Are You Afraid of Cuba?

700 Block of Duval Street in 1930s when Havana Tours were possible

900 Block of Duval Street in early 1960s when you could still get "there" from "here"

Every once in awhile I have a potential buyer ask me what I think will happen in Key West when, not if, Cuba opens up to the United States again. I always say something like "I don't think it will be a big deal." Cuba is just 90 miles away from Key West. It is closer than Miami.

Key West used to be a launching spot to send tourists to that island nation to our south. I found a couple of old photos (above) that show Havana Tour locations located on Duval Street and a photo of an almost ancient (1930s vintage photo) of a steamship bound for Cuba. It seems like today you can't walk a block on Duval without some huckster trying to sell you tickets to a day trip to the Dry Tortugas or a sunset sail. I don't expect opening Cuba will be much different.

There will surely be some flights out of the recently expanded Key West International Airport (I laugh every time I say that name). But there may also be seaplane rides as well, because there used to seaplane rides before Castro. (Seaplanes actually departed near Mallory Square in olden days headed to Cuba.) I expect there will be slow cruises and hydrofoil's as well. There is a new launching spot built at the Historic Key West Seaport for just such a purpose. That spot is already bringing lots of tourists from the Ft Myers area.

If you think about it, Havana will be an attraction that is something new and different to most Americans. Canadians and Europeans go there all the time. A lot of Key Westers legally go there every year for "educational" purposes. I think many Americans will embrace the idea of going to see the forbidden country. And if Key West becomes the launching spot, so what? Big deal. I think it will be good for businesses here. But I don't think it will bring many more people to Key West. It may divert some dollars that would be spent here which will then be spent there. It's cheaper there than it is here, so I have been told. It's cheaper in New Jersey, too. That doesn't stop people from South Jersey from coming to Key West every year.

The only time I was afraid of Cuba was as a teenager when we almost went to nuclear war over it. That time is over. I am hopeful that sometime in the first or second Obama administration the airways and waterways to Cuba will be opened to Americans. I think potential buyers who fear Cuba may be looking for an excuse not to buy in Key West. They may be the same people who think that housing prices in Key West will continue to fall and that if they wait long enough, they can buy that really big place of a really small price. I have a bit of news for them: the seaplane has left the dock. Prices are on the uptick. Some Key West locations that had lots of inventory have none. I'll be writing more about this in a few days. Fear of the unknown is natural. Fear of the future is irrational.

If you are hoping to buy a place in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in sunny Key West. Our office is the exclusive Lower Florida Keys affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls. If you see something you like, please call me or shoot me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. Don't be afraid of the future, embrace it.

Happy Easter Key West

731 Waddell Avenue - Key West - Short Sale

731 Waddell Avenue - Casa Marina Area - Key West - Short Sale

The asking price on 731 Waddell Avenue in the Casa Marina area of Key West was just reduced again. The new asking price is $1,099,000. Compare the current price to the price when this newly constructed home (completed in 2007) was originally offered at $2,750,000 in July 2007. The market has made a correction and this home is aggressively priced to sell. This is a short sale which will require the approval of the lender(s).

This is how the new listing Realtor describes 731 Waddell Avenue:

"Elegant new home situated on a gorgeous corner parcel in the Casa Marina area. Built new from the ground up this home enjoys a modern open floor plan with great room that overlooks a spacious backyard, pool/Jacuzzi & gorgeous stone patio. Built above flood elevation featuring impact doors & windows, hardie plank siding, fenced yard & irrigation system. 4 proper bedrooms with ensuite baths + 5th optional bedroom or den with full bath. 3 bedrooms on 2nd floor each enjoy spacious covered balconies. Tile & wood floors throughout,11 ft ceiling heights, great storage & more. Centrally located where a short stroll will take you to the beach, park, tennis courts, famous Duval Street or fabulous neighborhood waterfront restaurants."

The listing Realtor shows the houses have approximately 2892 sq feet of living space on a 5000 sq ft lot. Five bedrooms and five baths are unheard of in Key West. These are houses that can actually accommodate owners with large families or friends. No more sleeping bags or futons will be required. No more over-crowded bathrooms to endure. CLICK HERE for more detailed information and photos.

The size of this home really sets it apart from most other new construction in Key West. The physical size and interior living space is bigger than just about any other new property in all of Key West. The lots are large. The interior and outside spaces are well designed and user friendly. Each bedroom has its own exterior porch. The master bedroom on the front has an extra large second floor balcony with a partial view of the Atlantic Ocean. The two large second floor bedrooms each have rear balcnies that overlook the large pool and courtyard.


731 Waddell Avenue is located one block north of the Casa Marina Resort in the Casa Marina area of Key West. Higgs Beach, the private beach at the Casa Marina Resort, and Doggy Beach are within a couple of minutes walk. Duval Street is an easy five to ten minute walk as well.

This home has plenty of space for a large family or a buyer with lots of friends. It would make an excellent vacation rental because of the number of full-sized bedrooms, bathrooms, and pool. This home was designed for relaxed Keys living.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com for more information. I live in this area and love it for its convenience and the quality of life this area provides.

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409 William Street - Old Town - Key West

Formerly the William Lowe House - 409 Wiliam Street Old Town - Key West

The historic glass shimmers and reflects the early morning sun

I first wrote about 409 William Street in October 2007 when it was then just listed at $2,999,000. This is how I described the property then:

The Gideon Lowe House at 409 William Street is located within Key West’s National Register of Historic Places in the heart of Old Town. This 2 ½ story historic landmark was originally built by the youngest son of one of the island’s earliest Bahamian settlers (c.1845) and expanded to its current grandeur (c.1866). Today’s completed renovation was overseen by a New York architectural firm, and now is offered as a home of superior design, detail, construction, and history. The lushly landscaped yard haven is perfect for entertaining with an expansive deck finished in exotic Brazilian wood that overlooks the tiled pool. The front second story balcony provides that all important sunset view. The house has two master suites with walk-in closets plus two additional bedrooms. This restored gem sits on a sleepy and palm shaded street within walking distance to the Historic Key West Seaport and it's only three blocks from Duval. And it has 2 off street parking spaces.

The house has been a guest house for the past 20 years or so. I watched the restoration from the street and street and think this house has just about all of the bells and whistles an upper end buyer could desire.

The house did not sell and it has not been lived in. Everything has been consistently and carefully maintained. It was just listed at the new asking price of $1,795,000. CLICK HERE to view the current mls data sheet and photos. This, dear Readers, is a buying opportunity for someone to buy a truly historic home at a great price.

I walked over to the house this morning to take some pics. I just love this street with all of the old houses on either side. I have added some old time photos to contrast how some houses on this block looked half a century ago with how they look today. That's not that long ago. (I had just graduated from high school. The houses look pretty much the same. I have added several pounds and my hair turned gray. These houses will still be here in a hundred years. I won't.)

The local fresh fish market is located on the corner at Elizabeth and Eaton Streets. The Historic Key West Seaport is two blocks further to the north. Sometimes when I walk the streets of Old Town like I did this morning, I fall in love with this place all over again. Really!

Bahamian House across from 409 William Street in 2010

The same house in 1965

The same house in 1965 but viewed from the corner of Eaton Street looking southwest

405 William Street in 2010

405 William Street in 1965

Another Bahamian house on William Street in 2010

The same Bahamian house as seen in 1965

If you are looking for a perfect place in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

Casa Palmera - Sold - Key West

I wrote several blogs about 906 Johnson Street and this will probably be the last. The property closed today and I want to congratulate Cory Held of Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. who represented the Seller and the Buyer on the sale of this incredible property.

CLICK HERE to see what you missed. 906 Johnson Street is located on one of the very best blocks in Key West. The main house sits behind a private gated entry . Gardens surround the house on either side and then wrap around the house at the rear. The two story home has rich wood flooring and European details throughout. The main home includes three guest rooms, a complete mother-in-law suite or servant's quarters, a formal dining area, a formal living room with fireplace and an equally large and gracious family room that overlooks the rear gardens. The home has an extra large galley kitchen, a breakfast room that overlooks the large pool, and a cheerful laundry room that looks out onto the rear gardens as well.

There is a Casita at the southeast rear of the property. It is actually a home onto itself. A separate Writers cottage or office with it's own bath is located at the southwest corner of the property.

Casa Palmera was originally offered for sale at $3,495,000. It sold at $1,749,000. This was the deal of the year. Congratulations to the seller, the buyer, Cory Held, and Pat Labrada at TIB Bank.

There some real good buying opportunities still left in Key West. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls to find your good deal. Please 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 sunny Key West.

Bank Owned - Compound - Transient Licensed - Key West

726 1/2 and 728 Passover Lane - Old Town - Key West - Bank Owned!

Don't let the location across from the Key West Cemetery scare you!

Just listed - 726 1/2 & 728 Passover Lane in the Heart of Old Town Key West. This is how the listing Realtor describes this two home compound:

"Amazing BANK OWNED property with transient license in prime Old Town location near Solares Hill. Two combined properties offer a total of 3 bedrooms on a 5425 square foot lot, 2 off-street parking spaces, pool and lush tropical grounds. Main house (728 Passover) is a 2/2 with a transient license for great rental potential; guest cottage (726 1/2 Passover) is a 1/1 and may be rented monthly. Must be purchased as one combined property. A Tropical Oasis in The Heart of Old Town Key West."

In 2006 a different listing agent offered the same properties but at the much higher asking price of $2,049,000. This is what he said then:

"Lush. Tranquil. Historic. These superlatives are often used to describe 728 and 726 1/2 Passover Lane. These two exclusive Old Town properties are being offered together creating the perfect island oasis. 728 Passover Lane features a 2BR/2BA with ample LR, DR and kitchen with French doors leading to a custom deck and pool. Plus a transient license. 726 1/2 is a perfect pitch compliment offering a 1BR/1BA with separate loft space, galley kitchen, LR and hot tub. Both homes are nestled in a large, exotic tropical garden with off-street gated parking for 2 cars. Both homes have been recently tented and painted. Properties have averaged over $100K in gross rents for each of the past 4 years."

I had the opportunity to see these houses yesterday afternoon. I never had anyone who wanted to look at them when they were priced so high. The listing agent said he had about 60 people attend his open house yesterday. And at the current asking price of $975,000 I can see why.
CLICK HERE to read the mls listing info and view accompanying photos. But read on.

I sent an email late yesterday to a couple of my buyers looking for a place in Old Town with a Transient License. I think this property has some real upside potential as far as price appreciation and income production. This is my impression: both houses look like they were redone in the late 70s or early 80s. The houses are hidden behind an ugly fence that needs to go. So do a lot of the overgrown trees that make the exterior so dark. The grounds are very large but seem overwhelmed by all of the foliage.

The exterior has way too many canvas awnings in lots of places. The front entry at 728 Passover has an awning that is totally out of character for a house in Old Town. My suggestion is to edit the outside and develop a new land use plan that builds on how the houses relate to the street view, the private view in the rear with the existing pool, spa, and entertaining areas.

The inside has some very attractive nooks and crannies and very inviting features. But the spaces are a bit confusing. I had to go outside the front door of 728 to walk around the house past the pool to find my way into 726 1/2. (I later discovered I could have gone in the front door, but there were so many trees I missed seeing the entry.) The kitchen and dining area at 728 Passover are really sweet. The living room and downstairs bedroom are large but both seemed so dark because of the overgrown trees and canvas awnings. The house at 726 1/2 is laid out most oddly in my opinion. I am not "dissing" this place. I think it would be a great buy. But somebody is going to have to do some work and spend some money to spruce up this compound. The time and money should reap big dividends.

This property is located directly across the street from the Key West Cemetery. Don't let that spook you. This is a great location. Most of the properties in this area are either single family homes that are owner occupied but several are rented as legal vacation rentals. Parking is never as issue even though parking is only allowed one side of Passover Lane. I am not being cute when I say the area is quiet. It is. When the tourist parade stops around 5:00 PM, this area is super quiet. If the trees on this property were thinned out, the ugly fence replaced by a proper white picket fence, and both houses were painted a crisp white and shutters added, this two home compound would pop.

If you would like to see these properties, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

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Irreplacable - 1010 Elgin Lane - Old Town - Key West

"Because Elgin produced so many watches and produced so many spare parts, they can still be easily bought and fixed, so even a 100 year old Elgin can be used, with care, on a daily basis. While mechanical watches can't compete with quartz watches for accuracy, there is something about having a watch that ticks that a quartz watch just can't replace." The Elgin Watch Collectors Site

I got an early preview of a new listing at 1010 Elgin Lane which was just listed in the Key West mls. I took some pics and thought I would share some with you here. I had been to the house before and snapped a pic that I have used as my identification at the end of some of my blog entries. You will see it at the bottom of this page. Whenever I see a bit of whimsy like the house number on the gate, I know from past experiences to expect more of the same on the inside of the threshold. Join me, please.

Elgin Lane is one of the slow lanes in Key West. It runs westerly two blocks from White Street to Grinnell Street. It is a one way only lane because it is so narrow. Many of the houses on Elgin actually front on Eaton Street, but some are located on postage stamp size lots of only 40' depth or so. The houses on the south tend to have larger lots in both width and depth. There are some remarkable little houses in these two blocks. Even if you are not going to buy one, you really need to walk down this lane. Most of these homes are fulled with full time Key West residents. When you take the time to walk down the lane, you will see how much the people that live there love where they live.

The front yard sits behind a smallish white picket fence with minimalist but very attractive yard. The first pic I took was of the front porch. It is a place to sit and read and watch the occasional neighbor or stranger pass. There is adjacent off street parking for two cars.


As soon as I walked passed the threshold and entered I "got it", the house, even before I had seen any other room. It was like "Wow!" this is gonna be great. And it was.

In olden days the owners might have called the front room the parlor. I could easily see this house had Dade County Pine walls and ceiling trimmed with a small crown molding. As I moved from room to room I noticed the floors were wood but some had a different finish or look. That made me determine that the way the rooms were used and furnished played off of the floors and the existing Dade County Pine. (These are real wood floors with wide pine boards. The patina shows the rich history of this old house.) The windows were old and original and not those new replacements that are made to look old. These are the real McCoys. A side hall took me to the rear where I was greeted by a sweet breakfast nook. It is part of the large kitchen that takes up the rear 1/3 if the house.The kitchen is a sawtooth addition to the main house. The kitchen is so simple, but it looks like something you might see in a Ralph Lauren Home Furnishing Store. What you don't see stainless steel or marble or granite. Thank God. The kitchen window over the sink opens onto a bar on the other side where there are a couple of bar stools that sit under a canopy. The kitchen cabinets look ancient but aren't. The room looks like it evolved over time. It didn't. The kitchen is a work of art.

The master bedroom is located downstairs and I forgot to take any photos of it. My bad! The bath is located there.

Then there is the dining room. It's another Ralph Lauren moment. Three doors enter into this former covered porch: one off the master bedroom, a second off the living room, and a set of French doors to the rear that open onto the rear living area. Look at the pic below and notice how the floors mimic the light colored wood deck on the outside. Notice the window outside and the bar stools beneath. You understand how the house operates and how things flow. Purposefully.




When you first enter the house you cannot help but see the steep old staircase located midway toward the breakfast nook. Upstairs you will find a shared bedroom area with two twin beds located on opposite walls with a nice little desk situated between. A separate bedroom is at the rear. If you look carefully you will see there are four scuttles (hot air escape hatches used in old houses-this house was built circa 1906). The house has air conditioning today. There is a large bathroom accessible by each space. While you are looking carefully, look at floors again. Another "Wow!" The floors and the little desk are another Ralph Lauren moment. Some people spend thousands of dollars to create looks like this. This house is filled with them-at no extra cost.

I only got to see everything that I just wrote about after I was made to see the outside. Now you will see what I saw first. There is a 3 0ver 5 glass pane door that leads from the kitchen to a covered rear dining area where you might take most of your meals. But what you really notice as soon as you peer out that door is a giant folly. And what a folly it is. This is the perfect place for a writer to write, a artist or create, a thinker to think, or a lover to - no that is the guest cottage on the opposite side of the pool.

The guest cottage is a two room symphony in how to make sweet love. I cannot imagine any place better to be with the person you love most. This room is so simple and comfortable. The compact size, wood walls, ambient light, and privacy invite intimacy. I guess you could travel to Bali and rent a place in a glen overlooking a deserted beach and find something better. Perhaps. But why bother when you can have your own Bali Hai moment every day.

The home at 1010 Elgin Lane is offered at $849,000. (Furnishings are not included in the sales price but may be purchased separately.) This is not my listing, but you can tell I really like this house. And you will too, but only if you promise not to put in stainless steel and new granite counter tops. If you would like to see this property, please contact 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. Our office is the Lower Florida Keys exclusive affiliate of Christie's Great Estates. I would not call 1010 Elgin Lane an estate, but baby this place is really great. Just like a hundred year old Elgin watch, there is something about this place that just ticks.

Key West Bank Seized & Sold

The Office of Thrift Supervision seized Key West Bank, FSB, at the close of business on Friday, Marcy 26th. The OTS then sold many of the assets to Centennial Bank's parent company, Home BancShares Inc., which acquired the former Marine Bank, about a year ago. CLICK HERE to read the article as it appears in KeysNewsNet.com.

I think about everybody in town was expecting the seizure. There were some very nice people that worked their. I hope they find new jobs. Let's see how Centennial Bank goes about trying to sell some of the many REO assets and managing the many problem loans it acquired. I used to do this stuff for a living many years ago. This might be a small town, a small bank, a small amount of assets as compared to what happens up north in America, but how our hometown banks manage the sale and disposition of troubled assets affects this small town in a very big way.

Beautiful Arts & Crafts Style House - Bank Owned - Key West

This Old House as it looked in 1965

A local bank recently foreclosed and now owns the old house pictured immediately above. The old black and white photo was taken in 1965. Until a couple of months ago this property looked a little worse for wear. The years took their toll. Owners came and went. And then the lender did what lenders do when loans are not repaid as agreed: it foreclosed. But instead of letting a decent asset sit and fester like a lot of Big Banks that are Too Big To Fail do, the local bank did the unthinkable: it fixed it up. Not a little but not all the way. But it did enough to make potential buyers see the real potential of this very attractive arts and crafts style home that was built in 1943. Take a look at her now, below.

Above Photos taken March 25, 2010 - Key West

This property is located on Simonton Street near Truman Avenue. It is zoned HNC-1 which is short for Historic Neighborhood Commercial-1. Uses for this zoning include include residential (including single family, duplex, and multi-family) and limited commercial including professional offices, banking and financial services, personal service shops, specialty shops, limited retail, transient accommodations and guest cottages. Rather than rely on what I write, do your own investigation to determine suitability for the use you intend. CLICK HERE to read the City of Key West zoning ordinances and consult with your own attorney. Just because some use may be permissible does not mean you will necessarily be able to do what you want.

Photo from kitchen looking through proposed bath No. 2 and into second bedroom

Photo from living room through dining area with kitchen beyond

This 1204 sq ft building (County Appraiser records) sits on a corner lot (47.33' frontage X 58.07 ' deep or 2,756 sq ft). The building has just been painted and it looks fantastic. The roof is new; the front railing on the front porch is new; the retaining wall is new; the electric is new. All of the windows are original. They all work properly! The contractors working on this house did a really professional job on the projects they did, in my opinion. The interior is currently framed for three bedrooms, two baths, and a kitchen. A laundry closet already has been framed and plumbed and awaits drywall.Extensive building plans are available. It looks to me like the interior spaces could be changed fairly easily. But I'm not builder so any buyer needs to determine how "easy" easy can be and how expensive "easy" can be as well. There is one off street parking space. After the interior is completed, put up a nice fence, add some nice plants, and you could have one sweet looking old house in Old Town Key West. Although it is doubtful that you could get a transient license, you could rent this house as a legal vacation rental. It's proximity to Duval Street with three bedrooms and off street parking make this a great candidate for such a rental in my opinion.

This arts and crafts style house is Bank Owned and is offered at $500,000 "as is". Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 for more information. This property is not in the mls. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

Sweet Elizabeth - Old Town - Key West

This is the end of season deal that you have been waiting for. It will last about a New York minute and then some smart buyer will get it. I kid you not!

Just listed, but not by me, this beautiful newly remodeled and expanded home on Elizabeth Street near the tippy-top of Solares Hill (we are talking a couple of inches difference) in the very Heart of Old Town Key West. This house has it all. This is how the listing agent describes this home sweet home:

"Opportunity know in the door for this totally remodel home was awarded the Certificate of Excellence and a Silver Star for 2010 where you will feel the attention to details from the moment that you step inside.The entire house has Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors. There is central HVAC throughout the house and all rooms a wired with cat5 cable for phones and computers. A salt-system pool with a waterfall was installed in the back yard and a propane valve is available for your backyard grill. The kitchen has all stainless steel appliances.The house is located at the intersection of Elizabeth and Angela Street. This is the highest point on the Island and flood insurance is not required."

This home is priced to sell at the asking price of $985,000 or $415 per sq ft. And it will. Here is what you get: 2373 sq ft home consisting of three bedrooms with two and 0ne-half baths. (Two bedrooms down in front with a shared Jack-and-Jill bath.) The living area and kitchen are located at the rear of the house where you will find French doors that open onto the read deck and pool with waterfall. Up the beautiful staircase you will find the master suite with views of the pool below and towering views looking eastward over the treetops. There is no off street parking. Elizabeth Street is a residents only street for parking. CLICK HERE for info and lots of pretty pics.

To see this house of get more information 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., the Exclusive Lower Florida Keys Affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

I'm serious on this house dear Readers. This is place is beautiful and it will get snapped up in a matter of days if not hours. Don't mess up. Don't wait. Don't be late.