Beautiful Waterfront Home - Key West

Some people think that Key West must have a lot of waterfront homes. That is not the case. In fact there are few single family homes on the island which are actually located on waters edge. When I find a place with a great view or some unique feature I feel compelled to share it with my readers in hope someone will call me to help them find their dream home in Paradise.

I recently showed 2621 Gulfview Drive in the Roosevelt Annex addition to Key West. What a house this is and what a view it has! The three bedroom 2 1/2 bath house has 1720 sq ft of easy living space on two floors plus front and rear decks on the first and second floors. The house, shown above, is located near the western end of the development and has beautiful open water views from both rear decks. My potential buyers were just awed by the water views as soon as we entered the house.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"The Best Of All Worlds. Private Gated Community And One Of The Very Few Key West Homes Where You Actually Own The Shoreline. Pool And Decks Directly On The Open Gulf With The Option Of A Private Dock. Quality Custom Built Home With Top Of The Line Finishes. This Home Must Be Seen Because Their Is Little To Compare It To. The Best That Key West Lifestyle Has To Offer."

CLICK HERE to see the mls datasheet on this house. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule an appointment to see 2621 Gulfview Drive that is listed at $849,000. If you don't realize the value of this house and this location, CLICK HERE to see the other Key West single family homes with water views. Compare the views and prices. That second click should do the trick.

Key West Waterfront at Affordable Price

This Gulfview Drive townhome in Roosevelt Annex with a private pool and killer waterfront views is offered for sale at an incredibly affordable price of just $479,000. The best thing is it not a short sale and it is not bank owned. We don't need to deal with unscrupulous ninnies in far away places to make this deal happen.


The listing Realtor describe this treasure like this:

"Beautiful open water Gulf views in an immaculate gated community.Out door deck area w/private pool and fountains. Two upstairs balconies. Open the doors for wonderful cross breezes. Hurricane shutters for all windows. Carport with storage. Due to windstorm credits total annual insurance costs are $3,370."

Roosevelt Annex was the final Key West development done by the Singh Company that developed the immensely successful Truman Annex and equally popular Key West Golf Club development. It is the waterfront setting for each single family home or townhome that makes this property the crown jewel of the three Singh created in Key West. Yes, Key West is an island surrounded by water, but very few people who live on our little island can enjoy the soothing waterfront views available here.

Locals will remember all of the intense political battles that lead to the creation of this development. An outside might look at this property without any appreciation of the fury that went into the creation of something so serene today. Enough of history: more about today and tomorrow.

This Gulfview Drive townhome is located at the far end of the lazy drive that ends just about 100 feet east of this property. CLICK HERE for a Google Map aerial view. An elaborate electronic iron gate secures entrance to the property. Then a beautiful landscaped drive takes residents to their homes. Like any Singh property, the landscaping is lush. The covered off street parking is located across the street from this property.

This 1320 sq ft property has one bedroom(and bath) downstairs opposite the kitchen. The dining and living areas look out onto the water. Upstairs you will find a good sized second bedroom(with bath) in front and a large master bedroom with ensuite bath at the rear. Both bedrooms have private porches but it is the master suite that has that incredible waterfront view.

If you walk past the private pool and through the rear white picket fence you will find a path past the other equally lovely properties that share the remarkable waterfront view. Imagine walking your dog down the path each morning and night looking out to a sight only a few lucky souls will ever get to enjoy. The best part about this Key West property is that it can be yours for $479,000. So do not wait. It will be gone, and then you will regret taking too long to make up your mind.

If you would like more information on this property or any other property, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by 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.

Key West Waterfront Condo - Bank Owned!

People are always looking for bargains. I remember many days several years ago when I had 'floor duty' at another real estate office on Duval Street. Several times potentially interested buyers would come inside and ask me about 'bargains' and include the word "foreclosure" as if the two were synoninous. They aren't and there were none. When properties were selling at incredily high prices, it was easy to sell even crap because people wanted anything they could buy. They figured they would buy it, fix it, and use it or perhaps 'flip' it. Since everything sold so easily in a rising market, there just were no foreclosures. When the market collapsed, there were too many foreclosures. The condo unit at Pelican Landing I am discussing today is one of those.

A few years later the real estate market in Key West has been fiercely shaken. The good properties in good locations are as valuable today as they were a few years ago. They may cost less now, however, because the overall market has adjusted downward. The down turn in the market has created hundreds of short sales and foreclosures in the Key West area. That downward spiral has reduced to a trickle in Key West, but the unsold properties are still out there. (There will be new short sales and more bank owned assets listed in the future, but the number of new foreclosures and new bank owned properties has been significantly reduced.)

The asking price on the waterfront bank owned condo at Pelican Landing 915 Eisenhower Unit No. 101 has just been reduced to $394,694 or $292 per sq ft for this 1352 sq ft two bedroom, two bath unit which looks right out to the marina. The listing agent describes the property thus:

"Harbor And Pool Views Enhance This 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Unit. Located A Few Short Blocks From Old Town's Duval St. Unit Has Private Stairway To Pool Area And Marina With Use Of Boat Slip. Large Covered Balcony To Take In The Awesome View. Seller Will Credit Buyer Up To A Maximum 3% Of Sales Price Towards Closing Costs If Negotiated In Final Signed Counter Offer."

Sometimes I like to compare how a previous agent listing agent discussed the same property when it was marketed at a much higher asking price. One of the very best agents (year after year) listed this same property a couple of years ago when it was priced at $999,000 and described the very same unit this way:

" ...waterfront condo spacious 2BD/2BA, with docking privileges and licensed for transient use. Enjoy wonderful waterfront views from the bright and open living & dining room. Glass doors open onto a spacious covered patio, tile floors, heated pool, elevator, garage, covered parking and right in town!!!"

Dining and Living area followed by covered deck as they appeared in 2008

Photo of covered deck as it appeared when furnished in 2008

This unit has a Transient Rental License and which can be managed by the on site manager at Pelican Landing. The large living room opens onto the huge rear deck that overlooks the Garrison Bight Marina and the Pelican Landing boat slips below. The new owner will have the privilege of stunning early morning sunrise views every day. The furniture (shown in the photos above) is gone but the unit is pretty much the same. Except the asking price is only $364,694. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and current listing photos.

Key West's beautiful Bay View Park is located across the street

Pelican Landing Condos are located at the eastern edge of Old Town. Bay View Park is across the street to the southwest. The on site manager at Pelican Landing provides a wealth of information on this property. I was surprised to learn that most of the transient rentals actually occur during the summer months because boaters return to Key West year after year for summer fishing and family outings. That means a potential owner could actually use the property during prime time winter months and still rent it during the summer.

If you are looking for a Key West waterfront property with a transient license (that you can use or not use-your choice), please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 or kw1101v@aolcom. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

Old Key West - Ocean View - Estate Property

701 Waddell Avenue - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work), 701 Waddell Avenue in the Casa Marina area of Key West. The listing Broker describes the property like this:

"Situated across the street from the Atlantic Ocean, this beautiful home occupies a prominent corner lot in a vibrant neighborhood. Built in 1908, the 5 bedroom, 4 bath house originally served as an inn for the Key West Electric Company, and later as a doctor's office. The home was completely renovated in 2003 and received the Ceramic Star award from HARC. In addition to the 1,500 sf wraparound porch, the elegant interior provides 4000 sf of living space highlighted by original windows with wood sashes, Bahama shutters, crown moldings, solid wood doors and 10' ceilings. A large porch off the kitchen is complemented by an outdoor living area with a heated pool and waterfall, perfect for entertaining. Pool house can be used as a studio space."

I found one of those 1965 vintage photos of the property that shows how it looked then. Compare it to today's look. Both are pictured below.

701 Waddell Avenue as it appeared in 1965

701 Waddell Avenue as is looks in December 2010

Not much has changed on the outside. The house is basically the same with some minor architectural changes. And that is the way it is supposed to be in Key West, especially for homes in the Historic District and homes that have been singled out for the historic significance to the community. The inside of this home has been updated but the basic character has been left intact. There is a great new kitchen with partial views that overlook the pool at the rear. The baths are all updated as well. The old Key West charm is readily evident on all three levels of this water view property.

You may be more familiar with the location because of its famous neighbor across the street at 700 Waddell Avenue, Louie's Backyard. I found a photo of that property also taken in 1965 and a current pic as well. (The house behind Louie's was moved to another location many years ago. That space is now the After Deck bar which provides incredible views while sipping cocktails and contemplating life.)

Doggie Beach - Key West

701 Waddell Avenue is priced at $2,285,000. It is a big house with 3914 sq ft of space including 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, the office and entertaining areas. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view more photos of the property.

The lot is an irregular 100' x 100' with 9787 sq ft of actual land. CLICK HERE to see a Google Map aerial view of the house and area. The back yard is huge. There is a small cottage that overlooks the very large kidney shaped pool with waterfall. A large "U" shaped deck wraps the house from Vernon Street around to the opposite side of the kitchen. That deck is elevated from the yard below so you have a heightened perspective of the yard and pool below.


I live in the Casa Marina area and love it. I am close to everything but far enough away that I don't have to live with the commotion. The (other) beaches are just a couple of blocks away. Old Town is a short bike ride or a long walk. Shopping is a few blocks away. (This particular location is busier than most of Casa Marina because of Louie's and the beach.)

Locals are welcome to use the facilities at the Reach Resort, just a block to the west down a sandy walkway CLICK HERE. Simply rent a chair and buy cocktails and you have first class ocean seat any day you want. Locals may also purchase a membership at the Casa Marina where they have full use of the gym, spa, and beaches plus a discount on all food and beverages. First class all the way.

If you are looking for a large estate size property like 701 Waddell Avenue, please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to show this property to you. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Our office is the Exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.