702 Catherine Street, Key West - Potential Vacation Rental

Just Listed. but not by me, 702 Catherine Street, located in Old Town Key West and about two blocks away from upper Duval Street where the cool people hang out. There several near by places like Frenchcies, Bab Boy Burrito, and the infamous LaTeDa where you can eat, drink, or be entertained, and walk home within a few minutes.  South Beach is nearby as well. Your guests can walk to a fun beach and not get lost nor get blisters on their feet for having to walk a couple of miles. South Beach is only three blocks away. At the same time you can just as easily walk out to the back porch and watch the kids have fun in the pool. This 1450 sq ft two bedroom, two and one-half bath has it all. And its priced to sell at just $959,000.

The listing agent describes 702Ctherine Street this way: "This pristine home sits in a wonderful Old Town compound consisting of 9 beautifully maintained homes clustered around a 45' shared pool with lush landscaping. The prime, quiet location is only 1 1/2 blocks off of Upper Duval St. The interior has gorgeous white-oak wood floors, a spacious floor plan, high ceilings, and abundant natural light in every room. Experience indoor/outdoor living at its best with french doors leading from the living room to a sun deck overlooking the swimming pool, a covered & screened living/dining area outside of the kitchen, a front porch and a second floor balcony. The kitchen has rich granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances and is open to the dining area. Living area is spacious and bright with a half bath located near the stairs. Full-size laundry is inside of the house. The two upstairs bedrooms each have two full bathrooms ensuite with ochre travertine floors and matching tile & glass shower enclosures--one of which has a bathtub. This solid home has hardie board siding, a metal roof and hurricane shutters. Outdoor areas have premium composite decking. There is off-street parking for one car. HOA fee is $192 per month paid quarterly and covers pool maintenance and landscaping."  This is s town home which means the homeowner is responsible for all building maintenance and building insurances. The HOA fees are modest and cover only pool and common area maintenance. The good thing is this home appears to be in superior condition.  It looks great in all areas - indoors and outdoors. That means a new homeowner will not need to start fixing things once title has passed. This home looks like it has been treated like a baby - a pampered baby.

The covered porch at the main floor rear provides abundant private outdoor dining and rest areas. Even though the area looks out to the communal pool, you cannot see inside from the outside French doors at the back of the living area open onto the rear porch that leads down to the pool area. There is also a small landing area where you could you chairs to have private a private sitting area. But it is the semi-enclosed porch where your family and friends will likely spend most of their time. 

The second floor hallway provides nice separattion between the two bedroom wings. There is even access to a small second floor balcony overlooking Catherine Street. The real wood floors shine throughout this house. The walls currently display bold art work everywhere. A new owner could just as easily minize the art work and still make the walls look great as they provide ample contrast to the beautiful wood floors.

Both bedrooms have en-suite baths and adequate closets. I always tell potential buyers that they won't need as many clothes in Key West as they need up north, but they still need clothes and places to store them. This home had both room to live and adquequate storage spaces on both living levels.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datesheet and more photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. A new owner can legally rent this home as monthly vacation rental. It's prime location makes it a sure winner if that is your choice. However, not all owners rent their homes here. This home is affordably priced such that a new owner may not need to find rental income to help pay the cost of ownership. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

514 Elizabeth St Key West - New Lower Price

The asking price on 514 Elizabeth Street in Key West was just reduced to $1,350,000. I have written about this historic Old Town home a few times over the ten years I have written my blog, not because it has been offered for sale but rather to share with my Dear Readers that this is the first house I sold in Key West.  It has been owned by the same people these many years. As I recall there were three factors that influenced their decision to buy this place. First, the house really is historic - it is one of the very oldest homes in Key West. Second, it has a great location equal distance to Duval Street and the Historic Seaport. Third it had off street parking and a deep back yard with room for a pool. The owners built a pool and created a lovely rear deck and garden.  The perfect location and the charming home remain.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said, "Less is more."  The simplicity of design and original construction make this home a stand out among the many homes in Old Town that have been over-renovated. My research shows the house as having been built circa 1855. The photo directly below shows the house in 1965. Below that is a photo I took  about ten years ago. The bottom photo was taken in 2013 from the second floor of the house across the street at 517 Elizabeth.  The current told me  that 514 Elizabeth is "is typical of the conch or Bahamian house built in the Bahamas from the 1780s and in Key West prior to the Civil War. The original architectural moldings that survive are typical of the 1835-1860 period."

The facade is so simple. The front porch is meant for sitting. The front door opens into a wide hallway with the formal parlor on the right and the ground floor bedroom on the left. There is a main floor bath at the left rear. The stairway to the second floor bedrooms is located on the right. The original Dade County Pine walls and floors are still intact throughout the house. The only noticeable thing I saw that has changed is the front scuttle no long is visible inside the second floor bedrooms. The house now has central air conditioning and that vitiated the need to use the scuttle for ventilation.

You probably can't tell it from the photos but the wood walls also help us date the house. The wood planks are much wider than typical houses from the 1890s and later. That means the Dade County Pine walls were "old growth lumber" which means earlier construction. The floors and walls have settled a bit with age. Purists who want a genuine old house will appreciate this. People who want something is all perfect will not. I remember staying at the Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds many years ago. We stayed in the room that Oliver Cromwell stayed in the night before the Battle of Hastings in 1620. The room tilted a bit. The hotel had a fancy new addition. I preferred historic room with the tilt. And that is why I find this house so utterly charming.

 The previous owner added a new kitchen and dining area more than twenty years ago. It is showing its age a bit. A new owner might update it. 

One of the joys of living in Key West is the ability to open the doors in the winter and allow the sunshine inside and merge the inside with the outside at night. Two separate spaces become one environment to share with family and friends. It's meals on heels instead of meals on wheels here.

During the daytime the pool is the perfect place to get than Key West tan that will make your friends from the frozen north green with envy.  The deck are perfect entertaining spots at night as well. French doors open from the kitchen and the family room area out to the deck.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 514 Elizabeth Street which is a Pre-Civil War home in Key West offered by Preferred Properties at $1,350,000. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. This is a great location and a precious home in our community.

508 Grinnell Street, Key West - Gracious Old Town Residence

The listing Realtor describes the home at 508 Grinnell Street this way:

Elegance and Serenity will greet you as you walk through the doors of this Impeccably Restored Historic Home, located on the Coveted 500 block of Grinnell St., just a short stroll from the Historic Seaport. The living space flows flawlessly to the pool and pool house and combined with the lush landscaping and design, creates an Impressive entertaining area. Three Bedrooms and three full baths,

two of which are ensuite are all spacious with plenty of storage. The pool house is air conditioned and can be used as a fourth bedroom. Gorgeous Hard wood floors, Walls of windows, original Dade county Pine sporadically found in the perfect locations. All finishes are of the highest quality and tastefully appointed. Located in the x-zone and one off street parking spot. A beautiful Key West Gem for the Discerning Buyer.

This house first appeared in the 1889 Historic Sanborn Fire Map when it was numbered 231 Grinnell Street.  That means this house was built at least as of 1889. It could date back years earlier. The house numerator changed to 508 Grinnell Street in the 1892 map. The MAP shows  a large open area in the rear with numerous small cottages interspersed in a very large open area that identified as "Goats Retreat". Today that area has numerous small cottages that face onto Hibiscus Lane  which begins on Grinnell Street and ends a couple of hundred feet to the west where a private gate opens into a stunning Balinese retreat currently offered at over $6 million. The houses two doors to the right front onto Fleming Street and all are multi-million dollar homes. The quaint little houses of more than a hundred forty years ago have become pretty expensive homes in modern day Key West.

The black and white photo below shows 508 Grinnell Street as it appeared in 1965. If you compare the two photos you will see that the current house is much larger than the original house. Shed additions were added to both sides of the attic giving the second floor meaningful living space. (You cannot do that today. HARC won't allow it.) Today there are two bedrooms each with full baths on the second floor. Original metal louvers were replaced with glass windows and air conditioned interiors.
The 1950s vintage aluminum awnings shown below were removed. The old fashioned concrete base was removed and new wood columns added. The front entry was moved from the right side to the left side of the house.

The front door actually opens onto a covered portico that runs the length of the house. Thee sets of glass doors provide abundant light into the living room. There is an office located at the front (no photos).

I had to pause and touch the wood when I reached the staircase. Everything so was perfect. The original wood remains, distressed over the years just like any other old-timer. A bath is located at the right rear. There are numerous little cubby-hole closets and other places throughout the house. You will notice the continued theme of bright white set against warm wood.

The doors open out to the side and rear porch which leads to the pool, sunning area, and pool cottage. Everything here is pristine. Doors can remain opened throughout much of the winter while folks up north are wearing long johns and parks, folks down here can sit outside at night and have a pleasant dinner wearing the Tee shits and flip flops.

 The second floor hallway reminds me a small boutique hotel in the Cotswolds. Every things is done on point. Nothing amiss. The laundry is hidden behind one set of doors. There is more storage behind others.

I was in this home earlier this morning along with 50 other Realtors all of whom were making sounds like "Ooh" and "Aah" at every turn.  This is a truly great house with so many delightful little features that make this home a standout.  The house is showcased so well that it looks like a place you might see in Architectural Digest which is anther great feature as it is offered furnished.

508 Grinnell Street is offered for sale at $1,995,000. CLICK HERE to view th Key West MLS datasheet and listing 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.