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Thursday, May 16, 2013

529 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

Bring your toothbrush, some comfy shorts and tee shirts, and prepare to enjoy the "rest" of your life at the new listing at 529 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. You won't need to do a thing as this home is move-in ready. So you won't need to spend time or money fixing things. Instead, you can spend your time living the life you dream of living in Key West.

The listing Realtor describes 529 Grinnell Street this way:
"Beautifully renovated historic home on one of the most desirable streets in Old Town Key West. Located in a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes, this historic treasure exemplifies the best of Key West living. High ceilings, open floor plan great room, modern and elegant kitchen, three spacious bedrooms with ensuite baths. Hardwood floors, bright and airy rooms. Fully renovated in 2006 to the highest quality standards. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and split bedroom floor plan. Bedroom downstairs with ensuite bath. Off-street parking and pleasant pool with waterfall. Located near restaurants, theaters and Key West Seaport. A Historic Jewel For Comfortable Tropical Living."
I did some searching through the old shoe box and found a photo of 529 Grinnell Street that was taken back in 1965. When I looked at it I noticed that the second floor front porch extended out past the balcony of the house. I then saw a stairway that extended down the left side of the house. That suggested to me that the second floor probably had been converted into an apartment.  Well, folks, the apartment is long gone.  I went to the historic 1889 Sanborn maps and found what I believe to be this house. The map numbering is different today but the location of the large house on Southard (immediately south of 529 today) and the smaller cottage to the right (next door at 525 today) places 529 Southard Street  precisely where it sits today. And that strongly suggests to me that 529 Grinnell was built prior to 1889.
When you first enter this house you immediately know it is as clean as a whistle. The house is arranged for modern living. The open floor plan great room is bright and cheery. The house is Key West "casual". There is no pretense of formality here. This house was renovated with comfortable living in mind.
French doors open from the great room out to the deck where you will find a dipping pool and outdoor kitchen. The day I took the photos the outdoor kitchen was getting a bit of a face lift. The owner was not happy with the way the cabinets looked in the listing photos. They are being refinished to look like new again.
The above photo says it all. The seller wants this house to be perfect for the new owner.

The main floor has a powder room tucked under the stairway to the second floor. And just to the rear of the kitchen you will find a good sized bedroom with en-suite bath. (The laundry is also tucked into this space.) The bedroom is large enough to work as a master bedroom should, someday, the stairs become a challenge.  Note that the bathroom has a door that opens out to the deck so that swimmers can come right into the house to shower off if need be.
There are two bedrooms located on the second floor - a guest bedroom with en-suite bath with access to the covered second floor front balcony and the master suite with en-suite bath and private rear sun porch.
There is a small coffee bar located just off the door that leads to the second floor balcony. I might add a small refrigerator to hold some late night snacks or chilled wine to make morning and evening people watching all that more enjoyable.
The above photo shows Five Brother's Grocery and Sandwich Shop located at the corner of Southard Street. Both of the two cottages across the street have been featured in national magazines. 532 Grinnell Street (the cottage with the crows on the roof) was in Architectural Digest and 530 Grinnell Street was in Coastal Living Magazine.
The master suite is located at the rear. The bedroom chamber has a dramatic high pitched ceiling. The room is already large and spacious but the volume ceiling makes the space seem extra large. The en-suite bath is totally refined and offers both a pool and a tub.  Just off the bedroom you will find a rear sun porch for some au-natural tanning opportunities.
The off street parking is visible in the photo immediately above. Also visible, but probably not appreciated via the internet photos, is the recently completed exterior paint job. This house glistens. The interior floors were also refinished so that they would look their best. And they do. They are remarkable.  This entire house looks so clean and very well maintained. You might expect that in a house offered at $1,225,000. A lot of times in Key West buyers often get much less.  I took more photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE. Please take a moment to watch the video below.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet which provides more info on this quality Key West residence. I truly expect that this house will sell rather quickly. The housing supply for quality homes in the Old Town area at this price point has shrunk to a few properties. This one is a standout.  Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 







Wednesday, May 15, 2013

10 McCoy Circle - Key West

If you are looking for a Key West getaway with waterfront views, private dock, newer construction, and located near Old Town, you might want to look at the new listing at 10 McCoy Circle in the Flagler's Landing Condominiums. There are just 13 units at Flagler's Landing which were constructed in 2001. Only a few have changed ownership since the development was built, so you may not have heard of or even known of its existence. The aerial photo above shows the location just off North Roosevelt Boulevard in the Hilton Haven addition to Key West. The Key West Yacht Club is located in the foreground. The condos are located far to the rear on the Gulf of Mexico side.

The two storey unit sits to the west of the development which arcs from northeast to southwest. The main living level is located above covered parking. A large outdoor semi-covered patio faces toward the water. The kitchen, living room and half-bath are on the main level. The west wall is a bank of sliding doors that open onto a deck that overlooks the water.  An intricate custom built wooden spiral staircase winds from the living level to the top floor bedroom level. Each of the two bedrooms has a separate bath. A separate deck on the backside looks toward the community pool and tropical gardens. Unit #10 has 1387 sq ft of interior living space plus the second level decks and generous ground floor patio. There is covered parking which will accommodate two cars.

 
The monthly condo fee here is $565 which includes exterminating, exterior building maintenance, building insurances, common are maintenance, and pool service.
If you are a boater (or want to buy a boat so that you can live your dream on the water) a boat slip is also available for purchase for an additional $25,000. Please note that only owners at Flagler's Landing may own boat slips here.
There have only been a couple of resales of units at Flagler's Landing since the development was built. Most owners live at the property. It was not used as an investment vehicle and did not have the rash of foreclosures or short sales so common in other developments. The condo association is strong and stable.

10 McCoy Circle is available for purchase for $459,000 or $330 per sq ft. That is much less than a similar unit also available.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this unit. Or better than that, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.  

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

1509 17th Street - Key West Casual Elegance

If you have been dreaming about buying a second home in Key West but are getting discouraged by the high prices, the new Preferred Properties listing at 1509 17th Street may surprise you at how much house you can buy for such a reasonable price.  The listing Realtor describes this Mid Century Home as:
"From the great curb appeal to the attention to detail, this home has the qualities one wants in a home. The spacious layout of 2,500 sq.ft. includes a living room and den plus an open kitchen with granite counters and modern appliances. The Florida room opens to the large pool and patio area which is surrounded by lush foliage. The master suite features a walk in closet and master bath with a steam shower plus two additional guest rooms and baths. Other important features include custom built-in book cases, crown moldings, storm shutters, a new roof in 2009, outdoor speakers, a large pantry, 2 zone central a/c and it's located in a quiet, pretty, residential Key West neighborhood."

The house is located about four blocks from the east end of the Island of Key West just off Flagler Avenue.  CLICK HERE for a GOOGLE aerial view of the location. On a normal day or night you ought to be able to get to Old Town within seven minutes buy car.  I found a photo taken in the 1920s that shows what the eastern end of Key West looked like back than.
Today some of the most expensive homes on the island are located on the nearby Riviera and Sunrise Canals. In the 1950s and 1960s young professionals moved to the eastern end of the island as an alternative to the old houses in the downtown area of Key West before "historic" homes were considered chic. Today many of the the homes in the area have been updated to provide a new, gentile place to enjoy with wonderful Key West weather and laid back lifestyle. The home at 1509 17th Street is one of the prettiest homes in the area.
Upon entering the house you note that as presently configured, the living spaces have a more traditional layout and feel as compared to more recent construction. Individual rooms include a music room that opens into the living room that is bounded by bookshelves.

Off to the right one bedroom is currently used as an office. That room is quite large compared to bedrooms in newer built homes. The walk-in closet is one of several in this home.
A nearby second bedroom provides room for the kids, grandparents, or occasional guest.
The master bedroom with en-suite bath and huge walk-in closet is located at the rear of the home.  This room is gorgeous and sophisticated.
The Florida room, kitchen, and informal dining area occupy the majority of the rear part of the house. Two large air conditioned pantry rooms provide lots of storage as well. 
The pool and rear garden will sell this house if you had any reservation. The pool is large and gets the right amount of sun for the perfect Key West tan. The pool is large enough to really take a swim and not just sip a cocktail.  There is plenty of room poolside for lounging and dining in sophisticated surroundings.  CLICK HERE to view more photos of this beautiful Key West property.


1509 17th Street is offered at $699,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for more detailed information. Better yet please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing at your earliest convenience. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This home is priced to sell.


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The information on this site is for discussion purposes only. Under no circumstances does this information constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities, assets, real estate, or otherwise. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change.
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