block from Elgin Lane at the corner of Fleming and Grinnell. (They have daily lunch specials that locals love.) But everything is within an easy walking distance.

The nice thing about this house is that nothing needs fixed. It is in "move-in" condition. Bring your tooth brush, some fresh shorts and tee shirts, and get ready to live your life your way in Key West.

I think this is a heck of a buy. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Proprieties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the Lower Florida Keys exclusive affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

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715 and 719 Whitmarsh Lane - Old Town - Key West

The Phillip Burton House is two doors to the right on Angela Street

The two units at 715 Whitmarsh Lane are pictured above

The Seashell Cottage at 719 Whitmarsh Lane is pictured above and below

There are two separate properties for sale that are located next door to each other on one of the quietest and most difficult lanes to find in Old Town Key West. They are located at 715 Whitmarsh Lane and 719 Whitmarsh Lane. Whitmarsh Lane is mentioned in "The Streets of Key West" thus:

"Whitmarsh Lane, a couple of blocks over and next to the (Phillip) Burton House at the summit of Solares Hill, is named for the Whitmarsh family, a member of which played a small role in the island's folklore,. On April 28, 1931 Mary F. Whitmarsh was witness to the transfer of property at 907 Whitehead Street to one Ernest Miller Hemingway."

If you love Key West you need to read The Streets of Key West. There is so much useful information on Key West history and how some of our wacky streets and lanes got their names.

I walked over to Whitmarsh Lane this morning to take some photos for today's blog. The painting crew is reworking the front porch for the new owner of the Phillip Burton House. (The new owners sent me a very nice Thank You note for mentioning their beautiful home in my blog last week.) The summit of Solares Hill is so high I almost got a nosebleed. I think it is 18 feet above sea level. But joking aside, I could definitely see and feel the height. I know where Whitmarsh Lane is located but most locals don't because the lane runs just one block long from Petronia Street on the south to Angela Street at the north. Whitmarsh Lane runs paralell to Elizabeth Street to the east and Simonton Street to the west. The lane is so narrow and inconspicuous you will miss it if you are not looking for it.

Whitmarsh Lane looking north towards Angela Street

Both of these properties have valuable Transient Rental Licenses and both equally valuable off-street parking. You cannot beat the location for nearness to Duval Street yet enough distance to make it really quiet. For more information on the two units at 715 Whitmarsh Lane CLICK HERE. And for more information on the seashell cottage at 719 Whitmarsh Lane CLICK HERE . The properties are owned by different owners so it is not necessary to buy both. But this could be the kind of investment that may interest a buyer looking to purchase a place for personal use along with a property to help defray the costs of ownership.

If you would like to see either or both of these properties please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida where today it is 66 degrees and sunny. The town is full of people just loving life. (I do wish some loved life a bit more and actually look before they step in front of moving traffic.)

730 Southard Street - Old Town Landmark - Key West

I have written about the landmark home at 730 Southard Street on several occasions and I have actually received both phone calls and emails from potential buyers that were genuinely interested in the property. But none of the contacts has yet resulted into a written offer from my buyers. It is time for someone that has "that vision thing" (a catch phrase used by President George H.W. Bush when he responded to suggestions he refocus objectives away from short term campaign objectives to look to the longer term). My suggestions: bring vision and lots of money.

730 Southard Street is one of the iconic homes of Key West. It has been in the same family since the day it was built. The most recent resident passed away a couple of years ago. She lived in that house for nearly ninety years. Many of her possessions are still located in place throughout the house. The house almost shows like a museum of a life in another distant time. The outside of the house is looking ragged and forlorn. I met there with a noted local architect to size up the house for some buyers. Rather than say what he said I will give you my impression of what needs to be done.

The house has wonderful wraparound porches on the first and second floors and there are rear porches on both levels as well. Those porches provide potentially dramatic openings from the historic French doors that open onto the porches. That includes the rear second floor porch just off the master bedroom. The porches all need replaced. Some of the shutters need replaced.

Any renovation of the house would entail all new electric, plumbing, and air conditioning. The house is large and looks like it is actually three buildings brought together to make one large structure. The third floor attic is gigantic and would provide excellent space for location of HVAC.

The Attic
The existing bathrooms are very old and very dated. I think there is more than enough room for a creative architect to carve out some very useful bathrooms that meet our modern needs and still preserve the dignity the present structure.

The present kitchen is located just off the grand dining room. The dining room is likewise located next to the front parlor. The living room, on the other and, is a giant room located just to the west of the front door. That room has French doors that overlook the rear grounds. The dining room, parlor, and living room each have French doors that open onto the wraparound porches on front and the rear as well. The layout is a bit formal for today but the space is entirely useful. The kitchen is very large and needs yanked into the 21st Century. The kitchen even has a fireplace. Can you imagine what kind of a wonderful kitchen you could create.
The Parlor

The second floor has enough space for two great bedrooms and baths to compliment the huge master bedroom with en suite bath. The space for the master suite is just grand. That doesn't mean the space needs to be treated like something in a Trump hotel. Rather I envision very treating the very simple structure in an understated manner. The classic design elements are already there. It is just coming up with a good and useful design for today.

All of the interior has Dade County Pine walls, ceilings, and wood floors. The building to me seemed very structurally sound with the exception of some of the foundation which needs repair and all of the plumbing and electric which needs replaced. HVAC would be all new as it is non existent.

There is no pool. But there is room for a great pool and garden as well. The fence is dilapidated as is the widows walk on the top. But you should see the view from up there. You can see the Gulf of Mexico and all of the small homes for blocks and blocks. You could have a great sunrise view from the kitchen of dining room each morning. And in the evening you could sit on the upper front porch and watch the world walk by on the way to view the sunset at Mallory Square.


730 Southard Street is a big house with 2838 sq ft of space under roof. It sits on a 6853 sq ft lot (at the corner of William and Southard Streets) right in the smack dab middle of Old Town. CLICK HERE to read the listing Realtor's description of the property and to see some very good interior and exterior photos. This property is offered at $1,490,000 or $525 per sq ft. It's going to take probably a million to renovate the place. Maybe more and maybe a little less. But in the end someone is going to own one of the great beauties of Key West. Chances are pretty good that the house will be re-named for the new owner. The person with that vision thing.

If you would like to see 730 Southard Street please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the exclusive lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.