4 Fletcher Lane, Key West - an Old Town Treasure

4 Fletcher Lane is one of those charming houses many would-be buyers dream of owning but don't because they don't know the lane exists. Fletcher Lane is located between Margaret and Grinnell Streets and accessed off Eaton Street. The nearest remarkable landmark is the Old Town Bakery.  That's a blessing and a curse as Mr. Monk would say.

"X" always marks the "spot" on treasure maps and so it is that "X" marks the spot where you will find 4 Fletcher Lane on the 1899 Historic Sanborn Fire Map, for it truly is a treasure. I looked in my old shoebox and found the black and white photo below taken more than half a century ago which shows original house at 4 Fletcher Lane before it was renovated and expanded. The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show the property was significantly renovated between 1990 to 1996 when a two story addition and pool were added. Note the house still sits at an angle to front of the lot. The current house has 1556 sq ft of living space and sits on a surprisingly large L-shaped lot of 4866 sq ft. 

Even though the road to this little gem is gravel, the parking space is bricked. The formal entry is now located mid-way toward the rear where a little covered porch opens into the living area.

The entry door is visible at the far rear of the above photo. Note the beams and right angle of the original roof line just east of the door. There are two bedrooms located just to the right which is the original cottage. There were ribbons hanging on door way to warn of the lower than normal height of each door opening.  Shorter guests and children won't have any issues with either first floor bedroom.

I stood in the library for several minutes just ogling the space. It is just too sweet for words. There are bookshelves with books placed not for decorative affect but by happenstance. There were little and large objets d'art all over the room. The floors in the library, living room, and kitchen are painted. The ceiling is coffered. Clerestory windows are located above multiple sets of French doors which frame the library, living room, and even the kitchen.  Surely this addition was built before the windstorm insurance underwriters got to mess with creativity in the Key West.

There are two good sized bedrooms each with vaulted ceilings located on the second floor.  The wood floors, walls, and ceiling are punctuated by the crisp white French doors which open out to little decks overlooking the garden and pool below.

A mature Gumbo Limbo tree reigns over the garden area much of which is a wood deck. Imagine walking down the lane to buy some fresh pastries at the bakery, returning home to drink coffee and maybe read or write a book under the shade of that magnificent tree.  Or to do nothing.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 4 Fletcher Lane, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me show you how simple life could be on one of the slow lanes of Key West.

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1407 Petronia Street, Key West - Meadows Magical Makeover

I just saw 1407  Petronia Street for the very first time and was thoroughly amazed by the creativity employed in this home. When I got back to the office I dug into my old shoebox and found the black and white photo below which shows the same house in 1965. There are a couple of obvious differences including the replaced louvered entry door and removed shutters on either side of the front window. Otherwise, the vernacular house resembles a salt box laid on its side. The note on the back of the photo says the house was built in 1906.

1407 Petronia Street is  located in the Meadows Area of Key West. The new aerial photo shows no evidence of the onetime green pastures for which this area was named. The area is, however, still a quiet refuge from the busier happenings a few blocks to the west.

This early twentieth century American home has an early twenty first century European flair. The kitchen was the first major attention grabber. Three glass panel doors recess into the wall and allow you to walk directly out to the pool. This is such an important feature in any house in Key West. We spend so much of our lives outside.

The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"This traditional Conch style home with an inviting wrap around porch and a cute guest cottage was renovated and redesigned to absolute perfection! The 3 bedroom / 2 baths main house sits on an over sized lot and is designed for entertaining and a relaxed island lifestyle, it features multiple entertaining spaces both inside and out that flow seamlessly together using open doorways, glass sliding doors, a soft cohesive color palate, and the same rich wood and floor materials throughout. Modern European flair awaits the new owner behind a traditional old town Key West facade in one of the most prestigious and peaceful neighborhoods in Old town, the Meadows. The designer Italian kitchen with German appliances is a chef's delight and the focal point in the house. The back patio and lap pool are surrounded by lush landscaping. Beautiful outdoor lighting adds to the relaxing atmosphere of the property. The separate cottage offers a cozy retreat for your guests with it's open living/ sleeping space, a kitchenette and a full bathroom. This is a perfect vacation home or family home with restaurants, schools, parks, tennis and basketball courts in walking/ biking distance. Get your fresh produce and more from the weekly farmer's market at Bayview Park close by. A must see for the discerning buyer."

 

The master bedroom is located opposite the living room. I walked inside and was completely taken by the European style portable closets. I had never seen anything like them. They work wonderfully and provide an immense amount of storage that would have been very expensive to build and which would have eaten a lot of interior living area. The adjacent master bath is quite spacious and has a large walk-in shower.  You will notice no curtains or interior window coverings. There are some exterior Bahama shutters. Trees and tropical foliage provide the rest of the privacy.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and about 44 incredible listing photos of 1407 Petronia Street. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this magical home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

619 Virginia Street, Key West - Now Able to Show without Paying Ransom

Look at the above picture. Study it. Imagine one guy is a Realtor. The other guy is a tenant. One guys is a victim. One guy is a thug. Who is the good victim and who is the thug?

So this is my little story. I listed the above town home located in November 2018  in the Key West MLS for sale at the asking price of $899,000. This is only the second re-sale this new development of 21 town homes located one block from Duval Street in Key West. This unit is located poolside and is just one of three that has adjacent parking.

The two bedroom, three bath town home has 1394 square feet of brand new living space located next to the pool.  It has the wrap-around deck and a largest private yard of any of the units. It's located at the end of Virginia Street which dead-ends at the front door.

The owner engaged a rental agent to rent the unit as a monthly vacation rental and later decided to sell the place and to buy a place in Costa Rica. That's cool. We all change our minds.

I held several open houses in November and December and geared up toward selling season. I made plans with the property manager to show the unit during Season. All went as planned until the first guest arrived the day after Christmas. I'll call him Mr. Magoo. Magoo initially refused to allow any showings. The property manager eventually got him to allow me to do two showings. Magoo

Magoo gave me his number and said to call him to arrange future showings. When I did, Magoo said he didn't know the place was listed for sale when he scheduled his vacation. He said I am paying $10,000 a month. I think the owner should pay me to let you show disturb my vacation. I asked how much he felt was appropriate. He wouldn't say. I didn't tell the owner. Maybe I should have. I didn't tell the property manager. Maybe I should have. It was late in the stay and nothing would have changed. I decided to wait until I had another request for a showing. That happened the next week. i called Magoo. This time he said he wanted $500 to let me in the door. I declined and did not show the property.

The couple who stayed in February could not have been nicer. The man could not have been nicer and kept saying he wanted me to tell whoever buys the unit he wants to stay next year for two months. He loved the place.

And the couple in March were equally nice. They all paid the same price as Mr. Magoo. Two were gracious. One was an ass. That's life. That's my piece. You can have your say. I realize the guy paid $10,000. He would have paid the same amount for a smaller 680 square foot two bedroom one bath condo at Shipyard and had to share a pool with 170 some other people from up north. Some people are nice in life and some are jerks. It costs nothing to be nice.  Everybody remembers jerks. And everybody appreciates being treated nicely, even if they don't remember it.

619 Virginia Street is still available for purchase at $899,000. CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West MLS and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. It's vacant at the moment and easy to show. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

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Open House Today - 1413 Von Phister Street, Key West

Now that I have your attention, let me tell you how I host Open Houses. First, I don't ask anybody to give me their names or contact information.  I hate that. I do give guests an information sheet and let them take themselves on a self-guided tour. If a person asks a question, I will answer it. When I get started explaining things about any house, I can get long-winded. It's better when I shut up. But I do try to help. My aim is to find a buyer for my listing. Or maybe find a buyer for another house. I know a lot about Key West houses.

1413 Von Phister Street is brand new construction and was completed in 2019. This 1924 Sq Ft home is built to the State of Florida's highest building code standards and features Hardiboard siding, wind impact glass windows and doors throughout. Ten foot ceilings on first and second floors. Brazillian mahogany hardwood flooring. Front and rear double decker porches. Bright white kitchen cabinets with quartz counter-tops and stainless steel appliances including gas range. 20'X10' heated pool, and beautifully landscaped front and rear yards with lush tropical foliage. Offered at $1,499,000 by Gary Thomas, Preferred Properties Key West.  I think you'll flip over this house! CLICK HERE

OPEN HOUSE

12:00 to 2:00 PM

March 31st

1413 Von Phister Street, Key West

1500 Atlantic Boulevard Unit 415, Key West - Beach Club Condominiums Premiere Penthouse

Key West is a little island located at the tail end of America - the southernmost point in the continental United States. Since Key West is an island, you'd think a lot homes would be located on or have direct views of the ocean. The fact of the matter is that very few are - perhaps a dozen or so. The condominiums at the Key West Beach Club are the only condominiums where each unit has a direct ocean view. The views from Unit 415 are particularly unique as explained by the listing Realtor who says:
"On Top of the World, right on the Edge of the Sea! This penthouse end unit at the Key West Beach Club wins Pride of Place, with wraparound views of the Atlantic Ocean that are stunning ... no one above you, no structures anywhere blocking the long and gorgeous view down the shore. Two levels, vaulted ceilings, floor to ceiling impact windows along the full length of the 345 sq. ft. oceanfront balcony; this three bedroom, two bath condominium has been reconfigured to open up the living room, dining room and entertainment bar area, still leaving two bedrooms and a full bath downstairs, with a 500 sq. ft. loft bedroom and bath suite upstairs. Plus all of the amenities for which the Key West Beach Club is so well known."

I showed that top floor east end unit last week. My eyes were drawn to the ocean view as soon as I stepped inside.  Every other unit I have been inside is laid out with the living room and adjacent master bedroom facing the Atlantic Ocean and which share a large open terrace. All of the other penthouse units have glass panel doors with glass panel windows over the sliding panel doors.The owner of Unit 415 removed the wall separating the two rooms to create a stunning new living room that runs the breadth of the space. The owner then installed floor to ceiling impact glass doors that provide astounding views of the ever changing horizon. The view is magnetic. It is dynamic. It is one-of-a-kind that so far has not been duplicated. 

The Beach Club Condominiums were built around 1986. They quickly became and the remain the premiere waterfront community in Key West. Several of the original owners still own homes there today. There has historically been a low turnover of units. These units were second homes to wealthy owners and not treated as investments like no many other condominiums in town.

The Key West Beach Club is not a resort, but living there makes it seem like it is one. There are two heated ocean front swimming pools for those who don't like the icky feeling of salt water all over their skin and in their hair.There is, however, a private sandy beach plus oceanfront lounges to get a Key West tan. There are covered grilling and dining cabanas and restrooms by each poo. And there is private gym and private tennis court. There is gated entry and under building parking and storage plus abundant guest parking (unlike to of the places over at Truman Annex.)

This unit has 2012 square feet of living space which includes two bedrooms and one bath on the fourth floor and a third bedroom and bath on the fifth floor loft. The listing Realtor tells me only this and one other unit are as large and this is the only unit with unobstructed views to the east. There are two nature preserves to the east. These prevent any new residential or commercial development on those sites. The view you see today will remain - unobstructed.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West, 305-766-2642, to arrange a private showing. I am  a buyers agent and a full time Realtor. You must see this place and envision waking up to glorious sunrise and sunset views of living life in the premiere waterfront community Key West has to offer.

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It's DaBomb! Bank Owned Key West

Some of the other Key West agents got upset with me a few years ago and enacted a special Gary Thomas rule regarding writing in the public spaces about mls listings. I obey the rule. Others write blogs and post listings on internet and do not.  Regardless, there is a new listing that may interest buyers for a property in Old Town. Send me an email at garyethomas@aol.com. State your name, address, email address, and phone and ask for info on new bank owned property. I have interior photos when the home was occupied.  Or call me. Number above. I want to be your buyer agent on this great property. There is much excitement about it.