2412 Linda Avenue, Key West - New Lower Price at Water's Edge

The asking rice on 2412 Linda Avenue in Key West just got a whole lot better. Now this waterfront property is offered at only $705,000. I first wrote about this property a few months ago when it was first listed. I am a bit familiar with the location as I wrote an offer for on a nearby bank owned property a couple of years ago. I had no idea how radically different the two properties were even though they are located only a few houses apart on the same side of the street. The two differences are even more dramatic as this home has been lovingly updated and has that incredible water view whereas the other needed a radical update and had only a partial water view. Today's blog is a short narrative with photos I took and listing photos. I must tell you from the outset that I was so amazed by what I found. It truly is a La Belle Vue Cottage!

2412 Linda Avenue is located on the edge of the Key West Salt Ponds. The Salt Ponds run parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Bertha Street eastward past the Key West International Airport. I estimate the ponds take up about 25% of the land on the Island of Key West. A good portion of the land mass is composed of mangroves and the balance by shallow salt water ponds that are navigable by canoe or kayak.  CLICK GOOGLE AERIAL MAP for an aerial view. Use the toggle switch to zoom in for a closer look or pull back or move the map around to gain a better perspective of the location as it plays into this house and the features here.

2412 Linda Avenue was built in 1950. Although the home has been updated, it retains a good bit of the original character of the construction while important features like windows, air conditioning, and electrical service has been replaced or upgraded. The front entry welcomes you into the home where your eyes are immediately drawn through the house to the water view at the rear. First, however, you must pass through the historic living room which is located at the front.

Just past the living room is the dining area and kitchen. A was the case for many homes built in the 1950s there is no "formal" dining room because lifestyles were evolving from one purpose rooms to multiple purpose spaces. The kitchen is as clean as a whistle and still has the original wood cabinets from back in the day. What I like to call a 'drama wall' was added to the dining area. A similar wood
'drama wall' was added to the guest bedroom. The inclusion of wood into the home brings more texture and life to these spaces.

The large master bedroom has an extra large and renovated en-suite bath and closet area. I was surprised by how large this space was as it is atypical of what you would expect in a vintage 1950s home.

The family room and adjacent office is located opposite the dining area. This is where the less serious living occurs in this house. The office is tucked away in the right corner. A sofa occupies space where a new owner might put in a bookcase or maybe even a Murphy bed. I could see an artist using this space as a studio, a stockbroker or business executive using the space to do deals, or a writer as his/her writer's workshop. I myself would find the views too distracting for any serious purpose other than to write my blog!

The family room is a big, open space with lots of windows plus two French doors that open out to the rear deck. These wind impact windows and doors were just added a few years ago. The rear deck is on the same plain, but the world out there isn't what you'll find in most houses in Key West or anywhere else for that matter. While there is no pool here, there is a semi-covered spa with serene water views.  There is plenty of room to add a pool, however. This space is magical and works well for this owner.

As I was taking pictures I noticed a pelican perched on a nearby canoe moored at waters edge next door. He stayed there a long time.  I inched closer to take photos of him. I live a couple of miles west in the Casa Marina Area and sometimes see egrets and herons walking around the area. I have never seen a pelican in my backyard. What a joy that must be different kinds of birds sitting, fishing, and doing whatever it is that birds do in their natural habitat. Except their habitat would also by your habitat if you lived here.

I love Old Town Key West even though much of it is now congested. I live in the Casa Marina area which has a much more open feel. But I gotta tell you the feeling at this home is something very unique. If you are a nature enthusiast I'm sure you would love watching the mix of of colors as the sky and clouds play against the waters. It is a kaleidoscope of never ending colors and shapes. CLICK HERE to view the photos I took. Click any photo to enlarge. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. This home is now offered at $705,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up  private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let's plan on a few minutes extra here so you can contemplate nature in this special Key West property.

1503 Washington Street, Key West

Dear Reader, I planned to write a new blog on our listing at 1503 Washington Street. But when I looked through what I previously penned I decided not to change it. While the references to the Christmas in Connecticut movie may be corny, they are real nonetheless.  This home has lots of personality and plenty of space for family living and gracious entertaining. Below: a reprise.

Shortly after I arrived at 1503 Washington Street to take photos for today's blog, I fell in love with this home and garden that was decorated to the nines to celebrate the Christmas season.  At first I wandered through the front, side, and rear yards checking out the gardens, fountains, ponds, and babbling brook that make this Key West home like no other. At the rear I spotted St Nick peeking inside the house alongside a 13 foot tall Christmas tree.  I took a peek as well and saw a home decked out for a Christmas party. I went inside and recognized this home was designed for both entertaining and easy family living.  When I saw the wraparound piano bar, I remembered a scene from my favorite Christmas movie - Christmas in Connecticut - where Barbara Stanwyck and her beau sang while she trimmed the Christmas tree.  I thought to myself about buyers who could choose between freezing their rears off in Connecticut or tanning their backsides in Key West.  Key West wins every time.

Barbara and her little stole have been replaced by a silent butler with fur wrap that sets the mood for Christmas cheer at 1503 Washington Street. The main level of this home includes the formal entry, the removable piano bar - living area, dining area, guest bath, kitchen, den, and informal dining area. The Connecticut home has a grand two story entry.  The Key West home has an equally impressive entry which features Brazilian walnut entry doors.

 

The den or family room opens into the informal dining area and kitchen.  These spaces are the way modern families live as opposed to boxed in spaces like we see the Connecticut home, grand as it was, it is a relic in time. The Key West home even has a modern day fireplace. Personally, I like the fireplace in the Connecticut house a bit more, but at least this home has fireplace. The Connecticut house has a bar whereas the Key West house has a wine storage closet. And the Key West home an outdoor kitchen - something unheard of in Connecticut in the wintertime.  Many homes in Key West have outdoor living spaces and kitchens.  This is how we live no matter the season. At Christmastime when our relatives up north are wearing sweaters and wraps and wallowing in the snow, we can go to the beach in the daytime and dine outside at night.  

 

The pool, gardens, and pond wrap the house like Christmas wrapping paper. Everything is tied up with a cute bow. This home has a carport that is currently used as a semi-office. The second and third photos below show the inside of the "carport".  (There is a second garage on the opposite side of the front.) You can hear the babbling brook through the louvers at the front of the enclosure. You would be amazed at this space. 

The second floor includes a large master suite at the rear, a guest bedroom, an office which could easily become a bedroom, guest bath, a library, a laundry room, an ironing room, and a library. You won't find many houses in Key West that have this much attention to detail as this home.

Real work gets done in the office at 1503 Washington Street. A buyer who wants a home office won't need to be too creative to move right in and set up shop.  Maybe mergers and acquisitions got done in Connecticut. I will bet people who live in the cold north will jump at the chance to move their home office to Key West.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 1503 Washington Street.

1503 Washington Street is listed by Preferred Properties Key West. That is where I work but this is not my listing.  This home has 2845 sq ft of living space situated on a 4698 sq ft lot. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this home that is offered at $1,999,999.  Better than looking at photos, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this wonderful Key West property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. If you buy this home, you will have a Key West home by Christmas this year.