1101 Von Phister Street, Key West - Casa Marina Area

While many first time buyers of a home in Key West seek a place in Old Town "close to Duval Street", others prefer the quiet Casa Marina Area known for the larger lots, tall swaying palms, and short walking distance to the beaches. The new listing at 1101 Von Phister Street enjoys all of the features selective buyers want. Th listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Located in the most sort after Casa Marina area, sits this incredible one level home with a 40 Ft lap pool surrounded by some of the most outstanding tropical landscaping. The home is currently divided into 2 separate living spaces. The main structure consists of 2 en suite masters with access to the pool. Living room is surrounded by French doors leading to the pool and dining area. Off the dining area is an expansive backyard. The guest cottage has 2 bedrooms, one has access to its own outside sitting area. An Elegant kitchen opens to the living room. There is parking adjacent to the guest cottage for 2 cars and the main entrance has parking for one.."

 The forty foot pool is one of the largest private pools on the island.  Unlike so many of the homes in Old Town which are often small and only have brief moments of real sun time, this Casa Marina pool enjoys sun from mid-morning through mid-afternoon all year long. And the large corner lot ensures no neighbor can watch you grab some all-over rays. Sun worshipers will fall in love with this pool upon first sight.

The 30 foot living room has a picture window view of the pool on the west while three sets of French doors on the east open out to the dining area with garden views of the rear garden. Another set of French doors opens into the living room from the entry alcove. You will find travertine marble tile flooring throughout the entire house and the the guest cottage.

The chef's kitchen includes stainless steel Viking Appliances, custom cabinetry, and slate counter tops. Two Italian pendant lamps add just a bit light to the island with Sharp Microwave Drawer. The outdoor dining area opens out to the rear gardens.

French doors in the south master bedroom open out to the pool. The home office is located just off the bedroom which  includes a larger walk-in closet.When you get tired of computing, open the French doors to take a dip in the pool..The bath includes a handcrafted vanity with slate (used throughout the main house) and six foot shower also lined with travertine marble.

 

The second master suite also has French doors that open out to the pool plus a rear door which opens out to the rear garden where the outdoor shower is located.

This home also includes a guest wing with a separate living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms which share a large bath complete with a large walk-in travertine shower. The separate entry is off a lush tropically fenced private yard plus separate off street parking,

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then contact Cory Held at Preferred Properties Key West to schedule a private showing 1t 305-240-0355. Offered at $1,795,000.

912 Truman Avenue, Key West - Price Reduced

Buyers with big dreams and smaller budgets should take note of the recent price reduction of 912 Truman Avenue in Key West. That's not the house above, that's just a colorful logo to catch your attention.

My experiences teach me that potential buyers have visions of the type of house they want to buy even before they start the process. Some want a smaller house like a cigar maker cottage part because of the size and also because of the perception it will cost less to buy and cost less long term to maintain. Other buyers want a larger home like the Grand Dames which line Eaton, Fleming, Grinnell, and Southard Streets. For these buyers size matters. For some cost is no option, for other it's a major downer. Perk up, Dear Readers. The asking price on 912 Truman Avenue has just been reduced to $1,175,000 or $336.29 per sq ft for this 3494 sq ft house with four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. . 

The porches symmetrically frame either side of the home. Each of the windows have pediments flanked by shutters. Sconces light the first floor entry. Brick pavers lead from the gated white picket fence up to the front porch. The yard has several mature large palms and other tropical foliage which give the space a "finished look" as opposed to some houses in Key West where landscaping is more native. The result is an impressive and refined front entry which delivers guests to the front door of an elegant Key West property.

 As you enter the front entry you are greeted by an historic staircase and central hallway that divides the house in half so to speak. On the right side you will find the living room with its formal parlor in front and rear space currently configured as an office. A door at the rear opens out to the new pool. On the left side you will see the formal dining room at the front and the country kitchen at the rear, There is Dade County Pine walls just about everywhere in this house including the ceilings. Take a look at the floorboards. Note the width of the floorboards. This is a house of substance and long lasting durable building materials. The dollhouse photo above shows two staircases. The rear staircase ends at the back hallway where there is a first floor powder room. The Kitchen (not shown in the dollhouse photo) is located opposite the rear staircase.

The dollhouse view shows the master suite located on the west side of the house. The rich Dade County Pine wall and ceiling provide a comfortable place to nestle. The master bath is quite large and contains a large soaking tub plus shower and extra large vanity and closet. There are two large bedrooms on the east side of the second floor. They share the bath at the rear of the second floor. Not shown in the dollhouse view is the second floor front porch which runs the breadth of this impressive home. When you see this house in person you will surely be impressed by the pediments over the windows. The historic glass windows ripple with age. I have ripples, and not in my stomach. Mine are called wrinkles, however.

Each o the homes in this complex has a private pool. Some of the neighboring landscaping was lost during the recent storm. It will grow back within a few months. I include an older photo to prove my point. This house has full access on all four sides to maintain the property. There is a rear gate that leads out to the large side yard and the two designated parking spaces. The condo fee is $600 per year.

The third floor offers so many different uses to a new owner. The photo two above shows about 2/3 of the floor space. Not visible is a bed alcove located in the front dormer to the right. There's a mini kitchen for Grama or the brother-in-law who won't go back home to use or maybe use as a writer's loft, an artist's lair, or playroom for the grandchildren. CLICK HERE to see more photos of this home taken over the past few years. The photos in today's blog reflect the current condition of this fine home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 912 Truman Avenue and then 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 show you the historic charm and the present value of this home.

514 Elizabeth Street, Key West - Back on the Market

I have written about this historic Old Town home a few times over the ten years not because it was for sale but to share with my experience in selling this particular house because it was the first house I  sold. 514 Elizabeth Street has been owned by the same people these many years. As I recall there were three factors that influenced their decision to buy this place. First, the house really is historic - it is one of the very oldest homes in Key West. Second, it has a great location equal distance to Duval Street and the Historic Seaport. Third, it had off street parking and a deep back yard with room for a pool. The owners built a pool and created a lovely rear deck and garden.  The perfect location and the charming home remain.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said, "Less is more."  The simplicity of design and original construction make this home a stand out among the many homes in Old Town that have been over-renovated. My research shows the house was built around1855. The photo directly below shows the house in 1965. Below that is a photo I took about eleven years ago. The bottom photo was taken from the second floor of 517 Elizabeth Street in 2013. The current owner told me  that 514 Elizabeth is "is typical of the conch or Bahamian house built in the Bahamas from the 1780s and in Key West prior to the Civil War. The original architectural moldings that survive are typical of the 1835-1860 period."

Mies van der Rohe would love the simple facade. The front porch is meant for sitting. If you open the front door at the right time you may get a view of the pool as is shown in the photo second from the top.  Otherwise, the front door opens into a wide hallway with the formal parlor on the right and the ground floor bedroom on the left. There is a main floor bath at the left rear. The stairway to the second floor bedrooms is located on the right. The original Dade County Pine walls and floors are still intact throughout the house. The only noticeable thing I saw that has changed is the front scuttle no long is visible inside the second floor bedrooms. The house now has central air conditioning and that vitiated the need to use the scuttle for ventilation.

You probably can't tell it from the photos but the wood walls also help us date the house. The wood planks are much wider than typical houses from the 1890s and later. That means the Dade County Pine walls were "old growth lumber" which means earlier construction. The floors and walls have settled a bit with age. Purists who want a genuine old house will appreciate this. People who want something is all perfect will not. I remember staying at the Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds many years ago. We stayed in the room that Oliver Cromwell stayed in the night before the Battle of Hastings in 1620. The room tilted a bit. The hotel had a fancy new addition. I preferred historic room with the tilt. And that is why I find this house so utterly charming.

One of the joys of living in Key West is the ability to open the doors in the winter and allow the sunshine and fresh air inside the house. And at night you can leave the doors open and walk back and forth enjoying winter in the tropical environment that is Key West. In this home the inside and outside become one large living space in the daytime and nighttime.

During the daytime the pool is the perfect place to get that Key West tan that will make your friends from the frozen north green with envy.  The decks are perfect entertaining spots at night as well. French doors open from the kitchen and the family room area out to the deck.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 514 Elizabeth Street which is a Pre-Civil War home in Key West offered by Preferred Properties at $1,350,000. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. This is a great location and a precious home in our community.