201 Virgina Street - Approved Short Sale - Key West

Here is a short sale that some will give some readers something to really cheer about. 201 Virginia Street is a large three bedroom home with a pool and off street parking that was built in 2005. It has been offered for sale at various price points since 2008. The property was just listed as an approved short sale at the price of $519,000 which is only $230 per square foot.  The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Please drive by the property prior to scheduling an appointment to see the interior. This is a short sale and is listed at the approved list price by the lender. Recent built (2005) two story conch style home with three bedrooms, three baths, pool and offstreet parking. All window and doors are wind resistant glass. Kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, hardwood floors throughout and widows walk with incredible views of Key West and the gulf."

This house was built to sell for a lot more money at a time when the real estate market in Key West was bounding upward. The house is located in the Bahama Village area of Key West and specifically across the street from some public housing.  I think the public housing probably dissuaded some potential buyers from even considering looking at this house let alone making an offer to buy it. That would be a mistake. This house has so much to offer.

Downstairs you will find a large open living room and dining area that meets the large kitchen at the rear of the home. French doors open out to the covered rear deck and the large pool area. A good sized bedroom and bath is located opposite the living room. There are two very good sized bedrooms on the second floor, both of which have private en-suite baths. The second bedroom has a stair case that leads to the roof top widow's walk where you can see the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

 
The house is located on the corner of Virginia and Emma Streets. There is off street parking in front of the house and plenty of parking on Emma Street.  There are empty lots adjacent to the house on Virgina Street and behind the house on Julia Street. It is fair to assume new single family homes will be built on these two large lots sometime in the future.

I took the exterior photos this morning.  I remembered driving past this property a few weeks ago and recalled thinking the house needed a new paint job. I was mistaken. The house is constructed of Hardiboard siding which is a man made material that holds up very well to Key West weather and our wonderful year around sunshine.  The white picket fence, however, needs a fresh coat of paint. I also noticed some of the stiles on the widow's walk need replaced and a couple of the decorative shutters look like the need repaired or replaced. Other than that this place looks great.

The house has 2250 sq ft of living space on the two floors. The room sizes and layouts meet the needs of modern day Americans as opposed to the sometimes tiny and often compartmentalized rooms we see in old Key West houses. Families who want lots of space for Mom and Dad and the kids (or guests) will like the size and privacy that these rooms provide.

The house has a traditional Key West facade complete with the required front porch for people watching. The rear of the house has a two level back porch which overlooks the pool below. And the space around the pool offers more outdoor living area as well.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos of this property.

I really think this house offers a great buying opportunity for a buyer looking for a lot of space at an affordable price (by Key West standards).  Consider this house as the counterpart to a similar grand house located at the Sanctuary in the Key West golf club community. Except here you don't have to drive ten minutes to reach Duval Street. You can walk there from your home in about two minutes. Or you can get on your bike and go to Ft Zachary Taylor Beach.

The Truman Annex waterfront will get completed someday when all of the political intrigue gets resolved. The waterfront area will be much easier to reach then than it is now. I think that houses like 201 Virginia Street will be worth a helluva lot more money when that day comes.

If you would like to see 201 Virginia Street 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 buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

412 Grinnell Street Key West, Florida

Just Listed 412 Grinnell Street in Key West. I fell in love with this house the first time I stepped inside nearly two decades ago. I believe this was the first eyebrow house I got to see from the inside. The house was deliciously enchanting. That owner (Richard Sheldon) had renovated the  original house, built a new living room and kitchen addition, and added a pool. The home has changed ownership three times since then. The current owners purchased the house through me in 2012 and undertook a thorough renovation and small expansion of the property for which they were awarded the 2015 Historic Florida Keys Ceramic Star for excellence for preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and new construction. Now 412 Grinnell Street is offered for sale. The current owners feel the need to be near their toddler granddaughter and her soon to be sibling and for this reason this home is now offered for sale. 

Eyebrow houses are particularly unique to Key West. They are two story homes which vary in height, width, and size. These houses get the name "eyebrow" because the second floor windows are sheltered by the front roof eave which extends out over the house and supported by columns or posts.  Before electric fans and later air conditioning, shade and natural air flow cooled homes. The windows of an eyebrow house can be left open during rain storms which allows air to flow to cool the rooms.  412 Grinnell Street is one of the larger such homes on the island.

This home was built in 1895. It looks so cute and sweet from the outside. Then when you step inside you know the place is going to be even better than you imagined. Your eyes are immediately drawn past the entry hall and through the living room out to the pool. And what pool it is - a 30' X 10' foot pool and  a 6' X 6' spa. The rear side has a tall privacy fence with native trees and tropical foliage that has grown to adult height.  Later you will learn there are no neighbors to the immediate rear which is Fletchers Lane - a walking lane accessed off Eaton Street, about 100 feet to the north.

The owners did a bundle of projects during the renovation including replacing the metal; replacing piers where required; and installing heart pine floors (aged 200 to 500 years) which look absolutely perfect. All floors on both levels are flat and flawless. All of the HVAC is new.  The owner updated all of the interior spaces, renovated all bathrooms, added wind impact resistant windows and doors where permissible. Every town has a go-to local custom cabinet maker. Hansen & Bringle is that company in Key West. They installed new custom cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms and wainscoting in living and dining rooms.

The kitchen, while relatively recently new, was still renovated. An all too large bank of windows was removed and replaced with a single new window which permitted the installation of upper cabinets. The laundry closet became a pantry and the washer and dryer were placed under the kitchen counter. New SubZero, Wolf, and Miele appliances were added as were new granite counter-tops. One of the best features is the kitchen door which opens out to a little porch where there is an herb garden. The porch leads down to the brick paved driveway with electrically opening gate.

The owners took down the original guest cottage and built an entirely new 23' X 12' guest house. It is located in a separate building just off the covered rear deck. That deck will probably be the most used space in the house besides the bedroom. The guest cottage has a cathedral ceiling punctuated by a round impact glass window near the top of the gable, natural travertine marble floors, and a wet bar with under counter refrigerator. It has a full bath. This cottage and bath mean the entire home has four or five bedrooms (explained below) each with bath. The owner thinks the guest cottage could be used as a master suite.

The guest cottage is located next to the pool which has a gate opens that opens out to Fletchers Lane. Guests can return from a night out in Key West without disturbing the folks in the main house. The newly resurfaced and revamped pool includes a salt water filtration system, LED light show, and remote control programing. Travertine marble coping surrounds the pool and spa. All new Azec decks were installed including the covered rear lanai. The gardens were replanted with native foliage. The owners added an irrigation system to supplement Mother Nature.

Depending on your need, the main house has either four bedrooms and four baths or three bedrooms and a study.  The study or fourth bedroom is located at the right front of the home. It has two stained glass doors and panels. Everybody who sees it goes "Ooh and Aah". This space would inspire any would-be writer, artist, or thinker of great thoughts, or a grandmother who knits booties (do they still do that?) or a grandfather who smokes a pipe (do they still do that, either?). The room has a half bath that is illuminated by a chandelier. The owners had a new stained glass window made with the house numerals which was place in the transom over the front door. The ceramic star is placed above the transom. Passersby at night admire the colors emanating from this room.

The owners use the main floor bedroom as their master. It is located at the front of the house opposite the study/bedroom. About half of the main floor Dade County Pine walls are natural and the remaining walls are painted. The master bedroom has Dade Pine and has a fairly good sized en-suite bath with large shower complete a marine porthole where you can look out to see tropical foliage. I guarantee you will have a smile on your face every day if you use this shower and that's not a bad way to start your day any day.

There are two more bedrooms on the second floor. Notice the windows near floor level and look out to the street. You will then understand the eyebrow concept. The heart pine floors are gorgeous. Each bedroom has a brand new en-suite bath with shower. The rooms are not big, nor are they small. They are how people lived one hundred twenty five years ago except these rooms are air conditioned, have electricity, and have bathrooms.

 The owner traced the history of this home back to the beginning of the island. Every detail of  this old house has been committed to writing and detailed so that future generations may share in the history of this home. I think any potential buyer will appreciate the care that has been given not only to the preservation of the structure but also of the history of the house which the owners call "La Casa Ceja", The Eyebrow House. CLICK HERE to view an album of photos of this beautiful Old Town treasure that has been carefully and thoughtfully restored and made better than ever before. You won't have to do a thing except enjoy your home and make reservations for dinner.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 412 Grinnell Street offered at $1,999,000. The please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am the listing agent on this very special property. You won't find anything comparable at this price. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Key West Short Sale - 1301 Petronia Street

The asking price on this Meadows Area of Key West home was just reduced to $548,100. It is offered as a Short Sale.  1301 Petronia Street,  is a bungalow style home was built in the 1920s.  It has been updated several times over the years but still retains the charm of the homes built during that era. The home has two bedrooms, two baths, plus a loft space on the "second level" which offers additional sleeping area. It has a lovely 30' x 13' swimming pool and potential off street parking as well.  CLICK HERE to view some photos I took of the property.

The listing Realtor describes 1301 Petronia Street as:

"Adorable cottage on a corner lot in the Meadows with a deep front porch which flows to the long side-yard heated and decked pool. There are two bedrooms with en-suite baths plus a large stand-up finished loft (not included in square footage)."

  30' x 13' pool is surrounded by a big deck. The front porch is equally inviting.

 Dining room is currently used by the tenant as an office

Compact but cute kitchen

 

Master bedroom is large and has access to outdoor shower

But the master bath has an insider shower as well...

 Second bedroom plus en-suite bath

Listing agent says there is room for off street parking if fence removed

CLICK HERE to  view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this property.  Better than that, call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this really cute Key West bungalow that offers a lot of living space, a wonderful pool, and a quiet neighborhood. I am a Buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.