623 Grinnell Street - Old Town Classic Renovation - Key West

623 Grinnell Street Key West, Florida March 2011

The fresh new listing at 623 Grinnell Street will likely go under contract within a matter of days because the place just oozes old Key West charm. The house has just undergone a tasteful renovation and a new kitchen, read deck, and pool added. But the bones of the old house and the classic lines are in tact. A fresh new paint job and the old girl looks as beautiful as ever.


The listing Realtor describes 623 Grinnell this way:

"Beautifully renovated and restored historic three bedroom home in one of the most desirable neighborhoods of Old Town Key West. Authentic and sensitive restoration including Dade County Pine walls, high ceilings and wood floors. Convenient first floor master bedroom with ensuite bath. Gorgeous chef's kitchen included in a new saw-tooth addition built to today's standards with an historic sensitivity. Off street parking for 2 vehicles in tandem. Brand new pool with water feature, nicely landscaped back yard, deck and great front porch make this a Gorgeous Old Town Beauty."

I remember showing this house to a couple from Rhode Island back around 1998. The house was old, but not creepy old. It had character and room for improvement. The house changed ownership a couple of times over the years. Now it is all freshly redone and awaits new owners.


The front porch looks out onto Grinnell Street. Two huge orchid trees are located a couple of doors to the north. Flowers were falling to the street yesterday. A mature Frangipani tree is located at the front of the house next door where it is getting ready to burst flowers soon. Very soon. The block has beautiful old houses all around. Two big Eyebrow houses are located across the street. The house at 999999 Grinnell is always decorated at Christmas and normally wins a prize for being so damned Key West. The Key West cemetery is located about 100 feet to the south. Don't get spooked. The denizens of the deep don't move about, much. And because Grinnell ends at the cemetery, traffic on this block is most quiet. All day. No Conch Trains or Trolley Cars. So if you sit on that lovely front porch you won't be seeing a whole lot of wacko tourists. Five Brothers Grocery is just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away at the corner of Southard. You can go there every morning for your con leche and catch up with all the latest Key West gossip. Everybody famous goes there. You foodies know that Michael's is a two minute walk and Mangia Mangia takes the same time to reach if you got a craving for pasta. The Historic Key West Seaport is about a five minute walk to the north. Duval Street is a five or six minute stroll. It takes longer if you stop to smell the flowering trees.

Inside the Dade County Pine walls and ceilings are set off by the bright white crisp trim. The house has three bedrooms, one of which is located downstairs right front. The living room is to the left which opens onto the dining area which then flows into the new kitchen. The kitchen opens onto the rear deck and pool. Upstairs there are two decent sized bedrooms that share a Jack & Jill bathroom. Outside a white picket fence and off street parking complete this little charmer that is offered at $995,000.

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and to view more listing photos. If you want to see this charmer, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. It won't last long.

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920 Pohalski Lane - Short Sale - Key West

920 Pohalski Lane in 1965

920 Pohalski Lane with new addition as seen in 2011

Side view of 920 Pohalski Lane

Attention Bargain Hunters: The award winning Key West cottage at 920 Pohalski Lane has just been re-listed as a short sale at the asking price of $349,000 or $367 per sq ft. This is a bargain, Dear Readers. The Historic Florida Keys Foundation awarded this home its Award for Excellence. The listing Realtor describes the cottage thus:

"Beautiful historic home with unique floor plan. French doors open from the living room and kitchen to a wonderful private deck with spa/jacuzzi. Upstairs master suite. Home is fully fenced for privacy. Porch in the front and off street parking. This home received an Award for Excellence for the highest ideals and concepts of historic preservation by The Historic Florida Keys Foundation. Steps away from all that living in Key West has to offer."

It's worth looking at!

This is a cottage home with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 950 sq ft of living space that sits on a 35' x 55' (1925 sq ft) lot. CLICK MAP for a Google aerial view and then click for a street view. The aerial will show you that this place is located near Truman Avenue. The street view will show you it is opposite the Truman & White Chevron Station. So that will probably eliminate 95% of people looking for a nice and affordable Key West cottage. My advice: get over it. There are many really nice small cottages on this little one-way lane that runs north just off Truman Ave. to Olivia Street. Most of the other houses or cottages on this block are darling little places that would cost a lot more if they were located on one of the swank lanes such as Curry Lane or Carey Lane. They aren't and as a result, they are priced much less when it is time to sell. Superior locations cost more money. Cute and convenient can cost less.


I wrote about the charming little place across the lane at 909 Pohalski when it was listed in December . It went under contract in a couple of days of being listed. That's one smart buyer that grabbed that little gem.

Another Key West blogger who pens his Key West Diary wrote about Pohalski Lane. CLICK HERE to read his take on this little lane.

As for me, I think being able to walk over to the Citgo gas station to buy the best friend chicken in Key West (seriously!), or to walk a bit further to Sandy's to get a con leche, or maybe walk up Truman a couple of blocks to workout at the Old Town Gym, or walk 20 feet to do yoga at the Coffee Mill (located next door), is the essence of living in Key West. I'll bet people from New York have their pet places that they measure by how close the places they use constantly are located from where they live. Key West isn't big in the first place. But having places you really use weekly, if not daily, that are located with a block or two of where you live makes living in a specific neighborhood more enjoyable. CLICK HERE to see the Key West mls datasheet on this cottage.

If you would like to see 920 Pohalski Lane, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. If you snooze on this short sale, you lose.

405 William Street - Old Town - Key West

405 William Street as it appeared in 1965

405 William Street - March 2011

The two story house located at 405 William Street is located on one of the very best blocks in Old Town Key West. Some of the most historic and architecturally significant homes are located on this block. And this home is one for the books. The listing Realtor (that's me!) says this about this home:

"Classic Key West bungalow with sawtooth additions in one of Old Town's best blocks. Original portion built before 1889. Currently configured as a renovated two-family with two 2-bedroom legal apartments, has HARC approved plans for conversion back to a single-family showplace. Well-maintained with off-street parking and a large lot -- plenty of room for a pool. Great opportunity in the heart of Old Town."

405 William Street is a two-story renovated duplex. That will cause half the readers to stop reading. But wait! There is more. Before it was made into a duplex it was an awesome single family home with truly unique and grand features that would lend itself to being taken back to single family. Or, the home would make a great second home with legal year round guaranteed rental income from the nicely appointed second floor two bedroom apartment.


The main living level is totally unique to Key West and any other house I have ever seen. You enter through a formal entry hall that leads to either of the two bedrooms or two baths or to the living room, dining area and kitchen beyond. The master bedroom has larger than normal crown molding that set off the high ceilings and formality of the room. Two sets of French doors provide passage to the front porch to watch the denizens of Key West pass by. There is a large master closet and en-suite bath. The second bedroom is also large so you do not get that squeezed in feeling so typical in many older Old Town homes. Another set of French doors opens to the front porch as well. But it is the living room with its arched ceiling that will make you stop and look in awe. The petite French doors in the dining area lead to the exterior porch that overlooks the bricked courtyard and spa area. The recently updated kitchen is at the far end of the house in a saw tooth addition so familiar to Key Westers. The vaulted ceiling and designer touches yank the kitchen right into the 21st Century.

If you are seriously considering buying a large home in Old Town, you really must look at this property. It is a large 1982 sq ft home on a very large 4642 sq ft lot. The existing rooms are good sized and efficiently laid out. If you were to convert the property back into a single family home, the renovation would eat up part of the existing space configuration, but the location of the house and the size of the house could justify such a renovation. There is room for a substantial swimming pool in the lightly landscaped rear and fenced yard. I like to tell prospective buyers that you cannot "grow" property. You normally have to try to buy land from a neighbor. That can be tricky and expensive. But 405 William Street has this huge unused space behind the kitchen waiting to have a pool added. And there is off street parking for two cars to boot. Finally, the roof is new and ready for several more decades of Key West sun. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view more listing photos of this great property offered at $995,000.

Off street parking for two cars

This is one of the sweetest homes in Key West. The location is about a two minute walk to the historic Key West Seaport and perhaps five minutes to Duval Street. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this property. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Key West: Optimism or Despair?

With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an optimist.' I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what's the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven.

Studs Terkel

I'm not saying the awful market is over, yet. But there have got to be a lot of potential real estate buyers that hoped the market in Key West would drop further who are feeling the pangs of not-so-quiet desperation as the market shot up in the past two months. I've been telling my buyers that the market is 'on fire'. The front page of Sunday's Key West Citizen quoted other Realtors as saying the market is "on fire" or "hot, hot, hot". CLICK HERE to read the article.

I did a quick search of the Key West mls records this morning. It revealed 21 single family homes sold in February 2011. The least expensive sold at $305,000 and the highest price paid was for a lovely Key Haven home that sold for $1,600,000. In fact 6 houses sold for $1,000,000 or higher in February. Only two of the single family house sales were short sales and only one was a bank owned property. And 6 of the sales were on the market for 30 days or less. And two of that number were listed Christmas week and sold immediately after being listed. (I sent emails to potential buyers who pondered the merits of buying that particular house and they lost out big time. If you snooze, you lose.)

Condos and town homes sold at an equally brisk pace in February 2011. A total of 13 units sold priced between $163,000 to $825,000. (The latter sale was for a 2 bedroom bank owned beauty at The Meadows of Key West. Our office is listing agent. We still have two 3 bedroom units left.) Three of the February sales were short sales and only one bank owned property.

I also did a quick check of Monroe County Clerk of Court's records to see the number of new foreclosure filings (lis pendens) and bank owned properties that occurred in the last 30 days. There were just 7 new bank owned houses in Key West. For some reason two of the nicer houses have not made it to the mls, yet.

The search showed there have only been 11 new foreclosures (lis pendens filed) for properties in the Key West area (to Shark Key). Three of the foreclosures were at the Key West Golf Course which has really recovered over the past couple of years. The rest of Monroe County isn't quite so fortunate. New foreclosures are still being filed. There are lots of places for sale up the Keys. The problem for buyers is that places up the Keys is not the same as being in Key West.

Buyers are really smart shoppers. They have access to all kinds of information via the Internet. Certain websites offer computer generated statistics that are supposed to predict the value of a particular house based on the Monroe County Appraiser's tax evaluation or comparable recent sales, or both. If you watched Jeopardy two weeks ago you got to see how smart Watson the computer was versus real live geniuses. Watson kicked ass. But Watson made blunders because human knowledge can trump data. Understanding data is one thing. Understanding real life situations is another. I'm not match for Watson, but I bet Watson cannot understand why people want to buy a second home in Key West versus buying a cheaper home up the Keys or a really cheap deal in Miami. And I don't think Trulia or any of the other sites can do it either. Buyers who want a deal need to work with a Realtor, not a computer.

If you are looking to buy a special place in Key West and want to work with a live human being who is also a buyer's agent and full time Realtor, please consider choosing me at your guy. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in sunny Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. I am the Realtor to the Dreamers.

321 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

321 Grinnell Street as seen in 1965

321 Grinnell Street as seen in 2011

Just listed, but not by me, 321 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. You probably have driven past this house if you are a frequent visitor to Key West. It's neighbor to the south is one of the most photographed houses in Key West. And its neighbor to across the street is Finneagan's Wake.

The former Cuban Counsel lived next door to the south (above)

The listing Realtor describes the new listing this way:

"This wonderful Conch home is situated on a corner lot in old town close to the waterfront. Many recent updates include an open gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, two gas stoves, two sinks and granite counter tops. This spacious house was built with Dade county pine plus a concrete addition and consists of two bedrooms and 2 baths downstairs and 2 bedrooms upstairs. There is an extra bath and indoor hot tub. The off street parking could be converted into yard space. From here you can just walk or bike all around downtown Key West."

321 Grinnell Street is a 2523 sq ft house that sits on a 3230 sq ft lot. The house as configured has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. The Monroe County Property Appraiser says the house was built in the 1920's. The black and white photo above shows the house as it appeared in 1965. The coral rock foundation has been replaced with concrete and the old Bahamian shutters are gone. The asking price on this property is $799,000 or $317 per sq ft.
CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database on this property.

Off street parking

Two of my very favorite places in Key West are nearby. The Old Town Bakery is a 30 second walk (except if you have to wait for the light). You could get very fat from living that close to something so wonderful. And Harpoon Harry's is only a two block walk. They have some of the best, non-pretentious food in Key West. If you have a boat, the Conch Harbor Marina is located across from Harpoon Harry's. So are lots of other great restaurants and bars including the Schooner Wharf Bar.

If you would like to see this listing or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am buyer's agent and a full Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

Harbour Place Condo - Key West Waterfront

Harbour Place - Key West - Waterfront Views

There are seven distinct communities at Truman Annex, and the community with the Million Dollar View is Harbour Place. If you are reading my blog, you are probably a baby boomer. Maybe you weathered the financial storms and are looking for that special place, perhaps a condo like Unit No. 302 at Harbour Place at Truman Annex in Key West.

When you step onto your private balcony and overlook the boardwalk and then view the private yachts and giant ships and Sunset Key and the smaller keys beyond, you will know you came out just fine. Harbour Place is Key West's most prestigious building, the former U.S. Naval Headquarters at Truman Annex. Your friends will be green with envy.

Preferred Properties (that's where I work, but this is not my listing) just listed this third floor 2 bed, 2 1/2 bath unit with 1260 sq ft of living space at the asking price of $845,000. The listing Realtor describes the unit as:

"Bright desired Harbour Place unit in the Heart of Old Town Key West, with 10ft ceilings, two large bedrooms, two and 1/2 bathrooms and a beautiful open living/dining area. Great private community pool overlooking the Gulf. Deeded Covered Parking. Excellent income unit."

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls database and to view listing photos of this unit.

You can view radiant sunsets and the famous Key West waterfront from your personal balcony. This beautiful unit has been tastefully furnished so you can move right in and enjoy everything this property has to offer. ( The listing does not include the furnishings but says they are 'negotiable'. I can't imagine a seller not including them myself.)

Harbour Place is a secure building located directly on the Key West waterfront. There is a large pool, beautifully maintained grounds, and designated covered parking and storage. One of the joys of buying the best is that you get things others don't have. The big sunny pool and the covered parking are great amenities. Nice cars last longer when they are protected from our hot sun. Oh, and the building has an elevator so getting up to the top floor is as easy as pushing a button. Living on one level and not having to cope with interior stairs can be a plus for the Boomers and their seniors. One more thing: this unit has a Transient Rental License should you choose to rent the unit.

A retired Navy officer once told me that the United States Navy always, always takes the very best waterfront property for itself. Recall what I said in the first paragraph that this building was "the former U.S. Naval Headquarters". There are some really nice condos for sale in Key West right now, and a lot of them are priced at incredibly low prices. Unit No. 302 is priced to sell. The Harbour Place views and the location are un-paralleled in Key West. People from all over the world come to Key West and make the pilgrimage to watch sunset at Mallory Square which is a stone's throw to the right of Harbour Place. Most of those pilgrims just fall in love with the sunsets and the easy living in our little town. The new owner of Unit No. 302 will get to see those incredible sunsets every day. Forever.


Don't miss the boat and pass up the opportunity to get this great unit before somebody beats you. To see this unit or any other property in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

1107 Fleming Street - Old Town - Key West

1107 Fleming Street - Key West - February 2011

1107 Fleming Street - Key West - circa 1978

The asking price on the one time home of William Copley (surrealist artist - CLICK HERE to read more about him and his work) was just reduced to $1,350,000 which makes this Key West property an interesting buying opportunity. The listing Realtor describes 1107 Fleming Street (shown in the almost antique looking photo above) this way:

"Built circa 1895, this grand historic home had a cigar maker's cottage moved from another area and abutted to the main structure in the rear. It was once owned by the well-known surrealistic artist, William Copley. A trap-door slit still exists where he passed his paintings from the 3rd floor studio apartment to the 2nd floor. There are two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor and another bedroom and bath on the first floor. Classic moldings and historic pine are evident throughout. Includes a formal parlor in the front and a large open kitchen, dining, living room in the rear with screen porch on the side. Multi-layers of decking descend to a large solar heated pool. This home is ready to be personalized to your specifications."

William Copley, 1976

Today the outside has a strong and formal feel to it. The stairs evident in the 1978 vintage photo are gone now. A new white picket fence has been added. The clapboards are painted gray and the trim a bright white. The entry is formal and lets all who enter know that this is an important house. Before reading on CLICK HERE to view the listing photos shown. Once you enter the door you instantly "get" this place. This is an "old house" and many of the rooms are compartmentalized as was the case in older homes. Each room has a defined purpose whereas many contemporary homes have big open spaces where uses merge. The new kitchen and informal living area at the rear make this place work for modern living and still allows the owner to use the other rooms for original intended purposes.

OMG!
The bedrooms are located on the second floor. The art chute from the once third floor artist studio still exists and invites you to go upstairs to see what this is all about. The third floor is an OMG! What a space. What a view. And the view from the inside looking out (see photo above) is to use the most over-used word in America today "awesome". And I sincerely mean that.

A buyer who covets a home with a grand feel will love this place. The formality of another era is still present here. But modern day whimsy is scattered throughout this place as well. The house has 2776 sq ft of living space on three floors. The house has front porches on the first and second floor which makes for excellent people watch. (Two guesthouse are located at the end of the street and you will have excellent material to watch as the temporary tenants stroll back and forth during the day and neighbors walk their dogs and do the things neighbors do.) More interesting are the multi-tiered decks at the rear which provide sunning spaces that lead down to the bright and sunny pool. There is even a sun deck on the second floor. Look carefully at the photos below to see if you see what I see.



1107 Fleming Street is a big house. It is too big a house for many. But if you are a buyer with a large family or if you have lots of friends and like to entertain, this may be the place for you. And if you are an artist that craves space to create, we already know this house works. It is now priced at just $1,350,000.

If you would like to see 1107 Fleming Street, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. It will be exciting to see who the next owner of this great home will be.