806 Pearl Street, Key West - Better Be Quick

Jack be nimble, Jack be spry

Jack jump over the candlestick

Jack be spry

Jack buy this Legal Duplex

Before somebody else does! 

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West is this cute two stories duplex located at 806 Pearl Street in The Meadows Area of Key West. This has been the craziest real estate market I have ever seen. Houses get listed for sale and then go under contract a day or two later. This place is a duplex, does not have off street parking, and it does not have a pool. But it is in good condition and it is located in a great neighborhood. And I think it is a near-perfect buy for a second home seeker who want a Key West getaway and some income to help defray the cost of ownership.

 

The 2022 color photo of 806 Pearl Street shows the cutification of the old girl with first floor front porch enclosed to create more interior living area and a bit of a front yard and fence for privacy. 

The first and second floor are basically the same, only different. They enjoy the same space but are not duplicates of each other. The first floor unit is 780 Sq FT and has a 10' X 16"deck. The second floor unit is 720 Sq Ft with a 6'' X 20'wrap-around deck and exterior staircase landing. My idea suggests a new owner may choose continue to rent the lower unit to the long term tenant and perhaps take over the second floor unit for him/her/they (self or selves). Or continue to rent that unit to its long term renter. A lot of buyers want a Key West base where they can come and go and lock and leave. This could be perfect.

806 Pearl Street is located across the street from The Meadows Townhomes. The property has 1,504 Sq Ft of living space situated on a 1.332 Sq Ft postage size lot. It is offered for sale at $885,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more photos. 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 meant what I said about Jack. Jack be quick. You better be to. 

The Meadows Area of Key West

914 Frances Street, Key West - Old Town Two Story Duplex

Just Listed, but not by me, 914 Frances Street, Key West. This is a fully restored and enhanced two story legal duplex located in the "X" Flood Zone in Old Town. I searched my old shoebox and found a photo taken of the same property 55 years ago. See below.

 

I also searched the historic Sanborn Fire Maps to determine when this property was built. The early maps show a Chinese laundry located at the corner of Division Street at Frances (current day Truman Avenue and the site of Bare Assets) plus a series of small cigar maker cottages in a row then a vacant lot where 914 Frances was built sometime between 1899 to 1912. The photo three above shows modernization to the original house with wrought iron porch posts, aluminum awnings, jalousie windows and metal louver front door. Wrought iron columns were popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I suspect the second floor front was originally an open porch which was later enclosed and the side staircase added when the upstairs was made into a second living unit. 

Both units have private entrances and separate rear main level deck spaces. The main level front door opens into a staircase which leads to the upper unit. See photos below. The downstairs unit is accessed by the door located midway on the right side. That door opens into the great room area. The two bedrooms and bath are located at the front of the building in both first and second floor.

The property has 2,160 Sq Ft of living space under air divided equally between the upper and lower units. Both are two bedroom, two bath plus large great room and kitchen. The units are vacant and both easy to show and not encumbered by current tenants. This gives a new owner the opportunity to move into one and rent the other if that is in your bucket list. Locals will appreciate  the convenient location within easy walking distance to Duval Street and the seaport.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 914 Frances Street, Key West offered for sale at $1,479,000 (or $684 per sq ft). A 2/2 in Shipyard condos but only 646 Sq Ft is offered at $1,082 per sq ft. Having a permanent place to live, full time monthly rental income, and priced at a better price per sq ft is certainly reason to take a look at this property. 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.  

1022 Fleming St. Key West - Just Listed

I have written about this Legal Duplex before and I am using an older photograph as the lead photo in today's blog. See if you notice any difference in the current photo below.

I sold 1022 Fleming Street five years ago to a customer who looked at it once and said this is it. No hesitation. I had shown it earlier to another potential buyer who hemmed and hawed and procrastinated too long. He lost it. I had second potential buyer who ruminated too long and as recently as this past month reminded me about her sorrowful mistake in not buying at a lower price.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes the current owner to sell this beautiful home that sits on one of the very best blocks in Old Town Key West. Let's take a look at the property from front to back, bottom to top.

Ellen Gvilli at Oceansir.com, the listing Realtor, describes the property this way:

"From the old world but with new charm, this legal Duplex is a great investment property and/ or vacation home. Or live in one unit and rent the other. Each spacious floor has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, full kitchens with stainless appliances, laundry, open living/kitchen/dining areas and lots of outdoor space. The downstairs unit opens to a nice deck with a pool and the upstairs unit is filled with lots of natural light and surrounded by a beautiful wide wrap around porch. Located in a prime location in the heart of Old town close to the Old Seaport, restaurants and bars, Offered fully furnished and ready for your next move..." 

This is a very pretty house from both the street and from the inside.  It offers the same basic features on both floors with slight variations.  Both units have living areas located at the rear with kitchens tucked into the left rear corners.  Both have pool and garden views from the rear. The main floor unit has direct pool access. The second floor unit has a balcony that looks down to the pool and out toward the neighboring homes. Both units have two bedrooms which are accessed via the quite large west side interior hallway. The hallway has plenty of ambient daytime light that floods this hall. The bedrooms also have windows opening out to the east and front side porches.  East side windows in all bedrooms open out to this east side hallway onto the covered porches. The last photo above shows the first floor porch view of Fleming Street. Let me show you this house, let you sit on that sofa, and imagine that being your dream home.

 

Key West is full of pretty old houses but few have two levels of views and pretty as 1022 Fleming Street.  The second floor living room ceiling is vaulted (not shown in photos). This adds to the drama going outside on the deck. This space is so pretty. A new owner would be torn between living on the main floor and walking out to the pool or on the second level and radiating on the views.

I could go on and on and tell you stories about the older couple who made this place their home for years and years. This is such a special place. It needs a nice new owner who will enjoy all that it has to offer. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1022 Fleming Street Key West offered for sale fully furnished at $1,1590,000. 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. 

1022 Fleming Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed, but not by me, 1022 Fleming Street, Key West.  Just take a look at how regal this house sits on one of the best blocks in Old Town. You can't tell it by looking at the house, but it is actually a two story legal duplex. 

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"A must see, historic gem on truly one of Key West's most prestigious and desirable streets. In the heart of Old Town sits this beautiful 2 story grand home. With huge wrap around porches on both the upper and lower floors, the curb appeal is truly a hallmark of Key West. This property offers many possibilities for its new owners. Leave as a legal duplex for immediate rental income -- long term or vacation rental, live in one unit and rent the other, or renovate into a magnificent single family residence. Offered completely furnished with all new furnishings, it is ready for whatever one decides. Each spacious floor has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, full kitchens with stainless appliances, laundry, open living/kitchen/dining areas and lots of outdoor space both in front and back. The house is filled with natural light and coveted dade county pine throughout. The lower unit has direct access to a lovely deck and pool. This prime location is only a short few blocks to all Key West has to offer including the Historic Seaport and World Famous Duval St."

I sold this property to the current owners just a few years ago. They did a superb job of re-creating this space without it looking like so many of the houses we see today. All work was permitted and done by licensed contractors. There is new HVAC and electrical wiring and fixtures and fans throughout. The interiors and exterior were professionally painted. The floors professionally were professionally refinished and look great. French doors at the rear of the first floor unit open out to the rear deck and pool. The left side hallway provides access to both bedrooms. The hall is painted bright white. New furniture and furnishings were purchased to rent the units.  All furnishings convey with the property at closing. The front door opens out to the wrap-around deck. It's a great place to sit and watch the world pass by. And it is a great place to view the People's Parade during Fantasy Fest. 

The second floor is laid out similarly but not identically. The living area opens out to the covered rear balcony which has nice sunny views to the south.  The first bedroom has a door which opens out to the wrap-around deck for a quick exit should the need permit. Both bedrooms have access to the front balcony which has wonderful views of Fleming Street. And the view from the rear is every bit as wonderful.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1022 Fleming Street and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to show you this great Old Town property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

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