1010 Whitehead Street, Key West - Historic Bank Owned Cottage

Just Listed, but not by me, 1010 Whitehead Street, Key West. This unassuming cottage home once belonged to Lawrence Formica who created the world famous La Terraza di' Marti which is less formally known as La Te Da. Today this little home home is Bank Owned.

I looked in my old shoe box and found a photo of 1010 Whitehead Street that was taken in 1965. If you look carefully you will see that the columns supporting the front porch used to be wood and the 1970s-ish concrete block had not been added to the historic house. That kind of addition wouldn't be tolerated today. A new owner could get permission to remove that and take this abode back to its original state or something close to it. I took more photos of the house which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

The front porch would be the perfect perch for people watching. I took these photos in early morning before the tourists got up. Later in the day they will walk by this home on their way to the Hemingway House and the Southernmost Point both of which are located a couple of blocks to the south.  Duval Street is located just one block to the east. This is an ideal location for an owner who wants a small place that is within walking distance to all the attractions Old Town has to offer.

This small house efficiently uses all 620 square feet of living space and then some. When you enter the living room you immediately notice the Dade County Pine walls. The vaulted ceiling gives the living space much greater presence. A loft was added to provide additional sleeping space for the occasional guest. Just past the living room you will find the dining area and kitchen. This space is really colorful.

The one and only bedroom is located on the left front part of the house. Entry is currently located thru the kitchen. And the bath is located on the far side of the dining room. Such is life in a small house.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1010 Whitehead Street that is offered at just $331,500. Then please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a private showing.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  I think this house will sell quickly and that there will probably be multiple offers on int. The place needs some work but it does not have to become a total redo. But even if a new owner decided to redo the place from top to bottom and front to back, the expense would be worth it. This place has got a great street presence, a great location, a genuine link to recent Key West history, and it's priced where normal people can buy it and make alternations over the years if not immediately.

1717 South Street, Key West - Bank Owned Fixer-Upper

If you have been hoping to move to Key West and buy a Bank Owned property that you could fix-up and make your home, the new listing new listing 1717 South Street in Key West may be the property you are looking for.  The listing broker, not me, describes this home this way:

"Location, Location, Location! This oversized lot with a privacy fence that currently has a main house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a mother-in-law 1 bedroom with 1 bath. Property has a large pool and back yard great for entertaining."

The house and detached mother-in-law cottage total 1900 sq ft and sit on what used to be a very beautifully landscaped 8531 sq ft lot (93.5' X 94').  The grounds and house are hidden from view behind a tall privacy fence. imagine how beautiful this home once was and could be again.

The house has a pretty impressive formal entry for such a relaxed home. A pergola spans much of the front facade on columns of carved stone. Similar columns are located at the rear where there is an huge pool and gardens.

The master bedroom and bath are located to the left of the living room while the two guest bedrooms and share hall bath are located to the right side of the living room. This arrangement would work well for a family to provide privacy for the parents for a few moments of the day. Note the terrazzo floor  in the original parts of the house.

The kitchen and laundry room are the the target of most new home owners. There is a really sweet rear pergola off the dining room and kitchen. I am sure a creative mind could re-invent this space into something even more magical.

You can clearly see that a portion of the drywall was moved in that area. There are a couple of holes in other rooms were drywall was also removed. The bank owner has treated the house for termites. The dining room and adjacent den have saltillo tile floors. The front entry and the rear garden area also have saltillo tiles.

The garden area must have been breath-taking. It still is to some extent. The pool sits quietly under the canopies of several beautiful trees that have created a little Eden of sorts. I found an old photo of the pool in its glory days. The lush garden could be replanted. The gardens would thrive in no time. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

There are two gated entrances for cars. The one on the right is electrically operated. The long driveway terminates where the mother-in-law cottage begins. The rear yard seems boundless from the west border. The former owners created an outdoor kitchen to the south of the what was the den. The pool equipment and A/C are hidden from view on the far side of the outdoor kitchen.

1717 South Street in Key West is offered for sale at the asking price of $749,000 or just $394 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Then please call ma, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a private showing of this remarkable property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

1609 Patricia Street, Key West - A Hidden Jungle Paradise Awaits

The two photos above show the pool and fountains at 1609 Patricia Street in Key West when photographed a few years ago. Today the pool is surrounded by a child-safe fence and the gardens are over-grown and hidden. This property was the former home of noted landscape architect Raymond Jungles who left Key West a few years ago and relocated in Miami where he does projects of international re-known.

The listing Realtor describes 1609 Patricia Street as:

"Amazing landscaping by Raymond Jungles and the beautiful custom pool with waterfalls pouring from the designer wall are striking features of this extra large property (over eleven thousand square feet, enough for two houses). The two bedroom, one bath ground level home is hidden in the dense foliage, scarcely to be seen from the street. This is a unique home in the neighborhood just off Atlantic Boulevard."

I recently showed this home to a couple seeking a renovation project. They were intrigued by the 11,200 sq ft lot (112 feet wide X 100 feet deep). That's more than twice the size of a typical Casa Marina Area lot.  The existing house occupies only a tiny foot print on the lot. It measures just 910 sq ft. There is an attached 247 sq ft deck. The CBS house was built in 1956 which was updated in 2000 by Raymond Jungles and his former wife designer Debra Yates. They re-invented the space into a unique mid-century modern home. Years have passed since that renovation. This home has been a rental property for several years. A new owner might move in and not do anything to the house except paint it. A new owner might expand the existing house into a larger space. That would be easy here since the Historic Architectural Review Commission would not have any say over this property. Or a new owner could tear down the original house and build something quite large on this huge lot. Alternatively, the lot itself could potentially be split into two lots and two houses built (with the purchase of a separate ROGO unit). This house and this extraordinary lot offer so many wonderful possibilities.

Readers unfamiliar with Raymond Jungles are encouraged to Google his name and look for images of his work. When I did this I discovered many of the design elements he used on this space. Or simply CLICK HERE to view his website. Then click the CASE STUDIES to see how he transformed outdoor spaces into extraordinary gardens and public spaces. Consider how valuable an asset you would have if you were to purchase this property and how you might enhance this hidden Jungle Paradise. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 1609 Patricia Street is offered for sale at $695,000. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this incredible property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.