605 Margaret Street, Key West

Buyers seeking an Old Town location should consider 605 Margaret Street, Key West  which the listing Realtor, not me, describes this way:

"This perfect Old Town Cottage is newly renovated as a single family 2 bedroom 2 bathroom home with a large bonus loft. The property can also be legally converted into two units per the City of Key West however the property is currently using one meter. This great location is only blocks away from Duval St and would make an excellent investment property."

 I searched through my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo taken in 1965. The top color photo shows multiple embellishments that have been added since, but the original house remains intact. The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show the house has 918 square feet of living space. The photo shows what looks to be a typical cigar maker cottage with a two story read addition. In recent years this house has been used as employee housing for the neighboring restaurant on Southard Street. 

 The front portion of the main level is a nice one bedroom with about 514 sq ft of living space. This room has a combination of Dade County Pine walls that have been painted white with one accent wall where the Dade Pine has been stripped and sealed. The front porch opens to a view of the old Harris School across the street. I found a photo taken inside the school around 1955 which I think shows 605 Margaret Street on the left. The children were first grade students.

A door at the rear opens into the two story mother-in-law one bedroom with kitchen and bath. The 300 sq ft of living space is divided equally between the floors. The bedroom has several windows which offer sunny views which you cannot see in the above photo. There is fairly good sized wood deck at the rear with a canvas awning - not pictured. That space is about 23 feet wide by 10 feet deep. The property records show there used to be a hot tub located there. If I owned this home, I would remover the awning, replace the hot tub, and have sweet little cottage in an ideal Old Town location.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and view more listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This is worth looking at!

1101 Fleming Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, one of the most familiar little cottages in Old Town, 1101 Fleming Street in Key West, Florida.  The listing Realtor describes this home as:

"Renovated iconic Old Town conch home in a great location at the heart of Key West's Historic District. 1101 Fleming Street has been featured in paintings, photographs and television ads. Classic yet modern, the living room has vaulted ceilings and light bamboo floors. The modern kitchen features maple cabinetry, pool-tile countertops and stainless appliances. Both bathrooms are beautifully designed with vintage fixtures. Beautiful, private outdoor area perfect for entertaining also includes a covered, decommissioned pool."

This home is located at the corner of Frances and Fleming Streets. Two bikes are anchored to the white picket fence that borders the lot like lace on your grandmother's table cloth. The front gate and nearby mailbox announce the location as Le Folie - The Madness.

The original house was built circa 1899. It has been updated several times over the years, but it is the current owner that breathed fresh air into this little home and gave new life for this new century.

Once you enter the home you are greeted by what appears to be a voluminous room with vaulted ceiling. As you look around you realize the mirror on the far wall and clever furniture placement has tricked your eyes. But what a nice surprise that is. While the spaces are compact, the house has all that one needs for a permanent residence or a getaway cottage that would be an instant "hit" as a monthly vacation rental.

The home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bathroom is located off the center hallway and serves as a guest bath. I must tell you I was awed by this bath. Wow!  The room is so sophisticated in its design.

The center hall with new bamboo floors lead from the bedroom area, past the living space, through three sets of French doors that open to the private outdoor area. There is a pool located under the rear deck. The current owners did not want to use the pool so they covered with decking. The listing Realtor and I discussed the deck and both concluded the pool could likely be filled with water and made to function again without much difficulty. (That is assuming the equipment works after not having been used for five years. But even if the equipment does not work, the cost of installing new equipment would be less expensive than building a new pool.)

This home is in move-in condition.  It is as pretty as a picture and if you CLICK HERE you can see more pictures of this lovely cottage home that is offered at $679,000.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Interested buyers should not sit on the sidelines and watch this for very long.  I expect this home will go under contract within a couple of days. There are a limited number of small homes in move-in condition in the Old Town area. And I really don't think there is anything comparable to this home and priced as reasonably as this.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this home. I am a buyers agent an a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

1009 Eaton Street - Old Town - Key West

 

1009 Eaton Street was just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, is this two bedroom/two bath Conch style home that the Monroe County Property Appraiser says was built in 1923. I think it is much older than that because I found it on the 1889 Sanborn Map.  That would indicate it existed before 1889 when the map was drawn. Be that as it may, it is still an old house and that is why it is the type that is sought by second home buyers who want a cute old house in Key West. The cute part of this house is without dispute.

1009 Eaton as it appeared in 1965

The front porch welcomes friends and family to a 1170 sq ft home that sits on a 1578 sq ft lot just one half block east of Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. The Historic  Key West Seaport is located a block and one-half to the north. Frequent visitors may recall the Old Town Bakery is located at the corner of Grinnell Street and the new Paseo Restaurant is also located there.

The main floor of the house has an inviting living room with Dade County Pine walls, ceiling, and floors. The dining area is set off just a bit by an ancient room divider. The kitchen is located at the rear. It has been stylishly updated.  The first floor also has a full bath.

There are two bedrooms on the second floor. The master bedroom is located at the front. The guest bedroom is at the rear. There is a second floor rear sundeck as well.  

 

The rear yard presently has a spa but I think there may be room for a small in ground pool. An interested buyer would have to determine the feasibility for himself or herself. I think the space is large enough. The cost might be a bit high as it would have to be dug by hand instead of machine.  You could save yourself a lot of money and do what a lot of locals do: go to Dante's and use the pool there. Buy lunch and a couple of drinks. You will save thousands and thousands of dollars! You can still swim and tan.

1009 Eaton Street is offered at $695,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. I took more photos which you can view if you CLICK HERE.

Dante's

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this cute two bedroom home located in Old Town Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

618 White Street - Key West - Adorable and Affordable

 Just Listed 618 White Street in Old Town Key West. This cute as a button two bedroom home is in move-in condition. It is adorable and affordable - and it is priced to sell at just $474,000.

I dug deep into the old shoe box and found a photo that shows how this house looked back in 1965. The photo has a note that says the house was built in 1890. The other houses on this block were all built at the same time and all originally looked the same. I was told this group of houses were homes of cigar workers that worked at a cigar factory on nearby Newton Street. I dug deeper in the shoebox and found an old postcard that shows the historic Armory building located five houses to the north that shows the neighboring homes as they appeared in the 1920s. (The Armory is now the home of The Studios of Key West.) I took a photo that shows the same scene over ninety years later. It's nice to see that the more things change elsewhere, they tend to stay relatively the same in Old Town Key West. We aim to keep it that way.

According to the Property Appraiser records 618 White Street was renovated by a former owner between 2004 and 2005 at which time the kitchen and bath were renovated, windows and interior walls were replaced and a new roof installed. The current owner added new gutters and metal storm panels. The interior has new floors and all interior walls are colorfully painted. The open living area offers relaxed living space. There are two bedrooms on the main floor. And the extra large second floor loft offers additional bedroom space plus room for an office.
 

The master bedroom has a set of French doors that open out to the back yard which is currently enclosed by a privacy fence. The spacious back yard features a couple of fruit trees, tropical foliage, and  sunny patio area. I believe there is more than enough room to install a nice sized pool. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this really attractive Old Town home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for details on this property. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property.  I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your perfect place is Paradise.