311 Elizabeth Street - Key West - Transient Licensed Grand Conch House

 311 Elizabeth Street, Key West is back on the market. This historic old Grand Conch home is located at the foot of the Historic Key West Seaport and just two blocks from Duval Street. It has a very valuable Transient Rental License, a great pool, and off street parking.  The listing Realtor describes this property as:

"This is a grand historic home with double porches on a great block of Elizabeth Street in the heart of old town. The property has a spacious owner's apartment plus two transient guest house units, one in a separate poolside cottage. The classic architecture features Dade County pine, high ceilings and expansive rooms. The large owner's apartment is in the main house. The pool is surrounded by lush tropical foliage and decking. The entire property is fenced for privacy. The property includes a coveted off street parking space. The A+ location is close to the Land's End area shopping & marinas and Duval Street. Some TLC will make this jewel shine!"

 

I dug down into the old shoebox and found the black and white photo two above that was taken nearly fifty years ago.   The photo immediately above is very recent. Shutters, flags, and tropical vegetation give the old girl a bit more flair compared to the spartan 1965 photo.  I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps and  found that 311 Elizabeth Street first noted on the 1899 map.  When I recently stepped inside the house to take photos, I could tell this was indeed an old house. Although most of the downstairs was updated in the past twenty years, the dark Dade County Pine walls in the main floor living room and ceilings were a dead giveaway that this was a very old house indeed.

The property has three living spaces that are recognized by the City of Key West. They include (1) the main floor owners' unit, (2) second floor apartment with associated guest house licensed room, and (3) a guest cottage also with a guest house licensed room. There is an attached guest suite extension from the main floor owners unit that includes a living room, Pullman kitchen, bath, and bedroom. (That is actually four living spaces if you do the math!)

The detached guest cottage is as large as many of the smaller homes and condos in the Old Town area.  The great room has a tall vaulted ceiling with skylight and a bright and cheery kitchen. A steep stairway leads to a large second level sleeping loft which is large enough to accommodate two queen size beds.

The guest suite attached to the rear of the owners' main level living area is quite large. It includes a Pullman kitchen (photo two above), a living room, bath, and good sized bedroom. The long rectangular pool is on the south side of the property and has good morning and afternoon sun. The deck envelops the pool and then wraps the ground level addition to the rear of the main house where there is a more intimate private area.

I think this property could make a great renovation property for a buyer who wants a large Key West home with good income ppotential.  This is a great location near the Seaport and Duval Street attractions.

CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

311 Elizabeth Street is offered at $1,695,000. It has a total of seven bedrooms, four baths, four kitchens that occupy 3124 square feet of space on the 5269 square foot lot.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.  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.

5030 5th Avenue #20 - Key West, Florida

If you are like me you probably watch too many episodes of HGTV's House Hunters. You likely appreciate that each potential buyer has a unique vision of that dream home and where it is located. Some buyers require a location near a city center or public transportation. Others may seek a private or isolated location. Some may seek a home with quick water access or a myriad of other requirements. The point is that every person has a different ideal of a dream home.

Late yesterday afternoon I got to take a look at the new (unfinished) Islander Village located on Stock Island, Florida. This will be a small community of just 22 newly built homes all of which have water views, good sized yards large enough for the construction of a pool, and which have the right to build a wood pier. All homes are three bedroom and two baths, 1500 sq ft of living space that sit on 5,000 sq ft lots. The homes are currently offered between $439,900 to $525,000.  I saw the model home and took some photos shown below. .

The photo at the top of today's blog was taken off the rear deck of 5030 5th Avenue #20. The view looks out to water.  The new homes will line the rim of an arc that defines this particular piece of land.  I dug down into the old shoebox and found three aerial photos taken years ago when this same piece of property was the old Islander Drive-In.  These photos show the unique arc of this piece of ground where all sides provide open water views. The upper photo shows Cow Key Channel that separates Stock Island from Key West. The broad street on Key West is Flagler Avenue. The group of large buildings was the former Navy Hospital.  Compare the upper and middle photos where you will see  a group of mobile homes were added to the adjacent lower site which appears to have been enlarged. I'll betcha that the people who live here are living their dream.

When I first moved to Key West I made several trips to the old Cuban Dump on Stock Island. Stock Island also was where I took my dog to see the Veterinarian. The Stock Island of 2014 looks so much different now than it did in 1993.  Stock Island had been used as a dumping ground for trash and old cars.  Obviously the old drive-in is gone. The old race track and bowling alley are gone as well. So are the junk cars and midnight dump sites. Many of the old mobile home parks have been replaced by new modular homes.  What has not changed are the large number of home sites with either direct water views or water access.  Part of the allure of the allure of the new Islander Village homes is the water views.

The listing agent provides more information:

"Brand new gated community at the location of the former Islander drive-in movie theater. Featuring 22 homes with open water views of Key West, Cow Key Channel, and the Atlantic Ocean. Two floor plans to choose from, each with 1,500 sq. ft of living space and 10ft wide decks for capturing sunsets and sea breezes. Homes feature travertine tile flooring throughout, solid wood cabinetry, granite countertops, hardiboard siding, walk-in closet, metal roofs, stainless appliances, double garage with hurricane rated doors, impact glass windows and more. Comes with permits for a private fishing pier and room for a pool. Built to the latest codes which withstand 180mph winds and elevated 12ft, homes will offer affordable insurances and utilities."

The listing agent told me six of the twenty-two homes have been sold most of which are the higher priced homes and most of those are on the western end of the development - the location which looks out to Cow Key Channel. Each lot is large enough for an owner to add a private pool and / or wood pier. Each of these would cost about $30,000 to add. All lots will be fenced.  No matter the price paid, these homes have Hardiboard siding an impact wind impact windows rated to 180 miles per hour. The homes are elevated 12 feet. That means these homes will be less costly to maintain and less expensive to insure. The listing agent advises "Buyer must be a Monroe County resident or plan to be a Monroe County resident once they purchase the property. No income restriction and property may be rented long term." Finally, these homes qualify for $10,000 Monroe County bond money which will be a second mortgage on the property for the owner's term of home ownership at which time the principal mortgage balance must be repaid. (This is a non-interest bearing mortgage during the term of ownership.)

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view lots of quality listing photos of this property. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a private showing of 5030 5th Avenue #20 or any of the other homes in this new development. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your dream home - maybe it will be on Stock Island with a waterfront view.

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1522 Patricia Street - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1522 Patricia Street. This place is new and expanded renovation and ready for the new owner to move and start to live the good life.  Everything has been done to make this new home user friendly, easy to maintain, and inexpensive to insure. 

The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Built to last, this spacious split-level home is situated on a sunny corner lot in the neighborhood that is Key West's best kept secret. The lower level has three guest bedrooms with shared bath and a spacious master suite with ample closet space and a private entrance via the large covered lanai. The upper level consists of a open great room with 9 foot ceilings, multiple windows and French doors opening out to the swimming pool and tropical gardens. A chef's kitchen features Decora cabinets, stainless steel appliances and Corian counter tops. Features such as storm-rated windows and doors, Colombian barrel-tile roof rated for 200 MPH, and color-tinted stucco, result in low insurance and maintenance costs. Come see today what's going on!"

Locals may recognize the area as being within easy walking distance to Higg's Beach or Smather's Beach.  Most of the homes in this area have been updated. This is an area where most homes are owner occupied as opposed to parts of Casa Marina, the Meadows, and Old Town where many of the houses are second homes, some of which are used as vacation rentals.

As I walked inside the foyer my eyes were drawn upward to the great room that was filled with late morning sunshine. I could not help but notice the elegant travertine marble floors and baseboards (which are carried throughout the house). When I reached the top stair my eyes were then drawn through the impact glass doors and out to the sunny pool. Pools and outdoor living spaces are among the prime reason people move to Key West and this home has a lovely pool and outdoor entertaining area. The rest of the yard is very nicely landscaped. 

The master bedroom with en-suite bath and large walk-in closet is located on the lower level along with three other bedrooms. 

CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this lovely 1950 sq ft four bedroom, two and one-half home that is offered for sale at $1,395,000. And please CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. After you have checked out the data and the photos please call me to checkout the house.  It is vacant and easy to show. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

622 Louisa Street - Key West, Florida

I tell buyers all the time you can never tell what is behind the facade of some of the houses in Key West. Preferred Properties just listed Casa Louisa at 622 Louisa Street, and boy did my remarks ever hold true on this place. Gee Whiz!  The listing Realtor describes this property as:

"Very sharp total renovation of an historic two bedroom, two and a half bath single level home with a one bedroom, one bath guest cottage. Pool with waterfall, vaulted ceilings, extensive decking and French doors. New kitchen with granite & stainless steel; luxurious new baths. Parking & privacy only steps from Duval Street. The owners have rented this house as a monthly vacation rental for the last eight years. Last year it grossed over $80,000."

622 Louisa Street is located at the upper end of the Duval Street corridor about 1 1/2 blocks east of Duval and 3 blocks from the Atlantic. So it is close to where vacationers want to be without being right in the mix. And that is the point. The place is quiet, serene, and just so relaxing. When you enter the formal entryway you know this place is not a typical renovation of a Conch house. You look to the right and see the great room that is flanked by four sets of French doors that open onto the side and rear decks and pool area. Off to the side is the snazzy kitchen and adjacent dining alcove. Both look out toward the black bottom pool and waterfall and the newer guest house at the rear which has its own en-suite bath. Historic Dade County Pine is located throughout the house intermixed with new grantie surfaces and modern bath fixtures.

 

 Off to the left of the front entry is bedroom is the master bedroom with en-suite bath. This space is large and inviting, but cozy at the same time. So many places in Old Town "make do" and end up having small spaces to actually live. Not the case here. The second bedroom is located opposite the entry hall and it also has an en-suite bath. Everything in every room is "done". Correctly.

When I saw the black bottom pool with the waterfall my jaw dropped. Just awesome. The lot is very large for Old Town. The decks are large and provide ample room for sunning. Imagine that, a place with a large pool with shade and also sunshine. So many places have one or the other. Not this place. Oh, there is also a tented dining pavilion. There is off street parking and a formal bricked entry path that leads guests to the front door. The places is not ostentatious, but boy is it gracious.

 

Casa Louisa is rented as a vacation rental and it generates substantial income during the year. There are eleven months advance reservations in place. Because of that, advance notice is required and viewing may be somewhat limited. Casa Louisa is offered at $1,395,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Let me help you fulfill your dream of owning a place in Paradise.