801 Fleming Street - Key West

Two historic old houses located at 801 - 807 Fleming Street were recently updated with a contemporary twist. The resultant property boasts five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a stunning pool, and two separate living areas and separate kitchens. They are located on one of the very best blocks of Old Town Key West and are now offered for sale at only $1,695,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to see listing photos.

Preferred Properties Key West is the listing brokerage for this property. That is where I work, but this is not my listing. The listing Realtor describes 801 - 807 Fleming Street this way:

"TWO HOUSES IN OLD TOWN! This extensively renovated prime Old Town property consists of 2 historic homes that each have 2BR/1BA plus an apartment over the enclosed garage. Added features include a large pool with waterfall located between both homes along with outdoor shower, modernized bathrooms and stainless steel appliances. If people watching is your cup of tea, there are porches off each home that overlook the popular Fleming Street. Within walking distance to famed Duval Street, shops, restaurants, and bars."

801 Fleming St built circa 1889

807 Fleming Street built circa 1892

801 Fleming Street (top of the blog) is located at the corner of William and Fleming Street.  This house has two bedrooms on the main level, a living room that opens out to a decked area off the large pool. A large slider opens most of the room to the outside when weather permits.  A two story carriage house is located adjacent on William Street. The downstairs space is an air conditioned garage and laundry. The second floor is a large guest apartment with mini-bar.

807 Fleming Street looks like a super old fashioned cottage from the street. But when you pass the white picket fence and comfortable front porch that's perfect for people watching, you enter into a contemporary that offers two bedrooms with shared bath, a large living space, kitchen, and laundry.

 The two homes are unified into one large property by the extra large and quite stunning pool with raised edge that provides an unique place aside the pool.  The pool is framed by a large mosaic wall and fountain that provides privacy from passersby on Fleming Street.  The design and implementation are amazing. This concept works!

 I think this property will appeal to a buyer with considerable cash to invest in a second home that has the potential to be rented as a vacation rental. In fact, this home already has a track record as a vacation rental. There are only a few properties in Key West with five bedrooms - this is the only one with a huge pool, an air conditioned garage, and a killer location. This property would appeal to couples traveling together but who want their own separate quarters. It will also appeal to a couple with grown children or grandchildren who require separate spaces.  Nobody will feel slighted because both homes offer superior amenities and spaces. At the same time each home offers privacy. Even the occupant(s) of the carriage house will have privacy.

If you are looking for a large home in Key West that has the potential to be rented as a vacation rental, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing of 801 and 807 Fleming Street.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

New Life into Old Buildings - Key West

1111 Duval Street Key West built in 1889 as photographed in 1965

A few years ago the building was home to Charest Weinberg Gallery

1n 2011 Edwin Swift III took this pic of the same property

August 2013 

This property is not for sale.
If you are looking to purchase a house or a commercial space in Key West and want to turn potential into something real, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

501 Duval Street - Key West - News You Can Use

I was walking up and down Duval Street this morning taking photos for an upcoming blog when I passed by 501 Duval Street, the PACE Building, or as it has been known prior to 2000 the Banana Republic building.  I was startled to see the windows had been totally covered by brown paper. Then I was alarmed to see the BANANA REPUBLIC signage had been removed. Doom! I thought.

On May 12, 2012 I wrote that Fast Buck Freddies was closing its doors. Fast Buck Freddies did an orderly liquidation over several weeks.  Then it shut its doors forever. Nothing has filled that space. I was fearful that Banana Republic would be leaving the space as well. I returned to my office and learned that the store held a liquidation sale over the weekend.  Doom. Doom. And more Doom I thought. I contacted an old pal who told me that the store will be re-opening in November as a Banana Republic outlet.  Thank God it's not leaving. I could not bear it turning into a tacky t-shirt shop or taco stand.  I dug into the shoebox to look for old photos of what occupied the space at 501 Duval Street before Banana Republic.

Drug store in 1965

1975 being renovated

Tacos in 1975

Banana Republic 2011

Doors Shut - Movers Ready for Final Move-out August 21, 2013

Gone Today - Hope it actually returns

 

27 Kingfisher Lane - Key West - Bank Owned - Reduced Price

If you are  a golfer looking for a house on the links or if you're a bargain hunter looking for a two bedroom/tow bath home at an affordable price, 27 Kingfisher Lane located on the Key West Golf Course may be the answer to your dreams.  The listing Realtor, not me, describes this Bank Owned property this way:

"Lovely two bedroom and 2 bath town home is located on a quiet-cul-de sac in the Key West Golf Club. Property is steps away from both of the association's pools. Home has a wrap around porch and a large screened in patio with amazing views of the Golf Course."

 

Kingfisher Lane is located off the main drive that winds its way through the Key West Golf Club community. The lane ends in a large cul-de-sac around which you will find maybe a dozen homes with different views of the golf course. Each house is a built a bit different than the other. 27 Kingfisher Lane is unique in that it has a wraparound porch that adds to the physical size and architectural beauty of this town home. This unit has a large screened back porch and a smallish backyard. There are, however, first and second floor porches at the front. I have been told that owners of similar units have obtained permission to enclose the wrap around porches which could increase the interior of a unit like this substantially.  A new homeowner would need to obtain permission from the homeowner association to undertake such a renovation.

The inside of this unit is typical of most 900 sq ft homes. The kitchen is located at the front. A breakfast bar opens out from the kitchen out to the dining area. The living room occupies the balance of the space. Large sliding doors open out to the enclosed rear porch. The view from both inside the house and especially from the back porch is quite seductive. (The laundry is hidden from view in a closet under the stairway.)

The master and second bedrooms are located on the second floor. Both bedrooms have vaulted ceilings and en-suite baths. The master bedroom has French doors that open out to the front porch.  The back bedroom has great views of the golf course. 

The asking price on  27 Kingfisher Lane has been reduced to $279,900. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos.  I took more photos of this clean bank owned property - CLICK HERE to view.  There is some minor deferred maintenance. A couple of windows and some exterior trim ought to be replaced. I did not notice any other structural issues. A serious buyer needs to have any property inspected by a licensed building inspector.

As an owner at the Key West Golf Club you are entitled to use either of the two community pools. The large pool is just incredible. There is even a small gym located in the community center.

Most of the houses in Old Town, the Meadows, Casa Marina, and even midtown and new town are priced much higher than this property.  A buyer looking for value really ought to look at this property even if only to compare it for price.  I once suggested to a buyer to look at the golf course. He said he didn't play golf. I responded that you don't have to play golf to live at the golf course. What that buyer wanted was value. There are a lot of homes at the golf course that offer value.

If you are looking for a place in Key West, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to help you find your place in Paradise. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. 

1307 Petronia Street - The Meadows Area - Key West, Florida

1307 Petronia Street is a sophisticated update of a house that was built a century ago. The house was built sometime between the 1899 and 1912 edition of the Sanborn Fire Maps. The Sanborn Maps help us date the construction dates of older Key West homes because county records were destroyed by fire.  (The maps actually served their purpose in this regard.)  I found a black and white photo taken of the house in 1965 (below). I took a similar photo that shows the same house five decades later. This home looks so much nicer today, don't you think?

The simple architecture has not varied much, and that is the way it is supposed to be. The inside has pretty much the same original flow, however, the entire house has been updated from top to bottom and front to back.  Every part of this home is crisp and clean and ready for a new owner.

The white picket fence and demure front porch provide the perfect perch for people watching on Petronia Street which is a not-so-busy one-way street.  1307 Petronia Street does not have an off street parking space but that is not a problem as this is a block of single family homes with no nearby commercial or multi-family properties.

Sometimes old houses get newfangled layouts which move living spaces and bedrooms to odd places. This house is not one of those. Instead, 1307 Petronia Street still has the formal foyer followed by a long entry hall that leads from front to rear. The living room is located to the right just off the entry. The living room includes a new media center and built in bookcase. New floors were added throughout the house. Many of the rooms have recessed lighting.

The traditional room layout continues with the polished stairway.  The dining room is located just to the rear of the hall. The dining area flows into the kitchen. One of three bedrooms is located to the right rear of the house on the main floor. The other bedrooms are located on the second floor.

The two guest bedrooms share a spacious bath. The rear bedroom has the added advantage of having  a sitting area and immediate access to the rooftop sundeck and spiral staircase that leads down to the swimming pool.

1307 Petronia Street is offered by Terry Garcia at SBX Realty at $1,395,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.  I'd appreciate it if you would contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a tour of this beautiful Meadows area home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.