816 South Street #4, Key West - Southpark Condominium

816 South Street #4, Key West, Florida

The asking price on this sharp one bedroom 640 square feet condominium was just reduced to $494,500.  I have sold four units in this four building complex with a total of 16 units over the past few years.  I think Southpark Condominiums are the best buy in Key West based on size, quality of construction, location, and amenities.

Southpark Condominiums are made up of four four unit buildings located between William Street and Reynolds Street (the pathway to Higgs Beach and the Atlantic Ocean).  This second floor unit is located in the easternmost building. The unit has been tastefully updated including the new kitchen which was added just two years ago. This unit has central air conditioning and an in-unit washer and dryer.  Not all units have private laundries in the unit. The unit enjoys light throughout the day either from morning sunlight from the south which filters in through the kitchen window and the French doors in the bedroom. As the sun moves from east to west during the day, light bathes the living room in muted tones early afternoon until sunset. A door in the living room opens out to the front porch.

The dining are contains a built in display wall for showing off artwork, books, and nick-knacks. Another mirrored wall visually tricks the eye and enlarges the entire living space. Note also the natural finished oak flooring found in living room, dining area, and bedroom. Crown molding and bright white trim and baseboards plus pops of color on the walls add a bit of drama throughout this abode.

All of the units have private rear porches.  This one is sunny throughout most of the day. There is a rear interior stairway from a door in the kitchen which leads down to the pool at the rear of the property. The pool is located about fifty feet or more to the west. The Southpark grounds are quite spacious and professionally maintained. Each building has access to the gardens and pool area plus gated access from the front and side yards. The pool is one of the largest and most beautiful of any condominiums in Key West. There is a small building located at the east end of the pool which houses a coin operated laundry plus storage units for each of the condominiums.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 816 South Street #4 which is now offered at $494,500. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, at  305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I can't make enough positive comments about these units especially when compared to higher priced units in the Key West area.

1501 Leon Street, Key West - Newly Listed Bank Owned Home

Just Listed 1501 Leon Street, a new Bank Owned property in Key West, Florida.  If you have been dreaming of buying a place in Key West, this may not be the home you were thinking about buying. But if you look at the picture above, it was once one family's castle. Of that, I am sure. As you look at the photos and read my narrative, understand what you see is the result of several years of neglect. Where once there was pride of ownership with a fairy tale folly, today there is a house in need of renovation or perhaps tear down and rebuild.

This 2205 square foot home was built in 1958 and sits on an imperfect square lot that measures 88' X 90' or 7920 square feet. That is large for Key West but fits into the neighborhood which is located on the ocean side of the island of Key West. The Atlantic Ocean is located about five blocks to the south.  CLICK HERE for an aerial GOOGLE MAP VIEW. Nearly every home in the immediate area sits on a lot of 5000 square feet or larger which is much larger than you will find in Old Town.

When I first arrived at the house I realized the second story was an addition and not a very attractive one at that. But as I looked at the lot, I immediately started to think what a new owner might do to improve upon what exists today. I went to the back yard where I found a boat and lots of trash. Forget the debris, if you can, and imagine the second floor as no longer existing.

Consider instead expanding the house toward the east on the Flagler Avenue side of the house.  This would provide more privacy at the rear for the construction of a new garden, pool, and deck. I would add new impact windows and doors throughout plus add new insulation and air conditioning.  I would also install a CBS privacy fence on the Flagler and Leon streets similar to the one that exists in the very expensive home on the opposite side of Flagler. See the photo below.

I took photos of the current interiors which you may view if you CLICK HERE. If you were to buy this home, you would certainly clean and paint it at a minimum. You would probably update the kitchen and baths. You would fix up the yard and add landscaping. So what you see in these photos should not give you pause, instead, it you energize your brain to figure out how you could turn this property into something that equals that home across the street.

1501 Leon Street is a bank owned property offered at $635,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

923 Angela Street, Key West - Now is the Time to Buy

Okay people out there who have been waiting for the market to drop so that you can get a great buy on a house in Key West, now is the time to buy 923 Angela Street.  I have written about this home several times of the years including earlier this year. And I have shown it two or three times since it has been on the market. The houses has been substantially renovated by the current owner.  I think the new lower asking price is a real value when compared to past sales of similar homes and also compared to the other homes currently on the market.

 923 Angela Street, Key West, Florida - 2017

The listing Realtor aptly describes this home this way:

"Tucked away on one of Old Town's secluded, charming lanes, this storybook cottage is perfectly located so that you can bike or walk to everything that makes Key West famous. Two bedrooms and two full baths, including an expansive upstairs master retreat with a walkout to a sweet, tree-top roof deck and a cozy office nook. Natural light plays across the interior's historic Dade County pine walls and restored floors, while a new updated kitchen and dining area provide a superb entertaining space. The second bedroom/den opens onto the new pool and landscaped courtyard with its touch-of-whimsy outdoor shower. A perfect front porch for relaxing in the cooling breeze. This home offers casual Key West living in a peaceful setting. Located in the X flood zone. 2017 recipient of the Historic Florida Keys Foundation Preservation Award."

This is a one and one-half story cottage with 1254 sq ft of compact but very cleverly designed living space. I use the word "designed" intentionally because the new owner made some very clever changes and additions when he renovated this house. What you cannot see but should appreciate is the replacement of old piers under the house and the new floor system. The Dade County walls and ceiling survive but do not overpower the place.

I snuck in a photo of the vintage kitchen as photographed in 2012 so that you can see how much the space changed and see how the space evolved. The most obvious change is the new cabinetry. A new base cabinet was added next to the wall where an open storage space got all dressed up with a door. Another base cabinet was added to the end wall to create a credenza for more kitchen storage. A custom dining space was added with wood counter top with especially fine joinery. Look just under the top to see five spaces for wine bottles. The stools get tucked out of the way when not in use.

I am not playing tricks on you. The listing agent thought it would be a good idea to furnish poolside bedroom with a sleeper sofa and nix the queen bed that was previously in the room. I left both pics in to show readers how easily the function could be changed to fit the needs of a particular buyer. The current owners live in this home full time. The main level rear is now used as a den.

I am not a fan of trendy decorating thingies. When I first noticed the hanging barn door in the first floor rear bedroom I questioned why. But if you consider this owner put the door in the bedroom and not in the dining area you realize the door is not the focus of attention but rather a convenient way to save space and create utility. Clever! Not having a pool was always a problem for this house. Now it has one. It fits right in like it was always there. But it wasn't. I stepped to the east side and found an outdoor shower where the base is a surf board. Clever again! As in the inside, the outside is minimalist in design carried out masterfully.

To explain the wondrous second floor, I must show you the previous incarnation. Look below.

East gable before

The stairway enters directly into the bedroom area which previously had no closet nor bathroom. The owner created a one level closet/room divider at the east end gable and added a new bathroom at the west rear gable. The square hatch window to the rear deck was previously existing. The A/C was elevated to the side of the deck bringing the noise up in the air making way for the pool down below. The bathroom is quite spacious. I especially loved the custom quartz sink the seems to hover over the white cabinets. This ultimate class in my opinion. The late afternoon light in this room is incredible which reminds me that the view from the deck will amaze you in May and June when the Royal Poinciana tree in the neighboring yard goes into full bloom. It's a killer. Speaking of which, this home is located opposite the Key West cemetery.

 

923 Angela Street is offered at $999,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing.  Let's take a look. You will be charmed by this storybook cottage. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.