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Thursday, November 17, 2016

823 White Street, Key West

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West 823 White Street, Key West.  This house is the oldest house on White Street and likely the oldest house in the Meadows Area as it dates back to circa 1850. It is known as The Cold's Milk Farm.
Paul Cold moved this 1850's farm house to this location just after the civil war.  It is the oldest surviving house on White Street. Originally the Cold family occupied the front of this five bay house. The workers quarters and kitchen were located in a separate detached building to the rear. Both buildings were combined into one larger building in the 1890's. The 1884 Birds Eye View map of Key West clearly shows 883 White Street as the only residential structure in the area. There was a large waterfront building on what is now Eisenhower Drive. The balance of the area was occupied by the military. The farm included the dairy herd and an orchard of sapodilla trees from which the sap was extracted to make chicle, a gum based product that became the main ingredient in chewing gum (hence Chicklets Gum). During this same time period there were five or six other small dairy farms in Key West. There was not cold storage for milk back then like we have today. I  found a post card which shows how milk was delivered by the Key West dairies. Don't laugh: it worked.
The listing broker describes modern day 823 White Street this way:
"An historic treasure built circa 1860 and restored to it's original glory, the owner retained the charm and added all the modern conveniences one expects. This spacious 4 bedroom, 4 & 1/2 bath home won the coveted Florida Keys Preservation Society Ceramic Star Award for Restoration. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is evident throughout the home. A long list of improvements is available. Perfect for entertaining, the living room, dining room, den, and kitchen all open into each other and onto decks on both sides of the home. On one side is a pool and covered porch. On the other side, doors open to a covered dining porch which overlooks a garden. The top of the line kitchen fits perfectly with the home and will serve the needs of any gourmet. With four bedrooms and four and a half baths there is plenty of room for extended family and friends. Off street parking, a wine cellar, extra ROGO units and a great old town location complete the package. A full and very interesting history of the property is available as well as the details of the restoration. This historically significant home is truly an old town treasure."
The second photo from the top shows a ceramic star located adjacent to the front door. This ceramic star was given to the owners of this home by the Historic Florida Keys Foundation for excellence in preservation of this home.

When you view this home from the front you see a substantial home with five bays (openings in a wall for windows or doors) with first and second floor covered porches. The symmetry and economy of design is noteworthy before you enter the front door. The proportions are graceful and utilitarian. The house looks to me like a big salt box rested on its side with openings for doors and windows neatly interspersed. When you enter the house the design turns just a bit. What I imagine may have been the original parlor is located to the left of the front door just under a broad arch. In that room you will see the first of three fireplaces in this home.
The family room is located to the right of the front door. This room, like the parlor, has four windows which bathe the space is muted light. Trees and tropical foliage provide the privacy from the outside world. The above photo doesn't quite work as well as I had planned to demonstrate the attention to detail in the restoration and /or replacement of windows. Windows that could be saved were. And where replacement windows were needed, the factory fresh glass pains were replaced with historic glass which shows the passage of time as the glass molecules rearrange themselves as gravity drags them down like wrinkles on an aging face. The windows are remarkable! You will note the re-appearance of a broad arch in this space. The arch provides passage into the dining room which is located in the space added by the owner in the 1890s who bridged the two buildings into one. The kitchen and a guest bath are seen to the rear.
The kitchen is a hoot! It reaches back in time with the farmer's sink, retro (coal) duel fuel range, dishwasher, and refrigerator.  Clerestory windows were added over the work areas in the kitchen. French doors open out to the covered south deck. The covered deck is a quiet and unpretentious space to dine al fresco among the tropical foliage.
The entry hallway bisects the house. As we move toward the rear we see an open area with a broad door which exits out to the pool area. The there is wood hatch in the floor which leads down to the basement storage area. Yes, basement - one of a few located in Key West. The door at the rear opens into a bedroom and bath which were once part of the original rear workers' quarters. 
The pool and side deck help maintain the historic concept of this old home. Note the rock coping around the lagoon style pool. It almost looks like the pool was a natural occurring feature of this lot and that rocks were placed around the perimeter to provide a bit of balance to the site. It looks as if water springs from the water feature to form this pool in paradise. There is a second floor deck which we will see later.
There are two bedrooms located on the second floor front of the house. The north bedroom is typical of each room in many aspects in that all the walls, ceiling, and floor feature Dade County Pine that has been stripped, sanded, and preserved with  a low luster seal. This room also has a painted ceiling inset probably added by an itinerant artist. There are several grand old houses in Key West with similar artistic ceiling insets.
 This 2748 square foot home has four bedrooms and four and one-half baths. The master bath, above, was designed to include a built-in steam room. The plumbing is all in place and the fixtures were purchased but never installed. This looks like fun space to me.
There is a very private covered rear second floor porch which overlooks the pool below. The front porch provides a ring-side-seat for great people watching as the world passes by each day. There is a gym across the street half a block to the south and there are two small convenience stores to the north. You  can walk to Duval Street in about ten minutes or to nearby Bayview Park in about four minutes. When you leave the front door and head out on your adventure for the day you'll be looking at one of many utterly charming homes that make Key West a place unlike any other. And when you return home at night, you'll know you live in a place that is unique in all the world.
823 White Street is offered at $1,600,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call 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 home in Paradise.


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

1400 White Street Key West - Price Reduction

The Asking Price  was just reduced on 1400 White Street #A in Key West was just reduced to $649,000 or or $479 per square foot. This lovely home is located in the Casa Marina Area just a short stroll to the Atlantic Ocean.
Historic Cuban Tiles will impress your guests as they enter your home
Be the first to live in this freshly renovated two story, three bedroom Casa Marina Area condominium. There are just three units in this sharp building located near Higgs Beach. You will be greatly impressed by the grand new designer kitchen with breakfast bar and adjacent dining area. The kitchen features shaker cabinets and carrara marble counter top plus stainless steel appliances. There are two new baths featuring travertine marble floors and designer tiles. A new laundry is located on the second floor. New Brazilian cherry hardwood floors were added to all other areas of this classy home. Wind impact glass windows and doors were added to many areas of the house as well. A new whole house air conditioner was added in 2016. And there is large 22 foot by  14 foot completely private deck off the dining area where there is room for hot tub or maybe a swim spa. This home is offered fully furnished as shown. 
You'll be surprised at the height of the ceilings and the size of each of the rooms. This places is spacious. It looks and feels like a private home and not a condominium. That is really important for full time living.
Main floor bath
There is a spacious first floor bedroom located opposite the stairway. The kitchen and dining area are at the rear. The kitchen features shaker cabinets and carrara marble counters and under counter glass tiles. Stainless steel appliances complete the look of this beautiful space. The new glass sliding doors in the dining area are impact glass and are built to resist winds up to 185 miles per hour.
The rear deck is totally private. There is room for a hot tub and maybe room for a swim spa. City building code is too strict to allow a pool without a variance, however.  There is a small side yard to the south where your dog could run to keep an eye on the front.
The large master bedroom easily can accommodate a king size bed. Note there are two large closets each with closet organizers (all closets have closet organizers) in the master bedroom. This is a bright and cheery space with partial views of the back yard.
1400 White Street is located just a few short blocks to the Atlantic Ocean to the south and two blocks to the new city hall and our Dairy Queen to the north. There are several nearby gyms and yoga studios. I imagined that the buyer for this property would be a local - you can't buy a single family home this nice in Key West for this price.  But many of the people who have looked at this property are seeking a second home that they can rent either on an annual basis or as a vacation rental. This property would definitely work either way. Low condo fees of just $500 per month includes all building insurances and weekly yard maintenance.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this never-been-lived-in renovation now offered at $649,000. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

2601 S. Rossevelt Blvd #404 A Key West - Stunning Waterfront Condo at an Affordable Price

If you have been dreaming of buying a waterfront home in Key West as either a full time residence or maybe as a vacation home, the recently listed one bedroom waterfront condominium at Key West by the Sea may be the place you have been waiting for. I went over to Smathers' Beach this morning at sunrise to take a couple of photos for today's blog. This is my favorite time of day. There were singles and a few couples either walking on the beach or sitting under palm trees waiting for the sun to pop up. I saw one lady doing yoga excises. This is why so many people move to Key West - to be able to live this healthy lifestyle and experience the joys of this earth during the few years we have here. While we do get our rainy days, we have many more days like today where the sky is a kaleidoscope of colors. Two young guys waited till the sun popped out so they could take muscle selfies with the sun showing their physiques. Other people were jogging or riding bikes along the esplanade that is South Roosevelt Boulevard as it winds its way from the Casa Marina Resort to the entrance to the island that is Key West.
The listing Broker describes 2601 South Roosevelt Blvd. #404A this way:
"Stunning direct Atlantic Ocean and beach views from this light filled one bedroom and one bath unit. The open floor plan is designed for entertaining. Beautiful finishes with bright kitchen and spacious master bath. The in-unit washer and dryer is a coveted convenience Key West By The Sea, is a secure gated community with 8 acres of lushly landscaped property featuring two swimming pools, two tennis courts, and sandy Smather's beach directly across the street."
This is a one bedroom one bath unit with 754 sq ft of living space plus the balcony that overlooks the ocean. Not all condos at Key West by the Sea have washers and dryers in the unit. This one does and that is a positive feature.  The building also has an elevator which is another very valuable feature as well. The FAA noise abatement program is about to be implemented there with new a/c, impact doors and windows at no cost to the owners. The A building will be the last one to receive about 4 years from now.
The buildings are part of a very healthy condominium association  which is professionally managed. Monthly condo fees for this unit are $446.10 and include cable TV, exterminating, building maintenance, building insurances, common area and pool maintenance, security, and management. The association is strong. Some of the owners here have lived at this development for decades. The rules and the way the place is managed reflect the values that have kept KWBS stable throughout the years. While owners may rent their units, they may not rent them until after one year of ownership and then the rental must be over 90 days. This has prevented the community from be destabilized by turning the condos into a resort like hotel. Don't get me wrong, living here is already like living in a resort. But the rules prevent it from becoming one. There are two large pools one which is heated the other is solar heated. And there are two tennis courts. The spacious common areas include garden spots populated by living orchids and babbling water features.
The one story building at the end of the south pool is the community center and on-site property management for the property. While I don't go out here a lot, I can attest that the grounds are always in perfect order. The buildings were painted this past year.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 2601 South Roosevelt Blvd. #404A which is offered for sale at $510,000.  Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's go take a look. I think you will really like this community and this unit. You can't beat the view for the price!

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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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