616 Petronia Street - Old Town - Key West

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 616 Petronia Street.  Frequent visitors may recognize the location as being at the top of Solares Hill - the highest point in all of Key West. This home is not only located in the X Zone for flood insurance purposes, it is at the highest point in all of Key West. And it is less than a full two block walk to Duval Street.  Even better, it is offered at $585,000.

The listing Realtor describes this property as:

"At the top of the hill on Petronia between Elizabeth and Simonton, this renovated home has three bedrooms and two baths in an open floor plan. The kitchen opens to a nice deck and the big back yard. The lot is 116 feet deep. There are stylish details throughout including a chef's kitchen with s/s appliances, high end fixtures and more space than you expect. Off street parking, central air and all walking distance to everything!"

I searched the historic Sanborn Fire Maps to determine the approximate date this home was built.  It first appeared in the 1912 edition which means it was likely built between 1899 and 1912.  While searching the maps I learned a new fact about this specific area - it was once called Buzzard's Roost. I assume the name was given because of the high location from whence a nesting buzzard could see just about anywhere.

The house has been recently updated. The house is efficiently laid out with an open living area on one side the the bedrooms and baths on the opposite side. CLICK HERE to view all the photos I took of this 1098 sq ft home.

I was surprised by how large the backyard is. The lot is 2900 sq ft ( 25' X 116'). An existing small cottage is currently being used as a birdhouse for exotic birds. I think there is room for small pool. There is gated and covered off street parking.  That is a rarity in Old Town.  

CLICK HERE  to view the Key West mls database. Then, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this Old Town area home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 

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2403 Staples Avenue - Key West - An Exceptional Transformation

Just SOLD, but not by me, 2403 Staples Avenue, which is located in the midtown area of Key West, Florida.  I seldom write about homes this part of town because the people that read my blog are usually looking to buy a cute little cottage or a big Conch house in Old Town or maybe a Casa Marina area home on a large lot as opposed to a 1950s - 1960s era home where middle class locals live. But I'm making an exception on this house, because everything about this house is exceptional.

I found three photos of 2403 Staples Avenue when it was listed for sale in 2010. Compare the before and after photos that show the facade, the kitchen, and the rear cottage. The transformation is simply amazing.

I got a chance to see this home during a recent Sunday afternoon open house. Everyone was impressed with the innovative design that transformed this run of the mill tract home built in 1958 into a magazine quality showpiece. The 1500 sq ft home sits on a 4300 sq ft lot. This is typical for this area of town. Many similar houses were built. The kitchen, dining area, and living spaces are combined into a dramatic great room with volume ceiling, media wall, and multiple doors with garden views.  The master suite is located at the rear of the house. The bedroom is extra large as is the adjacent en-suite bath with tub and separate shower plus dual vanities. The second bedroom is located at the front. The third bedroom is used by the owner as an office. All original windows were replaced with impact glass.

I have seen numerous similarly sized bedrooms in homes in the midtown area. Never have I seen bedrooms that looked this good. Never have I seen a bathroom that was revitalized like the one shown immediately above. According to what the listing Realtor told me the owner got scraps of glass from a local glass company. He painted the back sides of the individual glass panels and then used them in place of tile above the bathtub.

I am probably as guilty as the next guy in using 'safe' colors in decorating. I don't think I saw a white or beige wall in the house at 2403 Staples. Everywhere I looked the walls were painted vibrant colors. Bold textiles punctuated the living room and master bedroom while softer textiles were used in the two other bedrooms.

 

 

This house has no pool, but there is room for a pool someday. Until then, there is a small guest cottage at the rear. Look back at the beginning photos to see how that small shack became a treasure. Like the main house, the little cottage is designed to the nines. LED lights hidden under the back wall provide subtle illumination for the room and create a bit of mystery as in "How'd they do that?".  The tiny sink and high-end faucet in the half bath cost a bit more to purchase, but they impart the feeling that the owner "cared" about this cottage as much as he cared about the rest of the house. It usually costs that same amount to have a plumber install a cheap fixture as a more expensive one. The same goes for installing light fixtures. Buyers appreciate quality. An outdoor shower completes this tiny guest cottage.

This home went under contract ten days after it was listed and on the day after the open house I attended.  I remember calling a couple of people and telling them to get over to see this place. I knew this place would not last long. It didn't.  I reviewed the Key West mls database to compare that sales price on this home with other homes in the area. 2403 Staples was listed at $659,000 and sold at $655,000 or $436 per sq ft. I did a search of sales in the midtown are for the past two years. The average house had 1555 sq ft and sold at $439,956 or $285 per sq ft.  2403 Staples is anything but typical. When I saw the sales numbers I was elated as I see this as a target price for other home owners in the area to strive to obtain.

CLICK HERE to view all the photos I took. Remember, this house is SOLD.

If you are looking to buy a home in Key West please consider working with me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

1413 Grinnell Street - The Casa Marina Area - Key West - Price Reduction

The asking price on the very sweet and deceptively large Casa Marina Area home located at 1413 Grinnell Street was just reduced from $1,895,000 to $1,795,000.  I wrote about this home when it was first listed in mid March.

I live in the Casa Marina Area, in fact I live a little over one block from this property, and I love this part of town.  I vaguely remember the house as it looked in the latter part of the 1990s when the house was thoroughly renovated. I remember going inside the house when the general contractor was doing the renovation. The original house somewhat resembled a simple box with a shed roof with a dormer in front. A very large addition was built on the rear but for the most part the addition is not visible from the street. I looked for but could not find a photo of the house as it looked in the 1990s. I did find a much older photo that was taken about fifty years ago - see the black and white photo below. I also found an old aerial photo of the Casa Marina Area that was taken in 1930.  I added an arrow that proves 1413 Grinnell Street existed in 1930. (County records show the house was built in 1943. Clearly the county records are incorrect.)

1413 Grinnell St in 1965

Click this photo to enlarge

The current house barely resembles its old self. That's because the old house has been enlarged and gentrified into a 2487 sq ft home with four bedrooms, four baths, an expansive great room with living, dining, and kitchen that flow out to the covered rear deck that looks out to the pool and spa.

There are two main floor bedrooms each with private bath. Notice the heart pine floors throughout the house. All floors have been recently refinished. The house was freshly painted just before the house went on the market.

Upstairs you will find a very comfortable master bedroom (that was added to the rear of the original house) complete with ensuite bath.  French doors open out to the second floor rear deck which provides a place for private sun worship or a shady spot for reading or viewing the goings-on in the pool below. A fourth bedroom and office complete the second floor.

The 1990s two story addition to the rear of the property includes the two-tiered deck that wraps around the house. The ground level deck provides sitting and dining areas. French doors open out from the great room and kitchen onto the deck.  On the second floor French doors open from the rear master suite and the office out to the covered deck.  The views from the either level reveal the large pool and spa. This is a real pool, folks. Not one of those cocktail pools you see in Old Town.

 CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this home.

1413 Grinnell Street is now offered at $1,795,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this beautiful Casa Marina home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.