1020 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Entry Hall

Would you like a place that seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of the regular world; a place designed by a world famous architect as his Key West getaway; a place where each room is unique; a home where each bedroom has its own private veranda; Then consider the home just listed by Preferred Properties (that's where I work but this is not my listing) at 1020 Von Phister Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. The listing Realtor describes this special property this way:

"Award wining Architect built and designed this home for himself in 2002 on one of the prettiest blocks in the Casa Marina. Just recently it has been improved even more to reflect the Key West lifestyle. As you enter the foyer you are greeted with an abundance of light and a view of the massive sliding doors that open to the pool and tropical landscaping. The home consists of 3 ensuite bedrooms, office, laundry room and a kitchen that opens to the living and dining area. The unusually large upstairs master has two bathrooms and a great outdoor shower on an oversized deck surrounded by Orchids. An elaborate solar power system supplies the electric and heats the pool There are two rolling gates for off street parking."

Living and Dining Areas share a view of the beautiful pool and gardens to the rear

The Chef is never far from the action in this open kitchen

The architecture and design lets you know upon entry that you are someplace "special". The formal entry entices you to walk through to the living room with its two story view of the pool and gardens. Each of the two bedrooms on the main level have a private bath and private veranda. The stairway to the second floor has windows with muted views of the garden to the east. Then you enter the large master suite with his and hers (or in Key West it could be his and his, or hers and hers) bathrooms. The master suite has a built in bookcase that overlooks the living room below and the pool and gardens. If that isn't enough, the master suite has its private second floor veranda which would be great for some stunning sunning. And there is a even an orchid garden adjacent to the private outdoor shower with obscured views of the forest primeval next door. It's like having a park next door.

Master Bedroom with his and hers baths

The three block section of Von Phister between White Street to the east and Reynolds Street to the west has several giant mahogany trees and numerous other palm and ornamental trees that give the stretch an almost park like feel. Von Phister Street runs parallel to Flagler Avenue which leads to the Casa Marina Hotel two blocks west. Von Phister is very quiet street close to everything, yet far enough away not to be in the middle of anything. You can walk to the beaches in five minutes or so. You can ride your bike to one of about seven gyms or yoga places within 5 blocks. There's a nearby grocery store, a Dairy Queen, some art galleries, churches, and the Glynn Archer School. While those businesses are near, they are not in the area itself. And that means your neighbors are homes and not businesses. You have to go leave the sanctity of Von Phister to go back to the real world. It's not that far away. But it is far enough.

1020 Von Phister Street has 1977 sq ft of living space and sits on a large 4558 sq ft lot (46.75 x 97.25) lot. The house was built new (not remodeled) in 2002. There isn't another house like it anywhere. It is real a beauty. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this house and to view listing photos.


I got to take my own photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE. I live across the street and to the east just a tad bit. I love living in this area. And I am really serious about the beauty of the very special home at 1020 Von Phister Street. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642 to schedule a showing of this property. You will be very pleasantly surprised. I am buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

White Street Pier is an easy nighttime stroll away

911 Grinnell Street - Bank Owned - Old Town - Key West

The new listing at 911 Grinnell Street will likely turn into a feeding frenzy as many prospective buyers submit offers on this Bank Owned single family house in Old Town that is offered at just $399,900. The listing Realtor describes the property thus:

"Cute 2 story Conch home has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, located in Old Town Key West. Home features: Dade County pine , stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, new carpets, updated bathrooms and a swimming pool."

911 Grinnell Street as it appeared only a couple of years ago

I showed this house several times in the past few years when it was listed as a short sale at a much higher price. Obviously, the house did not sell then. I had a buyer that submitted an all cash offer at a price higher than the current asking price, but we were unable to get the previous owner to accept it. Such is often the case. Let me share with you the description of this property before it became bank owned:

"Located in a quiet part of Old Town this gorgeous 2+ bedroom 2 bath home has just been totally renovated with an architect's supervision. The upstairs master suite includes a sitting room, walk-in closet, and views to the east over neighborhood rooftops and gardens. The kitchen is spacious and open w/granite counter tops. The beautiful bathrooms feature unique custom tile work and modern fixtures/faucets. This home has two French doors that open to the deck and the wonderful, sunny, private back yard, landscaped with tropical vegetation, a pool, and outdoor shower. The front porch is spacious and feels like an outdoor room."

Dade County Pine walls throughout the main floor living area

Recent kitchen with stainless steel stove and dishwasher only

Snappy newer bath

I recall some occasional difficulty in showing the house when it was listed for sale because it was continually rented as a vacation rental. Yes, a vacation rental. It had most of the features repeat vacationers want when they rent a house including that ever-so-necessary charm, Dade County walls, and pool. CLICK HERE to view the property when it was marketed as a vacation rental. Carefully read the narrative description (which explains there are really three bedrooms and then view the photos that entice renters to select this property. Click the photo which will start a slide presentation. Remember the property is now vacant and the furnishings are no longer there.

Pool prior to foreclosure

Pool now. But it can look wonderful again.

911 Grinnell Street is located midway between Truman Avenue on the south and Olivia Street which runs parallel to the Key West cemetery. Click GOOGLE MAP for an aerial perspective and remember to use the toggle switch for a street view. The bar up on the corner at Truman stays open late and re-opens at 8:00 AM. The cemetery on the other hand stays quiet forever. There is a mix of single family homes (some extraordinary) and some apartments. The property to the rear on Watson Lane is undergoing an huge restoration. It ought to have a very positive impact of adjacent property values when it is completed. This is a true Key West neighborhood. In other words quaint the block ain't. But it has convenient access to Duval Street five blocks to the west. There are several gyms, yoga studios, restaurants, shops and some galleries along the White and Truman corridors. This house does not have off street parking but on street parking is normally not difficult.

CLICK HERE to view photos of this property as it looks on August 25, 2011.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls listing sheet. Then if you are serious and want to buy 911 Grinnell Street, you must make a serious offer. Forget about trying to buy it for less than the already very low asking price of $399,900. There will be multiple offers many of which will be all cash with few if any contingencies. The bank requires proof of cash or pre-approval by Bank of America on any non-cash offers. In all likelihood the bank will solicit best and final offers from the anticipated multiple offers. If you want this property it is yours to lose by making a tight-fisted offer.

If you would like to see 911 Grinnell Street before its gone (which will likely be in a matter of days) please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. This bank owned property is a bargain at the asking price. Seriously!

2430 Fogarty Avenue - Key West - Estate Sale

2430 Fogarty Avenue - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 2430 Fogarty Avenue in Key West. The listing agent describes the property this way:

"Perfect home for a small family, this renovated CBS has a 2 bedroom/1 bath main house, and a 1/1 attached efficiency. Boasting a concrete fence streetside, the spacious front yard is nicely landscaped with a magnificent Bismark palm, and a brick walkway and brick drive and carport. This home also features tiled floors, laundry room with washer/dryer, and a 12x13 work/storage shed on a concrete slab. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, bullnosed granite counter tops and fine wood & glass cabinets. Metal Bahama shutters. Sliding gate for the carport. Back patio area is partially covered."

This 1330 sq ft home has three bedrooms and two baths plus the mother-in-law apartment mentioned above. Oh, and the yard is immense: 5,000 sq ft (50'x100'). There is plenty of room for a pool in the backyard. The front yard is enclosed from the street by a privacy fence. There is even a covered carport which is accessed via a rolling gate. The front entryway and driveway have brick pavers and the area is lit at night. The landscaping is very simple and quite beautiful. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls database and to view listing photos.

Shiny new kitchen

Living and mini kitchen in the mother-in-law apartment

Bahama shutters on all windows will reduce your windstorm insurance

New air conditioning, covered patio, and large back yard with room for a pool

Fenced and gated driveway and lit front walkway

This property is an estate sale. The property was just appraised and the property is listed at $349,000 or $262 per sq ft.

If you would like to see 2430 Fogarty Avenue or any other property in Key West, please consider calling me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

When I was young and people would ask me "What do you want to do when you grow up?" I would answer "Be Cary Grant." I was serious. That guy was exactly the type of guy I wanted to be: good looking, intelligent, witty, and rich. I failed on all four.

I still love watching many of his old movies including one of my very favorites "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". By chance that movie was on Turner Movie Classics this past Sunday. For the reader not familiar with the plot, Mr. Blandings and his family plus maid lived in a small post World War II New York City apartment. The Blandings had two pre-teen daughters who needed space to grow into young ladies. So the family decided to look for a real house outside the city. They found a run down house in rural Connecticut that supposedly dated back to the Revolutionary War. It had "character" but it needed tons of work. The location, however, was ideal and the couple decided to buy the old place.

The lucky couple taking their friend to see their new dream house. He was not impressed.

I tuned in after the movie started just as Mr. and Mrs. Blandings were showing the house to their friend Bill who happened to be an attorney. Bill complained that they had made a dreadful mistake to which Mr. Blandings announced:

Muriel and I have found what I'm not ashamed to call our dream house.

It's like a painting. You buy it with your heart, not your head.

You don't ask, "How much was the paint? The canvas?"

You look at it. And you say,"It's beautiful. I want it."

And if it costs a few more pennies, you pay it and gladly.

Because you love it.

And you can't measure the things you love in dollars and cents.

Well, anyway, that's the way I feel about it.

When I sign on Saturday, I can look the world in the face and say, "It's mine.

My house. My home.

To which Mrs. Blandings added "Our house. Our home."

We get to watch the Blandings go through buyer hell as they realize the little fixer needed more repairs than imagined. Ultimately, they hired an architect and decided to design and build exactly what they wanted: their dream house. Of course dream houses cost more than one could imagine. Simple little things eventually add up to very large sums of money. Disputes, delays, budget overruns, and misunderstandings sometimes turn a dream into a nightmare.

The house was nearly completed but the windows were delivered to another site.

Near the end of the movie we see Mr. Blandings reach his boiling point over perceived price gouging. He even suspected his wife and best friend of infidelity. Yes he paid more than he planned. And no, his wife and best friend had not cheated.

The final scene is a tight shot of the Blandings family along with their attorney friend sitting at the foot of the freshly completed home. The camera pulls back ever so high to show the new owners enjoying life in the bucolic landscape living happily ever after in their dream house.

As much as I love this movie the fact is the Blandings could have avoided all of the drama (and maybe some of the cost) had they bought a house that already met their needs. Instead of looking for a place that they could fix-up, they might have found a place that didn't need any work. Rather than feeling cheated by contractors and doubting the fidelity of his wife and best friend, Mr. Blandings could have saved himself (and family) from remembrances of Daddy not at his dearest. If you are thinking about buying a Key West getaway home, CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls database. Instead of limiting your search to your intended price target, increase the price a bit to see what other properties might be available. Take into consideration the costs in time, materials, and contractor fees if you were to do a renovation.

914 James Street - Old Town Key West - Short Sale

The very interesting home at 914 James Street located near the Key West Historic Seaport is back on the market as a short sale. The house was listed in early February and quickly went under contract. For whatever reason, the property is back on the market. I have shown this property several times and I think it could make a wonder Key West getaway property for some lucky buyer. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"This 2 bedroom, 2 bath Old Town home has a large pool, open living space, and a bonus sleeping loft.Lender approved at $402k with buyer bringing additional 5k cash for 2nd lender. Home sits on a large lot ( for Old Town Key West), and has a very comfortable flow. Buyer to pay 1 % of contract sales price to short sale processor. Seller is a licensed Fl. sales associate, but not the listing agent. Exclusions to sale are bathtub outside, 2 chandeliers and sink and vanity in back bathroom. This is a potential short sale."

Sellers don't often exclude the bathtub, but in this instance I see the reason. It is located just outside the great room on the edge of the deck near the pool. Out door showers (and tubs, I guess!) are among the reasons to live in Key West where one can bathe outdoors just about every day of the year.

The house itself needs to be seen to be understood. The owner has divided the space to accommodate a roommate that lives in the front of the house. That part of the house has a formal entry with a staircase to a small second level loft that could be used for an artist lair, writer's workspace, exercise room, or sleeping loft. A new kitchen overlooks James Street. That area is followed by the living area and bath at the rear. The bedroom is to the right. A doorway at the rear of this space opens into the back portion of the house where the current owner resides. (That door is functional and this is a real functioning doorway for now.) One enters the great room and view a set of French doors at the far opposite end. This room has a tall vaulted ceiling that gives the area a spatial feeling, yet the wood walls and windows with view of palms and sky give the same area an almost 'cabiny' feeling-in Key West. Another bedroom is located just to the right of the entry. The bathroom is located to the left. A small butler's kitchen is at the rear left.

There is a nice sized pool at the rear that is surrounded by a wooden deck on four side. Large trees frame the back yard but the space does get sunshine as well.

A new owner would probably ditch the roommate and reconfigure the living areas to fit a more conventional lifestyle. I don't see this place as costing all that much, but I am not a contractor. Too often new owners get way to excited about what they feel 'needs' to be done and end up spending way too much money. Removing the door between the two living areas would be a great place to start. A new owner could live in the area for a few months and then decide what might work better. This place isn't broken. So I wouldn't worry about fixing it. Eventually some work will assuredly be done, but I don't think this house needs a budget breaker redo.

CLICK HERE to view photos I took of this property that is now offered as a short sale at the asking price of $410,000. Re-read the listing comments:"Lender approved at $402k with buyer bringing additional 5k cash for 2nd lender." And you can view the Key West mls datasheet on this property.

CLICK the GOOGLE MAP for a aerial view of the area and use the toggle switch to view the street. The City of Key West has a big old parking garage across the street. You can view that as a negative or a positive. I see it as being a quiet neighbor. The Historic Key West Seaport is one block to the north. And the rest of Old Town is within easy walking distance from this location. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property.

If you would like to see 914 James Street please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

2521 Fogarty Avenue - Mid Town Condo - Key West - Bank Owned

2521 Fogarty Avenue - Key West

I don't get excited very often about properties in the Mid Town area. The new listing (not mine) at 2521 Fogarty Avenue which is Bank Owned is the exception to my rule. The listing Realtor describes this very affordable three bedroom property with a pool this way:

"Bank Owned. Spacious three bedroom, two bath condo in Mid-Town Key West. Ground level unit has no stairs, private entrance and off street parking. Granite counter tops in kitchen and both baths. Travertine floors in den, kitchen, laundry room and both baths. Carpet in all three bedrooms. Central air & ceiling fans. Washer dryer hookup. All offers must be accompanied by pre-approval or proof of funds letter."

This three bedroom two bath condo has 1199 sq ft of living space on one floor. The living room,dining area, and kitchen are open. A center hall on the opposite side leads to the three bedrooms. Two large bedrooms share a very large bathroom. The master bedroom has an en-suite bath. The bedrooms are carpeted and the carpet needs to go. The rest of the rooms have travertine marble floors. All windows and doors and everything on the inside is new. Other than the carpet, I did not notice any deferred maintenance. 2521 Fogarty Avenue is offered at $192,500 or just $161 per sq ft.


I encourage interested buyers to CLICK HERE as well to view photos I took of this property as well as some prior photos when the property was occupied. This property is owned by a local Key West lender. At a price this low and with a property this nice, I think this property will go under contract very quickly. I would not wait on this. Seriously.


There is a shared pool at the rear. It's not very big, but it's very charming. The unit has a large laundry room and an off street parking spot. And the unit has its own outdoor space complete with bricked mini-terrace.

If you would like to see 2521 Fogarty Avenue please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

1127 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West - Won't You be My Neighbor

1127 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work but this is not my listing) just listed 1127 Von Phister Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I know this area quite well as the house is located about half a block away from my home.

There is a beautiful two-story double galleried home is one of the prettiest properties in the Casa Marina area. It has great curb appeal and splendid gardens. There is a master suite downstairs. Upstairs there are two guest rooms with a balcony on the front and a deep sun deck on the rear that overlooks the heated swimming pool. The recent renovation includes a beautiful new kitchen inside and an outdoor kitchen. There is also a half bath and an outdoor shower poolside. This beautiful home is offered at $1,295,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos.

The house is a five minute walk or take a bike ride to the Atlantic Ocean and the beach. This is the real deal my friend. And the good thing is you won't have any sand in your feet by the time you walk back home. Of course you can ride your bike or drive your car or scooter.

The Beach

You can walk or ride your bike to Duval Street in about five minutes. Or you could go to the shops on White Street like Faustos or go to the Island Gym (2 minutes) or you can grab a cafe con leche at any of the several neighborhood joints. You can be at the Historic Key West Seaport as fast on your bike as in your car (if you consider parking in your travel time) (5 minutes). And you can be in the Key West suburbs at the shopping centers or leave on a jet plane (we got 'em) at the Key West International Airport (that name always cracks me up!) in about 5 to 7 minutes depending on traffic.

Fausto's on White Street - has an old fashioned butcher

Island Gym on White Street - all welcome

The location is not only convenient, but also very quiet. We don't have a lot of tourists on our little street. And we don't have lots of apartments or guest houses or commercial activities things that attract locals from all parts of town. You kind of have to want to go to Von Phister Street for a reason. You don't just end up there on your way to someplace else. If you have a dog, you will likely meet your neighbors on their morning or evening walks. Von Phister, like most of the streets in the Casa Marina Area, is tree lined but has no sidewalks. Some locals often meet up at Higg's Beach while the dogs run around like little kids. Others take their pets over to Doggie Beach for a quick dip. It isn't the country, but the country doesn't have the Atlantic Ocean four blocks away.

If you would like to see 1127 Von Phister Street or any other house in Key West, please consider working with me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 (or by email at kw1101v@aol.com). I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. I live in the Casa Marina Area and love it.