812 Fleming Street #4 - Newly Listed Condo - Heart of Old Town Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 812 Fleming Street Unit #4 in the Seafoam Condominium in the heart of Old Town Key West.  You'd think this is my listing because I just love this building and this incredible location. The listing Realtor describes this unit this way:

"Wonderful Old Town condominium in beautiful condition and ready to move in. 9ft ceilings, Dade County pine walls and floors throughout, central air and a fabulous 200sf balcony overlooking Fleming Street. This second floor, one bedroom, one bath unit has 610sf of living space is a true gem. In the back yard there is a pool and private grounds. Seafoam Condominiums consists of eight condominiums & two commercial units."

 Door opens out to the balcony overlooking Fleming Street

This one bedroom one bath unit has 610 sq ft of space under air conditioning. The bonus is the wonderful front balcony that adds 210 sq ft of covered out door living space that overlooks one of the most interesting blocks in all of Key West.

 If you are a fan of great architecture, you will just love the interior hallways at Seafoam. I think this building is just wonderful. Every time I enter the hall I marvel at the richness of this space.

 The rear stairway leads to the pool and a coin operated laundry room. Some of the units in the building have their own laundry. This unit does not. The good thing is you only have to walk the equivalent to walking downstairs to your basement to clean your clothes. You might get a chance to see someone cute by the pool and get lucky. That probably won't happen on your way to your basement.

The building has only eight residential condo units plus two commercial units on the ground floor. One is a doctor's office and the other is Timmy Tuxedo, where Key West's finest waiters shop. A note of interest is the fact that this building does have a secured entrance with buzzer system.

 
If you are seriously considering buying a getaway place in Key West and want to keep the costs under control, consider this property. Forget that it has one bedroom. There are lots of guest houses located on the same block. Think of all the money you can save on not buying an extra bedroom or feeding your family and friends.  Even if you have pay for the guest house visit, you are money ahead.

Monthly condo fees are $410 which includes cable tv, water, sewer, trash removal, common area and pool maintenance, and building insurance.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view some really nice photos of this unit.  Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing of this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

626 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

626 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

The home at 626 Grinnell Street sits on one of the prettiest blocks in Old Town Key West. The home dates back to 1906.  Of course like most of the older homes in Key West, this property has been expanded a bit and updated over the years. The house has 2988 sq ft of living space under air conditioning plus gracious front porch and rear second story balcony off the very large master suite that takes up the back half of the home.

The listing agent describes this property thus:

"Gracious home with large, comfortable living areas hidden behind the facade of a Conch cottage. Currently configured as a two bedroom /three full bath home, this property has the potential and square footage for reconfiguration to a three bedroom home. It is a superb renovation with plenty of spaces to live in and enjoy, located in a great area. Formal living and dining rooms, a master bedroom with private deck and a heated pool and spa in a secluded setting make this a property that should be seen by anyone interested in the Old Town area. Plenty of storage & closet space. Hurricane shutters all around, solar assisted hot water and four zone A/C are among the many convenience and green living feature."

626 Grinnell Street is located one house north of where the street dead ends into the Key West cemetery at Angela Street. Angela Street at that location is a one way street heading west to Margaret Street. The location is quiet not only because proximity to the cemetery but also because Conch Trains and trolleys don't traverse this street.

One of the darling Key West pocket parks is located across the street. The park is a nice respite for thinking or walking the doggies.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos of this Victorian era Key West home.  This property is offered by Preferred Properties Key West at $1,225,000.

If you would like to see this home or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

804 Catherine Street - Old Town - Key West

                                   804 Catherine Street - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, a true "fixer" with "upside potential" that will not break the bank. The listing Realtor describes the new listing that is located at 804 Catherine Street in the South of Truman area of Old Town Key West this way:

"Nice Old Town single family home lovingly cared for by the same family since the 1960s. Large lot with off-street parking on a quiet street. Plenty of room for a pool and gardens. Loads of potential to make this your Dream Home in Paradise."

The listing Realtor shows the house as having a total of 2083 sq ft of living space. The lot is 38' x 92' or 3496 sq ft. I suggest a potential buyer look at the size of the existing building as "potential" and view the lot size as a "phenomenal" opportunity to create a tropical living space.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view the listing photos of this property. Next, get out a clean sheet of paper and draw a rectangle. Draw a square that occupies the bottom 60% of the rectangle.  That space would represent the existing concrete apron in front and the existing house. The back 40% of the space is where you would build a covered deck overlooking the new pool which you would frame with lots of tropical foliage and palm trees. Maybe you would include a Key Lime tree or frangipani or other ornamentals to add color to the space. The back yard right now is a paved with concrete. You will need to chop it up and have it hauled away. But afterward, you will have a huge piece of land where you can create your own dream space. If you have looked at other properties you surely know how limiting some spaces can be. There are all kinds of code restrictions and rules limiting homeowners. This space is big and barren and not necessarily affected by concerns like those.

Plot out how you would restyle this property on a budget that works for you. Don't be extravagant. But don't be cheap either. Any new owner will likely gut the inside of the house as it sits today. A new owner will probably add new windows and doors, install a new central air conditioning system, put on a new roof. Since the rooms will likely get reworked and usages moved around, new plumbing will be installed. You will likely install a new kitchen and baths. These are things most renovators do. The final cost would be dependent a lot on the quality of cabinets, fixtures, appliances, and lighting that you install. The structure itself seems very sturdy. A licensed home inspector or general contractor can advise as to the accuracy of my layman's observation. But I think I am correct on this point.

804 Catherine Street as it looked in 1965

804 Catherine Street as it looks in April 2012

A new owner will obviously need to get HARC approval of a new renovation plan, but I suspect that will be pretty easy. Below is a list of things I would do. Look at the pics and figure out for yourself what you would like to do.
First, I would take off the brick veneer and restyle the front. I would try to add a front porch and add a white picket fence. I found the old black and white photo of the property which shows how the property when at lease a part of it was used as Pedro's' Upholstery Shop. That space has been enclosed and is now part of the living room. I would personally ditch that usage entirely. I'd even forgo the lovely old lean too canopy in favor of the open air. I'd replace the concrete with brick pavers, create a pretty period correct front porch, add a white picket fence and some tropical plants. The front would look much better without it.But that's just me.

I would redesign room usages and move the bedrooms and bathrooms to the current front of the house. I would blow out the back wall and put in new French doors or perhaps install sliders which recess into the rear walls which would open the entire rear pool and garden to the new home.  There is a second floor to this house that is not visible from the photos. There is no existing stairway to this space. A new owner may want to use that space for bedrooms or perhaps loose the space and vault the rear area to create spectacular views of the pool and garden. The possibilities are endless.

804 Catherine Street is located just three blocks east of Duval Street. If you walk straight over from the house, you would land at LaTeDa. Take a left and walk a few blocks to South Beach. Take a right at Duval and you could get lost at any number of art galleries, business emporiums, drinking establishments, or eateries.
 

La Te Da at Christmastime 2011

804 Catherine Street is offered at just $399,000 or $191 per sq ft. Similar fixer houses have recently sold at $188 per sq ft. Do the math. This property is priced right. CLICK HERE to view photos I took of the front and rear yards. The rear yard is the key to this Key West property.

If you would like to see this property or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-76-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  I really consider this property as buying opportunity for someone who wants a fixer project.

1403 Catherine Street - Key West

1403 Catherine Street - Key West - La Casa Roja

Just listed, but not by me, 1403 Catherine Street in Key West. I dug deep into the old shoe box and found a photo of the house with the notation that the home was built in the 1920's. The Monroe County Property Appraiser website says the house was built in 1943 (but that was during World War II and nothing was being built then but tanks and jeeps). I think the photo reference makes more sense. I found the smaller color photo that shows the property just before the current owners purchased it - complete with the while clapboard siding and chain link fence. It fit right into the neighborhood. But a very creative young architect and his partner bought the house and transformed it into a work of art. The interior of the original house was thoroughly and thoughtfully moved around to spaces function they way we live in our modern world. New living spaces were added on the outside including a lounge off the master bedroom and an open-air dining alcove near the pool. A bar was added just off the kitchen. The two story carriage house with upstairs loft was added. Each room or area is rich in architectural detail and quality construction. There is nothing left "undone".

1403 Catherine Street before renovation

April 2012

This simple little house is simply just that: a simple little house. But that is an understatement of grand proportion. It is elegant in its simplicity. The new wide oak plank floors were custom milled as were the extra-large crown molding and the extra-wide baseboards. New cedar doors were custom made. The original windows were restored to retain their character.

Extra wide oak plank floors

Doors and floor patterns in the original house were reworked to make the house flow efficiently. The relocated kitchen for example opens onto the hallway adjacent to the living room. The kitchen windows tilt and provide access to the covered outside veranda bar. I would not call this home a "party house", but it was certainly designed for an owner who loves to entertain in style. The kitchen is the heart of this home. And the several social gathering spots flow from or toward the heart of this home.

Kitchen with window that tilts outward over the newly added bar

What was once the kitchen is now the master bedroom which has its own private covered porch with hot tub. The master bedroom features two sets of French style doors and screens which allow the room to open up to the back yard. Mirrored pocket doors conceal the generous ten foot long closet. Paneled wainscoting and coffered ceiling add depth and interest to this cozy retreat.

Master bedroom

Master bedroom with lounge (lanai) beyond recessed pocket doors

En-Suite Master Bath

Guest bedroom

Second bath

The lounge area is like an outdoor living room

And then there is the two story carriage house. It's the perfect place to house your classic Key West car or the perfect place for your own gym, workshop, or studio. Upstairs there is a secret retreat that is just as simple and just as elegant as the rest of the main house. Some people skimp on things that are barely seen. Here, the barely seen is treated as a treasure for the very few.

I dare the reader to walk around the outside of this property and find something amiss or something not done. Every place you look you see solutions to everyday issues. The front door hurricane panel (photo below) was turned into a whimsical work of art and greets guests near the bar.

The hurricane panel turned piece of art

This is the kind of house a second home buyer should consider because the present owner designed the house and all of its components to standout from the crowd and function properly. It does. Indeed. Some readers may say "I could do that." Perhaps. But most of us see a home like this and admire it with awe. That is why I discerning buyer will seize the opportunity to own a property of this caliber. You won't find anything like it in this price range. I promise you that!

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property. I took a bunch of new exterior photos of the house this morning. CLICK HERE to view exterior photos.


La Casa Roja is offered at $750,000. If you would like to see this simply elegant property, please call me, Gary Thomas, at 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Some very lucky person is going to buy this little treasure and experience the elegance of living well...in Paradise.