620 Eaton Street - Old Town - Key West

Congrats are in order to Everett Watkins listing agent at Preferred Properties and to Phil and Terri Wilson (selling agents) at Preferred Properties on the sale of one of Key West's most prominent and historic homes, 620 Eaton Street which SOLD (closed) on December 7th for $3,199,000.  CLICK HERE for more info on this home.

This is a grand and gracious home that has dominated Eaton Street for decades.  The most recent owners did a splendid job in upgrading and maintaining one of Key West's most treasured homes. Below are some photos of the house through
the years.

 620 Eaton Street was built in 1885 and photographed here in 1900 

620 Eaton Street in 1911 when the property was known as the

 Key West Electric Company Bachelor's Quarters

620 Eaton Street in 1965

620 Eaton Street in the 1990's before restoration was undertaken

I moved to Key West in December 1993 and remember walking by this home many times and thinking to myself "Why doesn't somebody buy this place and fix it up?"  Somebody did and then sold it. The most recent owner improved on the prior restoration and has handed off the property to a new steward.  Maybe somebody will write a blog about this old girl in 2085.  I hope she will still be standing and that the other treasures of Old Key West are keeping her company. They, sadly, don't make them like this anymore.

 620 Eaton Street - December 2012

If you are thinking of buying one of Key West's old ladies, CLICK HERE search the Key West Association of Realtors mls.  You don't need to fill out any forms and nobody is going to track you. It's free and informative.  If you find something you like, please consider calling 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. 

Key West Home Buy Christmas - 611 Southard Street #3

 Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 611 Southard Street Unit #3, Key West, Florida. This second floor condominium is located in a building that was built circa 1874.  The unit itself was stylishly updated a few years ago.  It has all of the modern amenities but retains the charm of the historic house.  And it has a very valuable asset that few condominiums on Old Town have: a transient rental license which allows an owner to rent the unit on a daily basis if so desired.

611 Southard St as it appeared in 1965

The listing Realtor describes this new listing as:

"Wonderfully located one bedroom unit at Hollinsed House with a rental transient license, included. Walk to all Old Town locations with ease yet enjoy the quiet of the second floor location and balcony. Very well kept up - totally re-done with professional decorator in 2008 - and it has a great rental record."

611 Southard Street - December 2012

I have a theory about Key West porches: tourists like to sit on porches and watch people walk by while imagining how wonderful it would be to live here. Locals sit on their porches and do absolutely nothing and enjoy every minute of it. The above photo was taken of the porch off unit #3 which looks down onto Southard Street.

 The unit itself is 675 sq ft in space that is divided into the open living area, galley kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Dade County Pine walls and original wood floors fill this space with a richness often not found in newly built condos.  The views from the old windows are of similar old homes on Southard Street or a partial view of the pool below on the west side of the complex.

 
 611 Southard Street #3 is offered at $479,000 which includes the valuable transient rental license and all furnishings.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to see listing photos.  Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. (Showings are restricted to "turn-around days" when guests checkout.) I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. If you buy this unit you will have a home in Key West by next Christmas where you can sit on your porch and feel sorry for all the poor people up north who have to shovel snow and drive in smog filled cities.

---

Key West Home Buy Christmas - 1008 Watson Street

If your Christmas wish is to own a simple Key West cottage with room for you and the family and friends; a place with a pool and nice outdoor space and off street
parking, may I tempt you with 1008 Watson Street in Old Town Key West.  This 1392 sq ft home has two bedrooms plus a sleeping loft (not included in the square footage), one bath, and an open living area. Outside there is a large pool plus off street parking. This Key West cottage is offered at only $499,000.  CLICK HERE
to view the Key West mls datasheet for more details. This property is listed by Doug Mayberry Real Estate.

Lots of Off Street Parking

CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property. Better than that, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  If you act quickly enough, this actually could be your home by Christmas this year. And if you can't move that quickly, it could still be your place in Paradise by January and that's not bad.

Home Buy Christmas -1411 Olivia Street - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1411 Olivia Street which is located in the Meadows Area of Key West.  White Street is the dividing line between Old Town and the Meadows Area. Many of the houses in both areas are the same style and were built around the same time periods.  For the most part the only difference between the two areas is a higher price per square foot if you buy on the Old Town side of White Street. Read on if you want to save a buck (or many thousands of them).

The listing broker describes 1411 Olivia Street this way:

"This charming Key West home is located in the Meadows area of old town. A vintage iron gate and a wide, sunny front porch offers a welcome entry to the house. Inside are beautiful wood floors, high ceilings and bright rooms. In addition to the two bedrooms and two baths, there are two loft bedrooms not included in the square footage. The Florida room opens through a wall of glass doors to the bricked patio and garden which includes an outdoor shower. The patio area is fenced and gated and very private. This is a must see for those wanting historic charm in a lovely setting."

I found this old photo of 1411 Olivia Street with a notation that it was built circa 1926 which differs from what the Monroe County Property Appraiser's records show which is the source for our mls database. (In this instance I think I'd go along with the photo notation. Not much of anything was being built in Key West in 1933 because we were in a big ole Depression.) Then compare the way the house looked back in the olden days with the way it looks today.

The house has 1334 sq ft of living space on one floor. As the listing broker notes the house has even more living space not shown in the public record as it is loft bedroom space which is not counted in actual living area.  There are two real bedrooms and two bath plus the spaces aforementioned which don't count unless you have roommates, children, or brothers-in-law.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls database and listing photos.

This home is located just a couple of blocks north of Bayview Park, the main city park in Key West.  I dropped by early this morning to snap some pics of the tiny little Conch Cottages that are all dolled up for Christmas. Santa's sleigh and a very tall Christmas Tree beckon little ones and grown-ups to drop by and suspend disbelief at the magic of Christmas.  If you are in Key West right now you can sense Christmas is coming. Moods are elevated, houses are decorated, cash registers are humming, and Realtors have visions of commissions dancing in their heads.

 Look at the black and white photo just above. It shows kids swimming in the water across street from Bayview Park in the 1940s.  See the park pavilion at the right.  Today that same view would be impossible as Truman Avenue and Eisenhower Driver (the intersection) now have commercial buildings and a four story condo.  It's old pics like this that almost make me sick to see what greed has done to our little town. 

Bayview Park is the historic city park for Key West. Every year it is the place where locals come together to celebrate the rituals of each season. I came from a big city and never experienced anything like life in a small town like Key West. I have grown to love living here more than I could have ever imagined.

1411 Olivia Street is offered at $629,000.  If you would like to see this charming home on a very charming block please give me, Gary Thomas a phone call at 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

1214 Varela Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, but not by me, 1214 Varela Street in the Old Town area of our island city. The listing Realtor describes this charming home and guest cottage this way:

"In 2002, this home underwent a total renovation down to the frame, transforming it in to one of the most sophisticated elegant two story Conch homes with a new 2 story guest house adjacent to Knowles Lane. When you enter the front you are greeted by a dramatic, elegant living spaces, with truly one of the best kitchens. Large folding glass doors open the inside out to the lanai and pool. On the opposite side of the pool is the 2 story guest house with full bath. On the second level there is an oversized master suite with a hallway of wood and glass closets, leading to an outstanding master bath and terrace. Reclaimed Dade County Pine throughout. Off Street parking on Varela and Knowles Lane. This home was used on House Hunters."

The Realtor of course is referring to HGTV's House Hunters where a couple looked at three competitively priced homes in the Old Town area. The couple ultimately picked another home; that is a story for another blog.  This home which was then priced at $2.595,000, went unsold. The new asking price is $1,895,000.

Upon entering this home you know you have arrived at a special place where living is done with style and grace. Without offending anyone, the original house was neither stylish nor graceful.  It was a large house that sat on very large yard (6218 sq ft)  had been previously been used as a Montessori school among other uses. There was an existing out building at the rear that was accessed off Knowles Lane. Knowles Lane is a cute little Old Town lane with smaller houses and cottages.  The 1214 Varela Street lot was wide enough for both the cottage and parking.

I housed many open houses at this property several years ago before any renovation occurred. I remember extolling the virtues of this big old lady that had a solid build and a big back yard. (Pardon me to any women readers who might be offended. I didn't get to participate in the sale of this property, but it did sell and the new owner undertook a substantial renovation of the home.

The present home now includes a first guest room (used as an office) on the front right, a guest bath on the front left, a center hall that leads to the combined living, dining, and kitchen areas at the rear. The entire second floor is the master suite complete with sitting area, bed chamber, luxurious master bath, custom closets even the Real Housewives of Miami would envy, plus a private roof top sun deck.

    

The covered lanai the listing Realtor mentions is just wonderful. Having lots of doors and windows that open and invite our wonderful sunshine and clean fresh air inside the home is part of the reason all of us expatriates from America come to Paradise to live. This particular home has this gracious lanai, secluded pool and garden which seemingly combine the indoor living areas into the outdoor spaces.

Just beyond the pool is the two story guest cottage which has two bedrooms and a shared bath. The combined living areas for both buildings is 3158 sq ft.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls database and to see the listing photos of this wonderful Key West home. Better than that, 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. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.