618 Whitehead Street, Key West - Price Reduction

The asking price on 618 Whitehead Street, Key West was just reduced to $1,860,000. This historic property has had several uses over the years, but most recently has been successfully used as a monthly vacation rental. In fact the property has consistently generated annual revenues in excess of $100,000. Let me share with you why this property has become so popular.

618 Whitehead Street is a big house - 2354 square feet. The wainscoted hallway leads to the open concept living area at the rear which opens out to the magnificent pool and sunning area. Who wouldn't fall in love with this home?

This home has five bedrooms and five and one-half bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms are on the first floor. While the living area seems bright and modern, the bedrooms reflect the historic past of this property. Note the exposed Dade County Pine walls. These rooms are quite large especially when compared to little condos over in the Truman Annex.

The staircase leads to more bedrooms on the second floor. The rear bedroom runs the width of the back of the property. The vaulted ceiling adds more dimension to the space which by itself seems quite large. French doors on the side open out of a private terrace with treetop views of the pool below.

There are two additional guest rooms at the front which can share the views from the second floor front porch. Guests love to sit on porches and watch the other "tourists" as they walk down the street and look up at the stately home and imagine what the house must be like on the inside.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 618 Whitehead Street now offered at $1,860,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

713 Emma Street #2, Key West, Florida - Just Listed

 Just Listed 713 Emma Street No. 2, Key West, Florida. This is a genuine buying opportunity for the buyer who wants a home in move-in condition and priced way below the market on the other side of Duval Street. Let's take a look.

This little compound of four homes is located just a couple of blocks east of Blue Heaven and within easy walking distance to the new Truman Waterfront Park. It has the amenities buyers want at a price real people can afford. This home has two bedrooms, two and one-half baths, a ground floor guest room which can also be used as a den or office.

When you open the front door you'll probably say "Whoa!".  Everything looks perfect. The main floor includes the living and dining area, kitchen, and guest room with pocket doors to provide privacy when needed. The cream colored walls are muted by the crisp white crown molding and trim.  The Brazilian cherry hardwood floors add the feeling of substance often missing in modern construction in Key West. Take a look at the beautiful kitchen cabinets and high end stainless steel appliances including Viking range and SubZero refrigerator. There is even a kitchen window with a western view to watch the world famous Key West sunset. Sunset Celebration takes place nightly about six blocks to the north at Mallory Square. Mom, dad, junior, or sis can watch it while doing dishes all year long without ever leaving home.

Readers from up north may not appreciate the attention to detail in the staircase to the second floor, but I do.  Buyers need to compare the quality of materials used in the construction as compared to homes priced higher just a couple of blocks north in Truman Annex. You will soon agree this home is superior. The guest bedroom has a vaulted ceiling which adds a real spacious feel to this quality space. The bathroom even has a window which opens out to the porch.  The laundry closet is located between the guest room and master bedroom.

The master suite is pretty special. Even before you enter, you'll see the vaulted ceiling. That space is accentuated by the loft. Maybe the grand kids can make use of the space.I don't know if imaginations are important like they were when I was a kid. I would have loved to play in this space. The French door open out to a second floor balcony with western views. The Atlantic Ocean is about three blocks west. The master bathroom has dual sinks. The glassed shower could accommodate two people, perhaps. There are two windows in this room as well. I mention these little details because the builder added these special features to separate this property from other lesser properties. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home.

The Sellers tell me they love to leave the guest bedroom door open at night and fall asleep listening to the trickle of the waterfall below.  This could be your little home in Paradise.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 713 Emma Street #2, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am the listing Realtor on this home and I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1109 Petronia Street, Key West - Price Reduction on Cute Legal Duplex in Old Town

Not everybody has oodles of dollars to buy a place in Key West. Some people have to find a way to  make the place help pay for itself so to speak. The legal duplex located at 1109 Petronia Street, as cute as it is, could do just that. The owner could live on the first floor and rent out the second floor for income.

This is a scenario that gets played out across the US all time. Single people, married couples, and partners find a place, get a loan, move in, and find some other person to rent the adjacent unit for a reasonable price. The difference here is, - Well, It's obvious, isn't it?  It's Key West.

The black and white photo above was taken in 1965 and shows us that this building has been used as a money maker for over fifty years. The building is approximately 1,000 sq ft divided between the first and second floor units. There is an addition at the rear which is used as the kitchen for the downstairs unit.  It adds 80 sq ft of living space to that unit and explains the difference in floor plans between the two living levels. Let's look at how the units are currently divided.

The front door enters into the living area. Two doors on either side lead back to the single bedroom. The large bathroom is on the right side while the kitchen is on the left. A door in the kitchen opens out to the garden. I think this unit would make a great owner's unit. The owner could doll-up the garden space and maybe add a spa or maybe just a sweet little patio. 

The second floor provides a nice perch to sit and watch the comings and goings of area residents and tourists who happen to find this little two block stretch of Petronia Street which runs from White Street to Frances Street where it dead-ends (appropriately!) at the cemetery. Not much happens on this little block. Four windows provide filtered light into the living room and dining nook during the daytime. There is a good sized bedroom at the rear. CLICK HERE to see more photos of this property as well as the other double gable homes in Key West.

I think this building would be a good candidate for renovation back into a single family home. I would double the height of the rear addition and create an interior stairway in that space. I would take down the exterior stairway and use the porches for sitting. If the expansion of the existing footprint could increase the total space to 1150 sq ft or so, I think an architect could create a three bed, two bath single family home. I would think a new owner could spend up to $300,000 in renovation, but the end result would be worth it.  Of course, a new owner could do what the current owner has done, rent the units out for income.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then please call either me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or Dan Skahen, 305-923-6524, to set up a showing. We are both full time Realtors at Preferred Properties Key West. Both units are tenant occupied. We and they request 24 hour advance showing request. Both units are on annual leases.  Ground floor lease expires in July and second floor is subject to a 60 day kick-out clause which would give the new owner the right to take possession of that unit upon vacation by the tenant.