Alice Doesn't Work at Wells Fargo Anymore

This is a true story. I feel compelled to tell my readers that what I write is real because there is so much on the internet and in broadcast media that is fake or framed in such a way as to make many people skeptical of what they read or see or even hear. I also know that people who claim to be real truth tellers can be liars. I am not one of them.

A few years ago I was having considerable difficulty in getting a real estate deal closed. The mortgage lender worked at Wells Fargo which had an office in Key West. I made several phone calls to the lender who I will refer to as "Alice".  She did not return my calls. Key West is a small town. I drove to the bank to see if I could find out where Alice was and when she would return. I entered the bank and saw Alice sitting behind behind the glass wall in her office.  She was quickly moving her mouse about while looking at her computer screen.  I used my cell phone to call her to announce my presence. She picked up the phone, looked at the caller ID, and put the phone back on her desk.  Undeterred, I went inside her office to discuss our deal. While I was not happy having been ignored, I had the upper hand with her. She knew I knew she had been bad. Very bad. I didn't raise a fuss. I got her to take care of business. End of story.

I never got over that. I never sent her any more business. A year ago or so I was discussing some real estate deal with a fellow agent. We have known each other for over twenty years. One thing led to another when he told me about the time he went to Wells Fargo to find out why Alice wasn't responding to his phone calls. He could see her at her desk looking at the computer. He called her from outside her office. He watched her not answer the phone. He said he tore into the office and gave her a piece of his mind. He never used Alice again.  

Bad conduct one time can be excused to some extent. Twice, it is a pattern.  Third time it is a management issue. I don't know if there was a third time. I do know that Alice doesn't work at Wells Fargo anymore.

1410 Reynolds Street, Key West - Casa Marina District Redux

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, 1410 Reynolds Street, located in the tony Casa Marina District of Key West. If you are only familiar with Old Town you need to take a look at this home which is located just four blocks from Higgs Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

This 2,262 square foot one story home was originally built in 1963.  Successive owners have updated it over the years. The current owner made substantial improvements to the house including replacement of all windows and doors with storm impact windows. Some of the window openings provide museum like views of the enclosed courtyards and pool. The interiors were professionally designed - and it shows!

An automated voice greets visitors upon entry. (It's a part of the security system. It shocked me when I entered. I thought I broke something.)  As I walked through this house I noticed just above everything had been updated or replace. The house sparkles in every location. The blinds automatically rise and fall upon the click of a button. There is recessed and strategically located art lighting in pubic and private parts of the house.

The master suite is located on the south end of the home. It includes a large sitting room and an expansive private bath with soaker tub, glassed-walled shower with multiple shower heads, and a huge window looking out to private garden. The house has two guest bedrooms each of which are entered off a center hallway.

The house sits on a large corner lot at the corner of Reynolds and Washington Streets. (I wrote about 807 Washington Street, one block to the west, last week.) This home is located in the X Flood Zone which means the elevation is so high that your mortgage lender would not require you to purchase flood insurances. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of 1410 Reynold Street, Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida

Just Listed, but not by me, 807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida. This has got to be one of the best buys on the market in current day Key West.  There are just nine of these babes that were built in 2007.  I have listed and or sold four of these homes over the years. I know them well and feel very comfortable is recommending a buyer purchase one.

The homes are located on the corner of William and Washington Streets in the swank Casa Marina District of Key West. This home is located in the X Flood Zone. The Casa Marina Resort is just a couple of blocks to the west and south. Higgs Beach is a five minute walk as is Louie's Backyard and dog beach. Upper Duval Street is only four blocks to the west.

These homes were originally built to sell for $1.5 and higher price point back in 2007. That is when the economy took a nose dive. Several new high end housing projects tumbled along with the national real estate market. Our local market has recovered although some price points are not doing as well as others. This particular listing is particularly attractive because it has so many high end features that were built in to the house and that it has just been updated with a new kitchen and new master bath. The above photos show a formal entry hall that includes powder room, new kitchen with high end stainless steel appliances, beautiful heart pine floors, high baseboards, crown molding, recessed and track lighting.

Two sets of glass panel doors open out to the covered rear deck, private heated pool and garden in the rear. There is a walking service alley behind the property where the pool man can enter each property to service to pool. There are four buildings with four one bedroom units each at Southpark Condominiums. They have one beautiful pool. Southpark Condos are a great property and will not create any issues for a new owner at today's listing.

There are two bedrooms, each ensuite, on the second floor. The master bedroom is at the rear. Note the soaring vaulted ceiling and double glass panel doors that open out tot the covered rear porch which overlooks the pool below.

The second floor front bedroom has a private bath and also has a private second floor covered front porch which overlooks Washington Street. This home has one designated off street parking spot plus lots of off street parking on the beautifully landscaped lot.

The third floor bedroom and bath runs the entire length of the home.

Everybody has their view of what living in Key West would be like. I have lived in the Casa Marina District since 1995. I love the area. I don't make it to the beach like I used to, but I love having it there. The homes in the area are by and large much more expensive than today's listing. That signifies to me this property gives the new owner a chance to move on up without paying the price of a single family home. More photos CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida. 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 me help you find your place in Paradise.

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808 Shavers Lane, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed, but not by me, 808 Shavers Lane, Key West. This 1400 square foot home sits behind a white picket fence which when opened provides off street parking for two cars. That's unremarkable in most towns, but in Key West it is quite a fete.  Look at the crisp Greek Revival style architecture. There are front and rear two story porches. You'd think this is one of the historic Conch Houses for which Key West is famous. Neigh, it was actually built in 1999 along with two adjacent homes. In fact the builder made this house a bit larger, increased the main floor ceiling height to nine feet, and created two mater suites which I will discuss later. 

 I searched my old shoebox and identified what I believe to be 808 Shavers Lane in the above black and white photograph taken half a century ago.  I added the check mark to show the property. The house with the man on the front porch definitely was 818 Shavers Lane. There was a small one level cottage in between. All three buildings were in bad condition and were razed. The three new houses look nothing like the old.

In his book The Streets of Key West author J. Willis Burke wrote "Shavers Lane, between Whitehead and Duval, is named for a black resident of the area"..."in what was called Jungle Town in less racially sensitive times". (You think!) Today this area is now recognized as being an easy stroll to the shops and sights of Duval Street and the nearby restaurants on Petronia Street including Blue Heaven, Firefly, and Santiago's Bodega. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach and State Park and the Key West amphitheater are also within easy walking distance. 

The current owner updated the most of the house including replacing drywall, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, new porcelain tile floors on the main level, new kitchen cabinets and appliances. new pool systems, as well as impact glass windows on main level side. All other windows and doors have approved shutters which make the house qualify for a 30% discount on wind insurance. The house is located in the X Flood Zone so flood insurance will not be required by a mortgage lender. The house has Hardiplank siding. The entire exterior was just painted and looks sharp as a tack.

The house has a formal entry with what I like to call a drama wall - in this floor tiles attached to the wall which look like old stressed pine boards. The drama wall is repeated in the nearby first floor guest bath. The kitchen opens into the great room where the south wall has grass cloth wallpaper. Note the crown molding and recessed lighting. Glass sliders at the rear of the living area open out to the covered rear deck and pool. The grounds are both irrigated and lighted at night.

This home sits higher than the houses on either side. The builder was going to keep this place for himself. (I like those houses. They are always better than the rest. In this instance this house has nine foot ceilings on the first floor. The second floor has two master suites while the adjacent houses have a larger master and two smaller bedrooms in front.

The front bedroom has dual doors which open out to the covered front porch. There are three closets in this bedroom along with a sitting or desk area. Note both bedrooms have vaulted ceilings. This adds so much to these rooms. If you have looked at many genuine older houses in Old Town you know some have claustrophobic sized bedrooms. That's not the case here.

The current owner added wood shutters to semi-enclose the second floor porch and added floor tiles which created a cool sitting area. I snapped a pic of a property down on nearby Petronia Street as well as pic of the pool.

Whether you are coming or going, this a place you would be proud to call home. And if you are looking for a second home that you could rent to help pay part of the cost to purchase, this could be a good investment. The house next door rents for $12,000 to $13,000 per month during season. The owner has been advised a full time rental should generate about $100,000 in gross rent.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 808 Shavers Lane offered offered for sale at $1,295,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.