1433 Reynolds Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1433 Reynolds Street. This beautiful home is located a short two block walk from Higg's Beach and the great Atlantic Ocean. The Grand Dame of old Florida hotels, the Casa Marina, is located opposite and up one block.  The famous Reynolds house is located next door to the south. If your house hunt requires a superior location, a bit of history, and a beautiful home that is ready to move in to, 1433 Reynolds St. may be the home you have been hoping to find.

According to the Monroe County Property Appraiser this home was built in 1928.  I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo of this home that was taken back in 1965, see the black and white photo above. Today the areas on either side of the original front door have been extended outward creating a cove-like entrance to the home. A white picket fence has been added as well as two Balinese doors that create a dramatic entrance to the yard.

This home has a semi-formal entry that leads to the living room on the right, the open kitchen and family room at the rear, or the main floor bedroom with en-suite bath to the left.

The master suite is on the second floor. It has a private balcony that overlooks the saltwater pool and spa below. An interior stairway leads to a third level office or artist loft that has its own private balcony offering a different view of the pool and poolside cottage below. Two other bedrooms and laundry complete the second floor. The front guest bedroom (used as an office) also has a private balcony.

Doors at the rear of the living area open out to the covered lanai. Adjacent doors open from the family room and dining area. The inside and outside flow seamlessly, especially in the fall and winter months when the Key West weather is magnificent.  CLICK HERE to view all the photos I took of this home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 1433 Reynolds Street, Key West. This home is offered at $1,775,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this beautiful 2500 sq ft home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Verifeid: Gary Thomas does have a Heart

To Loyal Readers who have called or written emails in the past few weeks asking why I have not been writing as many blogs as normal, I want to let you know that I have not been my old self lately.  Put the emphasis on old. 

Many years ago I used to work in the commercial loan workout department at one large bank and then became manager of special assets department at different bank. During my years at both banks I encountered many people who had gazillion reasons why they had not or could not repay the money they had borrowed from the bank.  More often than I care to remember, a lot of women and several men (including a former Colorado State Senator) and a president of several small industrial banks in Colorado, would pull out their hankies and cry like babies over their self-created woes hoping I would stop my dogged pursuit of collecting the monies they owed.  I didn't fall for their crying game.  To them, I seemed heartless.  On the day we auctioned off the homestead, numerous sections of acreage, and farm machinery as the wife of a prominent Kansas farmer told me something like "Gary Thomas I hope you rot in hell. You are a heartless man!"  When someone tells you something like that, you might forget the exact words, but you don't forget the sentiment.  Her husband got to keep his very expensive Beechcraft Bonanza, however.  We never were able to get a security interest in that plane. 

Maybe, just maybe, the old farmer's wife was right:  I didn't have a heart.  I have been feeling a bit poorly lately.  I've had my share of nurses inserting needles into me, putting chemicals in me, and radiating my upper body looking for a heart.  I recently had to go to Miami for a more extensive look-see. I really got stuck with some mighty big needles and thingamajigs were sent thought my body in search of my heart. After about an hour of digging around inside of me, they found it. The passages were a bit crusty, but not so bad as to require a stint or worse, surgery.  My ex drove up with me and brought me back last night. He said I could tell people they found it:  Gary Thomas does have a heart.  The good thing is isn't broken and it is gonna keep on ticking. I just have to start taking medicine to keep the blood flowing.  This was good news to me, too. It sure beats the alternative. 

1406 Leon Street - Key West Short Sale - Buying Opportunity

The asking price on 1406 Leon Street was just reduced to $1,099,000. This is a real buying opportunity for a buyer who wants a custom home in tip-top condition in a great neighborhood. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"This pristine home is walled for privacy. Step into your own private oasis where comfort abounds in this three bedroom home. Bedrooms offer custom built-in cabinetry and open onto lush tropical gardens. The spacious master bedroom has a walk-in closet and easy access to a laundry room. The gourmet kitchen will delight the most discriminating chef and the open floor plan is perfect for entertaining family or guests who are sure to enjoy the use of the large wine closet. The solar and electrically heated pool with a waterfall along with a large gazebo will allow you to shut the world out and relax in comfort. The whole house generator and the orchids blooming in every tree complete the picture of paradise found!"

When you pass through the front entry into  the walled courtyard you see the pool and spa to the left, a quaint gazebo to the right, and tall palms and other tropical foliage scattered throughout the garden which extends along the south side of the lot to the garage on Washington Street. The home has one of the largest Key Lime trees on the island. 

This home thoughtfully designed to allow the beautiful garden views to be a part of the important interior spaces. Each major room has either glass paneled doors or full panel windows. This is a real feature of this home that distinguishes it from many I have seen where windows are covered with drapes, blinds, or shutters. This home is totally enclosed by a privacy wall. Why live in Paradise if you can't enjoy it?

The consistency of design and materials used is evident throughout this home. Unlike some houses I have been inside, there is no green room or blue room, no homage to Tahiti or New York City. Instead every room is low key but sophisticated. Crown moldings wrap each of the rooms - including the shower in the master bath.

Other features include a butler's pantry, extra large closets and storage throughout the house, whole house generator, garage, hurricane panels for all windows and doors.  CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this home.

1406 Leon Street is now a short sale offered at the asking price of $1,099,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this lovely and very private home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

1028 Whitehead Street - Key West - Bank Owned

The listing Realtor describes the new Bank Owned property at 1028 Whitehead Street as an

"Old Town corner location with two legal residential units & two buildings designed to fit your imagination! Open the fence gate and realize the potential associated with this space. Design your dream complex with the two existing separate buildings. Previously, a commercial office existed downstairs as well."

 I fished around in my old shoebox and found a couple of photos that show 1028 Whitehead Street as the two properties appeared about fifty years ago. Back then the corner building was a neighborhood grocery store and the two story wood building appears to have been a first floor garage and a second floor apartment that was probably owned by the single family home adjacent to the north. From a cursory review of county records it looks like a two story concrete block building was attached to the original grocery store structure around 1958.  Just below you can view photos that show the current condition of these buildings. The photos pretty much speak for themselves.

The former grocery store was most recently used as a real estate office. Don't let the marble floor fool you, this place is no Taj Mahal. I am advised that the commercial space is not recognized by the City of Key West. A new owner may not be able to use that space for commercial purposes.

The two story residential building to the rear has had some interior renovations or repairs started. Much still needs to be done.

The former garage/apartment now looks to be two separate apartments. The City only recognizes one.

CLICK HERE to view all photos of this Bank Owned Key West  property.

The property as it currently exists has 2148 sq ft of living space on a 2191 sq ft lot (43.6s X 50.25) located at the corner of Whitehead and Virginia Streets. Many of the neighboring properties are actively rented as vacation rentals. Some even have transient licenses.

I think this property as it currently exists come across as a bit challenging. But I think the location is terrific for a buyer that wants either a renovation project or perhaps a tear down and rebuild.  I think but cannot guarantee that a new owner could raze the old commercial and more recent concrete block addition. I also believe that a new owner might get permission to raze the former garage-cum-two-story apartment. There is nothing historic about a garage other than it is built too close property lines to comply with current setback requirements. I have seen numerous renovation projects where similar properties have been totally transformed into chic usable spaces.  Nothing is off the table when it comes to doing a project in Key West.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to show you 1028 Whitehead Street. There is genuine potential with this property that is offered for sale at just $397,000.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.