906 Johnson Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 906 Johnson Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property as:

"Outstanding Grand Key West home located in the heart of the Casa Marina, just 2 blocks from the Ocean. Truly a residential masterpiece with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths in the main home including a ground floor mother-in law suite,laundry room, guest cottage with a mini kitchen, Man cave or studio and a workshop. The outdoor living space includes built-in grill, very large L shaped heated pool, 1/2 bath, outdoor shower surrounded by Mexican tile, tropical landscaping, lighting and irrigation. Privacy fence surrounds this outstanding property. Must be seen to be appreciated."

 Grand would be an appropriate modifier as this home is grand in size, design, and prominence on a block of equally important large homes. As is the case of many homes in the Casa Marina Area, this home sits behind a tall privacy fence which gives the property a very real sense of privacy.  Upon entering the property you are taken by the quite large front entry flanked by the alluring pool to the east and the garden to the west. Brick paths wrap around the house which lead to the various cottages at the rear.

Rear bricked terrace

 The main house sits behind a private gated entry. Gardens surround the house on either side and then wrap around the house at the rear. The two story home has rich wood flooring and European details throughout. The main home includes three guest rooms, a complete mother-in-law suite or servant's quarters, a formal dining area, a formal living room with fireplace and an equally large and gracious family room that overlooks the rear gardens. The home has an extra large galley kitchen,  a breakfast room that overlooks the large pool and outdoor kitchen on the east side of the property, and a cheerful laundry room that looks out onto the rear gardens as well.

Formal living room with fireplace

 

Family room with bowed wall

Living room in the mother-in-law suite

Current owner uses the informal dining area as sitting area

Galley kitchen

Master suite

There is a guest house at the southeast rear of the property. It is actually a home unto itself with living room, bedroom, small kitchen, and bath. The owners refer to the cottage located at the southwest corner as a "Man Cave" which has a separate bath. You can view more photos if you CLICK HERE.

This home is located just one half block east of the Casa Marina Resort and about two blocks north of Higg's Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The three blocks of Johnson Street from White Street Reynolds Street might just be the most expensive stretch in all of Key West.  If you think I am appealing to the snob, I am. People who spend a lot of money on a home want to make sure that the surrounding homes are equally valuable. They are in this area. A new owner might want to join the Casa Marina Club where you could use the gym, spa services, private beach, and get a discount on all food and beverage at the hotel.

906 Johnson Street is offered at $2,795,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos.If you would like to schedule an appointment to see this home, 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 home in Paradise.

Sunday - Open House - 916 Eisenhower Drive - Key West

I will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, January 20th between 1:00 to 3:00 PM at 916 Eisenhower Drive in Key West.   Please stop by to view this
award winning restoration of a three bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with beautiful pool and outdoor living room. Offered at $949,000. 

627 Southard Street - Old Town - Key West

Location! Location! Location!  Those are the words Buyers, Sellers, and Realtors live by. And the house at 627 Southard Street in Key West certainly has a prime location.  Its nearby neighbors are big expensive homes. It is within easy walking distance to many Old Town favorites like Faustos Food Palace, Sarabeth's, Five Brothers, Michales, etc. Duval Street and the Historic Key West Seaport are only a few minutes away by foot. The house has just been totally renovated and is now offered for sale at the asking price of $1,995,000.

The listing Realtor describes this freshly renovated three bedroom home this way:

"Nestled in the heart of Old Town, within walking or biking distance to everything Key West has to offer, you will find a true gem! This prestigious residence has an accomplished top to bottom renovation. Fine craftsmanship, fine finishes and uncompromised quality. Astonishing reclaimed heart of pine flooring, trey and coffered ceilings, restored Dade County Pine, floor to ceiling doors and windows, antique reproduction hardware, award winning appliances, black walnut kitchen island, security cameras and alarm system. This elegant home is truly a Show Place, make it yours, there is still time to add your own personal touches. Three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, large 12X20 pool with deck, two off street parking spaces."

I wrote about this property a couple of times during recent years. The first time was when it was offered as a short sale. The short sale went nowhere.  Then it became bank owned. I showed it the first day it hit the mls to two different buyers. So did a lot of agents in town. It sold immediately and the current owner was the successful bidder in a best and final offer scenario.

The property main floor had been previously taken down to the studs. The second floor was previously remodeled.  All of the previous remodel was removed. Everything on the inside is new. The end result is a beautiful renovation with lots of high end features and old Key West charm.

 The new renovated property is just beautiful. The front entry hall is so simple and yet it is so beautiful. Much of the house is refinished Dade County Pine. The floors are awesome - real wood, the kind you remember from your grandmother's house only prettier.  There is a guest bed and bath on the main level. Original windows were restored and offer rippled views of the big expensive homes across the street.  The first thing I noticed when I entered the open living area was the coffered ceiling. This architectural feature is amazing. It sets this house apart from so many other homes in Old Town. A bank of French doors span the back wall and  look out to the new pool and deck. The kitchen is in place. The appliances and counter tops will be installed shortly.

The owner  of 627 Southard did a renovation of another house which I blogged about. That completed kitchen is just "killer". Take a peak at it below and imagine something quite similar at 627 Southard Street.

Upstairs you will find a large second bedroom at the front of the house. This bedroom has an en-suite bath. A bonus feature is access to the second floor front porch which will be great for people watching.  Notice the intricate gingerbread peaking through the windows shown below.

The master suite is located at the rear. The master bath has an almost baroque feel about it - quite impressive.  There is a second floor rear balcony that looks down to the pool below. The pool photos were taken a week ago. The pool will be 'shot' next week and will probably be completed within two weeks.  The stairway from the original houses was removed and the new stairway gave the upstairs bedrooms more space, functionality, and an impressive wall architectural feature.

 627 Southard Street would make a great vacation rental. It has the look, the location, and all the amenities sophisticated vacation travelers want. Seriously!

The listing Realtor advises me that the house is racing toward completion. Depending on when an offer is accepted, a new buyer may have time to select certain finishes. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.  Better yet please call 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.

916 Eisenhower Drive - The Meadows Area - Key West, Florida

Just listed by yours truly, 916 Eisenhower Drive which is located in the Meadows Area of Key West. The home was originally built in the late 1890s.  It was owned by Sally Rand, the fan dancer, after World War II.  Later owners in the early 2000s undertook a significant restoration and addition to the property for which they were awarded the 2005 Florida Keys Foundation's Preservation Award, a ceramic star, which is displayed on the front porch.  The award is given to exemplary properties in recognition of their method of preserving the existing historic fabric and new construction that exits compatibly within an historic neighborhood. A lot of houses get updated or remodeled each year. Only the best get this award.

The house itself exudes Key West charm from the classic revival front, the gingerbread that adorns the two tiered front porches, and the lush tropical setting. Inside, the home has a formal entry hall which denotes a house of importance. To the left is the large living room with two sets of French doors that open to a side porch. A floor to ceiling bookcase was added by the prior owner as part of the renovation. That bookcase later appeared as a focal point when the house and its owners were featured in a New York Times piece.  A photo from that article appears below along with a photo that shows the same area today.

Barbara P. Fernandez for The New York Times

A child's blackboard replaces the decorative items from before but the room is still chic

The hallway features Dade Count Pine walls and crown molding. A small oil painting of 916 Eisenhower Drive graces the entry way.  Ancient windows with glass that ripples accentuate each room. Upstairs you will find two bedrooms and a bath. Both bedrooms have access to second floor porches.

The kitchen is located in a sawtooth addition behind the main part of the house. This room has a vaulted ceiling and Dade County Pine Walls which seamlessly blend with the new modern cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and marble counter tops to create a warm "homey" feeling. The star of this room is the wide windows that open out to the outdoor living room. The chef and the family or friends are never separated. And what a view the chef has by the way.

 

Just beyond the dining area you will find an open living area as well. That's the perfect place to sit and contemplate how Congress is going to fix the debt crisis. But until that happens, it's also a good place to sit and enjoy life looking out at the pool or watching your honey in the kitchen. You can view more photos of this property if you CLICK HERE.

The master bedroom with en-suite bath plus an outdoor shower deluxe is located to the right of the outdoor living area shown just above. French doors on two sides of the room open out to the fresh Key West air.  The current owners are sharing the bedroom space with two precious little girls. I found a photo that shows how the master bedroom looked when the former owners had it photographed.

Copyright Blair Gordon Design

916 Eisenhower Drive is a three bedroom, two and one-half bath home with 1606 sq ft of living space under air plus large porches on front and sides plus the outdoor living room (which is not counted as living area).  The 4011 sq ft lot is lushly landscaped with tropical foliage and Chicago brick lines much of the remaining space. This special Key West property is offered at $949,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.  If you would like to see this home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642.  I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

812 Fleming Street Unit #6, Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 812 Fleming Street, Unit #6, Key in Old Town Key West.  This top floor unit has a commanding view of Fleming Street from the broad covered balcony. There you can watch one of the best people parades on a daily basis or enjoy the roof top views of our little town.  The listing Realtor sums up this property this way:

"Wonderful Old Town condominium in beautiful condition and ready to move in. 9ft ceilings, Dade County pine walls and floors throughout and a great cathedral ceiling above the 200sf balcony overlooking Fleming Street. This third floor, one bedroom, one bath unit with 618 sf of living space is a true gem with tons of natural light. In the back yard there is a pool and private grounds. Seafoam Condominiums consists of eight condominiums and two commercial units."

Timmy Tuxedo is one of the two commercial units in the building

I searched the old records and found a Property Appraiser reference that the building was actually built in 1906 despite what the computerized property records show. (The old courthouse burned years ago and members of the WPA reconstructed property records based on the year they created the new data system which was 1933 unless they had independent verification otherwise. It is not uncommon to have two sets of totally opposing dates. The style of the original building certainly looks much older than the types of buildings built during the middle of the Great Depression for one important reason: they were not building new buildings in the Depression.)

812 Fleming Street in 1965

812 Fleming Street in January 2012

First, you can't find a better location in Old Town: it is near everything full time residents want and part-time owners demand. Second, it is located on the top floor of an historic building, and it has commanding views of the nearby neighborhood from its 223 sq ft balcony. Third, the building's incredibly beautiful interiors can be customized to a new owner's desires without getting approval from any governmental bureau (the condo association may need to approve, however). Fourth, the building has only eight residential units plus two commercial units (including Key West landmark Timmy Tuxedo) with long term residential ownership. Fifth, the rear side of the building has a wonderful pool and private garden area.

 

The front entry has an electronic keyed entrance. You walk into the entry hall and immediately see the dramatic open three story staircase illuminated by rooftop skylights. The geometry of the place is just awesome. Another stairway at the rear takes you down to the private pool. There is also a coin operated laundry for unit owners that do not have a washer and dryer in their units.

Last year when I wrote about another unit in this building that was for sale I said "this building is located on the gayest block in Key West. Four all male guest houses are located in this block including Equator, Coral Tree Inn, Coconut Grove, and the Oasis Guesthouse. Alexanders and The Island House are located in the 1100 block of Fleming Street and the guys normally pass by 812 Fleming Street once or twice each day. You don't have to be gay to buy in a place like this, but if you are gay, this is surely one hot property!"  Since I wrote that blog the Oasis and Coconut Grove Guesthouses sold and are now "all welcome" as opposed to gay male. The Coral Tree was purchased as well, and I assume it will stay gay male. Alexander's and the Island House are the same as before. I went over to take photos this morning. Two very good looking gay men in very short shorts were standing in front. The gayest street in Key West has not changed, and that is a good thing.

 Unit #6 is offered at $400,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos.Better than looking at pictures, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. 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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