414 Louisa Street - Key West - Old Town fixer

414 Louisa Street is a totally renovated cigar maker's cottage that has been lovingly renovated by the current owners who added lots of personal touches to make this a home sweet home. I wrote about this property late last year soon after it was listed for sale. I showed the house a couple of days ago and decided it was time to give this place an updated blog in light of other recent sales in the same block.

 Upon arrival you will notice the house has off street parking and inviting front porch that sits behind a white picket fence. When you pass the entry threshold you will see a gleaming entry that leads to the back of the house where the living area is located. Up front there are two bedrooms each with en-suite baths. A ship's ladder extends to an attic loft that's the perfect perch for pre-teens, teens, and college age kids.  The laundry closet is also located in the entry hallway.

 

 

The pocket doors retract and reveal the spa-like master bath with Jacuzzi tub with waterfall and designer fixtures.  There's a TV mounted on the wall so the two of you can enjoy your favorite programs while soaking in the tub.

 

French doors at the rear open to the covered rear patio and swimming pool. There's an outdoor shower around the corner as well.  CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home.

I think 414 Louisa Street could make an excellent vacation rental. The house is located one-half block off upper Duval Street near La Te Da. Visitors will love the location for its convenience and quiet location.

Four much larger homes sold in the past two years on this one block. They include 408 Louisa Street (immediately above) that sold for $1,250,000 in April 2013; 410 Louisa Street that sold for $1,327,500 in August 2014; 411 Louisa Street that sold for $1,350,000 in May 2014. 411 Louisa is undergoing significant renovation at this time. 416 Louisa Street (immediately below) is under construction and is also under contract. The list price on 416 Louisa Street is $1,499,000. I think when prospective buyers consider the prices paid by other buyers for houses in the same block see the other sales, they may appreciate the value of both the location and the significantly lower price.

414 Louisa Street is offered for sale at $799,000. It is a two/two with pool and parking. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Then if interested in seeing this property please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642.

1724 Rose Street - Key West, Florida

The listing Realtor describes aptly describes 1724 Rose Street in Key West this way:

"Opportunity knocks! This home sits on a very large corner lot near the beaches & White Street Pier. The house needs work but has a great floor plan that opens to the spacious, private rear yard. There is an open floor plan with the kitchen, Florida room & dining room all opening to each other and to the outdoors. The master bedroom en suite also opens to the outdoors. Two more guest rooms share a bath. There is a lot of space inside and out on a large corner lot in a great location."

Click GOOGLE MAP for an aerial view of this location and its proximity to the beaches. This is a suburban neighborhood where many of the 1950s vintage homes have been updated and or expanded or new houses placed on the large lots that are the norm for this area.  1724 Rose Street is a large corner lot 79' X 100' or 7932 sq ft.  The existing three bedroom two bath house has 1518 sq ft of living space under air conditioning. Now this is not the typical cigar maker cottage or Grand Conch house that I write about. Instead, this is a property that may appeal to a local looking for a place that can be renovated and made back into a nice single family home in a good neighborhood. Or maybe the property will appeal to a buyer who wants a large lot with a house that is priced so affordably that it could be torn down and a new house built and still be priced less than other new construction in the area.

A concrete block privacy fence separates the house from the street. The front door sits maybe twenty feet from the fence. The east and west side yards provide similar separation from Josephine street to the east and the adjacent home to the west. The back yard is extra large and probably has a thirty foot separation between the house and the back fence, In other word, the space is immense and offers all kinds of development possibilities.

The inside of the house has a big open living area with plenty of space for informal living. Multiple sets of doors open out to the semi-covered loggia on the side and rear of the house. The kitchen obviously is dated and reflects a design of another generation. The floors appear to be Cuban tiles.  The master bedroom also has glass panel doors that open out to the rear. That bedroom has an en-suite bath. The two other bedrooms share a bath. If the house were to be renovated, there is plenty of space to reconfigure room spaces and usages. 

A new owner might consider taking down the existing structure all together and building a new house that would be elevated to current flood elevation levels. The new house would likely have hardiboard siding and use wind impact glass windows which would make insurance rates much more affordable.  A new owner might even elect to put a modular home on the lot which could significantly reduce construction costs. I am confident a new owner would add a pool. I understand most pool companies are pricing new pools around $30,000 to $35,0000 as a starting price.  CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datsheet on 1724 Rose Street. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private 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 place in Paradise.

615 Southard St. - Old Town - Key West

The very first time I came to Key West I decided I would move here someday. I actually thought of looking at properties on that first trip, but I decided that would be too impetuous. So I booked another trip and came back six months later to start to look at properties. I talk to potential buyers and get emails from others who tell me similar stories of coming to Key West, falling in love with this simple little town, and dreaming of moving here some day. Many of these people hope to find a house or condo that they occasionally can rent to help pay the acquisition cost of the property. The recently listed home at 615 Southard Street has a successful history as a vacation rental. If you are a buyer that has been dreaming about buying a place here, perhaps this home may be the answer to your little dream. 

The listing Realtor describes 615 Southard Street this way:

"Come and see this perfect Key West Conch House today! With two bedrooms, two baths and a private swimming pool in this location, 615 Southard Street will certainly sell quickly. A few years back the property underwent a thorough and quality renovation. The current owners purchased the property in 2001. Features include custom woodcarvings, restored hardwood floors, high ceilings, updated baths and kitchen, central air and heat pump for pool. Property is being sold turnkey (fully furnished) with lovely tropical furniture and accessories. The location is in the heart of Old Town, and only 1.5 blocks to Duval Street and a leisurely stroll to the Historic Seaport. This updated Key West Old Town classic will sell quickly. Don't miss the boat."

615 Southard Street Key West - 1965

615 Southard Street Key West - 2014

I looked in the historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that 615 Southard Street first appeared in the 1892 edition. The house was renovated in 2000 for which it received a ceramic star for excellence in renovation. It has been occasionally rented as a vacation rental since then. A new addition was placed at the back of the original house where the kitchen and dining area is now located. A pool was added was well.

The formal living area is located at the front of the house. This former cigar makers cottage is rich with Dade County Pine walls throughout the property. Notice the extra tall ceilings and large baseboards that give the rooms a sense of strength and permanence.  Each room is painted a bit differently, but all rooms blend harmoniously. Since this home is offered furnished, it's nice to note that the house just feels "like home". 

The broad hallway on the left leads to the two bedrooms. The first bedroom has an en-suite bath. The second bedroom has an entry door into a second bath which also has a door that enters from the hallway. This second bath is used as a guest bath as well.

The kitchen, dining area, and family room are located at the rear of the house. This open space bounds with energy. The place is just so inviting. You immediately want to sit down and have coffee or a cocktail. Once you near the kitchen the back addition opens into view. You see the pool, of course, but more importantly you see all sorts of visual stimuli that immediately lets you know this is a home.  Yes there is whimsy everywhere. There's a comfy sofa and chair, art, and bric-a-brac galore. The house looks both lived in but not out-lived its presence. Who wouldn't love to spend a month here?

The rear doors open out to the kidney shaped pool and rear garden where there is abundant space to get a famous Key West tan (on a sunny day).  I took more photos on a semi-cloudy day which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

If you have been dreaming about buying a perfect place in Key West, a place that you might perhaps rent as a monthly vacation rental to help offset the cost of home ownership, you really ought to consider 615 Southard Street.  It has a successful rental history.  All furnishings and personalty convey with closing as do the advance rental reservations. The asking price is $998,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this special Key West home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This home may be the home of your dreams.