614 Elizabeth Street - Key West - Old Town Fixer Upper

Just listed, but not by me, a genuine Key West Conch House Fixer that is located on one of the better blocks in Old Town.  The photo above shows 614 Elizabeth Street and its 'sister house' next door. The sister house is the same basic Conch House except it has been thoroughly renovated.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way: "Fantastic renovation project atop Solares Hill. Two bedrooms with one bath and large laundry room. Intimate garden space with room for entertaining."  Let me elaborate.  First let's discuss the location.  Solares Hill is the highest point on the Island of Key West. That means the homeowner will not need to purchase flood insurance if he or she or they have a mortgage.  Second, the 600 block of Elizabeth Street is located just two blocks from Duval Street and three blocks from the Historic Key West Seaport.  A new owner who might want to rent the house as an occasional vacation rental would find this an excellent location because of its proximity to popular attractions but also because it is far enough away not to hear all of the hullabaloo.

The house as it currently exists has two bedrooms, one bath, two rooms that serves as living areas, and a large kitchen.  The spaces are very clean but not really what new homeowners expect in Key West house. That is why I think this property is best suited as a renovation project.  Here is what I would do. First I would seek HARC (Historic Architectural Review Commission) approval to remove the 1950s concrete addition that replaced the ordinal wood front porch. I'd replicate the front porch on the house next door.  I realize people shudder at the thought of getting rid of an existing space.  That space as it currently exists adds nothing to the house in my opinion. A new front porch would tremendously enhance the look and thereby the value of this home.After all work is done I would add a white picket fence and minimal landscaping so you could see the house and so that the occupants could sit on the front porch and watch all the jealous tourists walk by.

The Enclosed Front Porch as it Currently Exists

I did check the foundations and exterior siding behind the cement front addition. The siding looks to be in really good condition as do the piers.  That should save in any remodeling scenario.  A roof inspection by  qualified roofer is important in any purchase. The roof here looks to be in good condition from what I could see.  

It looks to me like the interior of the house was modernized in the 1950s of early 1960s.  The black and white photo above was taken in 1965. It shows the original siding and jalousie windows. The wood paneled ceiling that adorns many basements across America lines the walls in one of the bedrooms here. And then there is that drop acoustic ceiling.  I will bet you that the original Dade County Pine walls still exist behind the modern renovation of half a century ago.  

The kitchen and bath are nice and neat but they are dated.  A renovation would probably reorient the house with two bedrooms located at the front with perhaps two smaller baths of a Jack-and-Jill bath located between the two bedrooms. The kitchen and living areas would be located at the rear where new French doors would open out to the rear garden.

I don't know if the backyard has enough space to add a pool and a deck. There is certainly room for a nice deck and a hot tub. There's plenty of room for an orchid garden.  Not all houses have to have to pools. CLICK HERE to view all the photos I took of this home and imagine how you might transform this space into your dream cottage.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 614 Elizabeth Street which is offered for sale at $499,000. 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.  Let me help you find your dream home in Paradise.

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1114 Watson Street - Key West - Old Town

If you are looking for an affordable house in Old Town Key West with income potential, covered off street parking, and room for a pool, the new listing (not mine) at 1114 Watson Street just may the answer to your dreams. And if you are an investor looking for a legal duplex with upside potential, this new listing may just entice you to take a look. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"This place checks all the boxes! Located in an X500 flood zone (no Flood Ins needed), off street, covered parking, room for a pool, updated, freshly painted, work shop/storage space, income producing separate 1/1 +loft unit, wonderful outside entertaining areas. Truly an entertainers delight with open kitchen/living room area that opens to the gorgeous, fenced in back yard with accessory unit that can be enclosed. Oh, and gas appliances, hardwood floors, central A/C. Move right in and enjoy the duplex that can be easily converted to a single family home! Priced to sell!"

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I found an old photo of this property taken in 1965 (below).  The note on the back of the black and white photo states that 1114 Watson Street was built in 1890.  I will bet the front porch was added or remodeled to add the stucco siding sometime in the 1950s or early 1960s.  Compare the black and white photo  with the color photo I took. The shed addition to the right has been transformed into a carport - a novelty for the Old Town area. Just behind the carport is an extra large storeroom which a new owner might attempt to convert into an extra bathroom or put to some other use.

This house is laid out like many cigar maker cottages with rooms the run from front to back off a side corridor. The main level living area has been relocated to the rear of the home. A recent kitchen and family area open out to the covered IPE deck.  This is the area of the home where most living will take place - especially if the new owner adds a pool to the backyard. The covered IPE deck will provide well shade from our hot sun.

The house is laid out with four rooms in a row: the old front porch with window into what might be a living area, a bedroom, and another bedroom. I bet a new owner could re-think the use of space and develop a creative use for these rooms. 

The backyard has room for a pool.  There is plenty of room. A newly installed stairway to the second floor legal apartment could probably almost disappear with the addition of landscaping to mask the intrusion.  Since I took the photo below the owner installed a privacy fence between 1114 Watson and the property to the south.  The new fence gives 1114 Watson Street real privacy that it previously lacked.

The removal of the shed storage area and the replacement of the tattered canvas awnings would enhance the views both of and from the main level and second level living areas.  The second level apartment is an updated.  It is a contemporary one bedroom with cathedral ceiling.  The deck has great treetop views of its Old Town neighbors. There is even a small loft for that occasional over-night guest.

I think the second floor apartment would be a big hit and would rent in a New York minute.  It has its own private outdoor area with a really great view.  Locals would love to have living space like this.  I would imagine the second floor unit would rent for $1400 to $1600 per month.  If the new owner did not live on the premises, I would estimate the ground floor two bedroom would rent for $1500 to $1800 per month.  Rentals are scarce in Key West.  This property is located in the South of Truman area of Old Town. It is within walking distance to the shops and restaurants of upper Duval and the gyms and yoga studios that are located nearby.

A new owner could potentially create a backyard and pool area as charming as the house next door.

Potential buyers may not appreciate the scarcity of housing for locals. If you lived here and need to relocate or if you are moving here, you understand that there just are not that many apartments, condos, or houses available for rent.  There is a real demand for short term (less than six months) and long term housing.  We have a lot of people who come to Key West and fall in love with our little town. They abruptly move here, get a job (or two or three), and experience life for real. Some stay. Others find living here is not what they expected. They leave and go back home. Another group are people with good paying jobs that move here.  We have a large military presence with both single people and married couples who do not want to live on base in military housing.  We have a lot of government contractors who provide services to the military or other agencies.  We have doctors, nurses, and attorneys who rotate in and out of Key West on a weekly or semi-weekly basis.  All of these people need housing.  If you check the local Key West Citizen newspaper you won't find many places for rent in Key West proper. Many people commute to less expensive housing located between Key West and Big Pine Key. Craigslist has become a cheap and easy vehicle to post and find rentals in Key West. Go there and see what is available and what the rates are. You may be shocked at how expensive good clean apartments and houses rent for. That is why I think a place 1114 Watson Street could function quite well for an owner who wants some supplemental income or for an investor looking for a legal duplex. CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of the property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos.  The legal duplex is now offered at $709,000.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this legal duplex or any other property in Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

4125 Eagle Avenue - Key West - Price Reduction

 4125 Eagle Avenue - Key West

4125 Eagle Avenue is located on the sunrise side of Key West. I know most of my readers only consider purchasing a home in Old Town. Some may consider the Meadows and Casa Marina areas. And a few bargain buyers may even look at what I consider to be the best values on a per square foot basis in Key West - the  Key West Golf Club Community.  I truly hope some reader will take the time to look through today's blog and click the photo link that will appear later, because if you do, you may just fall in love with this gracious home that has so much to offer.

Many out of area readers may not be familiar with the location.  I dug deep into the old shoebox and found a couple of aerial photos of the area taken a few decades back. The first photo (immediately below) shows the U.S. Navy Hospital and the grounds immediately west of what is now South Roosevelt Blvd. 4125 Eagle Avenue is located in that area. The lower color photo was taken in the 1970s and shows the new town area that sprung up in the prior decade.  I marked 4125 Eagle in both photos.

Click GOOGLE MAP and take a current aerial view of the area and then use the toggle switch for a street view 4125 Eagle and the surrounding homes. Eagle Avenue is a broad clean street with neatly maintained homes and yards.

The listing Realtor describes 4125 Eagle Avenue thus:

"Circa 1926, this classic Spanish Deco has peerless curb appeal! Located in a prime New Town neighborhood, the home with sprawling lot and manicured lawn commands admiration. The main house has two bedrooms, three full baths, remodeled kitchen, formal dining room, living room, den and study. A lovely portico provides covered outdoor sitting and connects the main house to a detached garage. The expansive grounds feature tropical foliage, fish pond and a secret garden! The delightful two-story cottage features a downstairs workshop with an inviting one bedroom one bath apartment up. Other amenities include garage, central vacuum, ample storage, and much more. This is a truly unique New Town property with historic value."

4125 Eagle Avenue offers 2268 square feet of living divided between two floors in the main house plus a stand alone guest cottage at the rear of the huge 80' x 120' (9600 sq ft) lot.  Not included in the square foot calculations is the stand alone extra large garage off the portico.

Family Room

The main floor of the home features an inviting living room that has a real wood burning fireplace (original to the home), an adjacent office, and family room for watching TV.  The kitchen has been remodeled and provides lots of counter space for meal planning and preparation. The kitchen even has a large walk-in pantry.

My jaw dropped when I saw the dining room for the first time. It is truly breath taking. Really!  The dining room sits at the rear of the house and and features French doors on two sides with muted views out to the lush gardens. Tucked back into one corner is a wet bar and  the powder room is nearby. You can tell that this space has been often used for grand entertaining.

Dining Room, Wet Bar, and Powder Room

Upstairs you will find two equally eloquent master suites, each with en-suite baths. The front bedroom has a small second floor terrace as well.

The second bedroom occupies the back half of the house and includes an extra large bath area.

Rear Master Suite with Extra Large En-suite Bath

The guest cottage at the rear of the property offers several different scenarios for living including presumed use as guest accommodations; living space for a mother-in-law or teenager with a desire to be left alone; or living space for a caretaker, nanny, or other live-in.

There are babbling ponds and water features in several locations throughout the property. I found hidden gardens located in areas other owners would probably ignore simply because they are not immediately visible to the eye. I could see that this home and this yard have been lovingly cared for years.

There is plenty of room to add a large pool and surrounding deck.  This is the only thing I can think of that a new owner might spend money on. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this lovely home.

The asking price on 4125 Eagle Avenue was just reduced to $999,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls database on this property.  If you would like to see this special home in person, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.