Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 41

from January 16, 2014

3529  Sunrise Drive,  Key West, Florida

Matthew Broderick and Tom Cruise were born in 1963.  3529 Sunrise Drive in Key West Florida was built in 1963.  Each will become 51 years old in 2014.  The two movie stars take good care of themselves and probably look better than a lot of people their age.  Men and women who workout and take care of their bodies, skin, and hair normally look better than those who don't.

A lot of my buyers are in their fifties. Many probably grew up in a house built in the 1960s when contemporary design was the trend.  The house at 3529 Sunrise Drive was custom built by the owner who has lovingly maintained this property ever since.  The house is big. The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows this house as having 3378 sq ft of interior living space. The house sits on an 8937 sq ft lot (138' X 65') just across the street from the Riviera Canal that ends a few blocks to the east where water flows into the Atlantic Ocean.  The houses across the street benefit from being located on the water.  This house is every bit as nice or nicer than most of the original houses in the area.  And the houses across the street all cost a whole lot more than this house.

The home at 3529 Sunrise Drive incorporates many of the features of large suburban homes built during the early 1960s including multiple living levels, large rooms, vaulted ceilings, and large outdoor living areas. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Everything you want in Key West living. Plenty of room both inside and out for entertaining or just relaxing with the family. Vaulted ceilings and large rooms make the interior exceedingly livable. A walled lot, lush landscaping, large pool and several covered outside seating areas along with offstreet, covered parking make this an ideal property. This is a home that you can live in tomorrow or add personal touches to create your own island oasis."

Events, styles, trends, fads, they all last for a while but many impact our lives for years or decades into the future. When you are young, you tend to live in the moment. As you get older, you learn that not everything in the world revolves around you. As you get much older, you may learn that what you do or say or think is of no consequence to anybody. That's sort of what happens to styles, trends and fads-they get ignored or displaced or even replaced. Styles that were hip become passe. Maybe that's why for many people buying a house in the Old Town area of Key West is so safe: old is always popular there. Even cherished.

If you are old enough to remember the 1960s you will recall the space race and the New Frontier. You will remember the forward thinking we embraced. Our TV, our culture, our furniture and home goods, and our architecture reflected the hopes and dreams as aspirations of that time. Some homes today still have fallout shelters that were built in the 1960s, a different and sad face of the culture of that time.

The home at 3529 Sunrise Drive incorporates many of the features of large suburban homes built during the early 1960s including multiple living levels, large rooms, vaulted ceilings, and large outdoor living areas. It is time for buyers to consider houses like this that have plenty of good years left as alternatives to much more expensive homes in the Old Town and Casa Marina areas.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

" Everything you want in Key West living. Plenty of room both inside and out for entertaining or just relaxing with the family. Vaulted ceilings and large rooms make the interior exceedingly livable. A walled lot, lush landscaping, large pool and several covered outside seating areas along with off street, covered parking make this an ideal property. This is a home that you can live in tomorrow or add personal touches to create your own island oasis."

3529 Sunrise Drive is a big house located a on a large lot on the east side of Key West- just about four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. It is far removed from the hub bub of Old Town. This is a family area and this is a very nice family home that has been well maintained during its lifetime.  CLICK HERE to view a slide show with lots of photos of this home. This property is listed by Preferred Properties, but it is not my listing. It is offered at $899,000. And CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet.

If you would like to see this blast from the past, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a visit. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.


UPDATE

This truly was one of my favorites house in Key West. I wrote about it many times because it was such a wonderful example of 1960s American architecture. It was listed for sale by several different agents starting in 2004 when the asking price was $1,699,900; It finally sold in 2021 for $1,080.000. I don't know if I mentioned the reason it took so long to sell. The owners had dozens of trophy animals they killed from around the world. They had rugs, mounted heads, and stuffed animals.They killed many of th animals with bow and arrow. I guess that made it "sport"except the animals were defenseless.

If any actually read the post I hope you pick up on how I deal with aging. I had no ireal appreciation for what happens to you as you age. i thought I did. But i was younger then when I wrote it. Count that up to not knowing what you are talking about. 

True Tales of Key West Real Estate in the Times of Covid 19 No. 16

Sine there isn't much real estate being offered for sale or being sold these days, I decided to look through my old shoebox photos of buildings or events that readers might find of interest. This story really happened several years ago at the Bank of America branch located about fifty feet or so west of my office. 

 The building at 510 Southard Street, Key West has long been a bank building. The black and white photos were taken in the 1960s when the building housed First Federal Savings. I don't know when the ownership or signage of the building changed to Bank of America.  In fact Bank of America vacated that space about three years ago.  It is up for lease now and I am not a part of that.

I took the above photo this afternoon. I added a graphic to show where two ATM machines used to be located. The bank entrance was twenty feet or so to the west where the bikes are located in the photo. The wrought iron gate has been in that location for years. It is a passageway to the paring lot in the rear. The gates has been locked ince the bank vacated the building.

Several years ago I was headed two blocks west to the Bobby Shop to get my haircut. Just as I approached the Bank of America ATM machines I noticed a set of keys was inside the lock to one of the machines  Thinking that was odd even for Key West I went inside the bank and saw there were several people standing in line waiting to transact business. 

I passed everybody and went ot the head of the line. A young male bank teller looked at me with a sneer ready to tell me to go to the rear. But I stopped him before his rebuke and told him the keys to the money machine were ready to be swooped. He threw up his hands and raced for the door. I left and got my haircut. I assume all the money was still in the machine. I wonder if the bank manager ever heard about that day. 

Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 40

from July 1, 2018 

Key West Realtor Understudy

 

I was searching the Key West MLS yesterday when I noticed a new listing that reminded me of a nearby property that I sold a few years ago. My buyer and I arrived at the house on an early Saturday morning to be present during the home inspection on the house he had under contract. We met the inspector who set out to poke, prod, test, and photograph various parts of the house.

Remember this was an early Saturday morning - not anywhere near cocktail time - not even near lunch. Or even brunch.  The listing Realtor was present. She was wearing heels and a tight fitting dress with a very short hem.

The home inspector opened the access panel to the attic and went up. The listing agent followed. I was standing below with my buyer. We both looked up as we were preparing to follow. Imagine the photo above but without the tights. Or anything under the dress.

Things that have been seen cannot be unseen.

Update:  A few weeks ago I was talking with a fellow realtor. The name of the above mentioned agent came up. I asked if she was still selling in Key West. No she moved away. And then he mentioned he had seen her dress the same way - no undies. 

533 Petronia Street, Key West - JUST LISTED

I just listed 533 Petronia Street, Key West. I held a Broker's Open House yesterday and everybody was delighted to see the home.The remembered back a couple of years ago when an older version of the house was sitting atop wood blocks waiting to be relocated forward on the lot.The relocation of the house allowed room to expand the residence to the rear and a guest cottage and a cool pool. Oh, it's cool. Let's look at a couple of the original house and during renovation. 

CLICK HERE to see an album of photos showing the progress photos.

The house was designed by architect Matthew Stratton. His name appears here quite often. He's good. Really good. The pool and gardens were designed by Craig Reynolds Landscape Architects.  He is really good, too! The front door stayed in place and two guest bedrooms with en-suite baths are located up front. Almost every agent who entered the house walked quickly past he bedrooms to see the pool. They stood in the living area looking and then out to the pool. They all said about the same thing: This is what buyers want.

The poolside guest cottage has killer view of the pool which is both heated and chilled depending on the time of the year. There is an outdoor shower on the backside of the cottage. 

Each of the four bedrooms has an elegant marble bath. Dade County Pine was salvaged from the original house, planed, stained, and placed on teach bathroom ceiling. All of the cainets were made by Hansen & Bringel in Key West. The counter tops are quartz. Kohler top of the line fixtures used throughout. 

The counter top on the kitchen island is Leather Granite. Marble frames the area behind the induction cooking top. The floors are reclaimed heart pine meticulously re-planed by NIPPERS PAINTING. Wolfe and SubZero  appliances (including wine cooler and ice maker) complete the kitchen.

533 Petronia Street Key West is offered at $3,495,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more photos. Please call or text me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a private showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. You better act quick. I don't think this will last on the market for very long.

 

 

410 Louisa Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed 410 Louisa Street, Key West. The listing Realtor describes this home thus: 

"This traditionally styled home was new built in 2002. It is on the one-way block of Louisa Street which does not go all the way through to Duval, so it is right downtown but still kind of secluded. It has a pretty front porch and off-street parking. The rear porch runs all the way across the back of the house and overlooks the heated and chilled swimming pool and covered dining lanai. There are three bedrooms and three full bathrooms, including a spacious and well-appointed master suite with walk-in closet.  This home is only a short stroll to the Southernmost Point and the galleries and restaurants of Lower Duval Street. It was recently painted and has new air conditioners and pool heater. The pool was resealed and resurfaced."

French doors at the rear of the great room open out to the covered rear porch and pool area. 

The 2002 Sq Ft home has three bedrooms and three baths. The current owner is using the first floor bedroom as a sitting room. The master bedroom and en-suite bath are located on the second floor.You'll be surprised at how large the master suite is. The second floor guest bedroom and bath also quite large. 

First Floor Bedroom used as a Sitting Room

Master Bedroom

Second Floor Guest Bedroom

 

This home has it all: pool, parking, location near but not too near Duval Street. 410 Louisa Street is offered for sale at $3,150,000 by Preferred Properties Key West. CLICK HERE to view eh Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please contact Gary Thomas at 305-766-2642 to arrange a private viewing. 

Coming Soon to the Key West MLS

Photos were taken yesterday afternoon at the soon to be listed restored Conch House located at an undisclosed location in Old Town. I can tell you this much: three bedrooms in the main house, a fourth bedroom in the poolside guest cottage, off street parking, pool and gardens by Craig Reynolds Landscape Design, and interiors by Ben Teague Design. That's important because this beautiful home comes furnished. More next week.

True Tales of Key West Real Estate in the Times of Covid 19 - No. 15

Several years ago I was working with a married couple who seriously considered buying a prominent Conch House located on one the best blocks in Key West. While it was not the house pictured above, that is the style of the house which also had a guest cottage, large pool, elegant outdoor living area in the rear, and off street parking. The wife flew down to Key West to check the house out. She noticed something I had not considered - an office building located across the street.

A lot of buyers will not consider buying a house across from the cemetery or on a well traveled street. Some won't buy a house next to or even near a restaurant.The office building in question was well maintained and looked attractive from the street as far as I was concerned. The wife told me the house would be a no sale as far as they were concerned because the tenant was a Realtor. 

As it turned out the couple bought a large house on a busy street. It had a guest cottage, pool, parking and a restaurant as a nearby neighbor. That tells you something about the Realtor.

Key West Real Estate Thowback Thursday No 39

from 1-30-2014

1012 Fleming Street, Key West - Investment Property

But updated today

I watched the Goldie Hawn move CrissCross couple of days ago and remembered that I referenced it in a blog post. I am copying that part immediately below and added new comments below that.

The charming five unit apartment building located at 1012 Fleming Street in Key West was just listed by Preferred Properties Key West. That is where I work, but this is not my listing. The listing agent describes this particularly well located property this way:

"Conch House Multi Unit in a great location on Fleming across from the Eden House Hotel. 4 Rental Units and an owners unit all with their own utility meters. Great opportunity for a buyer who likes the income aspect while enjoying his owners unit."

 I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West to determine when this building was built. I was surprised to see that it was constructed after the 1889 map and before the 1912 when it appeared on the same lot as 1010 Fleming street. The two properties share a common property line that carves 1012 Fleming apart from the yellow house viewed above. I then dug down inside the old shoebox and found a photo of 1012 Fleming Street taken back in 1965.

Today the building consists of five units that rent at modest rates as compared to other long term rentals I have seen in Key West. The current owner resides in one unit and rents the other four. The building is 2995 sq ft of living space divided among three floors. There is a small garden area at the rear that may have room for a dip pool or hot tub.

The movie CRISSCROSS was filmed in Key West in 1992. The Eden House, located across the street from 1012 Fleming Street, was the home to Goldie Hawn's character and her son. Many locations at the nearby Key West Seaport also played integral parts in the movie.

When Goldie exited the Eden House movie set her view would have been similar the photo below.  Other than painting and perhaps new shutters, the houses in this block look pretty much the same today as the did in 1992 and decades before that.

UPDATE:     

Locals and long time visitors to Key West may want to watch CrissCross as it shows how much the streetscape and the seaport have changed. First, the houses across the street appear in a couple of scenes but they look forlorn in the movie. They were not "dressed"to look forlorn, they were. Another scene showed the deplorable condition of sidewalks upheavaled by tree roots and decades of disrepair. The piers and boardwalk at the seaport had not been renovated. Today the seaport is more Disney than dreary. I watched the credits which state it was actually released in 1991 which suggests it was filmed in 1990. Invest two hours of your life to see a little piece of old Key West.