Pssst! I've got a Deal for You!

The house at 409 William Street is located on one of the best blocks in Old Town Key West. Some of the oldest and most beautiful houses in Key West are located in the three, four, five, and six hundred blocks of William Street. 409 William Street is known as the Gideon Lowe House. Several years ago it became Whispers Guest House. And then in June 2005 the present owner purchased the property for $2,000,000 and began the renovation process.

That's not a typo dear reader. The owner paid $2,000,000. The property is offered at $1,995,000. The owner put over one million dollars in to the renovation. The math is simple. The seller is going to lose a lot of money no matter what the price is paid for this house. Read on.

The house was built in 1908. The Listing Realtor shows the square footage as 3442 sq ft on three floors. The lot is very large: 44.2 x 100 or 4422 sq ft on a great block. The house has four bedrooms with one master suite on the main level, a second full master suite on the second floor, and two good sized bedrooms with one shared bath on the third floor. The ceilings are tall and the rooms large on each floor level including the third floor. There is a front porch on the first and second floors off the bedrooms so the owner can sit and watch the world go by or watch sunset without leaving the house.

The entry way is tall and impressive and immediately lets you know upon entry that you are in a very special house. The great room and kitchen-dining area are located at the back of the house with French doors that open onto the rear deck, gardens, and pool. This house is not for the buyer who wants a Key West cottage. This is far from that type of abode. Instead, this place is for a family that needs a big house. The rooms don't ramble. They are people and furniture sized.

Quaint it ain't. But charming it is. And pricey for all but a few. 409 William Street is now offered at $1,995,000 or $580 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to view an unedited list of eleven comparably price properties in the Old Town, Casa Marina, and Meadows areas. Compare the size, amenities, and location for yourselves. With a couple of exceptions, 409 William Street is priced lower than the majority of the homes on a price per sq foot basis and it is much larger than all but three.

CLICK HERE for more detailed information and a lot of interior and exterior photos of this dramatic property.

If you are in the market for a genuine Historic Key West property or simply a very fine restoration property, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 to schedule an appointment to see 409 William Street. CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors MLS database. Who knows, you might end up owning a great property in Key West at a bargain price. They don't make houses like 409 William anymore. And these bargain prices will not be around forever.

Let's Do the Fifties Over Again

I'm old enough to remember the Fabulous Fifties with some degree of clarity. My advice to President Obama: Let's do the Fifties Over Again.

When I was a little kid attending the Mountain View Elementary School in Wheat Ridge, Colorado (Denver suburb), kids were the silent savers that helped secure America's future. Every week, year in and year out, every kid was asked to buy a savings stamp. The stamps were sold by our teacher in denominations of 10 cents and 25 cents. A thrifty kid like me would buy as many as he or she could. The kids would lick the stamps and put them in their private Savings Stamp Album. When there were $18.75 worth of stamps in the album, it could be exchanged for an official United States Savings Bond. When the bond matured it would be worth $25. And it was guaranteed by the United States Treasury. So you knew your investment was safe.

The government got little kids to give up part of their allowances (maybe) to help finance our way out of the debt carried over from World War II. We didn't borrow from China, Japan, England, France, or any other country. All the countries were recovering on their own from the war. (In fact the United States helped finance some of the recovery in Europe through the Marshall Plan.) So the incremental contributions of millions of kids on a weekly basis really did add up.

I remember my mother taking me to Empire Savings at the Lakeside Mall to open a savings account in my name. I'm sure I wasn't older than twelve at the time. When I made money, I'd always put part of it in my savings account. Believe it or not, I've still got money from that account today. I never stopped saving.

When my mother went grocery shopping she'd always take the Green Stamps home and I got the job of licking them and putting them in the album. Then we'd go to the Green Stamp store and look for something to "buy" with the stamps. Sounds hokey now, I guess. But millions of families did it in the Fifties. We were all about the same back then. Regular people who worked for a living and had houses in the suburbs of cities across the country. Just regular people without fancy European cars or European cabinets in our granite and stainless steel kitchens. We had one TV and one phone. Most families had just one car. Two at most. Thrift and saving was the norm. Indulgence was showy.

My parents were newly married at the beginning of the Depression. I came along unexpectedly 17 years later. I learned Depression-era frugality, and I was taught to save money and to spend it wisely. I put myself through college and law school. I did get some scholarships, but no money from home. None! So what I have achieved in life is from hard work, saving, and maybe a few good investments.

Kids that grew up in the Fifties learned that there was a permanent record of every deed they did. Bad deeds would indeed be put on your Permanent Record. Bad deeds got punished. Achievement got rewarded. I was never a super achiever, but I was never an evil-doer. George Bush would have been proud of me.

Fast forward fifty years. There is little savings and lots of credit. We buy things we can't afford--on credit. Banks lend money the shouldn't and reward the bankers who lent the money with big bonuses. When the whole economy starts to implode, the government steps in and gives more money to the morons that got us into the mess. Big banks and big businesses are too big to fail we are told. So the government borrows money from the Chinese (remember when we called them "the Red Chinese"?). That moniker kinda faded away real quietly.

My suggestion Mr. President: stop borrowing money from China and start borrowing it from our kids. Re-institute the savings stamp program in schools. Teach kids about thrift and savings. Teach them to plan for tomorrow and not to just borrow money. Teach them them to buy what they can afford. And while your at it Mr. President, tell the few American companies that actually manufacture things to start producing items the old fashioned way. You remember, I'm sure. Items that were built to last beyond their warranty expiration period.

One final suggestion, Mr. President: take the morons that created this frigging mess to the woodshed. Give them the old fashioned licking kids used to get before lickings became politically incorrect and socially intolerable. Let the Wizards of Wall Street get their fannies spanked. Let those bozos know that their greed and incompetence is going on their permanent record. No deals for morons. No get out of jail cards for the really big swindlers like Bernard Madoff. I can just see it coming, Mr. President. He's gonna work a deal to keep his sorry ass out of jail by agreeing to get some money back. Send that creep to the prison were common felons go. Let the guys on the inside do to him what judges and polite society won't do. That will send a message louder than you can imagine to every crook out there. No bonuses this year to the guys on Wall Street either.

1731 Bahama Drive - Key West

1731 Bahama Drive is located at the far east end of the Island of Key West. It's really far from the crazies that populate so much of Old Town some days. The little enclave of five streets with tropical sounding names is located between Flagler and the mangroves on the north side of the Key West International Airport. I laugh every time I write that name. I'm not quite sure planes go to or come from any international port of call.

Most of the houses in this area back onto one of the small canals that eventually feed into the Riviera Canal and that takes you directly to the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the residents in this area are full time Key Westers who own their own boats and use the canals for there intended purpose. Fun!

1731 Bahama Drive is not on a canal. It backs onto the mangrove to the east. That means no neighbors on the other side of the canal looking at you lounging around your pool. There is no canal. And there are no neighbors. Just lush mangroves.

The house is 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch built in 1965. It is 1203 sq feet and sits on a very large 5600 sq ft lot. the house has been updated and has a nice new kitchen.
For me, the main attraction is the back yard, covered patio, and that gorgeous pool. The grounds are beautiful and that pool is just inviting. The best part is the price: $435,000 or $362 per sq ft.

This is how the listing Realtor describes this house:"Priced to Sell! This is NOT a short sale. This home offers gracious living indoors and out! From the moment you pull into your circular driveway, bordered with mature native landscaping, you will appreciate that no detail has been overlooked. Each of the 3 bedrooms has an over sized closet. It has 2 baths, one of which is en suite to the large master bedroom. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, side by side refrigerator, dual range and microwave. Beautiful counter tops, wood cabinetry and a handy pantry/utility room. Step outside to a brand new canvas covered sitting and barbecue area. To the left of the pool lays an open lawn area for outdoor games and/or entertaining." CLICK HERE to see more photos and read more detailed information on this property.

This isn't a short sale; it isn't bank owned; it won't take months or weeks or even days to get an answer on your offer. It's a nice home in a quiet location looking for a new family. (Yes, I know the airport is nearby. If this house were located in Casa Marina with the views and amenities, the price would be at least a million dollars higher.)

If you would like to see 1731 Bahama Dive, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642. Want to compare the relative merits of this house at his price to others in Key West? CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors mls website. Set your search to single family homes price at or below $435,000 to see what you can buy for that amount. Then you will see why I think this is a good buy.

1015 Eaton Street - Old Town - Key West - Open House

Dear Readers: OPEN HOUSE Today at 1015 Eaton Street from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 1015 Eaton Street in Old Town is charming Eyebrow house with 4 bedroom 3 bath home with a fireplace, new kitchen and baths, & private pool and spa. Unlike a lot of Eyebrow houses, this one has "real" bedrooms. The bedrooms are large and have lots of headroom. This place is Done! Done! Done!
I'll be hosting this Open House so stop by and take a look. Back in 2006 this beautiful home was listed for $1,650,000. Times have changed. This is NOW a SHORT SALE Offered at $995,000. Short Sale asking prices are just as negotiable as any other listing. If you like the classic Eyebrow look, this could be your chance to own a Key West classic at a bargain price.

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. is hosting four other Open Houses today. CLICK HERE to see the properties. Tell the hosts that Gary Thomas sent you and see what you receive.

If you are interested in buying a house, condo or town house in Key West and haven't found the right place at the right price, CLICK HERE to search the Key West MLS database. No Realtor will call or start sending you emails. It's your way to see what is available and at what price. Prices have dropped and sellers are being reasonable in their negotiations. If you see a property you like, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Who knows, you might end up owning a place in Paradise.

The Key West Garden Cottage

Attention Locals and Visitors to Key West. There's a new shop in town that is unlike any other. That's because many of the treasures you will see are custom made right here in Key West for The Garden Cottage Key West located at 526 Southard Street, Key West, Florida 33040 (phone 305.296.9840). E-mail Domkeywest@gmail.com.

The Garden Cottage Key West is owned by Dominique Barrera and Laurie McChesney (both of Preferred Properties). They decided to convert the former offices of Preferred Properties into a shop that could offer one-of-a-kind fountains, lattice work, custom made potting benches made from Dade County Pine or pressure treated wood and gates made of iron or wood. There are also vintage and new treasures for the home or garden. And of course there are gifts and mementos unlike the kind you'll find at a dozen stores on Duval Street. (Our new offices are located at 520 Southard Street, just three doors to the west.)

There are mirrors, vintage flower pots, new flower pots, orchids, herbs, plants, & cacti. There is an antique English glider that arrived today. It's about 120 years old, re-furbished, and painted Kelly Green. Come by, sit down, relax converse. Sit in this glider and dream about living in Key West. You are sure to find something that you absolutely cannot live without.

Stop by and take a peek at the many treasures. Imagine what your home in Paradise or Peoria will look like with a special treasure of your trip to Key West. Tell Dom or Laurie that you heard about The Garden Cottage Key West in my blog and receive a 10% Discount on any item in the shop. How's that for having connections!

Open House(s) Sunday - Key West

Attention Bargain Hunters: Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. is holding another Big Open House Event on Sunday, March 8th between 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. CLICK each of the addresses below to preview the homes you may want to visit.

1334 Atlantic Boulevard which is a specactular Ocean-front residence with its own pool. Offered at $2,495,000.

1015 Eaton Street in Old Town is charming Eyebrow house with 4 bedroom 3 bath home with a fireplace, new kitchen and baths, & private pool and spa. Unlike a lot of Eyebrow houses, this one has "real" bedrooms. They are large and have lots of headroom. This place is Done! Done! Done! This is a SHORT SALE Offered at $995,000.

807 Washington Street is a newly constructed three story town home featuring 3 bedrooms 3.5 baths, heated pool, & parking. All of this and located in the Casa Marina area but within walking distance to Duval and the beaches. Offered at $1,800,000.

1404 South Street in the Casa Marina area is offerd at $995,000. There are two master suites, a beautiful pool and tropical garden.

3509 Eagle Avenue is a spacious home on a large lot. The main house had 3 bedrooms 2 baths plus a guesthouse with one bedroom and one bath. Offered at $799,000.

I will be hosting the OPEN HOUSE at 1015 Eaton Street. Please stop by to say hello and keep me company. Actually, I'm expecting about 100 prospective buyers. There are lots of lookers in town.

If you are interested in buying a house, condo or town house in Key West and haven't found the right place at the right price, CLICK HERE to search the Key West MLS database. No Realtor will call or start sending you emails. It's your way to see what is available and at what price. Prices have dropped and sellers are being reasonable in their negotiations. If you see a property you like, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Who knows, you might end up owning a place in Paradise.

Fit for a Queen - 1215 Royal Street - Key West - Bank Owned!

Well, the economy sucks and the Queen needs to downsize and find something a little more affordable. The house at 1215 Royal Street is now Bank Owned.

This is how the listing Realtor describes the property: "Bank owned property. REO. Qualified Buyers may be eligible for Seller financing at below market rates, FHA and other incentives available where applicable. Fast response from bank. Renovated Old Town Key West home, vaulted ceilings, Saltillo tile, and French doors. Private rear deck/pool area. Great curb appeal. Lush tropical plants provide privacy in front; white picket fence gives it that Key West, Conch style look. Front porch was made for rocking. Driveway provides off street parking. Downstairs are two bedrooms and two baths and the large living/dining area which opens up to covered deck and pool. Upstairs is another bedroom, with skylight, bath, and plenty of storage. Walking distance to Duval St, beaches, restaurants, and more!">1215 Royal Street (three blocks east of upper Duval Street) might just work. The house is now BANK OWNED and it is priced at only $627,500 or $456 per sq ft.

This is how the listing Realtor describes this property: "Bank owned property. REO. Qualified Buyers may be eligible for Seller financing at below market rates, FHA and other incentives available where applicable. Fast response from bank. Renovated Old Town Key West home, vaulted ceilings, Saltillo tile, and French doors. Private rear deck/pool area. Great curb appeal. Lush tropical plants provide privacy in front; white picket fence gives it that Key West, Conch style look. Front porch was made for rocking. Driveway provides off street parking. Downstairs are two bedrooms and two baths and the large living/dining area which opens up to covered deck and pool. Upstairs is another bedroom, with skylight, bath, and plenty of storage. Walking distance to Duval St, beaches, restaurants, and more!" She did a pretty good job! CLICK HERE for more information and photos.


The new bank owner even just had the pool resurfaced. I think the Saltillo tiles look okay, but I would remove them and install either a really nice dark hardwood floor or travertine marble and extend the look out to the covered pool deck with either IPE wood or a non-porous tile that looks like travertine. The kitchen is small and needs updating, and so do the baths. They are both functional as is, but a few thousand dollars could make this place look great. I'm not a building or a home inspector, but I didn't see anything here that looks like an expensive fix.

The only negative about this house is the existence of a spiral staircase to the second floor where the third bedroom and bath are located. That's where you make your guests stay. That will assure they don't stay too long!

Any queens out there looking for a place in Key West? If so, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Straights are welcome to call me as well. Everybody is welcome in Key West. That's why we call it Paradise.

Really BIG short Sale - 1307 Truman Avenue - Key West

On January 29th I wrote about The Grand Dame of 1307 Truman Avenue in Key West. I extolled the virtues of this majestic old house. Folks, it just got even more attractive. This property is now a SHORT SALE. A short sale occurs when a seller offers to sell property for an amount less than is owed on the mortgage(s) against the property conditioned upon the lender(s) agreeing to accept less than full payment of the amount owed against the property. There are a lot of short sales in Key West, but kids, none of the houses compare to this one. There is nothing like a DAME.

This is how the listing Realtor (Dan Skahen at Preferred Properties) describes 1307 Truman: "This beautifully renovated Victorian home was built by a Cigar factory owner from Cuba in the early 1900's. The home was expertly renovated in 2002 to restore the original elegance while adding all the modern amenities. Spanning two lots from Truman Ave. to Albury St, where the pool is surrounded by a lush indigenous tropical garden . There is over 4000 sft of living space plus 1500 sf of porches. Bedrooms are spacious with 12 ft ceilings. In addition separate guest quarters on second level with a private porch. Original Dade County pine floors are preserved as well as crown molding. Each floor has its own CA/C zone. Kitchen incl soap stone counters and a large white marble island tops." The property is owned by a Realtor, but not Dan nor myself. CLICK HERE for more detailed information on this house and lots of photos.

Wikipedia describes a Grand Dame thus: "In popular culture, the grande dame is usually portrayed as a slightly flamboyant woman, prone to extravagant and eccentric fashion, such as feather boas, large hats, and excessive costume jewelry. She may be overly pre-occupied with the concept of "acting ladylike" and expect all those around her to conform to her own high standards of etiquette." That definition fits 1307 Truman Avenue to a tee. The house has a prominence that cannot be denied. The wrap around verandas are her boa; the height is her large hat; and the impeccable gardens are her costume jewelry.

This house on millionaires row was built circa 1900. From Eisenhower Drive on the east all the way west to Duval only a few of the old dames on Truman survive today. They were built in sizes and to standards (and lifestyles) that are no longer current. Many of the houses that do remain have been converted into guest houses or re-configured into a combination of commercial and/or retail with some residential. This house has not been messed around with and sits almost like a virgin, albeit an old virgin.





This house is in beautiful condition. Everything I saw looked great, clean, and well maintained. I did not see any deferred maintenance. The baths are nicely appointed with new fixtures with classic lines. They fit the style without being gimmicky. There are two large formal living areas on the main floor. The kitchen sits at the rear. The kitchen is huge and would make a great gathering place for modern living in an old house. The wrap around verandas at the front and rear seem to envelop the house. Each of the rooms on all three levels of the house (including the third floor) have very tall ceilings, crown molding, and exude a sense of formality we don't see in current architecture. For readers who have been in dozens of Key West Conch houses, this isn't one. You have not been in a house like this before in Key West.

The house has five bedrooms, each of which is quite large. And most have en-suite baths. The third floor has a sitting room off the bedroom. The ceiling up there must be 15 feet tall. There is a small porch off the front of the third floor where you can see the treetops and rooftops of much of the southern end of the island. Bayview Park is just across the street. What a view! There is a rooftop deck at the rear with an amazing view of the north. I could see water on the Gulfside. You could not build a house of this height in Key West today. But if you buy it, you have the view forever.

This house is listed by Preferred Properties Christie's Great Estates at the asking price of $1,998,000 or $451 per sq ft. The house has 4426 sq ft of living space under roof and sits on a large 7418 sq ft lot. The rear veranda overlooks the garden and pool area. Off street parking is provided as well. There is even a small apartment off to the west side of the house which could be used by a caretaker for an owner who would use the house as a second home.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of 1307 Truman Avenue. Buyers looking for a big house ought to take a look and compare the size and features to other similarly priced homes. The Grand Dame of Truman Avenue will put them all in their place. Remember, this is a Short Sale.

630 Elizabeth - Old Town - Key West - Bank Owned

630 Elizabeth Street in Old Town Key West sits at the top of Solares Hill. The public records show the house was built in 1933 but the house is much older than that. This Old House has seen better days, for sure. It has been used and abused and now it is Bank Owned. It went through that earlier Florida Real Estate Auction and went unsold. So now it is back on the market with a new listing Realtor and a new price.

This is how the listing Realtor describes 630 Elizabeth Street: "This historical building, located atop Solares Hill, was the Solares family General Store circa 1884. It sits on the corner of Elizabeth and Angela Streets just 2 blocks from Duval St. In addition to the excellent curb appeal and 2012 sq ft of living area, it has approximately 936 sq feet of bonus attic space. It is a duplex with infinite possibilities for renovation. The location and square footage make this property an investor's dream. Foreclosure."

I've shown this property a couple of times. It's gonna take some hard work and mucho denaro, but this place has possibilities of being transformed from a sow's ear into a spiffy place in a great location. Here's why. At the asking price of $321,900 this 3068 sq ft house is now affordable as a redo. The cost per sq ft is only $105 and that's incredible for Old Town. There is a crappy addition on the back that I would try to get permission to demolish and that would create space for a nice pool and deck. The house is so big that the loss of the small addition would really be a plus, not a minus. The property is such an eyesore that I bet HARC would work with a responsible buyer to restore this property.

CLICK HERE to view more detailed info and lots of photos of this property. I would suggest that you forget about what the interiors look like now and concentrate instead on tearing everything on the interior out. Think of re-inventing the inside the way it would work for you as a homeowner. Gear your plans toward Key West living with the main living area at the rear overlooking the pool and gardens. You will never have off street parking, so get over it.

This is a great neighborhood with some very expensive homes. The house is two blocks to Duval Street and three to the Historic Key West Seaport. CLICK HERE to see a photo of the area in 1970. The area has changed, but 630 Elizabeth looks like it just got a little more tired.

I can't promise that HARC or the City of Key West will let you do anything with this property should you buy it. I always suggest that prospective buyers consult with a local knowledagle architect and a builder before making any decision to buy a renovation project. But I do have good feelings that this house could be a good investment for a buyer who wants a project house in a good location at a good price.

If you are looking for a place in Paradise, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. Someday you could be standing on that front porch looking down on the tiny little houses and rooftops in Old Town Key West. Turn this Bank Owned REO into Your Place in Paradise.

Invest in Key West

The stock market is probably going to go ape today with word that the United States is going to give AIG another $30 BILLION. Markets in Asia have already burped real bad. The financial news keeps feeding the hysteria and gives credence to the prophets of doom and gloom.

Thirty years ago as we were emerging from our nightmare over South Viet Nam, the ouster of Richard Nixon from the White House, sky rocketing oil prices, inflation, deflation, and stagnation, the county went through a similar economic downturn. What we did not have at that time was 24-hour-a-day news channels and the Internet scarring the beejesus out of us. I'm not saying the economy isn't bad. Back then it was Chrysler that was facing closing down. New York City faced failure in the face. The country responded by building K-cars and painting our appliances harvest gold and avocado green. Chrysler is still making cars and New York City has had its share of ups and downs, but it is still there.

I think there may be some good deals to be had by investing in Key West multiple housing units. I went through the inventory of 3-4 units and selected a few that you may find interesting. A couple of the properties are being offered by the estate of a recently deceased owner. There is at least one short sale in the bunch as well. A couple of the properties are located in really good locations and might be candidates for demolition and rebuilding into a single family home. And there are a couple of workhorses that have years of proven profitability (based on the acquisition cost). CLICK HERE to checkout the list. Most of these properties are lived in by either long term tenants who have lived in the same property for years. A few are apartments for people who rotate through Key West on a seasonal basis. There is always a need for reasonably priced rental properties in good locations. So that is why I think some of the units on the list may be appealing to a buyer looking for an investment property. I am not recommending any one property (or even all of them). I am just providing a list of units that may interest potential real estate investors.

Speaking of investing, I want to mention that Philip Wilson is a fellow Realtor (actually he is an Associate Broker) at Preferred Properties. Phil is a real estate and financial expert with 38 years experience in the private and public sectors specializing i commercial and corporate real estate. Prior to moving to Key West, Phil was the Senior Vice President, Corporate Services for one of the largest international commercial real estate firms. And prior to that, he was a senior executive with the federal government in Washington, D.C. responsible for planning, real estate, design an construction of a nationwide portfolio of 35,000 properties with 300 million square feet, valued in excess of $15 Billion. Phil is an accomplished troubleshooter and problem solver who meets challenges head on.

CLICK HERE to view Preferred Properties commercial properties (for sale or for lease). If you are a buyer or a seller, let Phil and yours truly help you.

If you see a property that interests you, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. Or call Phil Wilson at 305-394-4105 or email Phil at pewtar@aol.com.