1214 Laird Street, Key West - Price Reduction

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West describes 1214 Laird Street which is located in the Casa Marina Area of Key West this way:

"This spacious and substantial one level home sits on an extra large corner lot (75 x 100 feet) which is completely surrounded by a high wall for total privacy. The two bedroom two bath main residence has many sets of French doors opening to the lovely yard (designed by Ray Jungles) and large sunny swimming pool. The one bedroom one bath guest wing has it's own living area and private courtyard."

Before I actually moved to Key West and was only dreaming of living here, I only considered buying a place in Old Town. I think that is probably the location most prospective buyers think about as well. There are, however, several different neighborhoods in Key West that potential first time buyers should consider as an alternative to Old Town. The Casa Marina Area is just such an alternative.. Most locals recognize the Casa Marina Area to be that geographic area located south of United Street and west of White Street. This area sits on a naturally occurring land arc that curves from White Street as it heads to the Casa Marina Hotel at Reynolds Street. Purists will say that is the Casa Marina Area - Period.. They will argue any property not within the geographic confines of those streets is not Casa Marina. They may be technically correct, but I argue that there are some homes that are near enough to the "border" to be considered in the area. The home at 1214 Laird Street is one of those houses since it is located just about 200 feet east of White Street. And it rivals many of the properties inside the area.

Until recently this house was a part of a much larger estate that recently sold.  The main portion of the house served as the guest house and the smaller section was the caretaker's unit. 1214 Laird Street is now offered for sale at $995,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for more details. There are separate entrances to the guest house and the caretaker's cottage. This is one building which could be made into a single family home. There is off street parking for both living spaces.

The house is hidden behind a six foot privacy fence on the Laird Street and Sirugo Avenue sides. The red clay tile roof can barely be seen from the street, but once inside the gate the roof becomes a bit of a novelty since most roofs in Key West are metal. Then you see the pool - in the front yard. Egads! This, too, is not normal. The pool and gardens are stunning in the simplicity of design.

The renovation of this home was designed by local architect Tom Pope who also designed the larger home next door to the south which appeared in Architectural Digest several years ago. Pope incorporated the same attention to detail to this property. Dual sets of French doors open from the garden and pool area into the living room. The bright kitchen is at the rear. A traditional "back door" exits onto a small alternative garden area. This side of the property has less sun; hence, the pool was located at the front.

The main portion of the house has two bedrooms and two baths. The master en-suite bath (pictured two above) is quite large. The master suite dual sets of French doors that open out to the private garden area on the Sirugo Avenue side of the property. The guest bedroom has doors that open out to the pool. The caretakers space is quite large. The house as a whole is 2211 sq ft and sits on an ample 7500 sq ft lot (75' X 102').  A new owner might combine the spaces into a single living unit or convert the caretakers' space to guest quarters.

 Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, if you would like to see 1214 Laird Street. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

623 Thomas Street Unit D, Key West, Florida

Just listed, but not by me, 623 Thomas Street #D in Key West, Florida. This one bedroom second floor unit has front balcony that overlooks Thomas Street where passersby walk from the Truman Annex to nearby locations like the Green Parrot Bar, Blue Heaven Restaurant, the Ernest Hemingway House, or the Southernmost Point.  Ft Zach Taylor State Park and Beach are located within easy walking distance from the corner of Thomas Street at Southard Street which is only one block to the north.  The asking price on this 584 sq ft condo is just $420,000.

Please view the photos below which show this clean one bedroom unit that has both a front porch and rear balcony plus a third level loft with additional square footage not used in the condo square footage  calculation.  The loft would be an excellent second bedroom for the brother-in-law that wants to test the waters in Key West before moving here.  

The vaulted ceiling in the living area really makes this space come alive. What might be a confining space is anything but that. The island breakfast bar provides not only a charming place to dine, but also provides separation from the living area and the rear hallway which leads to the second floor rear deck. There's a small hall closet on the back wall of the kitchen that provides additional storage.

The doorway off the kitchen opens into a small hall where the laundry and bath are located. The space is nicely put together and provides separate spaces for function and adds in another storage area to boot.

French doors in the bedroom open out to the front deck. This is a great spot for watching tourists walking by on their way to discover Key West. The thing is if you buy this place you will have already discovered it.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this unit which I took.  There are just four condos in this small "complex".  There are two off street parking spaces that serve all four units and are used on a first come first served basis. The are no common amenities which means the condo fees are relatively low, just $325 per month which covers building insurance and maintenance.  That is why I mentioned nearby attractions and hangouts. This is a convenient location for a local who want clean and affordable living space. It would make an inexpensive getaway place for a buyer who comes to Key West every now and then who wants a home base from which to explore his or her or their favorite haunts.

And CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 623 Thomas Street Unit D.

If you would like to see 623 Thomas Street #D or any other property in Key West 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. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

3322 Flagler Avenue, Key West - Freshly Updated New Town Home

Just Listed, but not by me, 3322 Flagler Avenue in Key West, Florida. The listing real estate agent describes this home this way:

"Centrally located and beautifully well maintained home. Full 3 bedroom 2 bath with dinning alcove. Large fenced yard that is wonderfully landscape, with covered back patio, out door shower, storage shed and plenty of room for a pool. Off street parking for 2 cars, one spot covered. This is a must see, easy to show, currently owner occupied."

I've got news for you.

This home was built in 1958 and is pretty typical of many homes of that era. It's just been updated with a new metal roof, new windows with approved storm shutters for wind insurance mitigation credit, new kitchen cabinets, new light fixtures and ceiling fans, plus sundries like curtain rods and drapes. The house is freshly painted and is in basic move in condition. The terrazzo floor is in really good condition as well.That means someone moving to Key West from far away won't need to arrive in Key West and start to clean and redo a property before they can move in.  If you think a quick "update" or a "freshening" is quick I've got news for you: it isn't. Let me show you what's been done.

This home is a bachelor pad right now. The bumper pool table is confirmation of that. But the living area is large enough for a real family. The living room is quite spacious. Note the dining alcove. Muted sunlight provides a cheery place for daytime meals. It is large enough possibly to become a fourth bedroom. And the new kitchen gleams. A door at the rear exits out to the west side yard which leads to the front covered parking or to the rear garden where there is abundant room for a pool.

The front bedroom has three windows which adds a bit of drama to what often-times is a boring space in many mid century homes. This house is an upgrade from could be mundane. The color choices used between the various bedrooms works as well. The colors play off the whites, blacks, and grays of the terrazzo floors.

The windows of the left rear bedroom look out to the rear garden. This room is quite spacious. While it is used as an office by the current owner, it has ample space for a king, queen, or bunk beds plus bedroom furniture. Both the front and rear bedrooms share the use of the hallway bath that has also been updated.

The master bedroom has an en-suite full bath. A sliding door opens out the very large rear yard where there is ample room for a large pool. The lot measures 60' X 114' or 6840 sq ft total. That is much larger than a typical lot in Mid Town or New Town and even larger than many lots in the Casa Marina Area.

I took a lot of photos of this home which you can see if you CLICK HERE. They provide many angles of each space plus photos of the building exterior and garden area. I don't want potential buyers to miss the genuine money saving opportunities this house provides as it sits for immediate move-in plus potential to add a pool later on. This is a clean house where the drudge work has been done. Nothing new needs done to the inside or to the house. The yard is nicely landscaped. There is room for a large pool if that is something that a new owner wants. But the place is perfectly fine as it sits. The yard is a safe place for the kids to play.

3322 Flagler Avenue is not shown in the Key West mls. But you can see if if you call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's go take a look. I think you will be genuinely impressed by this home which is offered for sale at $569,000 or $405 per sq ft.