Simply Stunning! 730 Southard Street - Key West

730 Southard Street - Key West - January 13, 2013

Key West got an early Christmas present in 2012: the beautifully restored Albury House located at 730 Southard Street.  I can't say enough nice things about this home other than it is simply stunning.  It is more beautiful than I imagined it would be. If you follow my blog you will note that I wrote about this house several times when it was listed for sale. Many potential buyers looked at the place. A few even made offers to purchase it.  One lucky couple ended up buying the home and then started the process to find an architect and builder. I took progress photos over the months of construction, a few of which are shown below.

The second floor porch proved to be more of an expensive "fix" than I would have assumed. The original porch worked well for decades but proved to be a real problem during construction. Even though plans were approved in advance, itsy-bitsy items kept dogging the construction to make sure everything was done perfectly.

 

Over the past few years I took other photos, primarily of the William Street side where the kitchen addition connected to the main house. There is a small little garage attached to the kitchen. It's amazing to see how this space changed as well.

The new owners moved into the home Christmas week.  I snapped a couple of photos on Christmas morning and on an evening a couple of days after Christmas. The place is just beautiful. The lines of the architecture are so plain which is maybe why the place is so perfect.

To the owners: Thank You for your gift to Key West.

1719 Ashby Street - Key West

 
Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1719 Ashby Street which is located near the beaches in Key West, Florida. This ranch style two bedroom (three bath) home has 1279 sq ft of living space, a lush tropical garden, and a pool which is offered at $799,000. The listing agent describes the property this way:

"Secluded Oasis just one block off the Ocean and 5 minutes from downtown Key West. As you enter the home you immediately have that wonderful Key West feeling of bringing the indoor living to the outside. The living/dining area leads to the kitchen which opens to the pool and lanai. The master has its own bath and it too opens to the pool. The split floor plan allows you privacy from your guests. In the second bedroom there is also a laundry room. The backyard of this home is outstanding, with a very large pool and wonderful covered area, full bath and wet bar, surrounded by lush tropical landscaping complete with irrigation and great evening lighting. There is one off street parking space."

Like many of the homes in this part of Key West, the large lot (51' x 90') is surrounded by a privacy fence.  The pool area has lots of sun and also some comforting shade. When you feel like some beach action, you'll only need to walk a few blocks to Smathers' Beach where there is almost always something fun going on.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to see more photos of this new property. Or, better than that, please give me, Gary Thomas, a call at 305-766-2642 and ask me to arrange a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

622 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 622 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. I got a chance to accompany the listing agent yesterday afternoon and take photos of this glorious old home. I was totally taken by the charm of this house that has not seen the likes of granite or stainless steel. Consider the listing agent's description:

"Wonderful, original conch home with three legal units. Great location and superb street presence. Access to the rear cottage is from a lane.Possible conversion back to single family and would be a really spectacular property as such. Opportunity to work with a property that has been maintained while leaving a Key West flavor."
I dug down to the bottom of the old shoe box and found a photo that shows the exterior as it appeared in 1965. Compare that black and white photo with the photo beneath. The stately home with impressive second floor balcony still maintains its commanding view of the street"

The property consists of the main house and a cottage at the rear on Canfield Lane. The main house no longer has an interior staircase as sibling owners occupy the first floor, the second and third floor, and the cottage. This explains the reference to the property as three legal units. As I see it, the value in this property is not as income property but rather as a large property which has not been mucked around with.  I would renovate this property into a single family residence with a charming guest cottage. I would add a pool and parking: there is room for both in my opinion.

The rooftop deck on the main house has an incredible view of the area. You can even see the spires at St Mary's Basilica. Most of the lot is covered with tropical foliage and red brick pavers. The house itself has been well maintained and looks great.  Inside the rooms have the character that people who love our dear old homes seek. The house is filled with Dade County Pine and old glass with ripples. There are little cubby holes and scuttles and treasures galore.

The second floor is currently a separate living unit. It looks like something out of a 1940's movie with Spring Byington.  It is an almost idealized version of what a Key West home should look like.

The listing agent states that the property as a whole has 2740 sq ft of living space and sits on a 57' x 83' (4683 sq ft) lot. The house has not been touched in years and would benefit from a thorough renovation. But understand that the property is perfectly livable as is. I just think the highest and best use of this house is to take it back to single family. CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of photos of this property.

This block of Grinnell Street is one of the quietest blocks in Old Town and that is because it ends at Angela Street which is the northern border of the Key West cemetery. That means the Conch trains, trolleys, and Duck Tour vehicles will not be using this street and they cannot traverse Angela Street. Your life will be quieter because of this. You will still see tourists walking by or riding bikes.And you will see neighbors go across the street to use the Grinnell Street Pocket Park.

Five Brothers is located down the block at the corner of Southard Street. The Key West Historic Seaport is located three blocks further north and Duval Street is located five blocks to the west. Most of the gyms and yoga studios are located within a five to ten minute walk.

622 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,200,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this property. Or better than that, 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 Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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1214 16th Ter Key West, FL

The home at 1214 16th Terrace in the new town area of Key West will likely appeal to a local buyer or a purchaser relocating to Key West who is looking for a family home. The three bedroom house was built in 1965 and has 1348 sq ft of living space. It sits on a 5700 sq ft (57'x100') lot on a quiet suburban street near the eastern edge of Key West.  Most of the houses in the area are of similar age and original construction. And most of the houses have been updated.

This home is listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work, but this is not my listing.  The listing Realtor describes the property like this:

" This is a spacious 3 bedroom, 1 bath home located in a quiet, residential neighborhood. The Florida room opens onto a large yard. Off-street parking and convenient to shopping, movie theater and schools."

1214 16th Terrace is offered at just $399,000 or $266 per sq ft which makes it one of the least expensive single family homes for sale in Key West on a price per sq ft basis. Search the mls, you won't find anything like this at a lower price without wheels. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this home.

If you would like to see this home or any other property in Key West please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

410 Porter Court - Truman Annex - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 410 Porter Court in the Truman Annex in Key West, Florida. This property is offered at $749,000. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"Quiet and secluded Porter Court is a gated community within the exclusive Truman Annex resort. Enjoy the largest unit in the complex, with a great open floor plan and huge first floor great room. Beautifully renovated and decorated with a bright nautical theme that evokes a relaxing and fun vibe. Large master suite and second floor porch with great views of the expansive pool and grounds. Excellent rental history and a Truman Annex transient rental license. A Truman Annex Tropical Treasure."

Porter Court was the first development built in Truman Annex. (This unit was built in 1999.) The Porter Court Condominium units are a bit larger in size than nearby Presidents Walk townhomes and much larger than Shipyard Condominiums.  And Porter Court has only 19 units versus the much larger associations at either Presidents Walk or Shipyard. That means, to me at least, fewer potential people lounging around the pool at any one time and probably a more relaxing time all of the time.

410 Porter Court is an 1175 sq ft two story condominium with two bedrooms on the second floor each of which has an en-suite bath. The master bedroom also has a balcony that overlooks the pool below. The main floor living area includes and half-bath and a rear deck for private al fresco dining.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view more photos.

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

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