True Tales of Key West Real Estate in the Time of Corona Virus - Part Seven

This is a true story. It occurred about ten years ago. I cannot remember their real names, so I will call them Ted and Alice. Otherwise, all is true.

Alice contacted first by email and later by phone. She and Ted had been to Key West before and decided they wanted to buy a guesthouse. I sent her MLS listings of properties then available. Alice told me she was an executive. In fact she repeated her executive status several times. I asked if they would be cash buyers and explained that, while financing is available, the financial dynamics of guest houses were such that getting a mortgage could be very difficult. Alice said they would probably finance the purchase. She made travel arrangements to arrive on a Friday and depart on Sunday. I set up a meeting with a local lender and showings for Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon.

Friday arrived. Alice was supposed to call to confirm their arrival. She did not. I called her and left messages and sent a couple emails. No response. Then Alice phoned. I could barely hear her because of the noise in the background. She and Ted were in a bar having a drink and did not hear my phone calls. She asked me to pick them up at the Pilot House Guest House in fifteen minutes (guess) or so.  I called the banker, apologized for missing the appointment, and asked if we could show up a bit late. Of course, it is Key West. (That is the excuse everyone makes all the time.)

I picked up Ted and Alice at their guest house. I did not consider Alice's selection of the Pilot House Guest House as her lodging selection at that time. It was a clothing optional all adult property. She was wearing an executive dress. Ted was dressed like an executive as well. They were both dressed for success compared to most of the tourists and potential house buyers we normally see in Key West. After exchanging hellos I headed to the bank which was located two blocks away. I asked where they had been when she called. Alice said The Bull which is located one block from the guest house and one block from the bank. What a coincidence. I had never been inside The Bull but had seen photos and heard stories about what goes on there. It is legendary adult bar. We met the banker and then saw two guest houses. We looked at another two or three places the next day. I never saw Ted and Alice after that - except I did.

Bahama Lane

Alice and I either talked or shared emails a few days after their visit. I sort of recall her saying that while they had the money to make a purchase, Key West was much more expensive than they expected. So they would pass. I hear that a lot from executive types (and regular people as well).

A week after their visit, I saw a couple of photos of Alice posted on FLICKR which hosts photos for my blog. I routinely search for photos of Key West on FLICKR. She was posing at the rear of the Pilot House guest house on Bahama Lane. She was wearing very short shorts with her butt cheeks fully exposed and a bra-thing with boobs falling out. I did a nosey and saw many more revealing photos of Alice. Alice was a very attractive woman her age. And Ted was equally handsome. They were probably big hits at The Bull which is also known as The Garden of Eden.

Good Neighbor Pam - Keeping an Eye on You in Key West

 Another true tale of Key West. Only the names have been changed to keep me from getting sued.

I learn a lot about Key West real estate by going on Realtor caravan. Twice monthly local agents tour new listings in the Key West area. Most of us take bus but some drive their own cars. Buses are better as you sometimes get to hear good gossip and learn what agents really think about those not on the bus.

On a recent caravan we stopped next door to a home I sold a few years ago. That owner had  contacted me a few months ago to discuss the possibility of selling. Nothing happened then, but I know that circumstances change and that owning real estate in Key West is not a forever thing for anybody.

After I finished looking at the house on the caravan, I went onto the back porch and snapped a couple of photos of the house I once sold just on the off-chance my "owner" may call upon me to list it sometime in the future. I thought having a photo from a different view might come in useful.  Later I emailed the photo to my customer.

The next day I received the email response from my former customer discussing the photo:

The husband told "Chester" (made up name) they were not pleased it had not sold. His wife "Pam" (made up name), who is a Conch and has known "Sylvia" (made up Realtor name) from days gone by, is not happy with her. Other homes in the area have been selling---maybe they are just a bit high.  She has a daughter in Miami, but they want to move up to the panhandle. They want better medical facilities than KW-- He was station there once.  Did you see the new one going up at the end of the street? Chester said it is very very big.

Chester is going down on the 1st. He has been down a few times. Thank you for the Christmas card.

One day last spring, after he closed up, Chester's flight going to Atlanta was canceled so he went back to the house for the night. All the storm shutters were up and every thing was put away for the summer. So he sat in the house watching TV. He fell asleep with the TV on and some lights on. The neighbors thought he had left for the summer. He was awakened by a voice he did not recognize
at about 2 AM asking him for his ID and to keep his hands were they could see them. It was a woman's voice and he was coming out of his deep sleep--It took him a bit to get his brain moving. He reached in to his pocket to get his ID when the voice, in a stronger mode and louder, told him to keep his hands out of his pockets! Two female cops with flash lights on and guns drawn and pointed at him. His brain was now working! He told them his flight was canceled and he went back home to sleep and his ID was in his wallet in his pants.

When all was done they told him to lock the front door (which he had left unlocked and closed the street gate) as it was a rough neighborhood!!! I ask who was watching out for the house, I wanted to thank them. It was my next door neighbor Pam. There was also a third cop, a male, just out side the door ready to shoot if one got by the two female cops in side.

I hope they do not sell --We never had such great protection. The neighbors knew I was leaving
and with the shutters closed and little slivers of light coming out they called. They had also called before when some one was in the yard, could have been the pool man?