1409 Truman Ave, Key West - Another Price Reduction !!! Do the Math!

Go to your calculator on your iphone or go back to high school and use a piece of paper, a No. 2 pencil, and your brain to figure out the new price per square foot on the bank owned Eyebrow House discussed below. You'll be jumping up and down too.

Buyers looking for a great value in Key West should take a serious look at 1409 Truman Avenue. This 1932 square foot two story Eyebrow House sits on a 3213 square foot lot and overlooks Bayview Park across the street. Property records suggest it was originally built circa 1889. It was substantially renovated in 2005 but it could use a new coat of paint and replacement of kitchen appliances and counter-tops.  I did not see any large dollar items that need attention. MY old shoebox contained the black and white photo below showing the house in 1965 when an exterior stairway led to the second floor which I assume was used as apartments then. That stairway no longer exists and the entire second floor is now the master bedroom and en-suite bath.This is a nice space. The ceilings are tall. A big man will feel comfortable in this Old Town house.

I am a big fan of Eyebrow Houses. This is different from any other I have been inside. The central front door opens into a formal entry hall that leads to the back of the home where the living area is located. There are two bedrooms with private baths on either side at the front of the house. The stairway ascends to the second floor master suite.

As this is an historic Key West home, it is not surprising that the walls and floors are of Dade County Pine throughout the house. Both first floor bedrooms are fairly good sized and each has a private bath. There is a guest bath located at the end of the entry hall.

The open concept living area at the back of the home includes a niche for dining, kitchen, and living are with multiple French doors that open out to the covered rear deck and swim spa. We just start our official fall season. All those leaves will be off the tree within two weeks and brand new green leaves will appear immediately thereafter. We do not have a dormant season. Notice the blue tarp-covered swim spa. I did not remove the tarp to take a look but a new buyer can do that during a home inspection. The spa may have been added instead of a swimming pool because much of the rear yard is covered with tree roots. Our Tree Commission has rules directing the types of trees which may and may not be removed to add a pool.  Since spas are not pools, some owners elect to add spas which do not require city approval.

The staircase lands on a well lit landing where daytime light floods the area. Double doors open into the master bedroom with high pitched ceiling that runs the length of the house. The spaces are divide to provide a large bedroom area, a dressing or sitting area, and large bathroom with dual vanity sinks, soaking bathtub, shower, and private toilet. You can see window unit air conditioners in several windows. The house does have central A/C.  It may be that the A/C stopped working properly and the exiting owner or tenant preferred to use cheap Home Depot units than to pay for a costly repair of the whole house system. A home inspection will tell the prospective buyer the cost to fix the system if it is in need of repair. The good thing is the house does have central air.

1409 Truman Avenue is a lovely old Key West home. It sits high across the street from the tennis courts at Bayview Park - the city's largest park. Various events are held at the park throughout the year. A "Farmers Market" is held in the park each Wednesday. Farmers from all over town bring in their corn and tomatoes. I wrote this to see if anybody actually reads what I write. They do bring in food. I have no idea where it is grown. It's all quite civilized.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1409 Truman Avenue Key West now offered at the reduced price of $699,900 or just $326 per square foot.  Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. The house does not need repaint nor the counter-tops replaced. It would just look better and feel fresher. Take a look and judge for yourself. This is somebodies dream home. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

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620 Thomas Street No. 281, Key West, Florida - Affordable Luxury

Many frequent travelers to Key West will recognize the address of 620 Thomas Street as being the location of the Shipyard Condominiums in Truman Annex. I'll venture that most wouldn't associate the word "luxury" with units that they stayed in however.  While 620 Thomas Street #281 does have a valuable Special Truman Annex Transient License which permits owners to rent units for 25 weeks each year, this home has only been used as a second home by this owner. Take a look at the photos and you may agree with my decision to call this unit affordable luxury.

This two bedroom, two bath unit is about 100 sq ft larger than most of the other units and offers owners more practical use. Having a second bathroom is a plus no matter whether a condo is used as a full time home, a vacation retreat, or as a getaway with income potential.

This unit has been beautifully updated with new wood floors, sound-proofing, smart kitchen cabinets and high-end appliances, and two luxurious bathrooms. I ask serious buyers to compare this kitchen and these bathrooms to what you will probably see in many of the other units offered for sale - original kitchens. There's nothing wrong in buying a workhorse kitchen and bath. But is that were you want to make your dinner or take a bath?

Unit #281 is located about 250 paces from the Shipyard swimming pool. Depending on your point of view, that's a long way away or just about perfect.  Units that abut the pool have immediate access.  Units a short walk away do not hear the noise.

Returning visitors love stay in Shipyard condos love the location because of its proximity to Duval Street and all that Key West has to offer. The new Truman Annex Waterfront Park is getting better and better as trees and foliage takes off. Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach are within easy walking distance for those who prefer salt water and sandy feet to sharing a pool. It all works out no matter what your preference.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more photos of 620 Thomas Street #281 which if offered for sale at $725,000 or $929 per sq ft. A recent sale of a similar unit two/one at 680 sq ft sold for  $625,000 or $919 per sq ft. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing of this unit. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

909 Southard Street, Key West Florida - Bank Owned Property in Old Town

Just Listed, but not by me, 909 Southard Street, Key West, Florida. This is a Bank Owned home located on one of the best streets in Old Town.  My dear readers will be the first to see the inside as the listing brokerage does not have many photos available as of the time I write this.

I remembered having been inside this home several years ago, but I couldn't recall what it looked like. I then dug down into my old shoebox and found the above black and white picture taken in 1965. i wasn't around in Key West then. Study the photo and look at the cottages that appear to the right. Several decades that was a little walking lane known as "Bucks Court". Today it is called "Hunts Lane". The lane is nearly invisible as trees have grown all around the place. And the front of 909 Southard Street almost has been eclipsed by trees.

The above set of photos demonstrate that a second floor dormer was added to the original house sometime before 1965 and what it looks like today. They also show the house abuts the walking lane which also means there is a nice separation between this property and the larger house to the east.
The lane is too small for any motor vehicle. The people who live on these small lanes tend to be resourceful and friendly.

According to the Monroe County Property Appraiser records this home has 1194 sq ft of living space that sits on a 42' X 41' (1503 sq ft) lot.  I could not determine when the interior renovations were done. The roof appears to have been added in 1995 and a couple of other permits were made for improvements in the late 1980s. The interiors look to be of that vintage.

The front door enters into the living area which then flows into the kitchen. There is a divider that separates the two areas. Just to the right of the front entry is the first floor bedroom. It is surprisingly large and has French doors at the rear which open out to what used to be a lovely garden. The first floor bath is accessible from both the bedroom and a hall just off the front entry.

The kitchen isn't quite large enough to accommodate the refrigerator which is tucked away in a small addition at the rear. That room also houses the washer and dryer hook-up plus provides access to a half bath. The half bath has an "escape door" out to the street. I don't quite understand the purpose as being for any other purpose. There is another door off to the east side which provides interior access t the small back yard.

The above set of photos show the two second floor bedrooms which were created during a time before our Historic Architectural Review Commission was created. HARC would never allow a dormer this large to be added to a cottage today. That is not to say that the house looks bad. It only means our minders mind what we do with our houses and won't let us do what we want. We must do what they will allow.  CLICK HERE to view all photos of the interior and exterior.

909 Southard Street sits between 5 Brothers to the east and Mangia-Mangia and Michael's to the west. The historic seaport is a couple of blocks to the north and the cemetery is block the the south. Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west. You cannot get lost. You can, however, get your morning coffee and gossip, a cheap meal, an expensive meal, and maybe a deal if you buy this house by using Gary Thomas.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 909 Southard Street Key West which is offered for sale at $629,000. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to get you inside before somebody else buys this place. It's not perfect but it is certainly livable and it has a lot going for it. Let's take a look. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

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