Beware the Ides of March. Better Yet, Don't Do Dumb Things!

On March 15th of this year I noticed a bank owned listing at the Key West Golf Club community that looked interesting. I contacted the listing agent to ask permission to write about it in my blog. Soon thereafter I drove to the property to take photos. I often lock the front door so that nobody disturbs me, but this time I left it unlocked. I went about my business taking photos and creating a mental image as to features that stood out.  

The second floor front bedroom was both tall and wide. It had a vaulted ceiling and ran the breadth of the house. Unlike a lot of golf course houses, this one did not have a second story front porch. I closed the door and placed my tripod at the far right side to demonstrate the size of this spacious bedroom.  But when I tried to open the door I discovered the door knob lock set had automatically locked the door.

I was trapped. This had happened before at a different location. That time I called an agent in my office who came over to rescue me. However, when I called my office to see if anyone was in who could come help me out, I was told none of the agents were in the office. I was still trapped.

I then thought of Instagram so I posted the above pic there. That did not help.

And then I thought about calling Ken who I had sold a golf course property to. He came over within a couple of minutes and brought a little gadget that pricked the little gizmo that turned the thingamabob that unlocked the lock. Ladies, it's nice to have a man around the house that knows how to use tools.

Free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty, I was free at last!

I thanked Ken profusely for saving me. 

It wasn't until earlier this morning when I searched Instagram for the photo that I realized this dreadful event occurred on the Ides of March.

610 Griffin Lane, Key West - Price Reduction

The asking price on 610 Griffin Lane just got a lot more buyer-friendly. Originally offered at $1,575,000, this two bedroom main house, guest cottage, and writer's cottage are now offered at $1,299,000.
 The listing Realtor describes the new listing at 610 Griffin Lane this way:

"Nestled in the heart of Old Town tucked away on a sweet, quiet lane, you will find this completely charming oasis consisting of a main house with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, guest house with living area, loft bedroom and bath, and even a third house which could serve as a bedroom, office, or studio. Thoughtfully restored with an eye to detail and comfort, the cottages' porches overlook a delightful courtyard with native landscaping and a refreshing heated cocktail pool. The kitchen is completely renovated with stainless appliances and quartz countertop, and the bathrooms are evocative of a peaceful spa experience. This rare property is truly a haven in paradise. One off-street parking space completes this Old Town compound." 

 I found an old black and white photo of this property that was taken in 1965. Everything on the inside and most of the outside is new. The listing realtor says the house dates back to 1901.  It doesn't look that old - not by a long shot.

The front porch was opened up and steps relocated to the west end of the porch.  A bricked path was added which winds its way to the west where two additional cottages are located. There is a large court yard surrounded by various tropical plantings and trees. The rear area just stuns a first time visitor, it's that charming. It's the kind of place that immediately makes you say to yourself "I wish I could live here!" 

There are two recently (but not newly) constructed cottages at the rear. Both have been thoroughly updated by the current owner.  I unilaterally decided to call the smaller cottage a writer's cottage because it has no bath. It's perfectly adorable for just about any use including a spare bedroom, artist studio, gym or yoga studio, or a place where one could write the great American novel. The outdoor shower can be partially seen through the window in the photo above.  A guest would have to use the bathroom in the larger two story building or one of the bathrooms in the main house. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this really charming property.

The original house has been updated as well. The kitchen is all new and features beautiful cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and quartz counter tops.The kitchen doorway opens out to the cocktail pool which you'll see shortly. The kitchen floors are new porcelain tiles. The wood floors in the house are original to the home and have been refinished.

There are two porches that open from the the living and kitchen areas. The front porch runs the length of the house from the front gate and the courtyard side covered porch provides both sitting and outdoor dining space.

There are two good sized bedrooms and baths in the main house. And there is separation between the rooms so the other occupants can't listen to bickering or anything else. That's an important part of any home, whether it is permanent housing or a space that is used as a vacation rental. People want privacy. This property provides it.

The French doors visible in the photo second above open out to cistern that was converted into a cocktail pool. No diving allowed unless you want to crack your noggin. The space is smallish, but there is a pool and a place to sun.  If you want to be near people and lots of semi-naked bodies, Dante's is located just a couple of blocks to the north. Five Brothers Deli is one-half block away on the corner of Southard at Grinnell Street. Michael's Restaurant is one block away - it's a great place for a steak.  Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west.  

I encourage potential buyers to CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 610 Griffin Lane which is offered for sale at $1,299,000. The house is now furnished and there are lots of new photographs. This is a 1600 sq ft property with three bedrooms, three baths, an outdoor shower, cocktail pool, and one off street parking spot.  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. You're gonna fall in love with this one!

Bank Owned - Key West - Price Reduction - 1417 12th Street

The asking price on 1417 12th Street, Key West just got reduced from $365,100 to $329,900. This two bedroom 3 1/2 bath 1500 sq ft town home is actually a very affordable alternative to renting. If you're a local looking for a new place to live, take a look at this property which was built in 1982.  The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"2 Story 3 bedroom 2.5 bath fenced town home with a deck and pool. First floor is made up of a kitchen, living/dining room a bedroom and bath, second floor is master bedroom/bath and bedroom with a half bath. Great location, walking distance to shopping. This property awaits your finishing touches." 

The Bank Owned home located at 1417 12th Street in the midtown area of Key West is 35 years old this year. The exterior and interior of this house resemble a lot of homes built during this time era when minimalism was the norm. The exterior structure is the opposite of Key West cottage that many people hope to find when they think about buying a place here.  The thing is the Key West dream house usually comes with a pretty heft price tag.  The building is a town home configuration of several attached units, each with a different facade, elevation, and roof line to break the monotony of sameness. Bahama shutters were added to the front and rear. Each home has a small front yard and an off street parking space. Here, the yard is a combination of pea rock,  ornamental grass, and a couple of palm trees. Many owners have replaced the original windows with impact units. This home would benefit with retro-fitting the windows and doors with modern impact replacements. This would not only add light into the home but also provide for significant wind insurance savings for years to come.

 The windows and doors and the ceilings and floors have pretty much run their life expectancy and usefulness. A prior owner tried to renovate the home a few years back. I think he (or she) failed. The house comes across as being a bit dark, a bit dated, and in need of face lift. I am going to share some photos I took of the house to give you an idea of how the house looks today. I see real potential in this property. Remember it is just a big box. All houses are boxes. Please also understand this house does need to be renovated or even painted. I simply think that it would look so much better and would function better if some of my suggestions were implemented.  There is one section of flooring that needs to be replaced. Otherwise, a new owner could move in and set up house. My suggestions relate how I think this home could be improved and made much more valuable. There is a real difference in making improvements and making repairs.

The front door opens into a hallway that leads to the two story living room at the rear. The first of three bedrooms in this house is located up front. There is an adjacent bath next door which also serves as a guest bath. The railroad style kitchen is next where there is an opening out to the living area. The blue "drama wall" accentuates the small opening from the kitchen. The small opening and darkly painted wall makes the kitchen seem like a cave. In my opinion the kitchen cries out  to be remodeled. I think the space would function much better if the upper walls at the front of the kitchen were removed. I would relocate the refrigerator to the rear and remove the wall opposite the stair. 

I found a photo of another unit in the same complex where both the kitchen and the second floor bedroom were opened up to create more vibrant living and sleeping spaces. See the photo below. It is the same space but looks totally different. Both spaces seem so much more interesting. 

Each of the bedrooms and bathrooms have differing floor surfaces. I think it makes more sense to have one floor system run throughout the house. It would give unity of design to the entire house. If I owned this house I redo the master bath. The door is a bit narrow and the bidet is a European affectation. At a minimum I would ditch the bidet and add a vanity with dual sinks. 

The primary reason I wanted to write about this house is the pool at the rear. It's a Charlie Brown Pool - it's a bit on the small side, but it has potential!  The prior owner installed a surrounding deck with a man-made material similar to Trex decking. The deck is non-slip and resistant to insects and water damage.

While I was taking photos of this home I noticed the clean and contemporary lines of a neighboring house two doors away. The exterior was painted a cool Caribbean color that contrasted with the brown of this home. The original windows in the neighboring property were replaced with impact glass. In fact most of the neighboring  homes now have impact glass. I could not help to imagine how much cleaner this home would look if the old brown French doors and shutters were removed. This home could look equally as nice. CLICK HERE to view all the photos I took of this home.

1417 12th Street  is a bank owned property with 1500 sq ft of living space that includes three bedrooms, three baths, off street parking, and a pool. The asking price is $329,900. You can't buy a studio apartment in Old Town for that.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. Bring your imagination and a calculator. Figure out how you might tweak this place. There's a bargain to be had here.