417 Catherine St. - Old Town - Key West

The listing Realtor, not me, describes 421 Catherine Street in Old Town Key West as a

"Charming and meticulously renovated 2 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Old Town Key West. The home has a breezy front porch for relaxing and watching the interesting neighborhood stroll past. The interior is impeccable with cherry floors, and vaulted ceilings. There is a bedroom and bath on the first floor, top of the line kitchen, half bath,surround sound system, and living room which opens through French doors to the private back yard. There is a master bedroom and bath with walk-in closet and a balcony on the second floor. New roof and hurricane shutters."

The house did not always look as good as it does today. I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo taken nearly 50 years ago. The notation on the back of the photo says the house was built around 1889.

This original cigar maker cottage was enlarged by adding a two story addition at the rear that expanded interior living space. Some original walls were removed. This permitted the builder to create living spaces that better suit the way we live our lives today. The historic entry was retained.  The classic 'shot gun' style entry hallway was retained. But now the entry hallway is now vaulted and provides a more dramatic and aesthetic entry into the home.  Wainscoting and wall sconces were added to the hallway.  Pocket doors were added to the first floor bedroom. The adjacent bath doubles as guest bath as well.

As you view the photos you will see new wood floors and the introduction of new wood wainscoting throughout much of the house. All new wood ceilings are another custom feature introduced in the renovation. The wood adds such a warm feeling and unification to this home. This renovation was done by the prior owner who was a general contractor who renovated for his own personal use.  Consider the quality added when compared to someone who does a quick flip to make money. That's not suggesting that all flips are not good nor that all contractors do quality jobs on their own homes. (I saw a contractor's home on a recent Realtor caravan that was laughable. The guy used leftover materials from various jobs, and it showed. This home is the 180 degree opposite.)

The main living area is located in the recent rear addition which includes the kitchen, dining area, and living room. The spaces are a bit compact as compared to larger homes, but the spaces are neatly crafted and provide abundant utility.  A half-bath is located off the living area and a mini-bar is located adjacent to the French doors that open out to the rear deck and garden where there is space for a private pool. A balcony off the second floor master bedroom looks down to where the pool would be located. (There is sufficinet space on tide yard for equipment to dig out space for a new pool.)

The master bedroom and bath occupy the entire second floor where there is also a large closet. This home has actual space to be used for full time living.  The bath is large unlike a lot of places I have seen.

421 Catherine Street is located one-half block west of Duval Street and a few block walk to South Beach. La Te Da, the Banana Cafe, and other eateries, art galleries, and shops are within a few minute stroll. This house would make a great monthly vacation rental. And since the home is in such great condition, you won't have to spend money to fix broken things.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to scheule a private 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.

1626 South Street - Key West, Florida

The lovely three bedroom home at 1626 South Street awaits a buyer who wants a three bedroom, two bath home that is in tip-top condition and ready to move into.  This 1962 sq ft ranch style home (built in 1955) has been thoughtfully updated inside and outside. The grounds are fenced for privacy.

When you open the front gate it is as if you are entering an arboretum.  The grounds are just that perfect. A bricked path winds its way from the gated off street parking around the front and then traverses the east side where it meets the newly resurfaced black pool and covered rear deck.

The front door opens into the shared great room spaces which run from the front of the house to the glass wall at the rear which disappears into the house whereby the inside and outside spaces become one space.  During our great winters the rear doors can remain open for hours and hours making the transition between indoor - outdoor areas easy peasy.

If you're a cook there is an extra large stainless steel kitchen with lots of cabinets and granite counters for creating scrumptious meals. The adjacent laundry room is extra big and provides storage for all those cleaning supplies that keep this home so tidy.

The master bedroom suite is currently configured with the third bedroom used as an office.  The updated bath opens to the outside where there is an outdoor shower. This owner didn't miss a trick in making this place as inviting as it could possibly be.

The third bedroom is quite large, as is the second bath. This home would work for a family or as a great second home for the buyer who wants separate sleeping quarters set apart from the master suite.  

1626 South Street is offered at $995,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.  Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to take a look at this beautiful garden home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

326 William Street, Key West, Florida

326 William Street in Key West, Florida is located within a block of the historic Key West Seaport. Most of the houses in this immediate area were built in the last half of the 19th Century. The seaport was the hub of Key West commerce. The 300 block of William Street is noted as having some of the oldest homes on the island.

For some odd reason the 300 block of William Street was omitted from the 1889 edition of the Sanborn Fire Map. But it did appear in the 1892 edition. That map shows numerous small lots interspersed with large lots. Many of the smaller homes are accessed via small lanes with entrances on William, Caroline, Margaret, or Eaton Streets. While 326 William Street is a large house (1649 sq ft), it sits on a very small lot that today measures 29' X 51'.  I dug into my old shoebox to find an older photo of this property. Instead of finding a photo of the house I found a picture of a former resident, Mr. James A. Boyd, as it appeared on his Water-Front Pass issued on 2/22/18.

While I can't share with you any old photos of the house, I have many current photos which show this sturdy house.  CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this impressive Grand Conch house.The house rises from the street with imposing front porches on the first and second floors.

Inside the home you will find a simple but elegant formal entry that flows to either the main floor living areas or the second floor bedroom area. Today the main floor living space looks pretty much like it did more than a hundred years ago.

Dade County Pine walls, ceiling, and floors mark this property as historic. The tall baseboards, crown molding, and trim are painted a crisp white. As I photographed the house I noted the rippled glass in some windows which notes the gravitational pull of glass molecules dragged toward the earth. The rear portion of the house has been significantly updated in architecture and purpose.  Today the rear addition contains the kitchen, an informal dining area, a family room type sitting area, the laundry closet, and an outdoor covered deck. Transoms above the windows and doors bring lots of daytime light into this space.

The second floor landing provides access to the three bedrooms located on this level plus access to the second floor front porch.The porch sits high above the street and provides a commanding view of this historic block filled with some of the oldest houses in Key West.

The front bedroom has quick access to the front porch. The middle bedroom has the flexibility to share space with the master bedroom at the rear or it can be used as a third bedroom. The master bathroom is also relatively new. It is large and sunny in the daytime. A newly added spiral staircase provides easy entry or exit without disturbing friends or family using the middle bedroom.

326 William Street is offered at $775,000 or $470 per sq ft.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent (but not the listing agent of this property) and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.