Ouch!

I was at the gym this morning listening to the talking heads on Good Morning America banter about the price of oil and how it is affecting our entire economy. I think we are all keenly aware that everything has gone up in price. And for food stuffs that have not increased in price, the sizes have shrunk--as if we are too dumb to know that a 16 oz. can of Campbell's Soup is now only 10 oz.

The talking head then talked about all of the things made out of petroleum. That got me thinking about all of the items contractors, plumbers, and electricians use in constructing or remodeling houses. I did some remodeling last year and made numerous runs to Strunk Ace Hardware, Manley deBoer Lumber, and Home Depot. I was shocked at how much widgets cost. And now, a year later, the prospect of even higher prices on more and more widgets is very real.

What does this have to do with the price of real estate in Key West? Plenty in my opinion. So many prospective buyers think they can buy a fixer-upper, do the work themselves, and save money. It does work. A lot of property owners have done it here. But I have this sense that the cost of remodeling is going to get a lot more expensive and that buying an existing property in good condition at a good price may make great economic sense. Prices are down on a lot of properties. It takes some work to sort out the deals from the not so good deals.

I remember that in 2005 a Realtor-cum-developer had converted a former apartment building on William Street into condos . He had put in granite and marble and stainless steel. The units looked good but not great. He had not done what I consider a quality renovation. He had not put in new piers, sills or joists. The floors were uneven as a result. But the units had granite. He had put in a pool. But the units had granite. The units looked cobbled together. But the units had granite. The units did not sell at the $1000 per sq. ft. asking price. But they had granite. Now the condo units that went unsold are being rented--granite included.

I had a condo listing a block away in a six unit building. My condo listing had granite counter tops, some stainless steel, a pool, and oodles of charm. That listing got sold. I used the building a block away as a sales tool: I took prospective buyers to look at the competition. I didn't have to say anything negative about the other building. It was obvious to each buyer I took there. Quality products and good workmanship are easily discernible. So is schlock.

You can search the Key West Association of Realtors mls database by CLICKING HERE. But you are going to need some help discerning good deals from schlock with granite--at least I think most of you will. My services are free. I get paid when a sale closes and the seller pays the real estate commission. Let me help you find a new home or a second home in Paradise. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

We had a major fire in Key West last night. Fellow Realtor Bascom Grooms' office and other adjoining businesses were destroyed. Photos above. The before photo was taken August 4, 2007, the fire photo last night, and the aftermath this morning.

3 Pinder Lane -- Life in the Slow Lane -- Key West

It doesn't get any more Key Westie than this! 3 Pinder Lane is the quintessential Key West Cottage that is the guest cottage of the larger property next door at 4 Pinder Lane. (CLICK HERE for more information and photos on 4 Pinder Lane offered at $2,495,000. The combined properties have been owned for the last 40 years by literary agent Dick Duane. Imbued with the atmosphere of those who have lived and worked here: Tennessee Williams, James Leo Herlihy, Tallulah Bankhead et al. Their presence so strong, it's as if the gatherings are still going on. Their spirits sweep through the magnificent living room out to the extraordinary gardens that surround the 43' heated pool, bricked dining patio, sunbaked terrace, the covered bar. The new gourmet kitchen has all the stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops you can imagine.)

3 Pinder Lane was built in 1873 and has been carefully renovated into a 2 bedroom and 2 bath cottage. The combined kitchen, living and dining area has an 18 foot peaked ceiling. There is room to add a 3rd bedroom and bath in the finished windowed attic. This property is surrounded by brick pathways and lush gardens, and has a private heated pool 10' x 14'9" in the rear garden. The house is 1232 sq. ft.and sits on a densely landscaped (79' x 37') 2923 sq. ft. lot at the end of Pinder Lane (located between Fleming and Southard Streets in the heart of Old Town Key West). The cottage was originally priced at $1,390,000 when listed, and was recently reduced to $995,000 -- or at $808 per sq. ft. CLICK HERE for more detailed information and more photos of 3 Pinder Lane.

The bedrooms are small, but they can accommodate a queen sized bed. There is no off street parking, but there is plenty of free parking on William Street. Of course, if you buy the combined properties you get parking included. But for just shy of a million bucks, you'll have to hoof it to the street. When you see this place, you won't mind. It is like something out of a movie.

I love this place, and you will too. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com to schedule a showing.

What Is Happening Here? Ain't Exactly Clear!

I don't know if it is a coincidence or a confluence of events, but there is something going on in our little real estate market in Key West.

In the past week we had two sales close on big houses on Sunset Key (the little island just off Mallory Square where you have to ride a boat to go home or go anywhere for that matter). Sale NO. 1 was a 3 bed, 3 bath house that listed and sold for $2,850,000 or $1,438 per sq. ft. Sale NO. 2 was a large 3 bedroom, 4 bath home that listed for $4,995,000 and sold for $4,667,055 or $1,664 per sq. ft. Memories of 2004 and 2005!

During the same time a Key West landmark in the 300 block of William that is listed at $4,275,000 went under contract and it is now pending (no contingencies) closing. The asking price on this puppy is $1,497 per sq. ft.

Last week one of the biggest bargains in town, 409 William Street, priced at $2,194,000 or $770 per sq. ft. went under contract. I wrote about this property several times. It is beautiful and it is located on one of Key West's best streets. This is the deal of the century. Somebody got it.


Then this morning another Key West landmark, the former home of author Phil Caputo on Casa Marina Court (not in Old Town--so there is another element to ponder), also went under contract. The asking price on this estate is $5,490,000 or $1,246 per sq. ft.

At the same time we are seeing lots of activity in the low end of the market. New listings pretty much keep listing at prices lower than previous sales of similar properties. The middle market ($900,000 to $1,900,000) is going nowhere.

What does this info mean? I don't know for sure. Perhaps it means that buyers with big bucks who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the market to hit bottom have determined that now is an opportune time to buy. Perhaps.

I'd love to sell you one of those big multi-million dollar homes. We do have a few left. But if you are reading this little blog maybe you are looking for a place a little less expensive. If so, we'll get along just fine. I like normal people. I am one myself. Give me, Gary Thomas, a call at 305-766-2642. Let me help you find a piece of Paradise at a new affordable price.

410 Simonton Street Key West -- Historic Beauty

Major Price Reduction of $500,000 on this Key West landmark property located at 410 Simonton Street in Old Town Key West. Now offered at $1,350,000 or $418 per sq. ft. for a true beauty. There property is presently used as apartments, but could be returned to single family splendor. This property could be a great renovation project, and at the asking price, it might make economic sense to a buyer looking for a home with great street appeal.

The house has 3230 sq ft of living space in 3 buildings. It sits on a 106' X 60' (6360 sq.ft.) lot. CLICK HERE for additional info and photos.

This is not my listing, but I'd love to show it to you. Since it is tenant occupied 24 hours notice is required. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com for more info. Artist Fran Drecker created the Gingerbread portrait above.

CLICK HERE to checkout all of the residential and commercial listings in Key West and the Lower Florida Keys.

Bottom Feeders -- The New Key West Big Fish

There's a bit of a debate going on right now in Key West about how well or how poorly the real estate market is doing. Just to set the record straight, I'm not a cheerleader for the Key West Association of Realtors or the Chamber of Commerce. I don't have any axes to grind. I'm not trying to stir up any trouble. I write this blog to get new clients to sell real estate to. Some of my best friends are Realtors. No, I take that last remark back cause it isn't true. But the other stuff is.

Every month I try to compare that month's sales results to prior years so that we can see how we are doing now as opposed to the recent past. I used the mls database and input the search criteria and then change only the year being searched. My search is of Key West to Big Coppitt Key (our suburb).

May 2008 saw 14 single family home sales totaling $9,802,000. The least expensive home sold for $335,000 and the highest priced house sold for $1,925,000. The median priced home sold at $539,250. In 2007 there were 29 single family home sales totaling $27,855,250. The median priced home sold at $760,000. In 2006 we had 31 single family home sales totaling $37,871,000, and the median home sold then at $800,000. But it was 2005 that saw single family homes sales with a whopping $48,899,600 in total sales volume. In 2005 the median home sold for $970,000. If I did my math correctly that is a difference on the downside of 45%.

There were 8 condo and town home sales in May 2008 totaling $3,660,000. The median unit sold for $397,500. Back in May 2005 there were 28 sales totaling $20,247,000 with the median unit priced at $691,250. I think that is about a 42.5% downward adjustment. Downward adjustment is a euphamism for loss.

One of the good omens from May 2008 was the sale of 324 William which has been on the market for a long time. In 2007 it was offered at $2,349,000 or $1,092 per sq. ft. In 2008 it was listed at $1,985,000 and was on the market 135 days. It sold for $1,925,000 or $895 per sq.ft. That price is way on the high side for Key West home sales both in price and price per sq. ft. But I say it is a good omen because it tells me that nicely renovated homes in good locations have not lost their allure and maybe their value has not diminished as much as some would have us believe (or hope).

The Key West landmark home at 313 William Street priced at $4,275,000 or $1,497 per sq.ft. went under contract on May 27th. That is not a short sale property so it looks like some big bucks are being spent on another quality property. As Martha Stewart says "This is a good thing!"

In May 2008 there were 34 residential single family, condo, and town homes that were classified as contingent, contingent/kick out, or pending. Of those, 14 were either short sale offerings or bank owned properties. (The number may be greater because some agents do not list the offerings as "short sale" even though the seller clearly owes more than the asking price and there is no perceived equity.) The median price on the combined residential contracts is $438,500.

Most of the people I work with want the same thing: a nice house in Old Town with a pool at a cheap price. A few want a really nice larger Old Town home with a pool and off street parking at a cheap price. Everybody wants a cheap price, it seems. We call them bottom feeders. I say that in a nice way. They know they want to take advantage of the hard market we are in. I talk to other Realtors and we all agree on the same thing: the offers that are getting made are usually low ball offers. Most offers that we are making in our office are all cash. And I hear that is pretty much true for most other Realtors.

There are plenty of would-be buyers. They just don't want to get the very best deal they can get. Why pay retail if your brother-in-law can get it four you wholesale?
The flaw with bottom feeding is that all properties are not the same. Second, bottom feeders think that if you wait long enough you will get the property at its very lowest price. Wrong.

There is only one 313 William Street (mentioned above). And now some new buyer is going to get to own it. That means everybody else cannot own it. Even those who have the money cannot own it. Because it is one of a kind. Some people tell me they are looking at buying in other South Florida locations because the prices there are more reasonable. Probably true. But then Miami Beach is not the same as Key West. Nor is Naples, or Ft. Myers, or Delray Beach. You have to own a car and want to take your life in your hands to go grocery shopping in some of those places. They even have home invasions. Most of our crimes involve drunks driving, drunks loitering, or drunks involved in a domestic dispute. I personally (seriously) go through culture shock when I leave Key West. Sgt. Phil Esterhaus used to admonish the cops on Hill Street Blues "Hey, let's be careful out there" doesn't even apply to life in Key West. Except to watchout for drunk drivers.

Last week I discovered that the Key West mls is not the only source of real estate being offered for sale by Realtors. Some out of town Realtors are listing properties in Key West, but are not members of the Key West Association of Realtors. They legally don't have to be. They are not breaking any rules that I know of. They put up a sign and install a lockbox. You may find such a listing by walking by it or maybe find it on the internet. It's akin to "for sale by owner" only on steroids because there are several of these animals around. The problem is that out of town Realtors probably don't know squat about their Key West listing. They may have had a service company install the sign and lock box. They may have never seen the property and conceivably know nothing about Key West or the property other than the tax data. Some Yahoo in Tampa could be selling a house down here. Talk about buyer beware.

A side issue of out of town Realtors listing properties here but not through the Key West mls is that the number of properties being offered may be skewed downward because they are not reflected in the mls database. When one of these properties does sell, the sales info will go though the public record, but it will not show up in our mls records. I see this as being very troublesome.

If you are not totally frightened out of your minds by now and still think you want to maybe buy a house in Key West, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me via e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. You can search the Key West Association of Realtor's mls website in real time and see everything we know about that is listed with us. As opposed to the Yahoos sitting in an office who knows where. CLICK HERE to do your own search. Then call me. I promise not to call you a bottom feeder.

Compound Investment -- Key West

Price Reduced $800,000 today. Was $1,995,000. Now asking $1,195,000. This is what you get at 610 Petronia Street in Old Town Key West: Four individual cottages fully equipped. Total of 4 bedrooms and 4 baths with total square footage under air of 3468 sq. ft. that sits on a very large 8400 sq. ft. lot. The compound is priced at $345 per sq. ft. That is a very good price for a property like this. 610 Petronia is located just east of the Merlinn Inn Guest House and down a private lane. So the compound is one of those special island within the island properties that I so love.

This is not a foreclosure or short sale. So we don't have to go through brain damage waiting for bank approval. CLICK HERE for more info and photos.

Easy to show. Call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. This property probably won't last long at this new price.

Key West Writer's Compound Cottages For Sale -- Historic Property

Just Listed: two individual properties classified as "condos" that are actually stand alone cottages in the Windsor Lane Compound which was established in 1976. The assortment of restored shacks, shanties, and cottages, were once winter homes for writers such as Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Richard Wilbur, poet, lecturer and "Divine Comedy" translator John Ciardi, John Hersey author of "A Bell for Adano" and "Hiroshima", and Ralph Ellison, john ciardi, who wrote "The Invisible Man."
The compound is located on Windsor Lane near the top of Solares Hill, the highest point in Key West.

719 Windsor Lane is the cottage where the John Hersey and his wife lived until his death in Key West in 1993. The property has generous rooms for the Historic District. The unit has two bedrooms and one bath in a space of 930 sq ft. The cottage sits on its own 3451 sq ft lot inside the compound. There is a right-sized private garden as well. The cottages share a lovely pool and mature gardens, all of which are located in an X zone! Each unit is owned fee simple but shares the common areas. This a 55 and over community and offers the right to quiet enjoyment in terms rarely found in downtown Old Town Key West. CLICK HERE for more detailed information and photos.

717 Windsor Lane is a separate cottage of 504 sq ft that sits on a 2121 sq ft lot. The property is marked by its simplicity. Perhaps that simplicity is what inspired the poets and writers that populated the compound. CLICK HERE for more info on this particular property.

Don't expect granite or marble counter tops or stainless steel designer kitchens or vessel sinks. Both cottages are classic Key West. And that ain't bad.

If you would like to checkout either property please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. You might even be a poet and not know it. Perhaps the proximity to the greatness of the former owners will rub off on you.

Bank Owned REO in Key West

REO stands for real estate owned by banks acquired through foreclosure or debt forgiveness. Some banks refer to it as OREO standing for other real estate owned (as in not in the operation of the banking enterprise such as bank building, service center, satellite operation, etc.).

I just completed a manual search of our mls records for bank owned single family homes in Key West. I think that the list may not be complete because some lenders may not necessarily be taking title to new REO in the bank's name. The list does not contain condos or town homes or any other real property. The properties are listed below by street address. Prospective buyers should consider buying one of these properties because they are likely priced at the real current market value and not at some inflated wishful thinking price. When banks foreclose they are required to substantiate the value they put on a foreclosed asset, and that is usually accomplished by having a recent appraisal.

The question arises if the bank owner has the property listed at appraised value, will the bank negotiate on price. The answer is yes. And no. Banks generally will not counter a written offer with a statement of what the bank will accept. Rather, they will tell the buyer to come back with his best and final offer. If there are more than two offers on the same property, the bank will play the offers against each other trying to up the purchase price. The bank may stonewall waiting for better offers rather than accepting a low-ball offer.

Banks must sell the REO. They asset managers look at real deals that can be closed. I advise clients to offer clean deals with very few contingencies (inspection, survey, and title). I urge buyers to offer all cash and make a quick close. The cleaner the offer, the more likely it may get accepted.

Here's the list. Take a look. If you see something you like please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. CLICK the street address below for detailed info and photos.

304 Julia Street with pool.

1116 Eaton Old Town with pool.

408 Grinnell Street - a beautiful new home in Old Town.

Windsor Lane rehab

1310 Olivia Street in the Meadows with pool.

1730 Johnson Street mid town with "pool".

2005 Fogarty mid town.

1609 Josephine Street mid town partially re-done.
1713 Johnson Street -- midtown

910 United Street -- Needs redone, huge lot.

309 Julia -- not a typo, across street from the huge house up above.

518 William Street -- Heart of Old Town and a Great Block!

1419 Atlantic Blvd - a condo that really needs some luvin!

34 Kingfisher Lane -- Key West Golf Club --Bank financing available.

1 Coral Way Stock Island - new town home with pool


3711 Duck Avenue

The properties below are not listed in our mls but they are bank owned and available for purchase. Contact Gary Thomas for more info:

Flagler Aveune 3/3, $514,900

Elizabeth Street 5/2 apartments $$548,900

Duck Avenue 4/2 townhome $287,900

Eagle Avenue 2/1.5 $177,900

Bay Drive Saddlebunch Key on water 2/2 $698,900

Who Do You Trust?

Buying a house or a second home is usually the biggest (or second biggest) purchase that most people make in their lives. Some people act out of impulse and make emotional decisions. Others are fanatical in their investigation of the property and the calculus of the deal.

I have become very close friends with a couple that I sold an Old Town home to a few years ago. One is a professional in a very high paying position in New York City. When they are in Key West we talk about their second biggest investment and the Key West real estate market. They trust me. I am glad for that. But they have become friends with other locals who also give them real estate advice such as a waitress at an italian restaurant and a barfly they met at the Schooner Wharf. I kid you not.

It amazes me but my friends are not dissimilar to others who look at buying a place in Key West. They often seek out the advice of "locals" they meet socially as if the Realtor they are working with is not worthy of belief. (There are a few I'd have to agree on myself.) Or maybe they are just seeking a second opinion as in "should I have the operation or not?" kind of opinion.

Let me throw this out at you for grins. Checkout the Realtor you are working with. See if he or she has had any run-ins with the law by going here: Has my Realtor been arrested? Or you can see if he or she has been evicted or sued for past debts by CLICKING HERE.

I'm not trying to disparage the local real estate community. There are some good people. And there are some drunks and druggies. Who do you trust to help you in making the biggest purchase in your life?

You can also checkout all of the current Key West and Lower Florida Keys real estate listings by CLICKING HERE. Just select the type of property you want, the price range you want to pay and start your investigation of Key West real estate. If you see something you like, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

709 Bakers Lane Key West Open House

I am hosting an Open House at 709 Bakers Lane in Old Town Key West on Sunday, May 25th from 11:30 AM until 2:00 PM. I've written about this property several times. It has to be one of the best deals in Key West.

The perfect island getaway beautifully located atop Solares Hill on a quiet lane is this completely renovated walled estate. The main house has Brazilian cherry floors and 16' cathedral ceilings. The new gourmet kitchen has a SubZero refrigerator, Viking wine chiller, Jenn Aire range and microwave ovens, 2 Bosch dishwashers, granite counter tops and cherry/cream glazed cabinets. The family/media room has 2 walls of glass overlooking the 26' black pool w/waterfall and 'cave' spa! There are 5 porches, rooftop sundeck and bricked courtyard with fountain. Joined by a covered walkway is a 2bd/2ba guest house with kitchen & a 1bd/1ba pool house. This magic propety has been reduced from the original asking price of $1,995,000 to $1,400,000 or $609 per sq ft.

This property at 709 Bakers Lane is just two blocks from Duval on Solares Hill--the highest point in Key West. The compound is actually two homes plus a guest cottage that is hidden away just off Elizabeth Street.

Each building was thoughtfully renovated to provide separate living spaces for the owner and family or friends. The great room in the main house features two chandeliers from a historic Chicago theatre. The kitchen has all the bells and whistles one would expect. The second floor is devoted to the master bedroom and bath plus a second floor terrace overlooking the pool below.

The guest house features a living area, kitchen, and two bedrooms and two bathrooms. James Leo Herlihy wrote Midnight Cowboy in this house.The home is not for everyone because the main house has only the master suite for sleeping. But an individual or couple with no small children might find the guest house and pool house just the ticket.There are two ROGO units on this property meaning that the owner could legally rent one or both homes as vacation rentals. (Lots of rules--not discussed here.)

CLICK HERE for more info and photos. Remember to come see the best buy in Old Town on Sunday, or call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.