513 Margaret Street - Key West - Prime Old Town Residence

It is time to take a second look at 513 Margaret Street in the very heart of Old Town Key West. The asking price on this incredible property was recently reduced from $2.4 million to $2.3 million. The listing Realtor describes this impressive home this way:

"This historical family home is located in the heart of Old Town Key West. Beautiful hardwood floors, natural light and spacious rooms provide the backdrop for an elegant Keys Lifestyle. The main floor is designed for entertaining with spacious living, dining and large family room. French doors extending from all rooms to the private and serene custom pool and tropical gardens. A chef's kitchen is easily accessible from the outdoor living area and amazing pool. Impressive crown molding and gleaming hard wood floors are just a few of the rich details that make this home a one of a kind. Five bedrooms and 5.5 baths provide a spectacular retreat that offers consummate privacy. Two coveted Off-Street parking spaces."

I dug deep into the old shoebox and found a photo taken in 1965 and then took a similar pic to contrast with the way the house, built in 1889, looks today.  You will note that the second floor porch is no longer "enclosed" and that the pure white exterior wood siding is now a soft beige punctuated by bright white trim and green shutters. The barren landscape has been replaced by specimen palms and lush tropical foliage.  In two words I would describe this home as "Picture Perfect". But this home is much more than a pretty facade.

About ten years ago the original house was expanded and a guest cottage and pool were added.  The home as a very traditional look from the street, but the interiors have been updated for modern family living.  The house continues to have a formal living area on the first floor which is followed by either a family room or dining room. The master bedroom includes an en-suite bath is at the rear. Just off the back is a secluded outdoor shower.  French doors open from the spacious master bedroom out to the pool area. This space is perfect for the laying in bed and reading the paper and sipping morning coffee or taking a late night dip before retiring. Since this bedroom is on the main level, older buyers won't need to worry about climbing stairs as is required in many of the larger Old Town homes.

The guest cottage, built in 2002, has two bedrooms and two baths. One bath opens off the pool and doubles as a pool bath.  The guest cottage has a disappearing wall which gives the space a lot of flexibility as far as use.  The guest cottage offers great pool views but from a different perspective than the master bedroom. Both the guest cottage and master bedroom have privacy in mind. With a house this beautiful, you might not want to rent it to strangers, but trust me on this, this home would make a perfect vacation rental.

The upstairs has a much more traditional layout with two bedrooms each with a private bathroom. The front bedroom is my favorite and for good reason. It has access to the fantastic front porch that has commanding views of Margaret Street.  You could sit up there and watch people all day long. And as we know, the people in Key West are among the most interesting in the world to watch.

CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this wonderful Key West property that is now offered at $2,400,000.  This home has 2557 sq ft of living space under air plus front porches on the first and second floors, a huge deck, an 18' x 10' pool with waterfall, off street parking, guest cottage, and killer good looks. The home sits on a 54' x 101' sq ft lot. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. You may also CLICK HERE to view the floor layout for this property.

We all know the value of location. This home is located on one of the best blocks in Old Town. It sits amid other stately homes and delightful cottages of superior value. A neighborhood vegetarian market is one half block away. The Historic Key West Seaport is two blocks further north. Michael's steakhouse is up on the opposite corner at Southard Street. And the Duval Street restaurants, shops, and nightlife are four blocks to the west.

If you would like to see 513 Margaret Street or any other home in Key West, please contact 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. 

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916 Fleming Street ~ Old Town ~ Key West

I just did a price comparison among the fine large homes located on Fleming Street in Old Town Key West and learned that  916 Fleming Street is the least expensive on a price per square foot basis ($617.98 to be precise). Now since I have written about some of these other houses before I don't want today's blog to appear that I am disparaging any of those houses because I am not. But I am suggesting that a bargain shopper might want to do some comparison shopping. 

916 Fleming Street is located on millionaires row where you will find some of the finest homes in Old Town. This stately home has been dramatically renovated and has all of the amenities a discerning home buyer could ask for.

The Monroe County property records show the house was built in the 1930s but we all know the old court house burned down and the property records were destroyed. I found an old photo that says the house was built in the 1920s.  Like many of the older homes, 916 Fleming Street was substantially rebuilt and added onto. The most recent renovation expanded the size to 2637 sq ft. The house now has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half baths. The house sits on a 3870 sq ft lot (43' x 90').  The house has a bricked off street parking space. Note the two story front porches which are great for people watching - the second most popular sport in Key West.

The home has a formal entry which leads to the open living area at the rear.  The house is designed for informal Key West living, but it still comes with lots of style and grace. The living area opens out to the outdoor living room which has a wonderful view of the pool and guest cottage.

The master suite takes up one half of the second floor and includes the bedroom with vaulted ceiling, dressing room, en-suite bath and walk-in closet.

There are two large guest bedrooms with en-suite baths on this floor as well. Also located on this floor is a large cedar lined closet and laundry closet. There is also access to the third floor via electric stairway access.

The main floor has a withdrawing room (a "man cave" for the more sophisticated gent) that is just awesome.

The pool has a seductive allure as do most pools in Key West. Except this one is part of an incredible property that can yours at the asking price of $1,650,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for more particulars on this new listing.

Guest Cottage with bath

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 916 Fleming Street. And then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your dream home in Paradise.

1110 Petronia Street - Old Town - Key West

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, describebs 1110 Petronia Street in the Old Town area of Key West this way:

"This striking and eye-catching Old Town cottage occupies a very desirable location at the corner of Ashe and Petronia Streets. The owners have just completed an impressive restoration which includes new roof, shutters, windows, doors, attractive gutters, on-demand water heater, heating/AC system (including new duct work), and a stylish new master bathroom. There is a charming small swimming pool and off-street parking."

I have been watching the transformation of this cottage for many months. The red painted board and batten siding is atypical to the white clapboard siding seen in most homes. And I find that refreshing. The house reminds me somewhat of La Casa Roja on Catherine Street. The handmade wood shutters look ever so strong.  The white picket fence on the side neatly frames the cottage for passersby to admire. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property.

The Ashe Street side of the cottage provides gated off street parking, a luxury in a cottage home in Old Town.

There is even a small pool where you can't do a breast stroke, but where you could certainly do some chillaxin'.

Inside this 1134 sq ft home you will find three bedrooms and two baths. This Old Town home has off street parking, a small pool, and is ready for a new buyer. I think with a few changes this property could make a great vacation rental. It is offered for sale at $747,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser's card shows the house was built in 1934 which we all know is highly unlikely because that was in the Great Depression when Washington had to come to Key West to help save it from utter ruin. The old courthouse had burned and property records were destroyed. The WPA helped create new property records and set the date of most houses in the 1933-1934 time period unless a specific construction date was known. I found 1110 Petronia Street (corner of Petronia and Ashe) located in the 1899 Sanborn Map. CLICK HERE.  WIKIPEDIA has a great discussion of the Sanborn Maps. I described the function of the Sanborn Map to a buyer a few days ago and he suggested that it served the purpose of a census, of sorts. I liked that. Instead of people,  it counted houses and then provided data as to age, construction, etc. I found a photo that shows 1110 Petronia Street as it appeared nearly fifty years ago. See below.

1110 Petronia Street as it appeared in 1965

1110 Petronia Street as it appears in 2013

If you would like to see the inside of this cute cottage home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.