1115 South Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

The house at 1115 South Street in the Casa Marina Area just had a price reduction to $875,000 or $465 per sq ft. This house was built in 1981. It has two bedrooms, two baths, a very large and open living room. The kitchen is "to-die-for". There are three distinct outdoor areas including a really nice pool. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"This house has been beautifully renovated with easy island living in mind. The first floor is open with living/dining and outstanding cook's kitchen and custom burled maple cabinetry, granite countertops and Viking and Bosch appliances and Brazilian cherry floors throughout. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a beautiful bath and an enormous walk-in attic space that easily could be finished for a third bedroom, studio, etc. Ipe decks surround the heated swimming pool and separate spa. There's outdoor dining through French doors and large tropical plantings all around. Old Chicago bricks cover the off street parking area."

This property was originally priced at $1,285,000 and has been gradually reduced to the current asking price. I have shown this house several times. That is why I am writing about it today. This is a very good value at this price, Dear Readers. I am expressing an opinion so please accept it as such. The layout and access of the second bedroom put off some potential buyers that I had. We looked at this house a couple of times and my buyers ultimately settled on another property. But the house was priced much higher at that time. There is more than ample room to reconfigure the second bedroom and now the price makes a cosmetic remodel more reasonable.

CLICK HERE to read more details on this house and to view interior and exterior photos. I may be wrong, but I think this house will sell very quickly now. This is a lot of house for the asking price. Especially in this area. MAP

I live a couple blocks away from this house. Not that I am prejudice, but this is a great part of town. This house is close to everything, but not located right in the middle of it. The Atlantic Ocean is a four or five blocks to the south, Old Town is a ten minute bike ride, and the White Street arts district is a five minute walk to the north.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or email me at kw1101v@aol.com, if you would like more information or to schedule a showing of this really nice home. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

How to Buy Real Estate in Key West

Thirty years ago when I lived in Denver I would ask my Realtor if you could borrow her mls book. Realtors were not allowed to share their mls listing books but could copy pages and give them to customers. But I was sweet so she gave in and let me borrow the book. Today the Internet has made home buying really easy, in fact it is so easy even a Caveman can do it! If you are reading my blog on Key West real estate, you probably found me via Google or some other search engine. What you may or may not know is that all of the Key West mls listings are available for free and are offered unfiltered (meaning you do not need to give anyone your name or other personal information).

Key West is located in Monroe County, Florida. You might think the Florida Keys would be the last place to embrace and utilize the Internet. You would be wrong! The City of Key West has its own Internet presence as well. And most real estate agents have websites and an Internet presence of sorts. My purpose today is to give you some good links so that you can do your own "home work" before you buy your new home in Key West. I know for a fact lots of potential buyers like to use the Internet to help find their new home in Paradise.

CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors mls data base. All real estate agents use this same database. So no matter which real estate company you may choose as your entree to the database, you will end up using this search engine. There is one notable difference, however. The Key West Association of Realtors database is maintained in real time. I have found other sites that have stale or old data that must be manipulated or changed by human beings. The official database is constantly changing as new listings are added or existing listings are changed.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser CLICK HERE has a very helpful website that permits you to search for property information from various perspectives including Alternate Key Number (a numerical id that appears on all mls listings, usually in the middle right that reads Alt Key # followed by seven numbers. Copy and paste those numbers and hit the "Search the Monroe County Property Database" button. You can also search Owner's Name, Physical Location Address, and others. Once you click the Search button, a Property Record View appears which you can print or click for more information. Some properties permit the user to click the "Show Parcel Map" which then provides an aerial view of the subject property. You can also see all kinds of detailed information related to that particular property such as year constructed, additions, improvements, building permits and costs, and "Appraisers Notes". Here the Appraiser's office adds comments from newspaper ads, mls listings, or physical inspections that may point out discrepancies or explanations between items shown of record versus data from other sources. You can also see the property tax valuation for past years and recent sales that are noted by date, price, and recording data.

The Monroe County Tax Collector also has a helpful website CLICK HERE. This site permits you to search properties by Owner's Name or Physical Location. I would caution readers not to assume to much since many people do not pay their property taxes on time. Many lenders escrow for property taxes and insurance. Property taxes in Monroe County are paid in arrears.

The Monroe County Clerk of the Court is an excellent website to search all kinds of information about real property and people that own or have liens on property. CLICK HERE to go to the main page. There you must select between Search Official Records and Search Court Data.

If you click the Search Official Records button you will need to click a "Disclaimer" button and then a n Application Menu. Click it. You will then have four new search options to select from. If you know the Name of the Person or Company, click the Name button. A new page will appear where you type in the Last Name. Then add additional information that you have. I would caution, however, that searches can be either too broad or too narrow. I suggest you limit searches by starting date. If your search is too narrow, you may not see all that is available that pertains to a particular property, owner, or lien claimant.

Click the "Go Search" button. A new page will appear with a potential wealth of new information. You can then click individual lines that reference recorded documents by date, name, book and page, document number, legal description, and so on. You can then bring up most items by clicking the item and it will appear in pdf format. Those documents are printable. You can make copies of all pages or copy just enough to maintain your own personal reference on properties that interest you.

Do not substitute your due diligence with that of a title company or attorney. Do not rely on your own searches to find all of the data or assume you have found everything. We all make mistakes. Trust your attorney or title company. Exercised in real estate sleuthing are just that. Exercises. Rely on professionals that are paid to provide correct information.

The Clerk of the Court has an alternate entree point CLICK HERE that takes you to the Civil, Probate, and Criminal Court records. You can search those records for information by Name. But beware that sometimes people make human errors and encode information incorrectly. You may want to search by name variations or omissions of middle names or initials. Sometimes first names are encoded incorrectly or judgements or deeds or liens are encoded correctly but with erroneous names.

A year ago I wrote a blog entitled "Has My Realtor Been Arrested?" Boy did that get some people upset with me. You can search the criminal record for any name in Clerk of the Court's website. You can also search the Monroe County Sheriff's website to see if someone has been arrested. CLICK HERE for access to that site. Being arrested is not the same as being convicted. And an arrest in Monroe County or Key West does not exclude the possibility of an arrest or conviction elsewhere. A few years ago I got into a heated debate with the broker of a company where I used to have my license. There were two people in that office that had been charged with or convicted of felonies. That discussion came up after a new real estate licensee at a different office made the front page of The Key West Citizen which reported that person was wanted in another state for fraud.

The City of Key West has an excellent website that provides access to all city departments, personnel, Code of Ordinances, Commissions (such as HARC and the Tree Commission), forms, permit applications, and so on. CLICK HERE for the main entree page.

Whether you are in Key West walking down a street or in your home or office far away, you can also access the Key West mls database and get real time listing information, maps, etc. with the Realtor.com i Phone Real Estate App. CLICK HERE to view how the IPhone App works and then CLICK HERE to download the Realtor.com iPhone App. You need to sign up with Realtor.com to download the Application but not with any one agent-such as yours truly.

I do hope that if you use the search tools I have described today when the time comes and you decide to fulfill your dream by purchasing your place in Key West that you will call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by email. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. I don't have another job such as waiting tables, selling shoes, doing construction, or anything else. Selling real estate is what I do.

623 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West Charmer

623 Elizabeth Street as it appeared in 1965

623 Elizabeth Street - Key West - February 2010

So many potential buyers have the image of the ideal Key West Cottage etched in their heads. They envision the simple, yet unmistakable, one-story home referred to as a Conch Cottage or Cigar Maker's house. Features usually include an entry door on one side with two windows, historically correct shutters, a shiny metal roof, a pool in the rear, off street parking, a very good Old Town location preferably out of harms way when it comes to flooding, and priced under $500,000. I give you 623 Elizabeth Street, a Key West Cottage that meets many of those ideal expectations. This is how the listing agent at Preferred Properties describes this new listing:

"Classic conch house located in a coveted Old Town neighborhood. Good ceiling heights in the living and bedrooms, with vaulted ceilings in the eat-in kitchen, which has butcher block countertops and custom cabinetry. French doors from the kitchen lead out to a covered dining porch and a nice deep lot. Livable now, with room for personal touches, including a pool and/or additions. Great value in a sought out location."

CLICK HERE to see more photos of the interior and rear yard at 623 Elizabeth Street. You will note that the yard does not have a pool. But there is room for a pool and there may be room for a rear second floor addition to expand this old house. I have included a street view of three of the neighboring houses including two at the south which have second story additions.

The house at 623 Elizabeth Street as presently configured has 726 sq ft of living space that sits on a 2300 sq ft lot (23' x 100'). The two neighboring houses sit on the same sized lots and each has an addition and a pool. What none of the four houses has is off street parking.

623 Elizabeth Street is the 3rd house to the left

The nice thing about a house like 623 Elizabeth Street is the ability of a buyer to move in and take some time before deciding to remodel the house because remodeling is an elective decision, not a requirement.

623 Elizabeth Street is located at the tippy-top of Solares Hill so flood insurance will not be required should you need a mortgage. The house is a two block walk to Duval Street, a five minute walk to the Historic Key West Seaport, and five minutes or less to numerous great coffee shops and restaurants. The Red Barn Theatre, The Waterfront Playhouse, The San Carlos, and Tropic Cinema are all within a five to ten minute walk. There is always something going on nearby. Who knows you may decide a pool and additional bedrooms for guests are not necessary.

If you would like to see 623 Elizabeth Street, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. 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.

1120 Packer Street - Key West

1120 Packer Street -Key West

1120 Packer Street -Key West - Rear deck and pool area

1120 Packer Street -Key West - Private deck off master bedroom

1120 Packer Street -Key West - former bakery oven converted to garden pot!

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. just listed the two home compound at 1120 Packer Street with an incredible amount of real Key Westie living space. The listing Realtor describes this property thus:

"This is a rare four bedroom, three bath house all on one level on an extra large lot(6473 sq ft.). The owners renovated the historic cottage and added an impressive and compatible addition. The addition includes a great room, dining room, beautifully appointed kitchen and a luxurious master suite, all of which have vaulted ceilings and french doors opening to porches overlooking the heated swimming pool. There is a real laundry room and parking for several cars."

This place is really fun to show. There are so many different areas outside where you can go cogitate or whatever you do by your lonesome. Those areas include two front porches, the front alcove off the kitchen, the rear deck off the living room, the deck off the master suite, the ruins from the old bakery (absolutely a killer feature-nothing like it anyplace else in Key West), and assorted benches placed in various areas around the grounds.

The two cottages are interconnected so you do not have to leave air conditioned space to go from one part of the house to another. Some compound type homes sometimes require the occupant to move from house to house in the pouring rain or beating sun. Not here.

Each part of this property has been smartly renovated and, like the outside, there are numerous interior nooks and crannies where one can go curl up to read a good book or take a nap. The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling that gives the already spacious room an even greater feeling of importance. A set of French doors open onto the private rear deck that provides instant access to the cozy pool. The master bath has a vaulted ceiling as well. This room has a shower, separate bath, a large vanity and storage space that singles it out from the ordinary.

The living, dining, and kitchen areas are very informal but the interiors are not. There is a simple graciousness of about this place. Everywhere you look there is something to see but you are not overwhelmed by things. Instead you are awed by the simplicity of each component part.



1120 Packer Street is listed at $1,295,000 or $646 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to view more photos and see details on this property. Better yet, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email 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.

210 Golf Club Drive - The Sanctuary - Bank Owned with Panache

The relatively new bank owned property located at 210 Golf Club Drive may be the the "ideal deal" you have been looking for. This single family home is located in The Sanctuary at the Key West Golf Club. Driving through The Sanctuary is like taking a Universal or Disney Studios tour bus through a movie back lot. Each single family is just a bit different than the next, but every home has the traditional two story Key West Conch style architecture. Every front yard has a classic white picket fence. The one-way drive loops the development. Either side of Golf Club Drive is lined with mature palms and specimen trees. It's prettier than the set of Desperate House Wives and it is located in Key West.


This is how the listing Realtor describes 210 Golf Club Drive:

"Beautiful free standing single family home located in The Sanctuary at the Key West Golf Club. The main floor has a functional kitchen, 1/2 bath and large living room. The open floor plan extends to covered patio and cocktail pool. Upstairs has 2 master suites and laundry facility."

Here is my take: this 1120 square foot home sits on a 1939 sq ft lot on great street. No doubt about that. The main floor is one big open living area with kitchen. There is not a lot of pizazz about that. There are two nice sized bedrooms with en-suite baths on the second floor. Each bedroom has abundant light on three sides plus each of the bathrooms has a separate window. Even though this house was only built in 2000, it does have some termite damage and some what looks to be wood rot. But neither of those factors should deter a serious buyer. This home is bank owned and is offered for sale at just $346,400 or $309 per sq ft.

This home has its own private pool and enclosed rear courtyard. The pool is small but I believe the pool could be enlarged. The house is located adjacent to the covered parking structure and it has its own side entrance that leads right to its covered parking spot. Think about that when you need to schlep groceries from a parking place or driveway anywhere. I would estimate the span between back door to the car trunk would be 50' at most, and most of that space is under a roof of some sort.


This house is not in perfect condition, but it is certainly not in bad condition. There is some termite damage, but most of that appears to be limited to soft new pine trim that is easily replaced. There is also some exterior wood trim that needs replaced. I am not a certified home inspector so my opinions are just those of a lay person. I always advise buyers to have a certified home inspector look at any potential home purchase. CLICK HERE to read more detailed info and to view more photos.

The house at 210 Golf Club Drive is not located directly on the golf course so you do not need to worry about an errant ball knocking your noggin or breaking a window. CLICK HERE to do your own search of homes in Key West priced under $350,000 to see why I think this might be an ideal deal.

CLICK HERE to compare 210 Golf Club Drive to the five other current single family homes in the Sanctuary. None of these homes are shown as either bank owned nor short sale.

This Bank Owned house is not occupied and can be shown at almost any time. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida. Somebody is going to but this place in Paradise. Might that someone be you?

---

Valentine's Day Open Houses Key West

419 Porter Lane - $929,000

511 Frances Street - $1,575,000

1502 Petronia Street - The Meadows - Key West

626 Grinnell Street - $1,575,000

304 Julia Street - $575,000

905 Elizabeth Street - $ $1,695,000

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. is hosting six Open Houses on Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Please stop by one or all of the homes. Who knows you and your special sweetie may find the Perfect Place in Paradise. For more info on each home, CLICK the address below.

626 Grinnell Street offered at $1,395,000 hosted by Frank Kirwin

511 Frances Street offered at $1,595,000 hosted by Cory Held

905 Elizabeth Street offered at $1,695,000 hosted by Everett Watkins

419 Porter Lane offered at $929,000 hosted by Terri Riley

304 Julia Street offered at $575,000 hosted by Dan Skahen

1502 Petronia Street offered at $975,000 hosted by me, Gary Thomas

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. is the Exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

Delightful Key West Conch Cottage - 813 Frances Street

Just listed the delightful Key West Conch Cottage located at 813 Frances Street is the ideal home everyone longs for. This 1450 sq ft home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living area that opens onto the pool and tiki hut plus off street parking. The master suite is on the first floor. There is even one of those Key West step-through showers to the pool. This home is listed at $995,000 or $686 per sq ft. The listing Realtor describes this cottage home this way:

"Elegant and beautiful historic home on one of the most desirable streets in Old Town Key West. Bright and airy rooms with open floor plan from kitchen to spacious family room overlooking tropical yard and pool. Home to a champion Lingum Vitae tree and other tropical flora, the yard is private and lush and boasts a cozy outdoor covered lanai. Hardwood floors, downstairs master bedroom, chef's kitchen including gas cooktop and stainless steel appliances. Off-street parking and wonderful front porch add to this Key West Historic Gem in the Heart of Old Town Key West.

This property is located directly across the street from the Key West cemetery. So there will be some fraidy cats who will not even consider this charming house. What a pity! Aside from the fact that the "neighbors" are exceedingly quiet, there is no parking on the opposite side of the street. The City of Key West erected new six foot wrought iron fences around the cemetery just a few years ago. So all that is inside is visible from the outside. Yes, you will have killer views of the graves and tombs. But you also see the green grass, trees, and walkways. You get to see the vast Key West sky and watch it as it changes. Trust me on this. There are no vampires and no ghouls will creep into your house. But you will see the amazing Key West sky as it changes and you can sit on your front porch like folks did in the olden days and watch neighbors walking their dogs and tourists pedaling past on their bikes.

The house is a five or six minute walk to Duval and perhaps four minutes to the Historic Seaport. Jose's Cantina is two blocks to the east, The Coffee Mill a block to the southeast, Old Town gym a block directly south, and the Citgo gas station at the Corner of Truman and White where you can buy the best fried chicken in town at Dion's Quick Mart.

CLICK HERE to read more about this house and to view photos. Better yet, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. There just are not that many single family homes in Old Town priced under $1,000,000. This delightful conch cottage may sell pretty quickly. Don't get spooked by the location and pass up a real buying opportunity. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Our office is the Exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

Maybe the present owner is trying to tell the denizens across the street something...

---

1012 James Street - Old Town - Key West

Just Listed (but not by me) 1012 James Street which is located a little over one block from the Historic Key West Seaport. This is how the listing Realtor describes this special home:

"This is a magical cottage with an open floor plan, saltillo tile floors, wonderful screened porch overlooking the 10 X 20 foot pool (7 feet deep with swim jets) and gardens. In addition, two sets of French doors from the living area open to a beautifully designed side porch which also opens from the kitchen and has access to the pool and gardens. There are two bedrooms upstairs each with private half baths and a full bathroom on the ground floor. Off street parking."

1012 James Street is offered at $625,000 or $661 per sq ft. CLICK HERE for more detailed information on this home and to view photos of the interior and pool. There is also off street parking and a white picket fence. If you are unfamiliar with James Street look at the MAP. This home is located across the street from the Keys Energy building and about one half block away from Finnegan's Wake. The Seaport is just one block further north. There you will find Harpoon Harry's, Pepe's, the Key West Waterfront Market, Key Accents, Half-Buck Freddies and many more shops and places to eat and drink. Duval Street is five blocks to the west.

There are still some fixers left in the area. They will eventually get purchased and remodeled. What there are not a lot of are cute houses like this with a pool and parking that are priced within the reach of many second home buyers. If you are coming to Key West in the near future, you need to schedule an appointment to see this house. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

---

Another One Bites the Dust - Key West

I was driving east on Fleming yesterday afternoon. I had my windows down as I enjoyed another sunny day in Paradise. I heard a big boom on my right as I passed across Elizabeth Street. A big old bull dozer was knocking down the Universal (Gentle Touch) Cleaners.

510 Elizabeth Street - Key West -as it appeared in 1965

510 Elizabeth Street - Key West - February 2010

Normally it is pretty difficult to knock down anything in our town. In 1971 a good portion of the Old Town area of Key West was designated a U.S. historic district - historically or architecturally significant buildings. A few years later that area was expanded and more buildings were added. Guidelines were established to help control changes to existing structures. Those guidelines have made it nearly impossible to tear down old buildings to construct new ones. So when an old building does come down, it is worth noting.

The more things change elsewhere in the world, little Key West stays pretty true to its roots. Maybe that is why so many people fall in love with this place. When you have been here a few times you know exactly what to expect the next time. The architecture is timeless. The people are laid back. The booze is endless. And the chickens do not sleep. Key West is not Boca, or Ft. Lauderdale, or Miami (Thank God!) It takes a lot of effort to get here by car, plane, or boat. But once you arrive and unwind, it is pretty damned difficult to really want to leave. That may be why so many people dream about owning a place in Key West.

The demolition of the old Gentle Touch Dry Cleaners building made the front page of The Key West Citizen today.The news article reported that the new owner intends to build a family home on the site. Maybe that is why the owner got permission to knock down the old building. The dry cleaning business was out of character for the area. I think a new house will improve the property values for the neighborhood. CLICK HERE to see a photo of the nearly vacant lot.

The owner of 514 Elizabeth Street advises "The new house is designed by Tom Pope in the Key West style of mid-19th-century wooden houses. It is 2 1/2 stories with gable ends as in our house, but much larger. It has a two-story porch across the 5-bay front with French doors rather than windows, a 2 1/2 story ell to within 20 feet of the rear property line and a 1 1/2 story apartment along Artic Lane. It will certainly be more in the residential and architectural nature of Old Town than the dry cleaners."

The sale of this property did not go through the mls. I did some real estate detective work. It looks like the new owner paid $714,000 for the 5150 sq ft lot (51.5" x 100') or $139 per sq ft. That's a pretty good price for a great location in the heart of Old Town.

The first house I sold in Key West is located next door at 514 Elizabeth Street. It was built in 1855. The photo directly below shows that house in 1965. Below that is a photo I took a couple of years ago. The present owner reports "It is typical of the conch or Bahamian house built in the Bahamas from the 1780s and in Key West prior to the Civil War. The original architectural moldings that survive are typical of the 1835-1860 period." The more things change elsewhere, the more they stay the same in Key West.

CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls data base. If you are thinking about buying a place in Key West please think about using me, Gary Thomas, as your buyer agent. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Contact me by phone at 305.766.2642 or by email at kw1101v@aol.com.

What a Difference a Year and a Gay Make !

1212 Olivia Street - Key West - January 2009

Way back on January 12, 2009 I wrote a new blog entry on 1212 Olivia Street. CLICK HERE to read what I said then. The property was a newly listed bank owned house in Old Town Key West that was priced to sell at $599,900. I showed that house twice the day it was listed, and other agents were there right along with me at both showings. Someone had removed the kitchen and did some minor damage by removing bathroom sinks. But that house had a wonderful rear yard and large pool that more than made up for the inconvenience and cost to repair and replace things that were missing. That house went under contract within seven days of being listed and closed within 3 months for just $540,000. CLICK to see sold listing data.

The new owners engaged a local gay duo that "do" houses very well. Within a matter of months the place was spiffed up and made even better than before.

I received a phone call yesterday about this house. The gentleman mistakenly thought I wrote the blog in 2010, not 2009. I explained the house sold within days of being listed and told him know what a good deal he missed. I later recalled that I had received several other phone calls and emails on this particular property during the past few months.

I drove past 1212 Olivia Street earlier today. Right below you will see a photo I took today that proves my point about what a difference a year and a gay (duo) make. The guys that did the interipr dod a terrific job. I'm sorry to report I don't have any photos, however.

1212 Olivia Street - Key West - February 2010

If you are thinking of buying a house in Key West You can search the official Key West Association of Realtors mls website by CLICKING HERE. If you see something you like, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 or contact me by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Our office is the exclusive lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.