1110 Petronia Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1110 Petronia Street in the Old Town area of Key West. The listing agent describes the property thus:

"This striking and eye-catching Old Town cottage occupies a very desirable location at the corner of Ashe and Petronia Streets. The owners have just completed an impressive restoration which includes new roof, shutters, windows, doors, attractive gutters, on-demand water heater, heating/AC system (including new duct work), and a stylish new master bathroom. There is a charming small swimming pool and off-street parking."

I have been watching the transformation of this cottage for many months. The red painted board and batten siding is atypical to the white clapboard siding seen in most homes. And I find that refreshing. The house reminds me somewhat of La Casa Roja on Catherine Street. The handmade wood shutters look ever so strong.  The white picket fence on the side neatly frames the cottage for passersby to admire. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property.

The Ashe Street side of the cottage provides gated off street parking, a luxury in a cottage home in Old Town.

There is even a pool where you can't do a breast stroke, but where you could certainly do some chillaxin'.

 

Inside this 1134 sq ft home you will find three bedrooms and two baths. This Old Town home has off street parking, a small pool, and is ready for a new buyer. It is offered for sale at $747,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser's card shows the house was built in 1934 which we all know is highly unlikely because that was in the Great Depression when Washington had to come to Key West to help save it from utter ruin. The old courthouse had burned and property records were destroyed. The WPA helped create new property records and set the date of most houses in the 1933-1934 time period unless a specific construction date was known. I found 1110 Petronia Street (corner of Petronia and Ashe) located in the 1899 Sanborn Map. CLICK HERE.  WIKIPEDIA has a great discussion of the Sanborn Maps. I described the function of the Sanborn Map to a buyer a few days ago and he suggested that it served the purpose of a census, of sorts. I liked that. Instead of people,  it counted houses and then provided data as to age, construction, etc. I found a photo that shows 1110 Petronia Street as it appeared nearly fifty years ago. See below.

1110 Petronia Street as it appeared in 1965

1110 Petronia Street as it appears in 2013

If you would like to see the inside of this cute cottage home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

1428 Whalton Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 1428 Whalton Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. This really cute three bedroom two bath Conch home won't last long at the asking price of just $949,000. You'll see why when you read the listing Realtor's description below:

"Wonderful property in the Casa Marina area on the corner on Von Phister and Whalton Street. Handsomely renovated with hardwood floors and tongue and groove wood cathedral ceilings, this light filled home is truly a delight. Three bedrooms, two baths plus a large loft bedroom space or home office give plenty of room for family and friends. Enjoy a desirable great room with high ceilings and French doors that open the room completely up to the heated pool, spa and decks. Charming kitchen centrally located with stainless steel appliances. Master bedroom has built in custom cabinets throughout. There is a great feel to this tropical paradise!"

The house has built in 1949 and was updated in 2000 when the current master bedroom and band bath were added along with the pool. As is the case in most remodels, just about everything in the old house was replaced except the front facade which is still evident today.

The house now has 1386 sq ft of living space and sits on a good sized lot (47' x 91' or 4265 sq ft)  at the corner of Whalton and Von Phister Streets - one of the prettiest blocks in the Casa Marina Area. I ought to know, I live across.  Most of the neighboring homes are located on large lots which are distinguished by ancient mahogany trees, giant palms, and privacy fences. While the facade of 1428 Whalton Street is visible from the street, the Von Phister side is entirely private. There you will find the main entrance to this home along with the landscaped side yard, deck area, and the inviting pool and spa.

The living area features a tall vaulted ceiling. French doors open out to the pool area. The kitchen is filled with light. It is located just off the great room. The master bedroom has French doors that also open out to the pool. Unlike a lot of the charming little cottages in Old Town, this charming cottage home has a large pool that has sunshine and some shade depending on the time of day.

There are two additional bedrooms one of which is now used as a playroom. It is cute beyond words. The other bedroom is fairly good sized: the proof is that it presently hosts three single beds. The former front porch is located adjacent to this bedroom. It currently is used as storage space. That space might be renovated into additional living space or combined with the current bedroom by a new owner.

1428 Whalton Street is a great house in a really great location. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. I took some additional photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

If you would like to see this house with someone who really knows the area, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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1309 Villa Mill Alley - Old Town - Key West - Bank Owned

If you have been looking for a Bank Owned property in Key West with lots of upside potential, the new listing (not mine) at 1309 Villa Mill Alley is something to cheer about.  I can't say enough good things about this property. The listing Realtor does a good job, however, by stating:

"Gated entry to this large 3529 sq ft home located in famous Old Town Key West on an alley only 2 blocks from the beach and Duval street. 5BR/4BTh. Master suite down with marble bath. Large spacious kitchen, a real dining room, office/craft room, outside storage room, and a super large living room that may be turned into an office (has separate entrance). There are decks upstairs, downstairs and on sides. Lush, mature, tropical landscaping and fence make this a very private home. As you enter through the gate the view of the free form pool and spa framed by the lovely landscaping is spectacular. French doors from kitchen open onto this stone patio for a cozy pool-side lunch or dinner. Off Street, bricked parking for two cars."

1309 Villa Mill Alley is located just south of United Street and east of Simonton Street. The "alley" dead ends about 300 feet or so. The other homes on the "alley" have all been updated and are among the more expensive homes in the Old Town area. The house at 707 South Street sits just south of the end of the alley. That house was a featured scene in the James Bond movie "License to Kill". All of the houses have dense foliage that protect the insulate the properties from the land. The house itself has bricked off street parking for at least two cars. The living room of the house is located in an old cottage at front. The rest of rest of the house (two two story houses united by a two story staircase and lobby) is new construction built in 1995. New windows and decks were added in 2006.

Original house is now the living room

Living room

Like other homes on Villa Mill Alley, this property has a gated entry that opens into a courtyard. The pool and spa are located here as well. Doors from the kitchen, the master suite, and the two story staircase and lobby all open out to the courtyard.

This house has lots of space for sophisticated living and real rooms with identifiable purposes. I say that because so many houses today have great rooms that serve multiple purposes. That is fine and works very well, but there is something ever so nice about a home that has traditional rooms. French doors open from the courtyard into the large kitchen with vaulted ceiling. This kitchen is huge and has room for seating around the island for informal dining. The formal dining room (not seen in most new construction) is located adjacent (first and third photos below). The living room is located to the front (second photo below). 

The kitchen is located in a new addition to the back of the original house on the lane. The dining area and office/study (located adjacent to the rear) are on the ground floor or the south two story new houses that are joined together by the two story staircase and lobby. Sound confusing I know.

The master bedroom with en-suite bath is located on the ground floor on the north side of the home. The bedroom has sets of French doors that open out to the cool pool and spa for a refreshing late night dip. The bedroom has a cedar lined closet. The bath is extra large and features a steam room. There is a rear entrance that leads to an outdoor shower - a must in every Key West home.

The second floor is dedicated to sleeping in both north and south wings. The north wing has a second master suite (with en-suite bath) that is laid out differently but which has a deck that overlooks the pool below. The south wing has two smaller bedrooms that share bath.There is even a second floor sundeck for some private al fresco sunning.

1309 Villa Mill Alley has 3529 sq ft of living space distributed among the several buildings that are all connected. The house sits on a large 6656 sq ft lot hidden from public view.  This bank owned home is offered at $1,595,900 or $452 per sq ft. If you are a serious buyer you will know that the price per sq ft is considerably lower than similarly sized important homes in the Old Town area. This property has previously been successfully rented as a monthly vacation rental. It has superior amenities and a great location near South Beach and upper Duval Street. It provides easy access to many Old Town locations within a few minutes by foot or bike. This place is definitely worth looking at. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. I took more photos which can be seen if you CLICK HERE.  I added the floor plan below so you can get a feel for the layout.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

If you would like to see this great bank owned property, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.