Key West Real Estate Thowback Thursday No 37

 from: October 1, 2018

Latch Key Dogs in Key West

Unlike many places across the United States, most houses and condos in Key West are shown by the listing agent instead of by accessing a lock box. This is both a tradition and a necessity as Key West many if not most listings here are viewed as both special and may also be tenant occupied. Special listings can be either very expensive homes that require strict control as to who goes inside or making sure that a potential buyer does not get injured while viewing a house in need of repair.

But all rules have exceptions including the house on Watson Street I showed several years ago. I remember the day and circumstance quite well. The listing agent told me she could not be present. The house was on lock box. She gave me the combination and said the tenant's dog would be in the house. The dog was tame and would not be a problem. It was probably winter as I noticed the light in the living room was turned on. I knocked on the door thinking the tenant was home. No answer. I opened the lock box, retrieved the key, and unlocked the door. I announced myself "Realtor".  No answer. I beckoned my customer to follow me inside whereupon I saw a big done sitting on the sofa watching her afternoon soap opera (or Oprah or whatever) on the television. The dog did some cute dog thing. The buyer probably gushed and talked baby talk.  We moved from room to room and then let the dog go back to its television. (I borrowed the black and white photo above, but it clearly represents what happened on the day I showed the house on Watson.)

This was not a one-time phenomenon. Another time the listing agent who was also the owner of the property I was showing gave me the lock box to his house. He said his two dogs would be present and not to mind them - they were harmless despite their size. Sure enough they were home guarding the bedroom.  I couldn't get them to move. They sniffed and checked us out then plopped their big behinds in front of the door just to make sure we behaved. 

The exception occurred a few years earlier while I was showing a tenant occupied condo on the eastern end of Key West. My buyers and I went inside a two story condo without incident. The tenant's dog yipped as we walked about. My buyers descending the stairs without incident.  I trailed behind, locked the door, and headed toward my car when my buyer said "Gary, you're bleeding". Apparently the little dog snapped at me and bit my ankle. I am glad he was small and not a German
Shepherd - that would have hurt.

I am listing three new properties. Watch the MLS in the next few days. I expect two will have bidding wars. One on open house this weekend.

1901 S Roosevelt Blvd #103 West, Key West

Take a few seconds to contemplate looking out to the Key West Salt Ponds each morning as the sun rises over Smathers Beach. The newly listed two bedroom / two bath unit was 2012 completely renovated and designed by a renowned interior designer in 2012. It is offered turnkey with McGuire dining and lounge chairs, Baker furniture, Angelo Donghia lighting and furnishings, custom bedding and window treatments and a gorgeous Currey & Co Hedy Turquoise and Jade glass bead chandelier. Donghia was a world famous designer who owned a couple of Key West houses back before Key West was "discovered" including the "Calvin Klein House" and his residence across the street which I blogged about two years ago. CLICK HERE.

How restful is this wake-up view? That bed looks awfully comfy. Glass sliders open out to the deck overlooking the salt ponds to the east. 

 

Another set of glass sliders open out to the salt pond views from the open concept living area where a set on windows in the kitchen bring west light into that space. This is Key West where outdoor views are so important.

The guest bedroom and bath are located opposite the kitchen. A center hall bisects the spaces and leads into the living area. This unit has 1099 sq ft of living space and is offered turnkey at $719,000. Consider that a Shipyard Condominium unit with 780 sq ft is being offered for sale in the $699,000 range. It makes sense to me to take a look at this to compare.

La Brisa Condominiums have a beautiful pool, tennis courts, spa, bar-b-Que area, and off street parking. And  the complex is located across the street from the largest beach in Key West. I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo taken in 1985 which shows La Brisa and 1800 Atlantic Condominiums still under construction. The west building at La Brisa was built in 1996. Key West has changed so much since then. The gardens at La Brisa are now lush. The beach is still sunny and inviting.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1901 S Roosevelt Blvd #103 West, Key West, Florida. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a privater showing of this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1010 & 1012 Olivia Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed 1010 & 1012 Olivia Street, Key West. If these two houses look familiar to readers. they should. I blogged about them in April 2015 and again in November 2020 when I shared the folk art of these two Ronny Bailey shown below. Click the November date to read the earlier blog which contains more of Bailey's work.

The listing agent states:

"The Historic Twins'' are two historic single-family homes located on a corner lot in Old Town, Key West and ready for the new owner to restore and build their Key West dream home. Approved plans convey with sale. May also be purchased with 911 Watson Street."  

 "City has determined both structures to be unsafe. Please see documents for more information."  The seller does have plans for renovation available to prospective buyers. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS  datasheet on 1010 and 1012 Olivia Street offered at $950,000.

And CLICK HERE for more photos of 1010 and 1012 Olivia Street.
 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on at adjacent and renovated and expanded 911 Watson Street offered at $2,450,000.

The two Olivia Street houses are among the finest of the old houses let undone. It would be shame to lose them and a task to renovate. 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. 

 

Not me!

 

726 Poorhouse Lane, Key West

In his book The Streets of Key West: A History Through Street Names author J. Willis Burke informs us that "Over the other side of Solares Hill a couple of entries are self-explanatory. Galveston Lane is named for the Texas gulf coastal city that was served by the Mallory Steamship Company, and off Windsor, on Poorhouse Lane, a poorhouse was once tucked away." You may ask yourself why anybody would want to live on a street with such a desperate appellation. Let's try to figure this out.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps starting in 1889 through 1912 (pictured above) to determine when the house at 726 Poorhouse Lane was built. The early maps did not give this little lane a name until this map and this particular lot did not have any building on it until after 1912.  The map shows the lane was previously named Petronia Lane and that it turned south and ended at Olivia Street. Study the street sign above because that sign is now gone. Some street thug stole it and part of the history of this charming slow lane of Key West. House by house, foot by foot, this little lane is gradually being gentrified and made into a re-imagined neighborhood in Old Town Key West.

 726 Poorhouse Lane is a 4800 square foot corner lot (48' X 100') now located across the street from Bill Butler Park to the west. I don't think I have ever seen a kid swing on the swing as this area is now mostly occupied by rich folks with second homes in Key West as opposed to real families. I'm not being negative - I'm just stating a fact.

There is a white picket fence which wraps the lot on two sides. I searched my old shoebox and found a photo of the house taken in 1965. I took a similar photo yesterday which shows a modification of the original roof line after which a rear porch was added. There is a small storage cottage at the southeast corner of the lot. But ultimately it is the location on this picturesque lane that once led to a real poorhouse that makes this small home such an interesting home worthy of serious consideration.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows the bungalow style house was built circa 1939. The house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice living room with vaulted ceiling, and retro style kitchen.

For me it is the location and the possibilities that make 726 Poorhouse Lane such an interesting home to consider purchasing. A world famous singer used to live less 100 feet north of Bill Butler Park. There's a stage production about his music on Broadway right now. He's gone but the area itself is being rebuilt. There are two small corner convenience stores located within a couple of blocks. St. Mary's Catholic Church is up on the corner of Windsor Lane at Truman Avenue. And Duval Street is a five to seven minute walk. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 726 Poorhouse Lane and the area.

726 Poorhouse Lane is offered for sale at $920,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule showing. I am a buyers agent and  a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's sit on the swings, take in the sights, and discuss fulfilling your dream of owning a little place on one of the slow lanes of Key West.

6800 Maloney Ave #56, Key West - Price Reduced

The asking price on 6800 Maloney Avenue #56 in Key West has been reduced to $375,000. I wrote about the property when it was first listed. I liked it so much I thought about buying it myself. Seriously!  That same day a different brokerage listed two boat slips located in the nearby Oceanside Marina. Boat slip measures 40' X 14' and is offered at $262,000. The second boat slip measures 80' X 25' and is offered at $325,000. When I saw that I knew what I originally wrote about the value of 6800 Maloney was absolutely on point. Today's blog is an update on price.  A few days ago a different realtor listed a 60' X 25' boat slip at Safe Harbour Marina is offered at $360,000. They are offering water. This listing is offering a home and a water view of the same body of water.

A lot of people dream about buying a little place in the Florida Keys where they can get away from it all. Most of these dreamers don't mind if the place isn't "perfect". In fact, many prefer that it is not. That way they can fix what needs to be fixed and create their version of the perfect getaway cottage. Many of these dreamers really want a place on the water with a nice view - a place they can catch a few fish or play around on jet skis or take the boat out on open water. And the impossible dreamers hope to find such a place in or near Key West which can be purchased for not a lot of money. 

6800 Maloney Avenue #56 is located in the Harbor Shores Condominiums about 300 feet or so from the new Oceans Edge Key West Hotel and Marina. That hotel has become an instant "hit" because of its waterfront location, multiple pools, and proximity to Duval Street four miles down US1.  This is a manufactured home which sits on a fee simple lot (just like a stick built home up in Peoria or Pittsburgh). Here the property owner owns the house and the land but is also a member of a land based condominium association which owns the common streets and amenities including the boat docks.

The lot is an irregular shaped rectangle measuring 35 feet wide by about 100 feet long or 2753 square feet (which accounts for the irregular shape). There is a concrete seawall which extends about fifteen feet from the home. The water is pretty shallow in this location. An owner might be able to use a flat boat here and certainly could use personal watercraft.  Deep water access is available via the channel on the opposite side of this small bay.

Each of the homes in Harbor Shores is different. Some are trailers, some are modular homes, and there are several newly built stilt homes. This particular Palm Harbor home is a two bedroom two bath with 888 square feet of living space plus screened porch overlooking the water. There is an adjacent storage building also included.

The floors are primarily wall to wall carpet plus tile in the kitchen and baths. The kitchen cabinets are in good shape as are the bathrooms. The place is painted white and needs to be re-painted. A new owner might replace the windows and doors with impact glass which would reduce wind insurance and make it a snap for a seasonal owner to lock and leave. The listing agent told me she thinks a new owner could spend $20,000 and turn this place into something really charming.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home and the Harbor Shores development. This home has a parking space at front. Guest parking is located across the street. There is abundant boat dock age about fifty feet to the north. A fortunate few owners (like #56) are located directly on the water.  A couple of owners have replaced older homes with new stilt homes. I added a photo so that readers can see the kind of replacement property could be added to this site.

I found an aerial photo of the area as it appeared in 2012. The marina still exists but the old covered boat storage was taken down and new hotel and pools were built. Harbor Shores is located just above the once-standing Oceanside Marina boat barn. I think this photo demonstrates the lure of this location. In the past couple of years about half a billion dollars has been spent on several new developments on Stock Island. Locals and returning visitors know that Hog Fish restaurant and Roostica are located nearby. More restaurants are being added.

Duval Street is located four miles to the west. There is always something to do there. That's why I feel buyers who dream of having a little place in the Keys will find this place so appealing.CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 6800 Maloney Avenue #56 then 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 (listing broker for this property). Remember to click the photo link above as well.