South of Truman - Old Town - Key West

Many months ago I wrote a blog entry that discussed people being creatures of habit. Maybe we become that way because teachers always made us sit in the same seat. So when we get big and got to choose where to sit, most of us go to the same spot time after time. I catch myself doing that sometimes. And sometimes I move to another place just so that I cannot be defined by where I sit.

A lot of people seem to vacation in the same location every year or sometimes more than once a year. Many people who come to Key West pick a particular hotel or guesthouse and stay there because they like the neighborhood and feel comfortable. They get to know the staff and feel like they belong. Gay guesthouses have repeat visitors all the time. But so do expensive places like the Marquesa Hotel. Vacationers and tourists alike go to familiar restaurants because they know they will always get a good meal or maybe just a cheap meal. But they go back again and again because they know what they can expect.

I have often written about Key West neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are where us locals live. I have never written about the South of Truman area as such. Until today. Almost every first time visitor makes it to the corner of Duval and Truman Streets. U.S. 1 (the only highway from mainland United States to Key West) becomes Truman Avenue at Eisenhower Drive (ten blocks to the east of Duval Street). The intersection at Duval diverts a lot of people to the north towards the heart of Old Town.

It is a ten block walk toward the north from Truman and Duval to reach the Gulf of Mexico. Of course you might never make it that far because of all the distractions like Bourbon Street Pub, Margaritaville, Rick's, Sloppy Joes, etc. And the area around the 800 Block of Duval is sure to attract some kind of commotion almost anytime. But if you decided to walk southward you could be at the Atlantic Ocean in only five blocks. Along the way you could get distracted by La Te Da, the Banana Cafe, the Butterfly Conservancy or a bunch of cute little art galleries and other diversions. The pace of living is so much easier and and noise level so much quieter south of Truman.

Listed below are some places that have become affordable to buyers who want a part time place in Key West. Many can be rented either as a vacation rental (rented for a period of 30 days or less but only rented one time per month) or that have a transient rental license which permits daily rental (just like a hotel room). I also included a few single family homes might work out as full time residences.

422 Louisa Street #7 CLICK HERE is a one bedroom one bath condo with a valuable transient License at the La Casas De Lucas which is located around the corner from the Cuban Club. Priced at $309,000.

508 Louisa #2 CLICK HERE is a one bedroom one bath unit located just steps west of Duval. Walk to Banana Cafe every morning for a bit of heaven. This 500 sq ft elegant little place is offered at $339,000. Rent it as a vacation rental when you are not in residence. It is eligible for a transient rental license.

422 Amelia Street #L-2 CLICK HERE is another one bed one bath unit that is also a part of La Casas De Lucas. This unit is Bank Owned (a local Key West bank - not a monolith). It is offered at $449,000 and it also has a valuable Transient License.

1102 Duval Street CLICK HERE is a one bedroom but two bath unit that is also Bank Owned (that same local bank) that is offered at $449,000. It also has a valuable Transient Rental License. It is located in the Cuban Club Condominiums. It has an assigned parking space.

1401 Simonton Street is the location of the new Santa Maria Condominiums. CLICK HERE to see the lowest priced unit. This Transient Licensed unit is offered as a Short Sale at $490,000. The unit has 907 sq ft of efficiently and elegantly designed living space. There are two bedrooms and two and one-half baths. There is a great tropical pool, parking, the Ambrosia Restaurant, and the Reach Resort provides access for use of its beach, pool, spa and is located right next door. There are several short sales and a few market priced sales over one million dollars in this complex. This listing is the least expensive.

407 Catherine Street CLICK HERE is located almost one block west of Duval Street. Most of the neighboring houses are still single family residential and all are in good condition. This single family home has two bedrooms and one bath and is offered at $649,000. It is has been really tastefully remodeled. The rear doors open wide to a great pool. This place is really cute.

408 Amelia Street CLICK HERE is a simple two bedroom one bath that is very economically priced at only $429,000. Most of the other homes and condos on this block are priced much higher. (This is basically an estate sale and it is priced to sell quickly.)

525 Louisa Street is a single family home CLICK HERE located about one-half block east of the Banana Cafe on Duval Street. This block has mostly single family homes and condos that are rented as vacation rentals. This house is currently used as a full time residence. But it could make a great vacation rental. It has a pool and off street parking. There is a white picket fence that keeps the outside out. Inside the house has been redone within the past few years. The kitchen was not quite completed. Use your imagination and complete this property. You might be able to turn it into a real money maker. It is offered at $850,000

625 Louisa Street CLICK HERE is a two bed three bath home built in 1989 that is part of a compound with a shared pool. Other than the shared pool, everything about this house is single family. It is offered at $659,000. Checkout the photo of the back of the house and that great pool.

634 Louisa Street is located east of Simonton Street and across the street from the Suburban Propane tank farm. CLICK HERE. It is a two bedroom two bath condo with 765 sq ft of living space on two floors. It is new construction in 2007. It is Bank Owned and offered at $269,000. This place probably would not be my idea of where I'd want to spend my two week vacation. Not because the place is not nice, but there is no pool. But it might appeal to a buyer that want a nice sized place in Old Town that does not cost a lot.

639 United Street CLICK HERE is a single family home that was tastefully redone a couple of years back. It is offered at $790,000. This 1350 sq ft home has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a beautiful pool and a pool house. Click on the link to see the photos of this place.

If you are looking for a place in Key West please consider working with me, Gary Thomas. Contact me at 305-766-2642 or by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coast Realty, Inc. We are an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

Let's Screw the Realtors!

Bank of America did not get enough money from during the Bailout! It needs some contributions from Key West Realtors to help it through the bad times. Here is the set up:

There is a real pretty house located on a very nice street in Old Town Key West. It was sold in 2004 for over $1,250,000. The economy soured. The owner put the house on the market in early 2006. The listing eventually became a short sale. Months passed by. The seller accepted several offers from various buyers. Each of the offers failed due to the passage of too much time or because the lender (Bank of America) rejected the dollar amount offered. As time passed the economy in Key West got a little worse and the market value of houses in Old Town began to slip. And the value of the pretty house on the very nice street in Old Town went down as well.

The seller used the same Realtor during the entire sales process. The Realtor is one of the top producers in Key West and has a rich history in selling fine homes. A professional short sale negotiator was engaged to help facilitate the short sale negotiation (God, that sounds like something I'd write if I were still in real business).

I represented a buyer who made an offer to purchase the house in March 2009. The offer was very simple: all cash with a quick close within 30 days of the acceptance by seller's lender of the short sale offer. Seller signed the contract and the short sale negotiator started the process to get lender approval.

Weeks and then months passed by and my buyer started getting a little nervous. The deal was going nowhere. In late June we received notification that the lender had accepted the price my buyer offered.

The seller no longer lived in the house. The pool pump was not working correctly, so the pool was turned off. The water turned Kermit green. My buyer and his family flew down to do the inspection. The inspection went fine, but that algae filled pool could have killed the sale.

The lender "approval" seemed to disappear. We didn't see anything in writing. My buyer was getting nervous. I was getting agitated. At our request the short sale negotiator furnished us with a copy of an email from the lender that approved the price. But Bank of America wanted seller to kick in $25,000 plus provide additional documentation that the seller did not have funds to pay off the hundreds of thousands of dollars Bank of America was being asked to forgive. Okay, I get part about not having hundreds of thousands of dollars squirrelled away someplace. Except that the seller had repeatedly supplied the same financial disclosures to Bank of America. His financial condition did not get any better. But the condition of the house was getting worse each day.

Exasperated, my buyer and I asked a local attorney to write a letter to Bank of America advising that the seller had abandoned the property and reminding the bank that the buyer was ready to close as soon as the bank approved the contract. More than another week passed. Nothing happened. Our contract was about to expire. The seller was thoroughly pissed at Bank of America for screwing around with this for so long.

We got word that Bank of America had again accepted my buyer's cash offer but this time the acceptance was conditioned upon receipt of an additional $20,000. (Down from $25,000 a few weeks earlier.)

I sent the Bank of America negotiator an email reminding him that the seller had abandoned the property; that the house had no electricity; that the pool was now green with algae and had become mosquito infested; that my buyer was "cash' and ready to close; and that there were three storms in the Atlantic. I suggested that if the bank declined to close the deal that it get a receiver appointed to take possession of the premises before the house got in really bad disrepair.

Again, nothing happened that we were aware of. My buyer then sent an email directly to the same rep at Bank of America. My buyer simply reminded the the bank that he had made a good faith offer to buy a house. He did not understand why Bank of America was requesting more money.

The Bank of America rep replied: "There is some miscommunication here. The Bank is not requesting any further funds from the Buyer. As far as the bank is concerned we are accepting the $***,*** offer. The request for additional monies is to come from the Agents' and or Seller in order to complete the approval process." This is a direct quote except that I deleted the dollar amount so as not to identify the property.

My buyer responded and pointed out that the bank's demand for more monetary contribution from the Realtors was hindering the process, not making it any better. My buyer told the bank rep cutting the commissions was undermining the Realtor's incentive to sell. Somehow, someway, my buyer got the guy at the bank to loosen up. Moneybags at Bank of America decided to forget the $20,000 contribution from the Realtors. The purchase amount was approved. But Bank of America cut our commission to 4%. It planned to cut our commission to about 3% total. Wasn't that kind.

The deal is done. Over. My buyer got a really nice house and I am genuinely happy for him and his family. I wanted them to buy the house next to mine. It was foreclosed by another bank. (A local bank. It actually spent new money taking care of that house.) I think they would be great neighbors. But my buyer got a really good deal. I made $1.32 per hour working on this. The listing Realtor made less. This property was on the market for over 1,000 days. By the way, because of its delay in getting the various prior offers approved, Bank of America got at least $360,000 less than the first offer it turned down.

What happened on this transaction is normal operating procedure for Bank of America and other large lenders. They demand the Realtors help make the loss more acceptable to the lender by demanding real estate commission reductions.

Earlier this year Fannie Mae issued a Directive prohibiting loan Servicers from reducing real estate commissions from less than the negotiated rate unless that rate exceeds 6%. CLICK HERE to go the Fannie Mae site then SEARCH for Announcement 09-03. I cannot link it. You do not need to login to search. The house my buyer purchased did not have a Fannie Mae loan. So what Bank of America did in cutting our real estate commission was not illegal.

None of the politicians in Washington (The Congress, The Senate, and neither the Bush nor the Obama Administration) have done anything to protect Realtors from the conduct of screwing Realtors out of their commissions. It goes on all the time.

I don't have a wife and kids to hold up and say to Bank of America "You are taking food from my family." But I am not getting what I was offered by the listing Realtor. And he is not getting what he and I both earned. Short sales are neither short nor easy. Conduct by big banks like Bank of America that got Billions of Dollars from the federal government should not be permitted.

I created a little Petition to Congress that you can sign if you agree with me that such conduct ought not to be permitted. PLEASE GO HERE TO SIGN.

It won't make a damned bit of difference however. I know it. Bank of America is too big to fail and too big to be put in its place.

915 Angela Street - Old Town - Key West

You will either love 915 Angela Street or you will hate it. Oh, you'll love the house. There's nothing not to like about the house. It's the neighbors.

This is how the listing Realtor describes 915 Angela Street:

"Pristine Old Town cottage with a little bit of everything including 3bd/2ba + delightful outdoor bath, 2 off street parking spaces, heated pool with waterfall & private spa. An outstanding use of space brings the outdoors in with the family room nestled between spacious covered decks & lush landscape. Enjoy the historical character with exposed Dade County pine walls and ceilings, renovated kitchen with new stainless appliances, remodeled baths, cathedral ceilings and lots of glass doors, windows and skylights. Beautifully styled and impeccably cared for both inside and out with optional designer furniture package negotiable for a truly turnkey Key West residence."

Let me tell you about the neighbors. the house next door to the west sits at the corner of Margaret and Angela Streets. CLICK HERE to view this incredible Key West property. The neighbors to the rear are a couple of very large homes accessed off Canfield Lane. The neighbor to the east is a nice house at the corner of William and Angela. Angela Street is a one way street that runs from Margaret eastward to White Street. It is just one lane wide. The neighbors across Angela Street is the Key West Cemetery. CLICK HERE to see the view from 915 Angela looking directly south.

The cemetery bothers the hell out of a lot of potential buyers.Some people refuse to even look at houses anywhere near the cemetery. I guess I understand. But not really.

This is why I really like 915 Angela Street. First, the place is really nicely laid out for Key West second home living. It is large enough for a couple that has a small family or friends that may drop in for an occasional visit. There are three bedrooms and two baths. The living room opens on the east to a beautiful pool. The living room also opens to the left onto a secluded deck with a hot tub. The master bedroom and bath also open onto that same deck. There is an incredibly sexy outdoor shower tucked away to the side. A second bedroom is located at the right front of the the house. The kitchen and dining area complete the main floor. There is a decent sized third bedroom or office on the second floor. There is enough separation between the rooms to provide the kind of privacy you don't see in many Key West houses. There are two separate off street parking spaces each of which is bricked. The house is just as cute as it can be. This 1350 sq ft home is offered at $1,195,000. The view from the front porch or the master bedroom looking south across the cemetery changes with each passing cloud. The view is the exact opposite of what you would expect. CLICK HERE to see more detailed information on this listing and view lots of interior and exterior photos.

This house is an easy walk to Duval Street or the Historic Key West Seaport. Both are about 5 minutes away. There is no commercial activity anyplace within sight. The Conch Trains and Trolley Cars can't go down Angela Street because it is too narrow. What a rotten shame! Boo Hoo! Locals don't use it as thoroughfare because there are speed bumps. Tourists tend to walk fast or run because, well, it is the cemetery after all.

The view from the master bedroom is just beautiful. This place is super quiet. I can't think of anything a new owner would need to do. If you are looking for a quiet little place and don't mind the neighborhood, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

415 Julia Street - Old Town - Key West - Short Sale

415 Julia Street is located a hop, skip, and a jump off of Duval Street near Truman Avenue. The reason the location is important is that the location is important. You see this property qualifies for a transient rental license. That means the owner could legally rent this property on a daily basis. Having a good property in a good location could mean good income. (415 Julia Street does not have a transient license at this time.)

This property sits just west of the Duval Gardens Bed & Breakfast and a bit south of the recently updated Orchid Inn. There is a big redevelopment project CLICK HERE right at the corner of Duval and Julia. I like it when other people spend a lot of money near a property that is for sale. It reinforces the belief that the location does have value.

415 Julia Street is about a five block walk to South Beach where you can lay on the beach all day long. It is steps from Duval Street where you can do the Duval crawl. The world famous La Te Da and other fun spots are all located within a two or three minute walk.

CLICK HERE to view the current mls listing information sheet provided by the current listing Realtor. There are no photos. The property is described as "Great Old Town location. No kitchen, was once a guest house, zoned for transients. THis is a potential short sale." 415 Julia Street is offered at $450,000 for this 2324 sq ft property that has 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. CLICK HERE, CLICK HERE, and CLICK HERE for other photos of the property. THIS is the little house next door.

I have not been inside this place recently. Our office listed and sold this place in October 2006 for the price of $795,000. CLICK HERE to see some good photos of what the property looked like then. The property most likely will not look the same today. So please do not assume that it does. But the photos may give you an idea as to what you might be able to recreate.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com if you are interested in this or any other property in Key West. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in beautiful Key West, Florida. You could be here or Peoria. Which would you prefer?

811 Carey Lane - Old Town - Key West

JUST LISTED, but not by me, 811 Carey Lane, which is located on one of the best little slow lanes of Key West. This is how the listing Realtor describes this charmer:

"Located in an area of million dollar properties, this charming home has an exceptional location on one of Key West's most desirable lanes. You'll find peaceful tranquility and the Key West ambiance you're looking for in this home. Open living and renovated kitchen, dining room, good storage, outdoor shower, covered porch for lounging and lovely gardens complete with inground hot tub. Excellent condition with 3 ductless air units, and house opens beautifully to the well-kept gardens and outdoor areas. Fall in love with this fun and artistic quintessial Key West cottage."

CLICK HERE o see the mls data sheet and more photos of this cutie pie cottage. The cottage is almost 1100 square feet and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a new kitchen, and it just oozes charm. The ceiling in the main living area is vaulted and exposed wood. It is very dramatic. There is room for a good sized pool.(The rear of this property abuts Carsten Lane. So all one need do is take down the fence, bring in the backhoe, dig out the dirt and install a new pool.)

Carey Lane is a one block lane that runs perpendicular between Margaret Street and Elizabeth Street and just south of Southard Street. It is within walking distance of everything Old Town has to offer, yet you almost need a map to find it. The five homes on Carsten Lane abut Carey Lane to the rear. Each of the houses on Carey Lane and Carsten Lane run through to the other side. Some front on Carsten Lane and the rest have that super valuable Carey Lane address.

In February 2007 I wrote a blog entry about Life on the Slow Lane. CLICK HERE if you would like to see why owning a home or cottage is so danged wonderful. Here are a couple of other houses on Carey Lane and Carsten Lane CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE.

811 Carey Lane is offered at $699,000 or $651 per sq.ft. for a charming two bedroom two bath home in move-in condition. It has parking and room for a pool.

The real estate market is heating up as the summer heat is starting to subside. I may be wrong, but I think this house is priced right and will sell fairly quickly. If this is the kind of place you have been dreaming of owning, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. Don't wait. Time is of the essence. Seriously!

Million Dollar Babies - Key West

I hosted an open house yesterday 1502 Petronia Street in The Meadows CLICK HERE. The property is currently priced at $975,000. It was originally priced at $1,795,000. It is now bank owned and priced to sell. There was a good turnout of "lookers" and there were some actual buyers out and about finding what they could get for their money.

One particular man looked around the property 1502 Petronia Street and said something to the affect "So this is what you get for a million dollars!) as if "not much" or "too highly priced". I had a sheet of similarly priced homes that I gave him so that compare 1502 Petronia Street to the competition.

Later in the afternoon I was driving some customers back from a showing. As we drove through Old Town the gentleman said he did not want to go through another renovation. He said he and his wife had gone through two and that was enough for a lifetime. He said he would rather spend more money and get exactly what he wanted.

I think there are a few properties located in Old Town that if purchased at the right price could become million dollar properties not too far into the future. Old Town followed by Casa Marina and then the Meadows are the most desirable areas for second home buyers in all price ranges.

I can't tell you how much any renovation will cost because each property is different. Depending on the property, HARC (Historic Architectural Review Commission) could be restrictive as to what it would permit. The lot size or configuration might also limit what a new owner could permissibly do on a renovation without getting a variance. I suggest that buyers talk to a local architect and to go to the building department to discuss in general terms what might be possible on any given property. The point of both conversations is to provide a quick education as the process one goes through and to get an idea on potential costs. Then the buyer can decide between a project property or one ready to move into.

I created a quick shopping list CLICK HERE of homes in Old Town, The Meadows and Casa Marina priced around a million dollar. Interspersed in that list are a few houses in good locations that have the potential to become million dollar houses.

I wrote about 911 Watson Street before. It could be incredible! The house itself is pure "Old Key West". And the lot is lush with all kinds of trees and plants. But it's gonna take money to renovate. (529 Olivia was added by accident and I am too lazy on Labor Day to remove it.) I wrote about 1000 South Street (it is another house where Ernest Hemingway once lived) and,if purchased at the right price, this house could be another great property.

A few months ago I wrote about 825 Southard Street. This house is next door to Michael's Restaurant to the east rear of the house. That is a serious locational minus to some buyers. And there is a cottage at the rear that is price around $300,000 that is a burden to this property. 825 Southard Street would have sold in a heartbeat, maybe more than the current asking price, if it were not for that cottage. This could be a great renovation if a buyer has the money to purchase both. Then you get to add in the costs of renovation and the property is well over the million range.

1415 Pine Street is a big house with potential. The house next door at 1411 Pine Street CLICK HERE is spectacular. It is priced at $2,495,000. Other houses on the blocks are much less expensive, but the location is really good.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about 919-921 Southard Street. It is currently a multi-unit property that needs total renovation. I would try to get permission to tear the whole thing down and build all new. Since that is highly improbable, the next best approach might be to leave the facade and build all new beyond it. The lot is very large. My thought is that one could build a $400,000 new house on the lot, put in a $35,000 pool and add $15,000 worth of landscaping. The location would justify the cost. If HARC permitted it.

800 Elizabeth Street is burdened by those small cottages at the rear. If only they could be demolished that lot and that house have great potential. But getting permission to demolish those cottages would not be easy.

In the end I suspect a buyer would end up paying around a million dollars for any of the houses on THIS LIST. Renovations are not cheap nor are they quick. But the homeowner will get what they want (or are willing to pay for) in the end. I know that buyers can probably get bigger houses on bigger lots elsewhere. But then you wouldn't be in Key West, would you?

If you are looking for a place in Key West please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. We are an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

Open House - Sunday - The Meadows of Key West

Dominique Barrera and I will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, September 6th between 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. at The Meadows of Key West. Two of the units will be open for you to preview 1502 Petronia Street and 1506 Petronia Street int the quiet area of The Meadows.

CLICK HERE for more detailed listing information on 1502 Petronia Street which is offered at $975,000. This property is the incredibly beautiful and stylish two bedroom mini-mansion. The main level has 14' vaulted ceilings with extra large crown moldings and baseboards. The bright & airy first floor features a sumptuous gourmet kitchen with beautiful granite counter tops, high-end stainless steel appliances, an abundance of storage in solid wood cabinets, and an adjacent wet bar in the dining area. The two bedrooms are en suite and offer luxurious baths including a stunning master bath with basket weave tile floors. The closets have built-ins and automatic lighting. There is a private second floor front porch located just off the master bedroom. It is the perfect place to watch the world go by on extra-slow speed on a quiet street in Key West. Hurricane rated doors lead to the stone tiled patio and private pool and spa. The professional landscaping provides a lush tropical backdrop to this fantastic property.

And CLICK HERE for more detailed listing information on 1506 Petronia Street. This home has three bedrooms and three and one-half baths. This home has the same features as the two bedroom model but the room sizes and room configuration on both floors is a bit different. But it has the same quality fixtures and finishes and that oh so wonderful second floor front porch off the master bedroom. The three bedroom homes are offered at $925,000.

Preferred Properties is the listing broker for The Meadows. CLICK HERE to see our website devoted just to this property. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com to discuss this property, or better yet, make an offer to purchase.

August 2009 Real Estate Sales Report - Key West

It ain't over till the fat lady sings. But she's heading for the mike.

There were 18 single family home sales in Key West during the month of August. Sales prices ranged from $280,000 for a 1240 sq. ft ranch on Harris Street in Mid Town to $1,795,000 for a 3600 sq.ft. waterfront property on Shark Key (sold by Preferred Properties). I eliminated all non Old Town, Meadows, and Casa Marina area sales to determine an average sales price or $421 per sq ft. That number, however, is misleading because of the disparity among the sold homes. Two of the sales were short sales and one (1119 Von Phister St.) was a bank foreclosure. (Congrats to Walt & Mitzi.) By comparison there were 11 single family home sales in 2008 at an average price of $512 per sq. ft. Two of those sales were short sales and, again, one was bank owned. The price per sq ft was skewed a bit because one of those sales included the Thompson Estate that sold for $3,312,500 or $912 per sq. ft. And in 2007 there were 16 single family homes sales (two bank owned properties that I know of) that sold for an average price of $545 per sq. ft.

Key West had 17 condo and town home sales in August 2009. Three were identified as short sales and five were bank owned. The average unit sold at $258 per sq ft. By comparison there were 8 condo and town home sales in 2008 with an average price of $425 per sq ft. (Sad to report one of those has become a new short sale in 2009!) In 2007 there were 4 sales at an average price of $589 per sq. ft. (other than several sold by the developer of the Beachside Resort that sold way over $1 million each).

There have been 46 new single family home listings that have gone under contract that are now shown as contingent or pending in since August first. Twenty of those listings are short sales and six are bank owned properties. That sounds discouraging, I know. But five of those contingent or pending sales are for properties priced at over $1 million with an average asking price of $715 per sq. ft.

Interestingly there are 36 condos and town homes shown as contingent or pending since August first. Twenty-four of those are shown as short sales and two as bank owned. One of the number is a market priced uber-expensive unit at Key West Beach Club. (That is important. Maybe, just maybe, the Beach Club will bounce back now. One bad sale can drive prices down. One really good sale can drive sales back up. Here is hoping!)

There has been a flurry of sales activity during the past month. If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the fat lady to announce the end of the down market, get up off your backside.

If you are a potential buyer and have not picked your property or better yet your Realtor, CLICK HERE to search the real Key West Association of Realtors mls website. If you see something you like, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in beautiful Key West Florida.

Run Away to Paradise! It is now Bank Owned!

Back on April 15th I suggested that some buyer ought to buy the little sandwhich shop at 811 Fleming Street. CLICK HERE to read what I wrote then. That deal is gone.

The former Paradise Cafe located at 1000 Eaton Street in Key West, Florida is now Bank Owned. It is offered for sale at $750,000. The purchase price includes the 1491 sq. ft. building that sits on the 4020 sq.ft. lot at the busy intersection at the corner of Grinnell and Eaton Streets. (The parking lot has ten parking spots.) Also included is the signage and the kitchen equipment in place. Bank Financing may be available to a qualified buyer.

This place was always packed with locals and tourists. A new owner ought to be able to recapture the market. I purchased a foreclosed guesthouse in December 1993. It had be shut down for two years. Boarded up even. I did some cleaning, put up a new sign, and opened the doors for business on Februrary 2, 1994. My rooms were sold out in a week. People go back to places they like. They are creatures of habit. Good locations attract new business, especially when people see that the place is busy.

I made a decision to run away to Paradise and I did it. I sold that business and made a real good profit. I have never regretted leaving life in America and coming to Key West. You can spend the rest of your life working your rear off to save enough to buy a place here-someday. Or you can learn to make a great sandwhich in Paradise and live the life you have dreamed of for a long time.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. This property is not listed with any real estate company. It is not in the mls.

Old Town - Key West - Windward Park - Short Sales

Just Listed, but not by me, two units at Windward Park located at 606 Truman Avenue in Old Town Key West. CLICK HERE to read the listing information on Unit #6 which is listed at the asking price of $375,000. And CLICK HEREto read the listing information on Unit #2 also priced at $375,000. Both units are short sales.

Windward Park Townhomes are located just a little to the east of the corner of Simonton Street at Truman Avenue. It is located immediately to the west of the St.Marys of the Sea church grounds. The rear of both units back up to the peacefully landscaped church grounds. The location is just great for a second homeowner that wants the convenience of being able to walk everywhere in Old Town and have deeded off street parking CLICK HERE.

There are nine townhomes in this complex that was built in 1988. The units are all pretty much the same as far as initial construction. The facades look similar but they are not "cookie cutter". CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE for photos of the pool and surrounding units.

CLICK HERE to see Unit #2 (YELLOW) which is located midway in the complex on the east side. And CLICK HERE to see Unit #6 which is located at the far south end of the complex.

Each unit has two bedrooms and two baths, washer & dryer, private outdoor space, main level and a second floor porch CLICK HERE.

These units will not last but a couple of days at this price. I would suggest anyone looking for a nice place in Old Town consider making an offer sight unseen. Seriously.

Please call me Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or email me at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in Key West, Florida. By the way, I had the last sale in this complex. That was in January 2009.