Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing,  606 Truman Avenue Unit No. 4 , a lovely two story town home located in the beautiful Windward Park Compound in Old Town Key West. Windward Park was developed in 1988 as a compound of 13 town homes featuring Bahamian style architecture. Most of the town homes have first and second story front porches that overlook the huge heated pool and beautifully landscaped grounds. Each unit has a designated off street parking space. Entrance to the property is controlled via security gate.

 The listing Realtor describes the property as:

"Exceptional two-story 2 bed 2 bath townhouse located in an intimate compound, situated right in the middle of Old Town. Downstairs features include open floor plan for living and dining with French doors leading out to a private deck. Also down is a bedroom with bath, remodeled kitchen, utility storage and washer/dryer closet. Upstairs features master bedroom suite, additional living space or den with soaring ceilings and an adjoining second-floor porch. This unit is unique to Windward Park (compound name) in that there is extra usable floor space and other original upgrades including oak flooring, two-zone air conditioning, alarm system, and much more. Enjoy all the benefits of compound living in a fantastic Old Town location."

This home has a private side porch that is just perfect for bar-b-cuing and al fresco dining. That area is accessed by French doors in the living area. The front of the home has main level and second floor porches that overlook the pool.  The reason you are considering buying a place in Key West is to enjoy our wonderful year around weather. Why not enjoy it in a beautiful place like Windward Park? By the way notice how large and sunny the pool area is. And consider the fact that you won't be sharing the pool with a potential 176 other condo or town home residents or vacationers like some similarly priced and equally convenient properties on the market.

View of #4 (yellow) from the church school grounds

View of the church school from Windward Park

 Windward Park is located one block from Duval Street so it is near all of the great galleries, restaurants, nightlife, and attractions. The neighbor next door to the east is the Basilica of St. Mary's Star of the Sea. In fact both bedrooms look onto the church's school lawn. This town home sits back quite a distance from Truman Avenue. It's very quiet. And it is conveniently located near to everything that second home owners want. CLICK HERE to checkout the mls datasheet on this property.

606 Truman Avenue #4 is offered at $695,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.  If you lived at Windward Park you'd be home right now.

Bring your toothbrush, some comfy shorts and tee shirts, and prepare to enjoy the "rest" of your life at the new listing at 529 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. You won't need to do a thing as this home is move-in ready. So you won't need to spend time or money fixing things. Instead, you can spend your time living the life you dream of living in Key West.

The listing Realtor describes 529 Grinnell Street this way:

"Beautifully renovated historic home on one of the most desirable streets in Old Town Key West. Located in a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes, this historic treasure exemplifies the best of Key West living. High ceilings, open floor plan great room, modern and elegant kitchen, three spacious bedrooms with ensuite baths. Hardwood floors, bright and airy rooms. Fully renovated in 2006 to the highest quality standards. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and split bedroom floor plan. Bedroom downstairs with ensuite bath. Off-street parking and pleasant pool with waterfall. Located near restaurants, theaters and Key West Seaport. A Historic Jewel For Comfortable Tropical Living."

I did some searching through the old shoe box and found a photo of 529 Grinnell Street that was taken back in 1965. When I looked at it I noticed that the second floor front porch extended out past the balcony of the house. I then saw a stairway that extended down the left side of the house. That suggested to me that the second floor probably had been converted into an apartment.  Well, folks, the apartment is long gone.  I went to the historic 1889 Sanborn maps and found what I believe to be this house. The map numbering is different today but the location of the large house on Southard (immediately south of 529 today) and the smaller cottage to the right (next door at 525 today) places 529 Southard Street  precisely where it sits today. And that strongly suggests to me that 529 Grinnell was built prior to 1889.

When you first enter this house you immediately know it is as clean as a whistle. The house is arranged for modern living. The open floor plan great room is bright and cheery. The house is Key West "casual". There is no pretense of formality here. This house was renovated with comfortable living in mind.

French doors open from the great room out to the deck where you will find a dipping pool and outdoor kitchen. The day I took the photos the outdoor kitchen was getting a bit of a face lift. The owner was not happy with the way the cabinets looked in the listing photos. They are being refinished to look like new again.

The above photo says it all. The seller wants this house to be perfect for the new owner.

The main floor has a powder room tucked under the stairway to the second floor. And just to the rear of the kitchen you will find a good sized bedroom with en-suite bath. (The laundry is also tucked into this space.) The bedroom is large enough to work as a master bedroom should, someday, the stairs become a challenge.  Note that the bathroom has a door that opens out to the deck so that swimmers can come right into the house to shower off if need be.

There are two bedrooms located on the second floor - a guest bedroom with en-suite bath with access to the covered second floor front balcony and the master suite with en-suite bath and private rear sun porch.

There is a small coffee bar located just off the door that leads to the second floor balcony. I might add a small refrigerator to hold some late night snacks or chilled wine to make morning and evening people watching all that more enjoyable.

The above photo shows Five Brother's Grocery and Sandwich Shop located at the corner of Southard Street. Both of the two cottages across the street have been featured in national magazines. 532 Grinnell Street (the cottage with the crows on the roof) was in Architectural Digest and 530 Grinnell Street was in Coastal Living Magazine.

The master suite is located at the rear. The bedroom chamber has a dramatic high pitched ceiling. The room is already large and spacious but the volume ceiling makes the space seem extra large. The en-suite bath is totally refined and offers both a pool and a tub.  Just off the bedroom you will find a rear sun porch for some au-natural tanning opportunities.

The off street parking is visible in the photo immediately above. Also visible, but probably not appreciated via the internet photos, is the recently completed exterior paint job. This house glistens. The interior floors were also refinished so that they would look their best. And they do. They are remarkable.  This entire house looks so clean and very well maintained. You might expect that in a house offered at $1,225,000. A lot of times in Key West buyers often get much less.  I took more photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet which provides more info on this quality Key West residence. I truly expect that this house will sell rather quickly. The housing supply for quality homes in the Old Town area at this price point has shrunk to a few properties. This one is a standout.  Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange 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. 

On the isle of Key West housing projects really are a 'cottage industry'. State law restricts the construction of new houses under the Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) in all of the Florida Keys as a part of hurricane evacuation plan.  The fact is that Key West, like the other Florida Keys, has a finite amount of land (remember it is an island) and there are few undeveloped (build-able) lots. The City of Key West has its own restrictive ordinances that limit the size, height, and density of new housing even when a building lot and a ROGO unit are available. The scarcity of undeveloped land and the limitation on new construction means that most construction in Key West involves the renovation of existing structures.

About a quarter of the housing stock on our little island is protected from over development and misguided redevelopment by stringent rules and regulations. Old Town and parts of the Meadows and Casa Marina areas are subject to Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC) guidelines as well. (CLICK HERE to view the HARC guidelines.)  Most of the housing stock on the island is renovated as opposed to new construction. As a result, our housing stock stays pretty constant as far as the number of actual living units.

The house at 319 Grinnell Street has been abused and misused for decades.The photos below show the house in 1965 and then as it appeared when it became bank owned. The house was lifted to install new piers which is the type of foundation most houses in the Old Town area have.  A former owner made the place into an illegal three unit house.  Then it was foreclosed upon by a lender. A smart buyer bought the former bank owned property and started a very smart update when the property suffered a fire in March 2013. It wasn't that bad of a fire and the renovations continue. It is looking crisp and clean again

I am so happy to see that this great property is back on track to what I hope will be a spectacular finish. I think the builder is doing a terrific job in bringing this property back to life.  I had many potential buyers contact me about this house when it was listed for sale.  All but one hesitated and the one who made an offer to buy it nickled and dimed the offer. My buyer lost out because he wanted to steal the property. To those who hesitated because of the location, there are only few really "great" blocks in Old Town and buyers who buy there pay the price.

Speaking of abuse, the house at 1219 Newton Street in the Meadows area was the poster child for abuse. I showed houses on either side of 1219 Newton Street. Several years ago the house next door to the east (1221 Newton) was offered at a very affordable price. My potential buyer viewed 1219 Newton from the second floor and saw the back roof had fallen in. Seriously!  Key West Code Enforcement did not do its job and let that eyesore sit for years. Of course it scarred off buyers for neighboring properties. I wrote about the house next door to the west (1217 Newton St) in my blog. While potential buyers loved that house, they were fearful of spending nearly a million dollars for the perfect house only to have the creepy house next door. I get a lot those comments from buyers on various properties who voice similar fears over houses they fear located on the same block as one they might like to buy. I usually tell prospective buyers that bad houses eventually get purchased and because houses are so valuable in Key West, the likelihood is that an ugly old place will become a pretty good new place. That's what happened at 1219 Newton Street. See below.

The original house at 1219 Newton Street was sold. The new buyer obtained permission to raze the former house because of its condition. A new house was permitted to be built using the former site placement as the condition. The new place looks just great.  By the way the house next door to the west sold last year and the house next door to east was re-sold this past month after an artful renewal as well. See photos of the pretty neighbors below.

A bank owned house at 1021 Fleming Street that was listed at just $321,750 had ten cash offers higher than asking price and sold for $400,000 in 2010. I wrote an offer for one buyer. He bid too low.  Dang it!  Look at what is happening now.  This is still a work in progress. The general contractor built a new house from ground up for a buyer of mine. She told me she had worked with numerous contractors on several houses over the years. She said he was the best contractor she had ever worked with.

The "little cottage that could" at 525 Grinnell Street (below) is getting a substantial renovation. The old roof was replaced with a shiny new metal roof. Many of the old piers were replaced and the exterior siding is in the process of being painted. I understand the interior is getting a substantial renovation as well.  The concrete porch is reportedly being removed and a new wood porch will be added. I applaud that. 

A former cigar maker's cottage in the 400 block of Virginia Street is getting a redo by a local duo who have revamped several Key West properties.  I remember showing this house several years ago when it was vacant. I told prospective buyers that the location just off Duval Street would make it a great vacation rental and I told them the extra large lot allowed plenty of room for a pool.  We will check back later to see how this turns out. I am expecting nothing less than Key West Charm!

One of the grand old Conch Houses of Key West is located at 522 Grinnell Street. I got to show it a couple of times to very serious buyers. But the very high asking price for a house that needed quite a bit of work prevented any of my three buyers from making an offer.The owner is no longer marketing the property but instead is completing the renovation.

 522 Grinnell Street had been gutted on the inside. The very tall ceilings, ancient crown moldings, and simple but elegant architectural detail remained in tact on the inside. A decrepit old addition at the rear was removed and an out building and garage were torn down. The remaining rear lot left room for a new first and second story porch at the rear. There is plenty of room for a pool.

May 2013

Many potential buyers in Key West see old houses and say they would prefer to tear down some of the old places and build new. That is not normally allowed in Old Town because of HARC (Historic Architectural Review Commission) guidelines.  Exceptions are sometimes made for non-contributing structures. Such appears to be the case for the former house located at 710 Windsor Lane shown below. The house was not historic. The lot was extra large and the option to build a big new house was irresistible.

 The house shown above was built in 1954. It was demolished and the foundation for a new residence is being poured on the quite large lot (5674 sq ft) located near the top of Solares Hill.

A few months ago I wrote about the house for sale at 1117 Stump Lane. I said "Budget buyers who are looking for a place they can move right into and do a little bit of fix-up over time or a buyer who wants to do a major renovation ought to take a look at this home." I then added "This is a property that will probably go under contract as soon as you can say "Jumping Jack Flash" because it is priced to sell and there are a lot of buyers who are getting desperate for a deal." It went under contract the first week it was listed. I drove by the house last week to take new photos of a nearby house and saw the renovation in progress at 1117 Stump Lane. Please take a peek for yourselves.

Stay tuned on this one. I was told the former green tinted concrete that was the faux backyard will be updated with a pool. I can't wait to see how this place turns out.

Frequent readers of my blog will remember me writing about 410 Simonton Street. I showed that place on several occasions and wrote  a couple contracts that actually got accepted. Neither buyer was able to obtain financing because the place had been converted into nine apartments. The problem was there were only five licenses and that made getting any financing very difficult. (This goes on in Key West a lot of the time. People add kitchens or create illegal living spaces to supplement their income. Lenders won't lend on illegal units.)

The good news is that someone did purchase the property. All of the tenants moved out and demolition of the interiors began. Don't fret, the good stuff, what little there is that remain, is staying in place. The house itself is in very good condition with only a few issues that require attention. I have heard various theories of what will become of this beauty. We shall watch to see what happens.

The hand painted ceiling and floor to nearly ceiling windows are located in what I presume was the original front parlor at 410 Simonton Street. That room is going to be preserved.

The tiny cottage at 629 Elizabeth Street was featured in my blog when it was listed for sale in January 2012. I remember driving people past that house over the years and hearing them say something to the affect "I want to buy that house". There used to me many houses just like "that house". Over the years many of those houses went on the market and a buyer snapped them up and did renovations. I fully expect the new owner of 629 Elizabeth Street to do the same. The location at the top of Solares Hill could not be any better. The nearby houses are all quite valuable. The lot already has off street parking and I presume there is room for a pool. I will be that when the renovation is completed the vase open lot will have a white picket fence and tall palms and dense tropical foliage to protect the site from prying eyes.

One of the biggest eyesores in Key West was the hodgepodge building at 1200 White Street. It was purchased in June 2012. After many months a new facade is starting to emerge.

1200 White Street in 1965

Workers applied a new stucco skin to the exterior, replaced old windows with new, replaced the old roof, removed old asbestos siding from the second floor apartments and replaced with new siding, and added a new crown-type molding near the roof of the commercial space. Brackets have been placed on the exterior where I expect a new awning or covered area will be added. Tom Pope did the architectural design. I expect nothing but the best.

909 Flagler Avenue in 1965

Not too far away at 909  Flagler Avenue a stunning contemporary house is nearing completion. The former church at 909 Flagler Avenue in the Casa Marina area was destroyed during Hurricane Wilma.  That building and two smaller wood frame buildings were demolished to create a 10,381 sq ft building lot (98' x 106'). The property is located adjacent to the truly historic Reynolds property next door to the left.

Over in Bahama Village a new house has just been completed at 615 Thomas Street just opposite to the parking entrance to the Shipyard Condominiums in Truman Annex.  An old relic of a falling down house used to sit at this location. Today a substantial new two storey home sits in its space where the former cottage once stood. Instead of old school carpentry, this new house is using many modern day building features that will make this home a notable addition to the area.

The former garage at 1133 Von Phister Street (below) became a $749,000 condo in 2005. When the Key West housing bubble burst this over priced property tanked. It became a short sale. I wrote about the property at 1133 Von Phister Street a couple of times and urged buyers to buy this place. I live nearby and know the value of the location and the land in the Casa Marina area. The property was purchased for just $249,000. The new owner took down the old garage and is building a new two storey home in its place.

1133 Von Phister Street when it was a $749,000 condo!

The lot at 1133 Von Phister Street is 94 ft deep. I think there is room for a pool I hope this smart buyer is justly rewarded for the fortitude to buy this place. Good luck and welcome to the neighborhood.

If you are thinking of buying a place in Key West and want to do a remodel, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. There's no time like the present to buy a place in Paradise. 

1124 Stump Lane was built circa 1890 and rests near mid block on one of the slow lanes of Old Town Key West.  Stump Lane runs parallel with Southard Street to the south. It starts at White Street and ends at Frances Street. It's only one block long and many locals do not know its name or location.  Residents on this lane are never bothered by Conch trains or trolley cars and only rarely do tourists pass by the houses.  And that is a good thing.

The listing Realtor describes 1124 Stump Lane as "Completely renovated Charming Conch Cottage. Rebuilt and reinforced from top to bottom. Updated kitchen and bath, Central AC, double pane insulated windows and doors. Beautiful restored Dade County Pine and 10'Ceilings. Vacation Rental in place. This property is located on one of Key West best kept Secret Lanes."  I would simply say it is delightful.  It would make a perfect getaway for someone who wants a cute place to escape to. And it is affordable at just $475,000.

The house is long and relatively narrow. The living room runs the east side of the house. The guest bedroom is located up front on the left side of the house. The kitchen is located midway also on the west side. The bath is located at the west rear. The master bedroom is located at the east rear. The place could not have a more efficient flow. It works.

 The cottage has 630 sq ft of living space that includes the primary bedroom plus a smaller bedroom for the occasional guest. There is even an outdoor shower. The front porch is perfect for people watching (should anyone ever walk by). This cottage was a very successful vacation rental during the past five months. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this clean as a whistle Key West cottage.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to see listing photos.  Better yet please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a view of this quaint little Old Town cottage. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Short Sale Negotiation Key West FL

Don't present more than one contract to the bank.  The bank will over estimate the value of the home if you present more than one contract.

1108 Fleming Street in Old Town Key West is pretty as a picture - and then more. It's the poster child for quintessential Key West charm. Now it is available for sale at $1,250,000.  The listing Realtor describes the new property thus:

"Beautiful historic conch home located in the heart of prestigious Old Town Key West.This classic three bedroom has a warm open floor plan with vaulted ceilings.The guest cottage has its own access and off street parking located on Curry Lane. The tropical pool area has plenty of room for entertaining.The pool separates the main house from the guest cottage."

The house is bright and cheery from front to back and bottom to top. Every room is different, but the entire place flows evenly and with purpose. The great room at the rear of the main house invites you out to the ample deck and pool. There is even an outdoor shower. The guest cottage at the rear invites you to come in and get cozy.

The house is laid out with one bedroom located at the front of the house on the main floor. The kitchen and great room occupy the rear area of the main floor. The master bedroom with sitting area or office is located on the second floor. There you get a view of the pool, deck, and uber-cute guest cottage at the rear.  There is off street parking in the rear on Curry Lane. The cottage at the rear has a bedroom and bath. The house and cottage have a combined total of 1604 sq ft of living space under air.

1108 Fleming Street is located at the far end of Fleming Street. Duval Street is just a short walk to Duval Street. Or you can walk to the Historic Seaport in about the same time. There are two neighborhood convenience stores on White Street. And there are numerous restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk. If you are into the arts, The Studios of Key West is just one block away at the corner of White and Southard Street. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this beautiful Key West home that really is Pretty as a Picture. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.

The new listing (not mine) at 818 Olivia Street in Old Town Key West is a dream cottage come true. This place is as cute as a button, has off street parking, a pool, and is in move-in condition. It is within walking distance to just about any place you might want to go in the Old Town area, and it could even be rented as a monthly vacation rental if you really, really could allow someone else to use this precious space.

The listing Realtor describes 818 Olivia as follows:

"This wonderful historic cottage is loaded with Key West charm and character. Situated on a generous sized Old Town lot the home has a spacious picket-fenced front yard, a rocking chair front porch and off-street parking. The entrance foyer carries through to the rear of the house where the open living, dining and kitchen areas create an ideal plan for entertaining. French doors from the vaulted ceilinged living area open out to the pretty landscaped rear deck with pool. The main level includes the master bedroom and bath, second bedroom and half bath. Upstairs is a cozy bedroom and full bath. Great central location just a few blocks from Duval Street."

The Monroe County Property Appraiser's property card shows this 1475 sq ft house sits on a 39' x 83' lot (3244 sq ft).  And the property appraisal card further shows the house was built in 1928. I found an old photo of the same house that was taken in 1965. A notation on the photo shows that 818 Olivia Street was built in the 1890s. That is the same rough date other houses in the block were also constructed.  I choose to believe the 1890s date because the house looked "old" in the 1965 photograph. A house that would have only been 17 years old in 1965. It just does not make sense. Compare the old view with the clean facade as it appears in 2013. It looks picture perfect in my opinion.

This house sits opposite the Key West cemetery. That means the neighbors will be quiet at night and will not be competing for on street parking - ever.  A lot of buyers question what might happen to a particular or house. When it comes to the cemetery, the answer is pretty assured: nothing.  There will never be some big house built there with windows looking down onto your space. You will always have open sky views looking across the street. Your home will forever bathe in the Key West sunshine. There won't be parties at night or people competing with you for parking space.

Once you pass the gated entrance you enter into a lovely small garden. The front porch as a great little sitting area where you can sit and watch tourists and locals pass by the house on foot, bike, or by car. Olivia Street is a one-way street headed easterly. 

I had never been inside this home before today. As soon as I opened the front door my eyes were drawn past the colorful entry and delightful artwork that adorns the walls. My attention was drawn through the house to the rear where I could see the pool and waterfall. I knew in an instant that I was ready for a real treat.

As the listing Realtor points out, this home has three bedrooms and three baths. The current owners use the main floor bedroom on the left as the master suite. The bedroom to the right is currently used as a family room or office. The second floor bedroom is used as guest quarters. 

There are several really interest architectural features in this home. The stairway to the second floor is one of them. The geometry demands your attention. The craftsmanship requires your inspection. The color scheme commands your consideration. It is whimsical and lyrical.

The living, dining, and kitchen are located at the rear and open out to the pool and rear deck. This is how we live in Key West. Doors open to allow indoor and outdoor living spaces to meld into each other.

I looked for but did not see any deferred maintenance. There is a place for everything and everything appeared to be in its proper place. That's why I said this home is in move-in condition. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of other photographs I took that show this home from bottom to top and front to rear.

I am confident you will appreciate the charming home which is offered at $889,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. Better than just looking at photos online, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this cute Old Town cottage style home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. This place could be the answer to your dreams.