Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 4

From October 14, 2016 (Just Before Fantasy Fest)

Key West Horror Story No. 5

A few years ago I represented a buyer who found me via my blog. He lived up north in New York City and was looking to buy a cute Key West cottage where he planned to move. He came to town on several visits to find that perfect place. This was during that terrible time soon after the Great Recession.  Many buyers lost faith in our economy and believed we would never be as good as we once were. I know he expected prices would be lower than they were. He quickly learned he couldn't afford as much house as he thought.

This particular buyer was self-employed. He lived from project to project. He would get paid a lot of money upon the completion of each project. But there was no steady income for the times in between. I hooked him up with a local lender who figured out a way to get him approved for a mortgage. We started looking in areas other than Old Town where prices were lower. We found such a place in Mid Town.

The particular house was an estate sale. The previous owner had passed away. The man was single and died alone except for his dog. His body wasn't discovered for quite some time. The body of his large dog was found as well. The dog apparently survived for a while after the owner passed. You can figure out what happened.

The deceased had two male siblings who lived in the northeast. They engaged a local real estate agent who was a stay-at-home-mom and part-time agent. She told me the place was a mess when she first saw it and offered to fix it up for the far-away brothers. She hired local contractors to do some repairs, install new bathrooms including plumbing and tile installation, painting, and so on. She purchased new kitchen cabinets, appliances, light fixtures, fans, etc. The place looked as next to new as a fifty year old house could look. She was a real estate agent mind you, not a licensed contractor. 

The finished house was priced the equivalent of a fixer house in Old Town except it was already fixed. My buyer was willing to forgo the cuteness in favor of the up to date renovation at an affordable price.  He made an offer. We negotiated the price a bit and put the place under contract.

I was a bit concerned that the agent had done a lot of work which may or may not have been permitted. I included a couple of safe guards in the contract which later proved useful when the renovations she  authorized did not pass final building inspection. The brothers had to come out of pocket to bring the sub-standard work up to meet building code. 

I totally sympathized with the situation those brothers went through. Losing a family member is never easy. Losing a family member in such a harsh way is awful. But then having to pay for something twice compounds the loss even more.

Added September 2020. The original agent is out there still selling houses to the unsuspecting. I should have filed a complaint with the Key West board. I did not. I should have.

907 Washington Street, Key West - Just Listed

JUST LISTED 907 Washington Street, Key West. This 2,120 Sq Ft home sits on a huge 8,960 Sq Ft lot (80' X 112') just four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I dug down into my old shoebox and found a photo of this same home that was taken in 1965 just two years after this house was built. See below.

The listing broker describes the property this way:

"Enjoy island living in the sought after Casa Marina area. This spacious one level three bedroom two bath home has a separate one bedroom, one bath guest cottage and sits on a large beautifully landscaped 8,960 sq. ft. lot. The newly renovated kitchen has a peninsula bar with seating, double sinks, stainless appliances and a breakfast nook that opens to a separate patio. The living and dining rooms open to an expansive covered terrace and create an ideal indoor/outdoor living space. The master bedroom features a sumptuous marble bath, loads of closets and a private patio. A large heated pool is surrounded by lush vegetation and is completely private. Covered parking, a whole house generator, ample storage and an excellent location add to the desirability of this special home."

 The Casa Marina Area is named after the world famous Casa Marina Resort located  two blocks away which extends out to the ocean. While there are a few original houses that resemble the historic homes you are familiar with in Old Town, most of the homes in the Casa Marina date from the mid - 1960s and newer. Most sit on lots that are 5,000 Sq Ft or larger. There are just four houses on this particular block including a home formerly owned and renovated by author Judy Blume. Each house on this block except one has been renovated and that one is being updated at this time. Values in the Casa Marina Area continue rise year after year due partly to the size of the lots and also the proximity to the Ocean and easy access to Old Town.

Buyers who are looking for a full time home or a second residence will love the spacious covered lanai and and sunny pool. Imagine entertaining friends and family in January when it's freezing up north. I remember shoveling snow. It was horrible.

Better yet imagine walking just a couple of blocks to Higgs Beach to dine at Salute, play volleyball, or tennis or just hang out and get a tan. Louie's Backyard is a stones throw as well. You can walk or Uber to Upper Duval Street. Your friends will be so jealous.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 907 Washington Street, Key West offered for sale at $1,795,000. Better yet call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West the listing brokerage of this home.

Happy Easter 2020 from Key West

This is a throwback to Key West in 1985.  Does anybody recall the location?

The sign says THE WHITE HOUSE. I took the photo but can't recall for sure where. It is with more pics I took while staying at La Te Da so it may have been near there.

Happy Easter to my Dear Readers

Key West Open Houses - March 1st

1012 Varela Street 

912 Fleming Street

904 Washington Street

3700 Eagle Avenue

 I will be at 912 Fleming Street today.

Key West Valentine's Weekend - Two Open House Events

912 Fleming Street is a really big house - 3,328 square feet situated on a really big Old Town lot - 113 feet deep by 50 feet wide.  There are 6 Bedrooms and 5 Bathrooms. The Heated Pool is 30 feet long and sunny all time. Totally private!  JUST REDUCED TO $2,395,000. CLICK HERE for more information.
Open House Sunday 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Hosted by Gary Thomas, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 305-766-2642.

1213 Grinnell Street is a charming single family home located in the Grinnell Gardens Compound. It is tucked away in the corner on a big private lot with its own private pool. The freshly renovated home has a brand new kitchen, two first floor bedrooms with En-suite baths, a study, a laundry room, plus a large second floor third bedroom and spacious bath. And there is a stand alone rear cottage not included in the square footage of the house. Offered at  $1,095,000. CLICK HERE for more information. Open House Sunday 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Hosted by Phil Lavoie, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West 317-292-4423.

Both Homes will be 

OPEN 

SUNDAY

12:00 TO 2:00 PM

1408 Petronia Street, Key West, Florida

I got a chance to see the newly renovated home at 1408 Petronia Street yesterday morning during Realtor caravan.  I had a sense of deja 'vu all over again as I walked inside but I couldn't figure out what had happened to the house. The listing Realtor asked me to blog about this property which I gladly agreed to do.

The Key West Association of Realtors changed our MLS or IDX provider a short few years ago and with that decision lost a host of old MLS listings, statistics, and photos. I did check the more recent listings of this house which brought back memories of the house.  It has been changed so much that the old house is barely recognizable. And that dear readers is a good thing. A friend of mine used to live directly across the street. He told me the former woman owner would sit on her front porch and stare at him. She's gone. He's gone as well. The aerial photo below shows the location of 1408 Petronia to which I have added an X.

1408 Petronia Street is located on a one-way street accessed off  Eisenhower Drive.  Bayview Park is located about four blocks to the south. Duval Street is located ten blocks to the west. This is a nice quiet neighborhood where most to the historic homes have been renovated. This one is special.

This home is offered "turn key" at $1,850,000, so take note of all the little things that make this house so aesthetically appealing. In prior times the living room was located at the front of the house. Now it and the kitchen and dining areas are combined in a sweet open concept living area under the two sawtooth additions at the back of the house. The back of the house was opened up to the pool and back yard where there is a small cottage.

The outdoor dining area is covered. You don't know how many "smart" people fail to provide a covered area to sit or dine when they are renovating or building a house. Our sun can be intense. Our rains sometimes happen on a moment's notice. Having a place in the shade is necessary - I don't care how much the house costs. The owners added new Trex decking and additional landscaping. There is also a small guest bath to with entrances from the kitchen or off the pool.

The first floor master suite is located at the front of the house where the living room used to be located. This is an absolutely smart reconfiguration of the former space. Sets of closets provide sophisticated and stylish storage just off the bedroom. The bathroom is just plain sexy. You must click thru the MLS photos so see all the attention to detail in this space.

 There are two guest bedrooms on the second floor where they share a bath.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1408 Petronia Street, Key West. 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. I think you will really like this place.