421 Catherine Street in Old Town Key West was built circa 1899. The above black and white photo shows how the house looked back in 1965. Now take a look at the old girl as she appears in November 2012 in the color photo below.  She's gotten bigger and probably looks even better than her former self. Too bad that doesn't work for humans.

 I got a chance to show this home a few days ago. I must tell you that I was impressed by three very important and very apparent factors that were readily evident when I entered the front door: quality construction, style, and attention to detail. You don't always see all three in renovations.

This property is a cigar maker cottage that has been enlarged from the original building with a two story addition at the rear. The addition provide me interior living space and allowed the builder to remover old interior walls to create larger living spaces in the historic house. The historic entry was retained and the classic 'shot gun' style entry hallway is still present. The hallway, however, is now vaulted.  Additionally, the hallway was enhanced by the addition of wainscoting and decorative wall sconces.  Pocket doors were added to provide privacy when needed to the first floor bedroom. That space is quite large compared to many of the bedrooms in similar cigar maker cottages. An adjacent bath doubles as guest bath as well.

Note the 'pocket doors' to the main level bedroom

Main floor bedroom

The kitchen is located midway in the house. This space is very welcoming and radiates warmth. Rich wood trim was added throughout the house during the renovation. The main floor ceilings are now enhanced by wood slats that give the house a sense of immense strength - at least in my mind.  Custom kitchen cabinets and the mini-bar at the rear add style to substance in these areas.

The stairway leads to master suite that takes up the entire second floor whereupon you enter through a property doorway into the bedroom chamber.  The master bath and adjacent huge closet are extraordinary in comparison to other cigar maker renovations I have seen.  There is a rear second floor balcony that overlooks the back yard.

The owner obtained permission to build a pool but never did so. A new owner may decide this would complete the house.  Whatever the case, the space is available.

This is where the pool would be located

I think 421 Catherine Street would make a great vacation rental.  The property is located about 1/2 block off Duval Street.  South Beach is a five minute walk to the south. LaTeDa and lots of nearby restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, and more are minutes away in either direction on Duval Street.  Vacationers will love the convenient location and the beautiful spaces, large bedrooms, and private baths.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos.  If you would like to see this lovely little home in person, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

17029 Bonefish Lane West - Sugarloaf Key - Florida

WOW!  The views from 17029 Bonefish Lane West on Sugarloaf Key are just spectacular. The large lot has an incredible 180 degree open water view that runs the 150 foot frontage of the lot.  Click GOOGLE MAP for an aerial perspective of the property which sits at the end of the lane and which has the very best views.

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties (that's where I work, but this is not my listing) describes the new listing like this:

"Outstanding waterfront home on the end of the cul-de-sac with 180 degree views of the open water. This custom modern home was built to withstand 160 mph winds. Immediately you are awed by the unique design where every room is open yet defined by its features luring you to the view. In the main area, there is a library, dining, living room and a fantastic cook's kitchen with all the state of the art appliances and a 30inch soapstone island. Down the hall is a 1/2 bath laundry room and oversized master suite. Detached from the main living area are two private guests' suites with a unique blue glass tiled bathroom. On the ground level there is great storage and an abundance of covered space for entertaining,surrounded by tropical landscaping."

I cannot overstate how awesome the views from this home are.  The owner bought the lot and then engaged an architect who he brought to the Keys to design this home to take advantage of the expansive lot  (15,000 sq ft ).  The architect designed a unique structure with a total of 2018 sq ft of living space divided between the main house and a separate guest wing.

The main house has a formal entry, extra large living room and adjoining library, a spacious dining room with built-in niches and storage, a large kitchen with custom cabinetry, and the extra large master bedroom with an extra spacious bath, and laundry.The dining room and living room ceilings play with the geometry of the house and create visually exciting spaces. The milled woodwork and rich floors create a continuity throughout the home.

 The guest house is located in a separate building. Each bedroom has water views and use of the private deck area just off each bedroom. You can't help but be mesmerized by the views. During the time I was at the house taking photos the sky changed from gray to cloudy to sunny.  The water color changed as the clouds and sky turned from gray to blue. And I then got it why so many people prefer a location and view like this one. So no matter which room you are located in, you can peek out to the sea and get swept away by nature doing its thing.

 I sell houses in Key West and I am used to the cute cigar maker cottages and grand conch houses. I am equally familiar with the CBS (concrete block structures) that populate much of the mid town and new town areas. I know that most of the homes built in the Florida Keys since Hurricane Andrew are built on stilts. They have to be because of possible flooding.  I will come off as a snob when I write this. Please don't judge me too harshly.  Most of the stilt built homes I have been built it are pedestrian. Many are copies of each other.  Some of the newer homes are Florida Keys reinterpretation of McMansions.  You know what I mean: soaring ceilings, huge rooms with no purpose and no character. Please CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of photos I took of this property.

The owner has obtained county approval for the addition of a pool and pavilion. I took the photo just below which shows what the approved pool and pavilion would like like if the new owner decides to build it.

I gotta tell you that I fell in love with this place the day I was there. A guy motored past me as I was taking photos. I thought to myself "This is the life!"

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. If you would like to see this wonderful home with me, please call 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.  Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

1410 Angela Street - New Lower Price - Key West

1410 Angela Street - Key West - circa 1965

1410 Angela Street - Key West - 2011

The listing Realtor describes the wood frame Conch house at 1410 Angela Street this way:

"Ideal location in The Meadows neighborhood of Old Town Key West. This newly improved home features 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms, bonus room for an office in the master bedroom, in ground pool, detached utility room with laundry, two zone central a/c & heat, fenced yard, and off street parking. French doors from the master bedroom and second bedroom open up to the private pool. The original house is a 2/1 Conch Cottage that was expanded in 1998 with a 2/1 CBS addition. This expansion can be setup as a lockout, great for a mother-in-law unit or guest quarters. This home sets back from the street on a large 4,624 sqft lot landscaped with mature tropical trees adding comfort and privacy for your enjoyment in OLD TOWN KEY WEST STYLE."

Living room and kitchen in main part of house

Bedroom in mother in law addition

This house is a Conch style (simple one storey wood frame construction) which was expanded with a large 'mother in law' addition. The mls listing shows the property as having four bedrooms which would be correct if the living room in the mother in law unit were used as a bedroom. An interior doorway still separates (or could reconnect) the main living area from the mother in law unit. The interior of the original house is more typical of homes up north in mid-America than potential second home buyers for Key West cottages expect. The mother in law unit has vaulted ceiling that adds space and volume but also takes away a bit of privacy.


The the three big selling features of this property are the size of the home, the lovely yard, and the beautiful pool. I think a new owner might want to remove the current stucco exterior and replace it with a more correct wood siding. There aren't many houses in the Old Town or Meadows area with four bedrooms, especially nice homes with a pool and off street parking that are priced as affordably as this one. A new owner might redo the rear deck and pool by converting an existing shed into a pool bar. It's not that the place as it exists is 'wrong'. It just isn't as good as it could be.


CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on 1410 Angela Street which is offered at just $599,000 or $372 per sq ft for this 1610 sq ft home located on a 4624 sq ft lot. You may also want to CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of the property. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing for you. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Key West Guest House Sales Update

Bob Newhart and the Gang

I have written a couple of blogs about the issues involved in purchasing a guest house in Key West. While the lure of running such an establishment entices many would be Bob Newhart innkeepers, reality soon sets in when prospective buyers find out how expensive guest houses are to purchase and how difficult it can sometimes be to obtain bank financing.  I won't belabor that discussion today because I have some very good news to report on a couple of recent sales and two upcoming sales.

Coconut Grove and Oasis Guest Houses

Oasis Resort

 On Thursday November 15, 2012 the Oasis and Coconut Grove guest houses were sold for $7,200,000 or $200,000 per room for the 36 room guest house complex.  (The units sold at 91.14% of asking price of $7,900,000.)

Coral Tree Inn

The same Seller/Owner of Oasis put Coral Tree Inn located across the street at 822 Fleming under contract on November 1, 2012. The asking price on that property is $2,450,000 for this eleven unit guest house.

Pilot House Guest House

 On November 7th the Pilot House guest house and two nearby commercial buildings on Eaton Street also went under contract. The asking price on those properties is $ 7,600,000. The other buildings are currently used as any type of residential rental.

Seascape Tropical Inn

Finally, the Seascape Tropical Inn Guest House was also sold on November 15th. The asking price on Seascape was $2,450,000. It sold for $2,000,000 or
$285,714 per room for this seven unit guesthouse.

I am very excited about the recent sales that just concluded and the pending sales of the Coral Tree Inn and the Pilot House and associated properties. The Pilot House sale will be a very big deal in Key West.  It will revitalize the area.

There are still a couple of guest houses available for purchase in Key West. I used to own and operate a guest house in Key West and think I have a lot to offer a prospective buyer who wants to take the plunge and own this type of business in our little town.  If you are thinking about such an endeavor 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. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

406 Julia Street - Key West Short Sale

 

The above photo shows how 406 Julia Street in Old Town as it appeared in 1965.  I took the photograph immediately below this morning, November 14, 2012.

406 Julia Street was just listed, but not by me, as a Short Sale at the asking price of $249,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos.  I recently showed the house with a trail of other agents and prospective buyers waiting in line to see this affordably priced single family home that is located about 300 feet west of Duval Street.

The mls listing shows three bedrooms with one bath. In fact there is a very large addition to the rear part of which includes a large room that is being used as the master bedroom. The addition is shown in the Monroe County Property Appraiser's records, but the site only shows three bedrooms.

I took a lot of exterior photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE. I did not take any interior photos.  The place is livable as is but it does need a couple of repairs including replacement of an existing ceiling in a bedroom. The kitchen floor has numerous cracked tiles. That floor should also be replace. Finally, the one bathroom has seen better days. It, too, should be updated. In fact there is enough room to probably redo the existing bath and use some space in the quite large rear addition to create an en-suite bath adjoining the current bath.

The lot is quite large. The Property Appraiser shows an irregular rectangle of 50' wide by 79.58' deep with a carve-out at the west rear of 15' x 29.5'.  In my opinion there may be room for a pool at the rear or on the west side where the current covered patio exists. The property has gated off street parking which could still be preserved and still add a pool in this are or at the rear. We have some pretty good designers and architects in town. This place has lots of room for creation of very usable outdoor space.  I think the inside would make a wonderful renovation project.

I believe this property would make an attractive vacation rental in Key West if it were properly renovated to include at least two baths, an updated kitchen, replace the existing metal windows with more appropriate wood windows, remove the existing wall unit air conditioners and replace with central air. I would remove the covered 'old shcool' patio.  I would preserve the off street parking space and replace the existing galvanized fence with a traditional white picket fence and add an electric gate at the driveway.  I would add a pool either on the side or at the rear. There is space in either location in my opinion.  Finally, I would reconfigure the room spaces. This house is quite large and has four bedrooms now plus a lot of wasted interior space. The spaces could be used more efficiently. The addition of French doors overlooking the pool would complete the renovation.  Guests could walk to Duval Street and take a right or left turn and be in some magic location within a matter of minutes.

If you would like to see this house before someone gobbles it up, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.  Don't wait on this. Time is fleeting as I type this.