615 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

The very charming house tucked off the beaten path at 615 Grinnell Street (Rear) just got a lot more attractive. I have shown this property several times and I think it is poised for a quick sale. The reduced asking price is now $685,000 or $538 per sq ft. This is how the listing Realtor describes this home:

"Tucked away down a quiet Old Town lane is this lovely, renovated historic home. Three bedrooms plus a loft/office, high ceilings, quality finishes with an open floor plan for comfortable island living. Lush tropical lot, inviting pool and porches make this a Hidden Island Oasis in one of the best neighborhoods of Old Town Key West."

You can't see this house from the street. It is actually located at the tail end of the little lane mentioned above. The house has a wrap around porch on two sides. The pool and deck are on the third side. The north side abuts the adjacent lot. All three "public areas" are very neat and nicely landscaped. The owner recently added a gate to permit off street parking inside of the grounds. The lot is fairly large (approximately 50' x 60').

This is definitely a Key West house. You won't find one like this in the burbs, wherever you are. All of the rooms open to the outside. CLICK HERE to see the view from the kitchen looking toward outdoor dining and the pool. (There is even a small building that is just aching to become a poolside bar.) While none of the rooms are huge, they open onto each other and the vaulted ceilings and multitudes of French doors that open to the outside make the outside feel like it is part of the inside. CLICK HERE to read more detailed information on this listing and view several very good photos and even take a virtual tour. Speaking of tours: Grinnell Street dead ends on the Key West cemetery. You won't be seeing Conch Trains or Trolleys dragging tourists down the Grinnell Street. Most locals avoid it because they can get where they want more quickly. So if you are looking for peace and quiet, this street is one of the better addresses in Old Town.

This is not my listing. But don't let that stop you from calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Our office is the exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. It's Fantasy Fest Week in Key West. If you owned 615 Grinnell Street you could walk one block to join the People's Parade CLICK HERE on Friday. On Saturday you and your friends could walk four blocks to join in on the craziness on Duval Street. And on Sunday morning you could walk one half block to 5 Brothers CLICK HERE for a couple of shots of Cuban coffee and some Aspirin.

639 United Street - Key West Charmer !

I showed 639 United Street last week. I had not been inside for a few years. The last time it was offered for sale it got purchased right away. I sort of remembered how cute it was -- how it meets the needs of a buyer that wants to buy that "Quintessential Key West Cottage" (the personification of idyllic living space in our little town). Well, I just fell all over myself again. This house just about everything a buyer could want - except the location.

I'll discuss the property first and then the location. 639 United Street is a 1350 sq ft main house with guest cottage. There are a total of three bedrooms and three baths. The lot is deceptively large (31' x 118.5') . The front yard is fenced and gated. The front porch belies the truth of this non-traditional shotgun style house. You see the actual entry is made into the living area midway through the house on the west side. The front of the house is where two of the bedrooms and bathrooms are located. The bedroom configurations are therefore larger and more user friendly. (See interior photos.)

The living area (kitchen, dining, and livingroom) open onto the rear of the house and have views of the pool and guest cottage where that third bedroom and bath are located. There is a side gate on the east side of the house that provides access to the rear area for the poolboy or guests staying in the cottage.

The  living room has a big vaulted ceiling that makes the entire space seem larger. The Dade County Pine walls are artistically painted. The kitchen opens onto the living area so the cook is always part of the action. There is an indoor dining area but there is dining space by the pool as well. Oh, and the outside is wired for tunes. The pool gets lots of sunshine but it is also nestled by some tropical foliage so users can get the tan but not get baked if they don't want to. CLICK HERE to see some excellent photos that really showoff each room and living area.

639 United Street is offered at $790,000 or $585 per sq ft. It does not have off street parking. And it is located on what I call a feeder street. United Street is a somewhat busy street during the daytime. At night the traffic is infrequent. There is commercial activity across the street and there is a trailer court a couple doors to the east. But Duval Street is only two blocks to the west and South Beach is only a five minute walk to the south. A week ago I wrote about the property just to the south of the guest cottage (622 Louisa Street). CLICK HERE to see the pool there. 622 Louisa is a little grander, I will grant you that. It's got a better location, I'll grant you that. And it is priced $500,000 higher.

Fantasy Fest started last night. The King and Queen were crowned and town is full of party-goers and some potential buyers. If you are looking to purchase the nearly perfect Key West getaway place, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. We are an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

Bank Owned - 1318 Duncan Street - Key West

A few years back when the cost of single family residential housing in Old Town Key West got to be nearly prohibitive for all but the super rich, several larger old properties and some former apartments were converted into condominiums. As the market heated up even those units started to get quite expensive. Such was the case of the four unit complex at 1318 Duncan Street. The main house was quite large and got divided quite naturally. The larger downstairs unit (1188 sq ft) became Unit # 1. The upstairs unit is 750 sq ft. It became Unit # 2. Two other cottages in the rear that are located on the south side of the large and sunny pool became Units 3 and 4. (Both units are owned by another person who rents each as long term rentals.)

The real estate market turned south. And the two units in the main house turned Deep South. They are now bank owned and they are unwanted. They have been on the market since July 2009. I have shown them a couple of times. The downstairs is large and inviting. It was offered for sale in 2007 by the former owner for $849,000. That owner used it as a legal long term vacation rental and was quite successful with it. The same former owner tried to sell the upstairs unit in 2007 for $475,000. That owner rented it as a long term rental. The market took a downturn and the bank foreclosed.

CLICK HERE to see the current mls listing info provided by listing Realtor along with current photos of the downstairs unit which is now listed for $260,000. CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE to see what the pool and kitchen looked like when it was marketed for $849,000 IN 2007. (Remember, those two photos are two years old.) It is the same place. It's just another typical bank owned foreclosure-almost.

CLICK HERE to see the listing info on the upstairs unit which is now priced at $195,000.

This is the issue as I understand it: The condo association became defunct after the former owner stopped making condo association payments. The association did not have sufficient funds to pay building insurance and make other necessary payments. The bank owner is left with an asset that cannot be financed by another bank because of the defunct condo association.

I discussed this matter with the listing real estate broker about a month ago. I was told the bank owner would prefer a cash buyer that would take both units and let that buyer deal with the condo association difficulties. I believe the bank owner would sell both assets at a discount to a cash buyer.

The downstairs unit has a large private deck off the dining room and the use of a garage CLICK HERE. The interior needs painted and cleaned. The pool and deck area is quite large and very attractive. In better days this place was a showplace. It can be again.

If you are a cash buyer please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a showing on these two units. I would recommend that a serious buyer engage a local real estate lawyer to prepare any offer to purchase this particular property.

Let's Celebrate!

People that read my blog are usually looking for a deal. I sometimes think we fail to appreciate how we get to certain points in our life and how the actions of people around us can make our lives richer or worse for wear.

I just concluded another short sale from hell. My buyer made an offer in on a nice Key West cottage last February. Eight months later it closed. I won't bore you with all of the drama in between. But it is over and my buyer got a great deal.

I want to give a shout out of Thanks to Scott Forman of Real Estate of Key West. He was the listing agent. He represented the seller. Scott was always there to help and to do his part. He got exasperated by the foot dragging at the Big Bank far away with a seemingly endless stream of new negotiators that just had the loan re-assigned to them. "Please re-fax the entire file to me and don't call me for two weeks." But Scott hung in and did what he needed to do.

I never met the seller. I'm pretty confident that this experience was pretty painful. It is for so many people. Thank you for being a gentleman.

I also want to give a shout out to Monica Hornyak at Chicago Title in Key West. She's a trooper. She goes through this "change this, do that, get me a new HUD", etc. every day. Her persistence and ability to keep things organized and moving made this one deal get done. She does the same thing every day. Thank you Monica.

My buyer relied on a lender he knew at Bank of America. This guy was terrific. He was organized and efficient. If only he could be cloned! Thank you Mike Black.

And I want to congratulate my buyers. They got a nice house and I think a great deal. I know they were getting edgy because of the time delays. Most buyers do. But I am hopeful their new Key West cottage will become that getaway place they dreamed of owning.

Shark Key - Bank Owned - Waterfront

Listen up! The very large waterfront (by Key West standards) home at 35 Sea Lore Lane on Shark Key (just up the road from Key West) just got a lot more affordable and a lot more interesting. This property is Bank Owned and the seller is serious about selling. This is how the listing Realtor describes this property:

"BANK OWNED One of a kind Shark Key residence on arguably the most picturesque setting in the community. Enjoy the only home nestled along the waterline of the turquoise swimming lagoon & sandy beach together w/ panoramic views of sunrise & sunset. Strategically situated to take advantage of H2O on 3 sides & privately located at end of culdesac on oversized lot. Elevated single level floor plan takes advantage of views & Gulf breeze through French doors to porches that grace each end of the home. Comfortable living w/ open spaces surrounded in windows, fabulous ceiling heights, convenient kitchen appointments & ensuite baths. Fabulous value for this extraordinary waterfront setting now being offered with a 30ft BOAT SLIP at SUNSET MARINA."

35 Sea Lore Lane was completed in 2009 so it has the latest home features that today's home buyers are looking for. The 3157 sq ft house sits on a huge 21,736 sq ft lot over looking Florida Bay to the east and the Shark Key swimming lagoon to the west. The two story home has four bedrooms and 4 1/2 bahts. CLICK HERE to read more detailed information and view photos of the interior and exterior.

For the uninitiated Shark Key is surrounded by water but it is not navigable. All of that water and no place to go. The bank owner is now offering to include a 30' boat slip at Sunset Marina (that's about a $140,000 value). That sweetens the deal quite a bit. 35 Sea Lore Lane is now offered at the reduced price of $1,699,000 or $538 per sq ft.

If you would like to see this bank owned property 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. in Key West, Florida.

809 Washington Street - Casa Marina Area - Short Sale - Key West

A few months ago I wrote about a short sale at 809 Washington Street. It got some comments after the sale here (and elsewhere) because there were other units priced higher that were also listed for sale. That unit sold for $775,000. It was a short sale.

Preferred Properties (that is where I work) has another unit at 809 Washington Street (Unit #102) that is now offered as a short sale at the asking price of $795,000 or $424 per sq ft for the three story 3 bed 3 1/2 bath 1876 sq ft townhome. This is how the listing Realtor describes this unit:

"Perfectly situated in the heart of the Casa Marina district is this truly beautiful 3-story townhome. Cathedral ceilings and custom-cut Carlisle Lumber pine floors welcome you to this quality home perfect for year round living. Bright & open great room, gourmet kitchen with stainless Viking appliances & granite counters, spacious bedrooms with en-suite marble baths and private balconies. Fenced for privacy, this elegant townhome boasts a private bricked patio with native tropical landscaping & relaxing heated pool. This townhome comes with one bricked off-street parking space. Close to Duval Street but in a very quiet residential neighborhood. Potential Short Sale may be subject to third party approval. Owner/realtor but not listing agent."

Even though this small development was not completed until 2007 the landscaping is lush and mature. The front is maintained by the homeowners association and it looks really great. Like so many Key West houses, this place is built with the indoor and outdoor living areas in mind. The interior living area looks out to the private 8' x 13'pool and garden area at the rear. That area is lush with greenery and the pool is so cool and inviting.

There are a couple of other units available in this same development but they are priced higher. If you are considering a town home as an option to a single family residence, CLICK HERE to compare all other three bedroom three bath units priced at $795,000 or less. There are others priced much higher. It pays to compare size, location, and price. I think you will find that 809 Washington #102 offers a lot of value for the asking price. CLICK HERE for more information and photos of 809 Washington #102.

I live in the Casa Marina Area and I love it. Houses in this area are close to the beaches and close to Old Town. Many full time residents live in this area whereas much of Old Town is not owner occupied. Most of the houses in the area are priced over a million dollars so the prospect for long term appreciation on your investment in the Casa Marina Area home will likely prove successful in years to come. You can get to the airport or out to Searstown or the Winn Dixie in about 6 or 7 minutes. Most of the commercial activity in the Casa Marina Area is limited to White Street and runs only three blocks south of Truman. We've got a sweet little ocean front restaurant called Salute on the Beach where you can wine and dine al fresco while you watch the sunset.

If you would like to see any of the townhomes listed above, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I'd be pleased to show you around my neck of the woods. Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. is the exclusive lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

Don't Be a Cry Baby!

At the bottom of almost every blog post I leave a comment as to how to contact me either by phone or email. I actually do get emails and phone calls from prospective buyers. I respond and we sometimes meet in real life. Most of these potential buyers have a dream of owning a place in Key West (why else would they contact me!). And most of those potential buyers have developed their own perspective of the Key West real estate market.

The Key West Association mls website is open for anyone to use. CLICK HERE. It provides lots of easy to access information on all real estate listings. You might even become so proficient that you might think you don't even need a Realtor to help get the deal done. You would be wrong. Nothing is simple in life or real estate. And cute little Old Town Key West can be very complicated sometimes.

In just about one week the "population" of Key West will nearly double in size. Fantasy Fest will begin and thousands of wanna-be-Key-Westers will make their annual pilgrimage to pretend in paradise. And you can be your very last red nickle that a bunch of them are planning on looking at (and maybe buying) the dream home that eluded them before. Many have made plans to come down here and buy while the prices are low. They plan on waving cash in front of desperate sellers in hopes of snagging a trophy of a house be it big or small.

In the past week I have had two different people contact be about one particular house I wrote about some time back. I sent both the info they requested and we talked on the phone that property in particular. One person had a friend actually look at the house. Then we talked some more. The potential buyer advised a trip is coming up in early November and that he or she would look at the house then. And I said something like "Fantasy Fest is coming up in a week. This house will probably be bought. You need to tie it up now before someone else gets it." I don't try to pressure people, but I do encourage them to be realistic.

There are some incredible deals on really large houses. If you are a million dollar buyer you can get a lot of house for the money these days. There are some good deals on smaller houses. Most of those properties are livable but most would be good candidates for a remodel.

I could be terribly wrong on my prediction that we are going to have a lot of "real" buyers in town during the next two weeks. If I am right the "inventory" of unsold homes will drop dramatically and there will be a lot of cry babies boo-hooing over the fact that they missed the opportunity to buy into their dream.

CLICK HERE to search the real Key West mls website. This is the site owned by the Key West Association of Realtors. If you see a property that you like, please contact 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., an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. We have some great estate properties in case that is what you are looking for. And there are still come very cute little cottages left. Some may need some fixing. Don't wait too long. Don't be a cry baby!

Opportunity Knocks - 1317 Reynolds Street - Key West - Casa Marina Area

The 1203 sq ft ranch located at 1317 Reynolds Street is priced right and it is a good candidate for an extreme home makeover. I showed this house two weeks ago and at first was put off a bit by the knotty pine walls and the dark atmosphere of the place. But as I explored the house more I got it. The "it" is the location and the building. Not the structure as it exists today but rather what it could become after a renovation.

A lot of the charming Key West cottages were probably not quite as charming before they had the interior walls rearranged and pools and gardens added. I tell buyers not to accept existing floor plans because you can make your house what you want on the inside. Of course it costs money to tear down existing walls and to relocate them. But the end result can often turn cramped quarters into deluxe digs.

The lot at 1317 Reynolds street is 46'.25 x 90' or 4162 sq ft. The front yard is presently covered with lots of vegetation and there is a paved off street parking space. The rear has an elevated deck and there is both a hot tub and a fish pond. The rear also has tropical vegetation. I think the ground floor area would permit the expansion of the house either as a ranch or by adding a second story. Perhaps one could even demolish the house and build a fresh new place on the lot.
New construction is usually less expensive than renovation. The house was built in 1948 so it would be necessary to determine whether the house can be demolished.

The house is located across the street from the Reynolds School CLICK HERE. I believe that school is used as kindergarten through grade two. The front of the property is a drop off point for parents taking the tots to school. The house is also less than a five minute walk to Higgs Beach CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE. just four blocks to the south. The location is an easy bike ride to the shops on White Street and Duval Street four blocks to the west.

1317 Reynolds is not a short sale. It is offered at $375,000 or $312 per sq ft. This is how the listing Realtor describes the property:

"Nice Casa Marina CBS home on a good sized lot and located in the X500 flood zone. The house is currently configured with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath, a nice kitchen with wood cabinets and a good floorplan. There's a nice rear yard currently with a spa but if you'd prefer there is room for a pool. Well priced for the area and you could live in it as is or renovate. Off street parking for one car."

CLICK HERE for more details on this house and to view photos of the exterior and interior.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to see 1317 Reynolds, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. I live in the Casa Marina area and I love it. You will too.

815 Eaton Street - Old Town - Key West - Short Sale

The very cute two bedroom Key West cottage located at 815 Eaton Street is offered as a short sale at the asking price of $325,000. The listing Realtor describes the house this way:

"Happy home. Quaint wrap around people watching porches frame this whimsical and romantic gingerbread Conch cottage. Lots of natural light and windows. Lovely Old Town neighborhood between William and Margaret. Relaxing retreat just around the corner from the historic seaport, orange and gold sunsets, tall ships, great food, tasty drinks and lively entertainment. Walk or bike to everything fun and interesting. Duval Street art and culture just a hop, skip and a jump! Excellent location for fun-lovers. Beautiful wood floors, 5 ft side yard, nice sized back yard. Pretty little front yard with a white picket fence. Huge cistern would be a great wine cellar."

The house has 725 sq ft of living space and was updated a couple of years ago. There are nice new floors and the kitchen looks relatively new. The second bedroom probably works better as a place for a child or as an office. It would be difficult to use as a full time bedroom.

The owner advised me that there is room for an 8' x 14' pool at the rear of the property and that the pool could be built to code setback requirements. (CLICK HERE to see what an 8'x 14' pool could look like.) The house needs a little re-working in my opinion (not because it needs fixed but because it could function better as an escape place with pool).

CLICK HERE to see the mls listing information and photos. The listing Realtor (no relation) created a virtual tour that really shows the charm of this little place. CLICK HERE to take the time to take that tour. It is worth it.

This house does not have off street parking but it has just about everything else a second home buyer wants (minus the pool).

This house is offered as a short sale. The listing Realtor told me that the lender has already agreed to the asking price and that a closing may be able to occur within 60 days or so.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to see this house or if you would like more information, please contact 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. in Key West.

Casa Louisa - 622 Louisa Street - Key West Charmer

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. Gee Whiz!

622 Louisa Street is located at the upper end of the Duval 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 and serene and just so relaxing. When you enter the formal entryway CLICK HERE you know this place is "apart" from the typical 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 CLICK HERE and adjacent dining alcove CLICK HERE. Both look out toward the black bottom pool and waterfall and the newly constructed guesthouse with en-suite bath.

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 CLICK HERE 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 CLICK HERE. 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.

I would really like to show 622 Louisa Street to a buyer that wants the best. This property is used as a long term vacation rental and it generates substantial income during the year. Because of that, advance notice is required and viewing may be somewhat limited. Casa Louisa is offered at $1,299,000. CLICK HERE to view the detailed listing information and see some great photos of the property. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing.

There is just one problem owing a place like Casa Louisa: if you want it to make money you can't use it. You need to share it. This property may be legally rented as a vacation rental for a period of twenty eight days or longer. The advance reservations in place convey with the property.

I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc., an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. Let me help you fulfill your dream of owning a place in Paradise. CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors mls database.