Old Town - Key West - Hidden Treasure

809 Virginia Street - Key West

Some Key West properties just burst with energy and show off to the world. Others, like the the cottage home at 809 Virginia Street keep their charm and sweetness nice and private.

The front of this cottage is screened from the passing world

The listing Realtor describes 809 Virginia Street this way:

"Completely renovated by an artist/designer, this classic Key West cigar maker's cottage has wonderful style. The living area opens to a very private pool surrounded by lush tropical foliage. French doors and windows fill the house with light from the front porch to the back of the house. Light wood floors, high ceilings, an open staircase to the loft and the two bedrooms all have the charm factor. Great old town location."

I recently had some buyers in town that read an earlier blog I wrote about this property. They rode their bikes past the place and could not understand my remarks about the charm. A closer look was required. They came away believers.

The master bedroom is located at the front of this cottage home

When you walk inside you kinda feel like Dorothy, only this time instead of knowing your not in Kansas, you know you are in some place very different. The front room is currently used as a bedroom and art showcase. The vaulted ceiling, blank walls, and gauze curtains are unlike anything in Kansas, for sure.

Second bedroom

A hallway leads you to the second room, a smaller bedroom, which precedes the bathroom. Then you suddenly emerge into the large rear end of the house. A big bright kitchen is to your right and a small staircase takes you to a landing where the living room soars up to the rafters. This area is bright and alive and the space is filled with the art and sculpture. If you look out the French doors you will see a secluded pool and deck and of course you want to go outside. But it you turn around to look down into the kitchen your eyes are drawn upward to the loft that runs a good portion of the length of the house. Now how did I miss that? Do you go out or do you stay inside? What a delicate dilemma.


The pool is lovely. It's plenty big for Key West. There is room for sunning and reading under the shade. There are bricked side yards on either side of the house. One has an outdoor shower which you will come to love if you buy a house in Key West. Really!


Back inside you see the stairway to the loft spaces. Yes, plural. The sleeping area is located toward the front. Two skylights let daytime sunlight fill this space.


It is the rear of the loft that is the big draw for this space. Look at the photo just below because it will help you understand the simplicity of design that makes this space so damned appealing both as a design element and as functional living space.

The loft area viewed from down below

Viewed from below the vertical slats in the loft are something akin to back of a sofa or perhaps a headboard.

When we look at the same area from the other side we see a "built-in" bed or whatever-you-want-to-call-it. I sat on these fluffy pillows and came up with all kinds of fun things one could do here.

A neat spot to do nothing

The house has lots of niches for storing stuff or showing off possessions. No space was wasted. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of this wonderful property. You will be amazed.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view lots of nice listing photos of this Key West cottage home listed by Preferred Properties, that is where I work but this is not my listing. This property is offered at $699,000. If you would like to see 809 Virginia Street or any other home in Key West, please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or 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. Hey, don't worry about this place being too far out. It's close to everything.

Key West - Short Sale - Private Pool - Bargain Price

419 United Street #2 - Key West - Short Sale

If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive Key West getaway with its own private pool and a convenient location near the beaches and Old Town night life, you just might want to take a look at the condo at 419 United Street #2. The unit is one of four in the four unit building that was converted to condos in 2005. This unit is located on the ground floor at the rear. Access is from the rear just off the private pool.

Access to Unit #2

This way in

Private Pool for the owner of Unit #2

This unit has two bedrooms and one bath in 660 sq ft of living space. That is about the equivalent to many condo units at Shipyard Condos. The difference is, this condo is located in an old Conch House that has been converted into condos. Instead of over 100 units that share the common pool, the owner of this unit is the only owner that uses the pool. Oh, and the price of this unit is significantly lower than any unit at Shipyard. (On October 9, 2011 there are 3 Shipyard units with 680 sq ft for sale with an average price per sq ft of $635 compared to $452 for 419 United Street.) This unit does not have off street parking as do units at Shipyard.

The owner of unit #2 owns the ground at the rear of the building and obtained approval form the other condo owners and then permission from the City of Key West to construct the pool. The pool has its own water meter and electric and the condo owner is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the pool.

This property is offered as a short sale at the asking price of $299,000. Condo fees are $515 per months and include building insurance, building maintenance, water, sewer, and trash removal. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.

Walk to South Beach instead of Mallory Square to view Key West's incredible sunsets

419 United Street is located two blocks from South Beach and just a few blocks from Ft. Zach Taylor Beach and State Park. It is 1/2 block to Duval Street where nearby you will find the hip French bistro, Banana Cafe, and numerous coffee and tea houses. LaTeDa and 915 are nearby as are dozens of other places to eat and drink in all price ranges. The Green Parrot is just a couple of blocks to the north on Whitehead Street.

Banana Cafe is just 1/2 block away from 419 United Street

Green Parrot is a few blocks north on Whitehead Street

If you would like to see 419 United Street #2 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. This place is worthy of your consideration.

42 Kingfisher Lane - Bank Owned - Key West Golf Club

42 Kingfisher Lane - Key West

Aerial perspective of 42 Kingfisher Lane at the Key West Golf Club

I think the Bank Owned unit at 42 King Fisher Lane in the Key West Golf Club Community has got to be the best bargain out there at this time. I have enthusiastically showed this unit a few times. It has a good layout; it is in good condition; it has a very nice view overlooking the golf course; and it is priced to sell. The asking price is only $189,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.

Park like setting on the Kingfisher Lane cul de sac

Kitchen, living area, laundry and beautiful rear deck are located on main level

Tile floors downstairs lead to the rear deck that overlooks the golf course

Awesome view of the golf course. The yard has a sprinkler system and lights. Exterior shutters.

I did a quick comparison between this 780 sq ft unit which is priced at $243 per sq ft to the three other same sized units active listed units that are offered at $422 per sq ft, $449 per sq ft, and $301 per sq ft (this unit is a short sale). The average asking price per sq ft is $371. Value buyers ought to look at all four same to determine the best value as it relates to their specific needs. But I think most buyers will agree that on a per sq ft basis, 42 Kingfisher Lane is the winner on a cost basis. I did a quick check to see if there were any other similarly sized townhomes available elsewhere in Key West so that I could compare to 42 Kingfisher Lane. There is only one lower priced townhome that is located at Key Cove CLICK HERE. That is deed restricted and requires mandatory residence in Monroe County for at least one year prior to purchase and sales restriction when that unit is sold. The 42 Kingfisher Lane is not impaired by those buying or selling restrictions.

Two pools and a fitness center are added amenities

CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this property. 42 Kingfisher Lane needs a fresh paint job, and the stairway and bedroom carpet needs replaced. Other than that, the place looks pretty much ready to move into. You could relocate the laundry to the second floor and add a half bath downstairs for about $2500 or so. Get a plumber and contractor to verify the costs.

If you are looking for an affordable starter home in Key West, you might just want to take a look at this property with me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

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405 William Street - Old Town - Key West

405 William Street - Old Town - Key West

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 duplex 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. Downstairs rents $2200 upstairs at $1800, tenants pay electric & water. Tented 2011."

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.

Master and second bedrooms open onto front porch for great people watching

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 on this property. The asking price is the best part -- just $985,000.

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.

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3720 Northside Drive - Short Sale - Key West

3720 Northside Drive - Key West

The new Short Sale listing at 3720 Northside Drive in Key West looks like a real bargain to me. Seriously. This is a good sized family home in a great family neighborhood. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Well built home located in one of the most desirable family neighborhoods available in Key West. This 3/3 has everything that you would want in a house. Convenient to shopping centers and schools makes this home a must see for the client who is raising a family or planning on starting one. This is a potential SHORT SALE transaction subject to lender approval"

The house was built in 1969. The public record shows several upgrades and a pool were added in 2004. The asking price on this property is just $455,000 or $218 per sq ft for a 2092 sq ft home. This is well worth looking at quickly. It ought not last long at this price. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this house.


CLICK HERE to take a Google view of the neighborhood. Move the cursor around to check out the other houses in the area. You will appreciate the cleanliness of this area. 3720 Northside Drive sits at the corner of 18th Terrace. The corner lot is a slightly irregular 60' x 100' or 5960 sq ft lot. CLICK for a Google aerial perspective.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West 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. Like I said, this one is worth looking at.

1125 Washington Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

1125 Washington Street

I've told you before about the joy of living in the Casa Marina Area. The streets are wide, the yards are big, the trees are tall, the houses are usually much larger than those in Old Town, the beach is only a couple of blocks away, and most important of all, it is normally a very quite and laid back neighborhood. Just as Old Town sells more quickly than other areas, Casa Marina sells more quickly than any area other than Old Town. And it offers proximity to the Atlantic Ocean that Old Town does not.

The White Street Pier

The new listing at 1125 Washington Street is located half a block west of White Street which runs north and south and ends up at the White Street Pier five blocks to the south. Most of the properties in the Casa Marina area are single family homes. There are a few town homes and condominiums, one motel, a world famous waterfront hotel (The Casa Marina Resort), and a couple of apartment buildings of which 1125 Washington Street is one.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Rare Casa Marina Multi-unit Home. This Home Consists Of 3 Separately Metered Units, A Stand Alone Cottage (1 Bed/1 Bath) And One Lock Out Efficiency. Great Rental History With Good Long Term Tenant's. Great For The Owner Who Wants A Return On His Home. Price Per Square Foot Is One Of The Lowest On The Market! This Home Is Listed Below Appraised Value."

The public records show this property was purchased in 2004 for $1,150,000, but it is offered at $650,000. It is not offered as a short sale. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property.

The tax records show that this property has 6 bedrooms, 5 baths in a 3538 sq ft of FLA living space on a 44' wide x 112' deep (4973) sq ft lot. The Key West mls data sheet says there are 6 bedrooms and 5 baths and three city non transient rental licenses. Additionally, the square footage of the is only shown to be 2108. Property records are sometimes inaccurate. I think an accurate appraisal would establish the true living area which I suspect is larger than the mls states, but it may not be as great as the county record show. Irregardless, I think the value of this property is not in the number of occupational licenses or bedrooms or bathrooms , but rather is based on the location and the ability to transform an early 20th Century home into a wonderful Casa Marina home with a pool located on a large lot in a great Key West neighborhood.

1125 Washington Street as it appeared in 1965

A somewhat similar Old Town bungalow that has been recently renovated

Compare the basic house shown in the black and white photo to a similar house in Old Town that was recently renovated and sold. The lines of both houses, except for the front porch on the renovated house, are quite similar. I think the renovated house is just stunning in its simplicity. There is plenty of room inside the renovated house where that owner managed to add a pool and also get off street parking on a much smaller lot.

The house at 1125 Washington Street by contrast has what look to be several additions over the years that created more rental space. The house reaches back to near the end of the lot where a smaller cottage with another living unit is located. The east side of the lot is one long parking strip for tenants vehicles.

I envision two different scenarios for this property, neither of which involves maintaining the property as rentals. Under the first scenario the new owner would raze the current buildings and build a new single family home and add a pool at the rear. A similar in fill house was built next door at 1123 Washington Street. It sold in February 2010 for $1,100,000. A new house might cost $400,000 or so to build on the lot at 1125 Washington. In my opinion prices in this area support this kind of investment even in these difficult days. (I live in the immediate area and bought a duplex located next to my house. I got permission to raze it. The cost was about $18,000 in total. I got rid of an eyesore neighbor and gained a lot of lot usage. )

Under scenario number two I would gut the interior of the main house and redo it. I would take down the rental room addition at the rear. I might add a nice front porch (similar to the one shown in the color photo) to give the house a more welcoming appearance. I might save the cottage at the rear and convert it into a guest cottage with a bedroom and bathroom only. I would add a pool in the space occupied by the present rental rooms. There is still room at the right front for off street parking. I would finish the renovation with a white picket fence and gated driveway and landscaping for privacy.

There are four single family homes in the Casa Marina area for sale priced under one million dollars. There are seven price above that price point. The demand for houses in the area is always there, but there are properties priced under the million dollar threshold. That is why I see 1125 Washington Street as a buying opportunity.

I realize the listing Realtor is offering 1125 Washington Street as an investment property. An investor may want to buy this property because of the location and totally dismiss my vision of what could be done with the property. The place stays rented.

If you would like to see this property or any other property in Key West, please call 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, Florida. I live in the Casa Marina area and love it.