1217 Grinnell Street, Key West

 

Just Listed 1217 Grinnell Street, Key West.  This is a free standing single family home located on a 3,386 Sq Ft Lot lot in the Grinnell Gardens Compound.  Long time readers may recall I have written about other units here including a single family home I listed in February of this year. It sold during the first week it was on the market. This property may sell just as quick. Let's look in back and then go inside.

The Grinnell Gardens Compound was built in 1990. There are two two story duplex type town homes and three single family homes situated on individual lots. 1217 Grinnell is one of two of the single family homes that has its own private pool and spa. This home has been significantly renovated and is in perfect condition.

This home is located on the back south side of the complex. It is totally private. You enter into a private foyer that leads to the living room to the right or the eat-in kitchen to the left.

The 1,560 Sq Ft home shows so well because it was designed so well. Three sets of glass panel doors front onto the private courtyard with first and second floor porches and balconies. Two sets of glass doors open out to the private pool. There is a guest bath tucked at the rear of the formal dining area.

The kitchen will surpass anything you see on the marker in this price range. Period!

There is new Trex decking around the pool which also ha a dining area - lots of places to dine and entertain. The washer and dryer are located in a small a stand alone building. That keeps the noise and humidity over there and not inside the house. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and stunning photos of this beautiful property offered at just $1,279,000. The 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. Don't wait.

4 Gecko Lane, Key West - A Rare Tropical Paradise

4 Gecko Lane is one of my all time favorite properties in Key West. I think I saw it the very first time in 2003 soon after it was listed for sale. It was at that time a one-of-a-kind property where two houses were made into one. A few other people copied the concept but the original remains the best. The property even appeared in Vanity Fair Magazine in the mid 1980s just after the initial renovations were being completed. Let's look at some photos to see why this home is so special.

Gecko Lane is one of those Slow Lanes of Key West that I muse about. The lane is located on the north side of Eaton Street between Margaret and William Streets. If you blink while riding your bike or car, you will miss it. That is why locations like this are so sought after. They are hidden gems. Upon arrival at the front gate you enter a courtyard of what looks like three buildings separated by a large pool. As you move inward you see beautiful wood decks frame the pool as a piece of art. The gazebo at the side "connects" the master bedroom cottage with the main house.

At first look you may think the property is rather confirmed. But you would be mistaken. The lot is actually quite large - 6,312 square feet. The lot is an irregular  rectangle  that measures 161' X 45'. There is a huge yard at the rear for parking access off Roberts Lane. And there are several garden areas, patio, and outdoor shower. It's not so small after all.

Once you step inside the main living area you will be awed by the simplicity of design. Dade County Pine is framed by crisp white trim, baseboards, and crown molding. One of the two guest bedrooms is located just off the living area which has an adjacent bath. 

A second guest bedroom is located on the second level. I find these spaces just special for brothers-in-law. I think grandchildren would love this space. Kids did privacy and unique spaces.

There is lovely patio opposite the kitchen with a portion of the garden in view just beyond. Tropical foliage envelopes the entire lot.

Even though the master bedroom has a cathedral ceiling, the area is quite cozy and romantic. Imagine opening the door for a late night dip before going to bed. The master bath has two sinks, lots of storage, a marble bath, and separate WC. If you are like me, you will prefer the outdoor shower. There is nothing like showering under swaying palms or starry nights - especially when people up north are freezing in the cold of winter.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to try to determine when the cottages were built. The county tax records suggest the houses were built in 1925. But the 1912 Sanborn Fire Map shows both cottages existing as of that date. The lane was little more than a walkway and was not given a name of record. I added arrows to show Roberts Lane which has a gate leading to the rear undeveloped lot at 4 Gecko Lane. Roberts Lane exists onto Caroline Street. The Key West Seaport begins there. Duval Street is a five minute walk from Caroline or Eaton Street. Nothing is far away and almost anything is possible. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and lots of photos of 4 Gecko Lane, Key West offered for sale at $1,499,000. Make sure to read the listing details as this house has been significantly updated. 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.

1616 Atlantic Boulevard No 20, Key West - On the Ocean

Casa Caselles is a town home community of just twenty ocean front units. 1616 Atlantic Boulevard Unit No. 20 is a really special three level unit two bedroom unit that has been recently updated with a new kitchen, baths, custom wood cabinetry, plantation shutters, and a private heated pool.This home is contemporary in design and offers superior interior amenities and finishes.

 

This home has a welcoming covered entry adjacent to the covered parking. The private heated pool and courtyard are located on the far side of the stairway.

The main floor living area is an open concept plan with beautiful built-in cabinetry and marble floors that continue out to the four balconies. The focal point of the kitchen/dining area is the huge granite topped island with seating area for a large party. The clean modern feel is continued with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, Shaker style cabinets and a striking contemporary chandelier.

Upstairs are two large bedroom suites with abundant natural light. Notice the large plank floors. The master bedroom has an unique dressing area with built-in cabinets, a stunning spa bath with jetted tub and a walk-in closet. The guest suite is equally as luxurious with a large shower and walk-in closet. This town home has been updated with impact resistant doors and a generator. Casa Caselles is a beautifully maintained, gated oceanfront enclave of 20 town homes with a stunning waterfront pool with open water views. 

At Christmas they decorate the twin palms big red bows. That is cool in and of itself. My customers are just awed when they see the pool. It is so big and sunny. It is the perfect spot to get that enviable Key West tan.

That's the White Street Pier in the background where our annual Fourth of July Fireworks are shot off. There are nature preserves on either side of Casa Caselles. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for more information on 1616 Atlantic Boulevard No. 20 offered for sale at $1,480,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent at Preferred Properties Key West, the listing brokerage for this unit. If buy this unit now, it will be your home by Christmas.

Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 4

From October 14, 2016 (Just Before Fantasy Fest)

Key West Horror Story No. 5

A few years ago I represented a buyer who found me via my blog. He lived up north in New York City and was looking to buy a cute Key West cottage where he planned to move. He came to town on several visits to find that perfect place. This was during that terrible time soon after the Great Recession.  Many buyers lost faith in our economy and believed we would never be as good as we once were. I know he expected prices would be lower than they were. He quickly learned he couldn't afford as much house as he thought.

This particular buyer was self-employed. He lived from project to project. He would get paid a lot of money upon the completion of each project. But there was no steady income for the times in between. I hooked him up with a local lender who figured out a way to get him approved for a mortgage. We started looking in areas other than Old Town where prices were lower. We found such a place in Mid Town.

The particular house was an estate sale. The previous owner had passed away. The man was single and died alone except for his dog. His body wasn't discovered for quite some time. The body of his large dog was found as well. The dog apparently survived for a while after the owner passed. You can figure out what happened.

The deceased had two male siblings who lived in the northeast. They engaged a local real estate agent who was a stay-at-home-mom and part-time agent. She told me the place was a mess when she first saw it and offered to fix it up for the far-away brothers. She hired local contractors to do some repairs, install new bathrooms including plumbing and tile installation, painting, and so on. She purchased new kitchen cabinets, appliances, light fixtures, fans, etc. The place looked as next to new as a fifty year old house could look. She was a real estate agent mind you, not a licensed contractor. 

The finished house was priced the equivalent of a fixer house in Old Town except it was already fixed. My buyer was willing to forgo the cuteness in favor of the up to date renovation at an affordable price.  He made an offer. We negotiated the price a bit and put the place under contract.

I was a bit concerned that the agent had done a lot of work which may or may not have been permitted. I included a couple of safe guards in the contract which later proved useful when the renovations she  authorized did not pass final building inspection. The brothers had to come out of pocket to bring the sub-standard work up to meet building code. 

I totally sympathized with the situation those brothers went through. Losing a family member is never easy. Losing a family member in such a harsh way is awful. But then having to pay for something twice compounds the loss even more.

Added September 2020. The original agent is out there still selling houses to the unsuspecting. I should have filed a complaint with the Key West board. I did not. I should have.