520 Porter Lane, Key West - Transient Licenesed President's Walk Town Home

I have written about Presidents Walk Town homes on several occasions over the years. These town homes were built in the early 1990s and vary somewhat as to interior layout and condition. Some are pretty much in the original condition while others have been updated - some tastefully and others done to the owners' sense of style. Some are located on Southard Avenue while others are nestled away to the rear of large multi-million dollar single family homes which face Front Street.

Some homes have first and second floor front and rear porches or balconies, but not all.  Each unit has an assigned parking spot and some have covered parking and storage.  The amenities at Presidents Lane include a beautiful pool plus the beautifully maintained grounds of the Truman Annex and  gated security. Frequent visitors know that Truman Annex enjoys a great location near Duval Street, Mallory Square, quick access to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach and state park, and soon will be steps away from the new City of Key West Truman Waterfront Park. 

 Each of the Truman Annex communities has a private pool for that community. The President's Walk pool is for owners and guests only of that community. It is located about a 90 second walk from 520 Porter Lane which is shown below. This home is offered for sale by Preferred Properties at $874,900.

The listing broker describes 520 Porter Lane this way:

"This two bedroom two and a half bath townhouse in Presidents Walk includes a Truman Annex transient rental license. Beautifully updated kitchen opens to the dining and living space with french doors to the large outdoor deck. Each bedroom has an attached private full bath as well as a balcony for indoor outdoor living. Assigned covered parking spot with attic space included!"

This home has an undated interior with new kitchen, new tile floors and a half bath tucked under the stairs to the second floor. This home has a nice decked rear with a gate that leads to the nearby parking space.

The master bedroom has a private en-suite bath and private balcony overlooking the little walking lane that end about 25 feet to the east. The importance of this is the fact you won't have neighbors walking past your balcony on those frequent nights when the weather is so pleasant you want to leave the doors open. The back bedroom also has a private bath and a private rear porch.

This unit has a covered parking spot located about thirty feet from the back gate. When I show places like this I point this kind of feature out for a good reason: if you go to the store and buy food you also probably have to carry it in to the house. This is a good location compared to so many other units in Truman Annex where the parking is (No.1) not covered and (No.2) located a long walk from the entrance to the home or condo.  Our summers and falls are known for their heat. Getting into a covered car is preferred to one baked in the sun.

This home has a valuable Truman Annex Transient License which permits owners to rent the unit any 25 weeks of the year on a weekly basis and possibly to rent the unit as a monthly or longer term rental the rest of the year (or use it oneself). These units are located the nearest the guarded entry which just two blocks from Duval Street. We do not have person on person crime like big cities But having the guy at the gate makes the two block walk home at night seem safer just the same. And having the beach a couple of blocks to the west is just wonderful.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and to view listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing of this unit. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

915 Windsor Lane, Key West

Just Listed, but not by me, 915 Windsor Lane, Key West. This 1541 sq ft home has multiple features that second home buyers covet when thinking about what they want in a home here including a very valuable City of Key West Transient Rental License.

The listing broker describes this home this way:

"Newly redecorated, transient licensed, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath luxury townhome is part of a six home community, in the heart of the Old Town, just 3 blocks to Duval Street. The first level features an open floor plan living space with 10-foot ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, and sliding glass doors to a decked rear yard with private cocktail pool. There is also a guest bedroom with en suite bath and a half bath. The upstairs also features 10-foot ceilings with a large master bedroom retreat on the rear of the home with a small porch overlooking the pool. The master bedroom has a large en suite bath and a sitting area (with sofa sleeper). The second floor guest bedroom has a private bath with tub and another porch overlooking Windsor Lane. This desirable home boasts strong financial projections for 2016 and 2017. Off-street parking, a whole house generator and an X-zone flood location make this home an ideal investment."

The Windsor Lane Townhomes were built new and introduced to the market in 2006. These six homes replaced the old Sea Isle Court motel shown above. Since the site already had transient licensed units, the developer was permitted to retain six of the fourteen licenses which in turn make these homes more valuable than other properties built at the same time And the value will only continue to increase over the years. Let's look at 915 Windsor Lane starting from the main floor front entry.

When you enter the house you immediately sense that this is some big place. The first floor has ten foot ceilings. The floor is travertine marble. The wood trim is massive including extra large baseboards, crown molding, wood trim, and complimented by the elegant stairway to the second floor. High end Baldwin fixtures are everywhere. The first of three bedrooms is located just off the front door. Double pocket doors give this room the option of being used as a den or office. It has its own private bath.

As you move forward into the living area you may notice the guest bath tucked away under the stairway. That means all the private baths remain private no matter the time, day, or need. Then you see how well designed this space is. There is a built-in bar located opposite the kitchen which features Greenfield cabinets, Viking stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops which are also located in all bath rooms.  The breakfast bar offers informal dining space where the guests and the chefs can discuss the events of the day and make plans for tomorrow. The private pool can be seen to the rear.

The second floor has a nine foot ceiling. The stairs and floor are engineered Teak. Two louvered doors hide the laundry. The master suite is located at the rear of the second floor. It has a small balcony where guests can site and pontificate about the problems of the world which they probably won't do. They are more than likely want to buy a place like this when they get the chance. The master bath is extra large as is the bedroom chamber itself. You won't find digs like this at the Holiday Inn.

The guest bedroom is located at the front. It has a small covered front porch where occupants can watch the world go by. And it has a great view of St. Mary's Basilica upon the corner of Truman and Windsor Lane. The room is quite large and has it's own private bath.

These homes were built with numerous long term money saving features including Hardie board siding which is buy and fire resistant and which stands up to our hot and humid weather. It requires less painting. The home includes PGT and CGI windows and doors which are hurricane impact resistant. These plus the new construction means your wind insurance should be 30% lower than stick built homes with regular storm shutters. And the X zone flood location means your lender will not require floor insurance.

Guests will love this location which is just three blocks from Duval Street. The Key West seaport is about a ten to fifteen minute walk to the north.  St. Mary's is up at the corner. There are several gyms and yoga studios within a five to ten minute walk in either direction on Truman plus there are dozens of eateries from Sandy's to the Cafe Marquesa all within easy walking distance.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS on 915 Windsor Lane which is offered at $1,750,000.  Then 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.

210-2 Southard Street, Key West - Transient Licensed Shipyard Condo in the Truman Annex

 

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 210-2 Southard Street in the Shipyard Condominiums at Truman Annex. Truman Annex is located just two blocks from historic Duval Street and all of the attractions that make Key West a world class destination. This is a unique one bedroom unit with a valuable Truman Annex Transient License which permits 25 weekly rentals throughout the year. The unit may also be rented monthly or used by the owner or the owner's family throughout the year.

The listing Realtor describes the new listing this way:

"This bright and breezy second floor Shipyard unit has a spacious rear deck, assigned parking and a special Truman Annex transient license. The management company calls this unit Treetops because of the lovely poinciana trees front and rear. This unit is being sold turn-key with attractive tropical furnishings and assumable advance bookings."

If you have been watching Key West real estate sales for the past few years and are waiting for a price dip to get the house you didn't get when prices were lower, don't hold your breath. A dip might occur, but if it does it probably won't last long and when the market returns, there will be slew of buyers chomping at the bit to buy what they should have bought before prices increased after the 2008 market down turn. For the past several years those same type of buyers have gobbled up Shipyard Condos because renters favor this development over just about any place in town. Read about why in the next paragraph. I did a quick search to determine the number of sales since 2013 and the price paid on a per square foot basis for each year. Numbers speak louder than words.

YEAR     NUMBER UNITS SOLD     PRICE PER SQ FT
2013        5                                             $666
2014        9                                             $741
2015        13                                           $857 
2016        7                                             $862

There are now only four units available in the Shipyard which are priced on an average price per sq ft of $895.  As you link at the mls link below consider what is included in this unit that is not often included in most other Shipyard listings by the company that sells most of the Shipyard units: furnishings and advance bookings. Most sellers make buyers pay for the furnishings and require a buyer to take over the bookings with a specific property management company to get them. They are offered in this listing without qualification.

Returning visitors to Key West love the location, comfort, and security that Truman Annex provides. Guest who stay in this unit will especially love this location because it's hard to get lost when the place you are staying is located about 100 feet west of the gated parking entry and next to a park-like space between the next row of condos. People do get lost, especially people who have had the extra cocktail. The location itself is within walking distance to Ft Zach Taylor State Park and Beach.  The pool is only a minute or so walk, but I'll bet you more guests will head off to the beach to enjoy the sun and ocean.  At night the Green Parrot and other nearby establishments provide music, food, and cocktails.  During season the Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Square and the Red Barn Theater offer live performances that feature many local talents. Day or night, there's always something to do and whatever it is, it is within easy walking distance of Truman Annex. Duval Street is two blocks to the east. Sunset Celebration is held nightly - just a five minute walk to the north through the ever beautiful Emma Street in the Truman Annex.

CLICK HERE  to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.  Better than that, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a showing of this unit.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.