Key West Open Houses and Beyond!

Loyal Readers and Guests to Key West, if you are out and about today right after church or brunch, drop by an Open House at 1513 Pine Street and 812 Johnson Lane to see two of my listings.

1513 Pine Street   This Beautiful Home was built new in 2008 with Top-of-The-Line Materials and Craftsmanship. Features include Custom Solid Wood Cabinetry, Granite Counter-Tops, Deluxe Stainless Steel Appliances. 8 Ft Glass Doors open out to Beautifully Landscaped backyard with Heated Pool with Waterfall and Spa. Impressive Architectural Details throughout the house including 11 Ft Ceilings, Crown Molding, High Baseboards and Custom Trim. Lavish Master Bath and Multiple Closets. Rich Wood Floors up and down. Hardiboard Siding, Impact Windows and Doors, Metal Roof. Carport with Storage. Completely Fenced and Beautifully Landscaped. This Corner Home is adjacent to protected basin with Native Tropical Flora. Easy Stroll to Old Town and the Seaport. Wind Insurance. CLICK HERE for the details.  Offered at $1,195,000. Hosted by Gary Thomas. 

812 Johnson Lane Totally Adorable and Freshly Renovated Shotgun Style Cottage located on a Quiet Lane in the Heart of Old Town. Two Large Bedrooms plus New Marble Bath. Lots of Closets. New Kitchen including Stainless Steel Appliances, Granite Counter Tops. New Floors throughout. French Doors Open Out to the Heated Free Form Pool and Sunny Deck. Guest Cottage (Third Bedroom) with Half Bath plus Outdoor Shower. Laundry Room. Bricked Off Street Parking for Two Cars. This property would make a Great Vacation Rental. Located Three Blocks from Duval Street and Easy Walking Distance to most of the Gyms and Yoga Studios. X Zone: Flood Insurance Not Required. CLICK HERE for more information. Offered at $789,000.   Hosted by Leighann Roach.

Merry Christmas 2014

634 Louisa Street #5, Key West - An Affordable Home at Last!

Locals and maybe even buyers who are looking for an affordable retirement home in Key West ought to consider looking at 634 Louisa Street #5.  This is a two story town home built in 2007 with lots of money saving construction features that will save a potential new home owner money year after year.

Loyal readers know my penchant for searching through the old shoe box to find photos of old homes. Well, I found one for this property - sort of. The black and white photo was taken of 634 Louisa Street back in 1965.  It looks to me like the property in existence then had been converted to some sort of commercial use.  The black and white aerial photo taken in the 1920s shows the approximate location of the Louisa Street property back then. Note the old water tank located between Catherine and Louisa Streets. Most of that entire block is now the Suburban Propane property. And the half block just east of 634 Louisa Street is a trailer park today.  Times change and buildings and uses change. For now the propane facility and trailer park are the neighbors. This helps explain the affordable price on this very nice newer construction.

The listing Realtor describes 634 Louisa Street this way:

"Two bedroom one and half bath townhome located two blocks from Duval Street on quiet street. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, high efficiency washer and dryer. Located on X zone (no flood insurance necessary). Small HOA of only 5 units with very low association fees. 2007 construction."

634 Louisa Street is a 756 sq ft town home. As the owner you would be responsible for all insurance and maintenance on your home. This home was built with Hardiboard Siding. The windows are all wind impact resistant glass. That means your long term maintenance costs will be less as Hardoard holds up to our intense sun and water better than wood siding.  The impact windows qualify the home for substantial windstorm mitigation credits.  Flood insurance is not required. Homeowner insurance is just $461, and windstorm insurance is only $768.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule your private showing of this affordable Key West home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

623 Petronia Street - Old Town - Key West

If you become the new owner of 623 Petronia Street you'll never have to buy flood insurance because this home sits at the top of Solares Hill, the highest point on the Island of Key West - 18 feet above sea level. This family home has been carefully maintained over the years. It is is move-in condition. The listing Realtor describes the home as being:

"Only two blocks from Duval Street, this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom single level home with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom accessory unit near the top of Solares Hill is within walking distance to all of Key West's best restaurants and attractions. X-Flood Zone! Addition and renovation in 2000 makes this 1,981 sq. ft. home stand out. An over sized lot for Old Town Key West, 6116 sq. ft., leaves room for a pool in addition to off street parking and a nicely landscaped yard!"

The house is located in an Old Town neighborhood of single family homes that have been owner occupied for generations and newer owners who have updated older homes. Some homes in the area are rented as vacation rentals. A small church is located next door to this home. Another church is located one block west at Simonton Street opposite a guest house. Some of the smaller cottage style homes on nearby Whitmarsh Lane are transiently rented. It's a tight little neighborhood with a darned good location within easy walking distance to most of Old Town.

This house has a traditional Key West layout with the living room located up front. A large bedroom with en-suite bath is located opposite the living room.

Bedroom number two is located just off the dining room. A set of French doors open out from the bedroom onto a private side terrace.  Another bedroom on the far side of the dining room has access to the private side terrace as well. There is a Jack-And-Jill bath located between the two bedrooms. A door from the dining room allows this bath be be used as a guest bath as well.

The rear addition which was built in 2000 includes a new master bedroom with en-suite bath, family room, and kitchen. French doors at the rear of the kitchen open out to the backyard. Another set of French doors in the master bedroom open out to the rear deck as well. The back yard is large enough to add a pool. The house is situated on a large lot that measures 59' wide by about 104' deep. A good landscape architect could create a mighty interesting rear garden and pool. 

 As if all the bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces in the main house isn't enough, there is also a small guest cottage. The space is a bit smallish, but provides a nice getaway for a teen poet or mother-in-law who wants her own space.

CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of the house and grounds. Look at the windows, all of which have approved shutters which will reduce windstorm insurance rates for you. I took several photos of the piers all of which look to be in superior condition which means you won't be spending money fixing the foundation because it does not need fixed. Most of all you will see a home that has been properly attended to over the years. Any changes a new owner makes will likely be cosmetic because the structure itself appears to be in very good condition. Cosmetic changes are the fun changes new owners like to make. They are changes where the new owners get to put their imprint on their new house. That's probably more fun than rebuilding a foundation or replacing rotting timbers.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.  623 Olivia Street is offered at $949,000. Look at the photos and the mls. Consider what I wrote about the long term loving care given to this house. Consider what changes you might add to turn this home into your home. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This could be your Key West dream home next Christmas.

I took the logo photo below a two years ago. It is a dream home I sold to a couple who made this home their home. Isn't it just perfect!

1711 Atlantic Blvd. Key West - New Lower Price - New Higher Height

1711 Atlantic Boulevard in Key West was originally offered at $680,000 just before Christmas in 2013. The price was reduced to $630,000 in April 2014. The asking price on this mid-century modern home was just reduced to $590,000. 

The listing Realtor, not me, describes 1711 Atlantic Boulevard this way:

"40,000 PRICE REDUCTION! Motivated seller! This solidly built concrete home is unique on Atlantic Blvd. as it was built on top of 5 feet of fill making this the most elevated lot on Atlantic Drive. A nature preserve is the only thing separating this home from the Atlantic Ocean and ensures privacy from the front.This home is large and currently has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and was built in the mid-century modern style of architecture. The home is surrounded by a concrete wall with iron access gates at the front. There is a two car garage and as an added bonus, there is a very large shed/workshop in the rear yard that could be converted into a guest bedroom or artist studio. Even with the shed, there is room for a nice sized pool."

The house sits on a large lot  8050 square feet (70' X 111') across from the City of Key West Nature Preserve which is located between the Key West Beach Club Condominiums to the west and 1800 Atlantic Condominiums to the east. Nothing will ever be built on the nature preserve - no houses, no condos, no nothing.

It is all the land, all 8050 square feet of it, that makes this property so intriguing either as a renovation project or as a tear-down and build new site. While most of the houses in the Old Town and Meadows Area  cannot be torn down to create a new building, there is no such prohibition in this area of the city.  Key West voters passed a referendum that now allows property owners to build houses up to forty feet height limit which would give a new house on this location an unparallelled view of the ocean. I was not in favor of the law, but now that it is the law, developers are sure to exploit lots like this so build dazzling homes with water views. And with the nature conservancy located across the street, there is never going to be something built to interfere with the water view.   CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of the house and grounds. The entire house is a total redo in my opinion. The photos will help you see what you have to work with. The house is very solid. Don't let the dated interiors deter you from taking a look.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property.  I am a full time Realtor and a buyers agent at Preferred Properties Key West.

Click GOOGLE MAP for a view of this home.

416 Margaret Street, Key West - An Old Town Beauty

The house at 416 Margaret Street really is one of the prettiest homes in Old Town. The listing Realtor, not me, describes this Key West home this way:

"Two blocks from the Historic Seaport and 4 blocks from Duval, this classic home embodies the charm of Old Key West. With original Dade County Pine throughout, the first floor features 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths, living and dining area, and kitchen with granite countertops and top of the line appliances. The lovely covered lanai is the perfect spot to relax poolside. The upstairs studio has a kitchenette, full bath and private entrance -- perfect for visitors. Enjoy cool evening breezes and people watching from the vantage point of the extra wide front porch. Awarded the ceramic star in 2009, this beautifully renovated and maintained home is truly a prize and even has off-street parking and is elevated ABOVE base flood level."

I remember this home before it was renovated. A woman doctor from New Jersey came to Key West at least twice to look at this particular home. Back then the house was a genuine "fixer" that so many potential buyers think they want to buy. She wanted to buy it but found a dozen reasons not to buy it because of all the work she thought it needed. The house was purchased and thoroughly renovated. The renovation was so good, in fact, the the gents that did the renovation were awarded a ceramic star acknowledging the finished home. 

I looked in the old shoebox and found a fifty year old black and white photo of the house plus a picture of a prior owner, Mr. John Lopez.  If you look at the black and white photo you will see a car and a house located behind 416 Margaret Street. That car got to that house by driving down Lopez Lane which still exists today. (The historic Sanborn Fire Maps show 416 Margaret as existing as early as 1889. The 1912 map shows Lopez Lane as then being called Lippitt Ct.) The exterior staircase to the second floor has changed somewhat since the black and white photo was taken. The boxed in landing is now open and a white picket fence with trellis now provides a bit of privacy from passers-by on the sidewalk. You will also note that the house is elevated high above street level. When you sit on the front porch today, you have the perfect perch to people watch.

The house is laid out with both downstairs bedrooms located at the front of the property.  The living room, dining area, and kitchen are located at the back side of the house. This is typical Key West living for the modern age where public spaces are located at the rear of the house where many homes open out to rear porches or decks and pools.

A beautiful covered lanai is located just past the double French doors at the rear of the house. Another door in the kitchen also opens out to the lanai where there is plenty of room for socializing next to the pool and rear garden. There is a sunning area just off the covered portion of the lanai. A rear entrance from the off street parking spot passes by the outdoor shower. A separate door off the dining room provides access to the stairway to the second floor third bedroom efficiency and also alternative exit to the parking space.

The third bedroom is located on the second floor of this home. The only access is via an outdoor straircase. This space was originally a separate apartment. Today the city recognizes that space as being a part of the main residence. Hence, it is not supposed to be rented.  I was informed the prior owner used this space as the master bedroom. The bedroom is like a garret with precious window views of nearby homes set amid the angled room. The space is quite large and very beautiful. 

This1609 sq ft home sits on a 3300 sq ft lot mid-distance between Eaton Street to the north and Fleming Street to the south. The immediate area is a blend of high priced single family homes, guest houses, and some small commercial businesses. The historic seaport if two blocks to the north and Duval Street a five minute walk to the west. This home would make a great vacation rental for a buyer who wants some income to help pay a portion of the purchase price. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view more photos of this thoroughly renovated home that is offered for sale at $1,275,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. Don't make the same mistake the woman doctor from New Jersey made several years ago. Buy this house before someone else does. This is a one-of-a-kind home.