1500 Atlantic Blvd #107 , Key West - Stunning Ocean Front Condo

Imagine waking up each morning to the view from Unit 107 at the Beach Club Condominium in Key West, Florida. It would be akin to being on permanent vacation. In fact that is what living in Key West is for those of us fortunate enough to live here full time. For others who own a second home, it's almost as good as the real thing.

Beach Club Condominiums is the only property in Key West where each unit has direct ocean front views. And the views from this unit are particularly incredible in my view. The building itself is just four floors high and one might expect views from a higher floor to be better. Well, that is not necessarily the case. The thing is the palm trees disappear the higher the floor. You still see the horizon, but I prefer the perspective of trees as a part of the total image.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Beach Club #107 is a vision of true indoor/outdoor living meticulously designed to exist in perfect harmony with its oceanfront setting. This magnificent 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom unit with a total space of 1,531 Square Feet not including the oversized balcony offers an open floor plan, updated finishes and endless views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Master bedroom features ocean views, an expanded master closet, and a beautifully remodeled bathroom. The kitchen is complete with stainless steel appliances, wine fridge, and custom cabinetry. 1500 Atlantic Blvd is one of the most coveted Condominiums in Key West with 2 oceanfront swimming pools, tennis courts, and a beachfront setting like no other."

Key West Beach Club has gated access. Each unit has under building assigned parking plus storage for bikes, fishing gear, and so forth. There are two pools, a tennis court, a small gym with incredible water views while running on the treadmill or using the elliptical, and of the course the the private beach.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of this stunning waterfront property now offered at $1,275,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Bring some sun tan lotion and a toothbrush. You may not want to leave.

11 Cypress Avenue, Key West - Waterfront Estate

I was invited to a special broker open event yesterday to view the stunning waterfront property located at 11 Cypress Avenue in Key West. It wasn't until I started to prepare to write today's blog that I learned I had been here before and actually showed the property around fifteen years earlier - much before it's recent renovation and expansion. Let's start our tour from water's edge and move inside this beautiful home.

Windows and doors on the first and second floor look out or open out to the pool and Lake Cypress (salt water "lake") which leads directly out to through a canal to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. You can be in really deep ocean waters within a few minutes. But you need only step down a few steps to enjoy the resort style pool and spa. A covered loggia is located nearby for al fresco dining.

A small bridge spans the very large koi pond next to the tiki hut. The pool and gardens were designed by Craig Reynolds, Key West's premiere landscape architect. The grounds are illuminated and irrigated. Identification plates inform guests as to the botanical names of the palms and tropical foliage. (By the way the koi pond has an automatic feeder.)

I stopped and gazed at the front entry for several minutes to absorb the space. I am used to showing small cigar maker cottages and on occasion larger Conch homes in the historic district of Key West. This home is huge by comparison - 4385 square feet. The interiors are commanding. The home is ultra-sleek. Clean lines abound. The color palettes include white, ebony, gray, and walnut interspersed with bright colors from the art collection. The kitchen features Allimomo White Lacquer and Ebony Madagascar cabinets with built in walnut drawers with built-in LED lighting. (I have never seen individual lighted drawers anywhere.) The attention to detail is evident in every corner in this home.

The listing Realtor describes the home as being coastal/modern and points out there are water views from almost every room in the house. South facing windows filter light through the house during the daytime.  

While the rooms and spaces on the main level are bright, open, and expansive, the rooms on the second floor personal. One guest bedroom includes a sitting room. The other is just a plain old bedroom. (Don't believe what I just wrote. Nothing in this house is old or plain.)

The master suite includes an office and sitting room (not shown in the above photos) plus access to the second floor balcony overlooking the pool, gardens, and Lake Cypress. The bedroom itself is subdued and cozy, that's the way bedrooms are supposed to be. The bed rests on a plush carpet that is as soft as a cloud.  As I made my way through toward the bathroom I did a pirouette. This space is just beyond belief for a house in Key West. I thought I must have been zapped to Miami or Beverly Hills. The bathroom shower is twenty feet long. (Nancy Friday would have loved this place. I sold her former home on Pinder Lane. It had a shower large enough to accommodate perhaps six adults. Maybe it did.) The bath tub is filled from a waterfall from the ceiling. There are dual vanities on either side. The hall then leads into the dressing room where floor to ceiling closets line both sides of the room. Each closet is individually lighted and outfitted for men's and women's garments and accessories. An island provides more storage.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 11 Cypress Avenue, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

97 Bay Drive, Saddlebunch Key, Florida

If you are among the idled government workers, contractors, or just the idle rich, you may be stuck in some snowbound abode or at least in some gray forsaken city where it's cold and gray. Today as I write this blog it is a sunny 74 degrees in Key West and Saddlebunch Key where I just viewed 97 Bay Drive. The listing Realtor invited me up to take a look and asked me to blog about this new listing.

Saddlebunch Key is an island located about fifteen minute drive from Key West. This home is located near the end of Bay Drive which is a peninsula on the island. I counted about 236 homes using a Google aerial view. Frequent Keys visitors will recognize Baby's Coffee as the nearby landmark. There is a nearby park behind Baby's Coffee with tennis court, volleyball area, and children's playground and picnic tables. This is a water-oriented island community located near Key West. There are several gas and convenience stores as well as restaurants and bars between Saddlebunch and Key West. But it remains a place where you make plans for the day or week ahead before you go grocery shopping. The big nightlife remains in Key West, but few places in Key West offer an owner to go out to the water and use a tickle stick to grab dinner.

This 2392 square foot water front home was built in 1995 and sits on an 8625 square foot lot. All of the main living areas except one guest bedroom face the water each of which have great to spectacular water views. The home is contemporary in design and should appeal to folks who love both bold and beautiful spaces as well as tiny nooks.

I was genuinely awed by the two story open atrium like room with provides great wall space for hanging art as well as adding a lot of drama to the interior. The kitchen and dining area are on this level as are a butler's pantry and a guest bath (both on the rear side. The cook will never feel alone or deprived in this home which as propane gas cook-top, an outdoor grill on a separate rear balcony, and water views in multiple areas. One guest bedroom faces the water and the other faces the back side of the bay. Each bedroom has a small balcony extending out over the house. Nobody is closed-in inside this home.

The master bedroom takes up the entire third level of the home. There is a sweet little sun filled nook  side which would be the perfect place to read a good book. Or you might venture out to the private deck to get a natural tan.

There are covered outdoor seating and dining areas on the main living level and pool level.  This home would be perfect for the couple who love to entertain. The entire lot is fully landscaped with native  vegetation and is also lighted in the evening. The vegetation extends out beyond the pool and provides a buffer from public view from passing watercraft. And even though there is one house nearby, the pool view master bedroom terrace are out of view. Unlike many of the homes on Bay Drive, this home has no neighbor across a canal or body of water. This is private living. And sunny skies. And really clean air. And a tickle stick!

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 97 Bay Drive, Saddlebunch Key Florida offered for sale at $1,375,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I'm gonna ask you to sit in that chair, feel the sun on your face, and imagine what your life would be like if you were to live here. If you really like the place we will go back at night, hopefully on a big moon night, where we can watch the moon shine down on the vast body of water. There is nothing like a warm Florida evening with the moon lighting the water.

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