1108 Fleming Street - Key West

1108 Fleming Street in Old Town Key West is pretty as a picture - and then more. It's the poster child for quintessential Key West charm. The asking price was just reduced to $1,199,000.  The listing Realtor describes the new property thus:

If your ready for quaint island living this charming historic conch house, located in the heart of Old Town Key West is probably for you.The main house offers two bedrooms with a cute guesthouse in the rear. The tropical pool area and guesthouse have private access to Curry Lane.Dade County pine walls, vaulted ceilings and a generator are just a few selling points. Walk and bike to everything Key West has to offer!!

The house is bright and cheery from front to back and bottom to top. Every room is different, but the entire place flows evenly and with purpose. Three sets of French doors at the rear plus windows above extend the great room out to the pool, rear deck, and guest cottage beyond. he cottage is tiny but ever-so-cute.  There is an outdoor shower where guests can shower in the sunshine or under the moon glow. It's pure magic. Your guests will beg you to let them stay there. 

The house is laid out with one bedroom located at the front of the house on the main floor. Except for the elegant entry hall and stairway, the kitchen and living area comprise the balance of the first floor. The master bedroom with sitting area or office is located on the second floor. The second floor bedroom is filled with lots of built-ins. The listing Realtor states the house and cottage have a combined total of 1604 sq ft of living space under air. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this beautiful home.

Main Floor Bedroom

Three sets of French doors at the rear of the main house look out to the pool, deck, and guest cottage. While the space is compact, every inch of space is part of an aesthetic design that flows from the inside to the outside. All spaces are treated as each matters - and they do. Nothing has been left undone.

 

 

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 1108 Fleming Street which is located at the far end of Fleming Street just a few doors from White Street. Duval Street is perhaps an 8 to 10 minute walk to Duval Street. Or you can walk to the Historic Seaport in about the same time. There are two neighborhood convenience stores on White Street. And there are numerous restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk. If you are into the arts, The Studios of Key West is just one block away at the corner of White and Southard Street.  

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this beautiful Key West home that really is Pretty as a Picture. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

923 Eaton Street - Old Town - Key West

Just Listed!, but not by me, 923 Eaton Street in the Old Town area of Key West, Florida.  If you are a frequent visitor to Key West, you have surely driven or walked by 921 and 923 Eaton Street,  the two side-by-side gems that rival the famous "Painted Ladies" of San Francisco. Although not as elaborate, the Key West Ladies speak to the simplicity of design that characterize many of the houses in the Old Town area.  In his book The Houses of Key West Alex Caemmerer wrote "What particularly impressed me at that time, although many of these houses were small and owned by people of modest means - mostly local workers, they had a simplicity of line and an aura aura of elegance and dignity which had the same effect on one as does, for instance, a simple Bach tune."

Now you may think my comparison of the Painted Ladies in San Francisco to the more modest Key West Ladies is a stretch. You might be correct but consider that Alex Caemmerer selected the modest house at 921 Eaton Street as the cover photo for his book about Key West houses.

921 Eaton Street as photographed in 1965

923 Eaton St as photographed in 1965

Who would have thought that these two simple little houses owned by locals of modest means would become iconic representations of Key West architecture. But that is what they did. Now, the sad fact is that between the time Alex Caemmerer immortalized 921 Eaton Street and the recent Recession, the two ladies fell into disrepair as both properties were foreclosed upon. You can see that the new owner of 921 Eaton Street has started a restoration of that residence. The new owner of 923 Eaton Street just listed this property for sale at the asking price of $499,000.  The listing Realtor describes the new listing this way:

"Put your Fantasy parties on hold and get your offer in ASAP as this historic home in Old Town won't last! Perfectly livable home within a couple blocks to the Seaport is ready for you now, or your upgrades to make this a gem sparkle and shine! Rare, huge,fenced, back yard complete with brick pavers, allows for expansion of existing home AND pool AND pool/guest house. Dade county pine galore and beautiful new hard wood floor in spacious living room, front porch, upgraded baths and kitchen, separate indoor laundry room. Bring your best offer as this one won't last at this price! Truly a Fantasy surprise you won't want to miss out on."

 

The Monroe County Property Records date the construction of both 921 and 923 Eaton Street at 1906. I experienced frustration today trying to access the historic Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West and was unable to enlarge a particular file which show 923 Eaton being in place in 1889.  I saw a house at that location for that date, but I was unable to decide with reasonable certainty that it is the same house. But I am pretty sure it is.  This little area is located near the Historic Key West Seaport which is located just two blocks to the north.  Many of the old homes in Key West are located in this area because the earliest residents of Key West lived here near their work - the seaport.

No matter the exact date it was built, the fact is the 923 Eaton Street has the earmarks of a really old house and includes lots of Dade County Pine walls, ceiling, floors, traditional windows, scuttles on the second floor roof, etc. The house was updated around 1988 from what I can determine in the Property Records.  It looks to me like the an interior wall or walls in the front part of the house were removed to create the current living room.  A new addition was added to the rear where the kitchen was updated, a bath and laundry added, and a large combination dining/family room with modern sliding doors were added. The back yard was bricked-in and some landscaping was added. A bathroom was added to the second floor as well. I assume all renovations were done at the same time. What was in style 25 years ago now looks tired and needs updated or maybe replaced.

The constant feature of this property is the historic character of the original house and the very large (deep) back yard where there is room for a large pool or maybe a smaller pool a a guest cottage.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet. 

If you would like to see 923 Eaton Street please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 

901 Pearl Street - Bank Owned - Key West

The Bank Owned property at 901 Pearl Street offers potential buyers something that you just normally don't find in a house in the Old Town vicinity - a reasonable price and an ability to tear down the existing house and to build new or to alternatively renovate with new technologies and new materials (e.g. replace existing jalousie windows with impact windows).

The existing property is located at the corner of Pearl Street and Albury Street. CLICK HERE Google aerial view of the area which I will discuss late. The lot is 50' X 70' or 3500 sq ft which is a good size for the area.  The existing house was built in 1953 and is a CBS (concrete block construction) building. It is not deemed a contributing structure.  I believe a new owner could tear down the existing building and re-orient a new house more efficiently on the lot. (There's wasted space on north and south sides and a tiny back yard.)  Any new structure would have to comply with current building codes and set backs. But the large lot size affords a new owner flexibility as to what type of house to build (maybe a Conch cottage or a two story home) and where to situate the property on the lot.  A new owner might site the front of the house on Albury which would leave room at the rear (south side) for a new pool.
The current house has been lived in "as is" for several years. It is typical of many 1950s era ranch houses with two bedrooms, one bath, a shared living and dining area and a closed off kitchen. Each of the rooms have original Cuban tile floors (all in good condition). The bathroom is a throwback to the colorful 1950s tiled bathrooms. There is even a cedar lined closet. Both bedrooms have good sized closets. A new owner would probably replace the jalousie windows. I would expand some of the widow sizes and replace with energy efficient impact windows. The kitchen exists - but barely. A new owner would probably install a new kitchen and update the appliances. I believe the south side yard is large enough to accommodate a new pool.

 

There are a couple of issues a new buyer would need accept. First, the house has some spalling on many of the exterior walls. This is a common occurrence for CBS houses and commercial buildings buildings in Key West. Spalling can be repaired. A concrete contractor would be able to tell a potential buyer the cost to do any repairs.  Also, the existing carport is in bad shape. Since the carport exists, a new owner might alternatively tear it down, keep it place and repair it,  or possibly convert that space into a third bedroom.  The existing laundry room is at the rear of the carport and has water and sewer in place. I think the entire area could make a great new master suite.  CLICK HERE to view photos I took of this property.

Many of the nearby homes are quite expensive.  I think money spent on this property either as a fixer or building new is money very well spent. The house is located one block from Bayview Park (the main city park) and a couple of blocks away from the Garrison Bight Marina. Duval Street is a 10-15 minute walk and an easy five minute bike ride.

The asking price on this 901 Pearl Street is now $389,900.  I believe the successful purchaser will be a person who offers cash and accepts the property as it exists with all faults - whatever those faults may be.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this bank owned 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.