About Key West's Old Town

I wrote about one of the most photographed houses in all of Key West last fall when it was listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc., that's where I work but this is not my listing. I would like to reacquaint my Dear Readers with about this property and perhaps encourage someone to come on down and get her before someone buys her and gets to have all the fun.

410 Simonton Street - Old Town - Key West

410 Simonton Street is truly a Lady in Waiting - waiting that is for that special someone to come in and restore the house and grounds to the trophy property it should be once again. It's not that the property as it now exists is bad. It isn't. It just is not as good as it could be. In fact, it could be grand.

The listing agent provides this bare bones description of 410 Simonton Street:

"One of Key West's most beautiful houses. True history resounds in this one of a kind home. Paintings from the 1880's are featured in the front parlor on the ceiling and walls. Currently in use as a 5 unit rental property with rental income of $8,100/month. This house is a great candidate to remodel as a single family home."

This property is offered at $895,000 or $287 per sq ft for the 3123 sq ft house plus attached living units. The lot is 60' x 106' (6036 sq ft). A newer addition was added to the property in 1997. The main part of the original house has been made into decent sized one bedroom apartments, each of which has a living area, kitchen, bath and bedroom in some form The second floor is one large one bedroom apartment that could be just grand. That unit is accessed via an exterior staircase and second floor balcony that is just perfect for people watching. Inside the angular ceiling provides a wonderful living space. Another special feature is the Romeo & Juliet balcony that overlooks the bricked grounds and century old iron fence that distinguishes the house. A majestic mahogany tree frames the visage.

Mahogany tree frames the Romeo & Juliet balcony

I envision two scenarios that could work equally well for a new owner. An investor might gut the existing units and move one of the living units to the newer building to the north. That would permit increasing the size of the other units inside the main house. The five units could become high-end rental units.

Or a new owner could convert the use to single family. The adjacent building would make a wonderful guest cottage and provide separate facilities for guests so that friends and family would not bother the owner on those late night returns from Duval Street or other nearby haunts. The second floor could become the master suite. The main floor units could be restored to a semblance of the usage of decades before when this was one of the most beautiful single family homes in all Key West.

The main house has high ceilings, grand windows and doors, substantial crown moldings and trim throughout. The house could become a showplace. The building has been very well maintained in my opinion. The piers and structural elements seem solid and well maintained. I think most of what a new owner would do would be considered refinement rather than rebuilding. That is my opinion. I am not a contractor. Rely on what a contractor tells you.

The property has a pool, off street parking, and a street presence that can match any other property in Old Town. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos that show the property with all its warts and its potential.

I dug through the shoe box and found two old black and white photos that show the house in earlier times. The Monroe County Property Appraiser noted that the house was built in the 1870s but was not specific as to the exact date. The old gal still looks pretty good for being over 140 years old.



CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet on this property. If you would like to see this property, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. This is a great buying opportunity for someone who wants a truly beautiful home in Old Town Key West.

One of the very best Christmas gifts I ever received was given to me by my big sister back in the early 1950's - it was a Mr. Potato Head. Unlike the Mr. Potato Heads today, you needed a real potato to make this toy work. Today's version is made out of plastic and to me that is just 'wrong'.

The thing I liked about Mr. Potato Head was that I could make him become whoever I wanted him to be. He could look happy, for sure. But I could put his ears or nose in a funny place or move his eyebrows or smile to an odd location and create my own chameleon of sorts. The 1950's was much different from 2012. I was easily amused.

I was talking to another local real estate agent a couple of weeks ago about an experience he had at an open house a few days earlier. I want to relate that episode to my readers because it is a bit instructive about how real estate is sometimes marketed and sold in Key West.

Here is the set-up and the cast of characters. The names and places have been changed to provide a bit of amusement. Location a lovely old Conch House on a nice street in Old Town Key West. An OPEN HOUSE sign invites passers-by to enter to see the house that is for sale. The Asking Price is over a million bucks (isn't everything in Key West?). Inside is Mr. Green Jeans, an affable real estate agent seeking a buyer for his listing. Mr. Potato Head is another local real estate agent at a different real estate company. Mr. and Mrs. Offput are customers of Mr. Potato Head.

The house itself has many of the attributes first and second home buyers want in a place in Key West: three bedrooms, three baths, a pool, and a great location. The place is old but very well cared for. There are no major issues affecting the value of the house other than it is probably priced too high.

The OPEN HOUSE was advertised in the Key West Citizen, our local newspaper. Mr. Green Jeans placed an Open House sign on the street as well. Dozens of tourists entered the house to see what they might possibly buy were they in the market. Several actual real estate buyers showed up to see the house. The potential real buyers seemed excited about the property which pleased Mr. Green Jeans. As is often the case, some neighbors also stopped by to see what their fellow neighbors house looks like and how much it might cost. A favorite past time of many Key Westers is to go house shopping on Sunday afternoons even though they have absolutely no intention of buying anything.

Mr. Green Jeans allowed lookers to move about the house and offered information to anyone who had questions. One couple announced that they had recently purchased another house on the same block. They just wanted to see this particular house because they had not done so when they were looking. The couple moved from room to room. They went out to the pool and talked to each other about various features. Then they went upstairs where they were alone, whereupon Mr. Green Jeans overheard the following exchange:

Mrs. Offput said "Why didn't' we see this when we were looking?"

Mr. Offput replied "Mr. Potato Head said it wasn't what we were looking for".

Mrs. Offput countered "We could have bought this house for a hundred thousand dollars more than we paid for that piece of sh*t house we bought across the street!"

"Mr. Potato Head said it wasn't what we wanted," Mr. Offput said in defense.

Mrs. Offput cried "We could have had this house that is so much larger and so much nicer than the one we bought. If only you hadn't put me on that damned budget!"

Mr. Offput lamented "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

When Mr. Green Jeans related the story of the dueling duo I reminded him that Mr. Potato Head had actually listed the same house a couple of years earlier for a couple of hundred thousand dollars more than the current asking price. I searched the old mls records and looked up the words Mr. Potato Head used to describe the same house. Mr. Potato Head only used glowing terms in his listing. He made it sound like anyone would fall in love with the place.

Mr. Green Jeans then told me that Mr. Potato Head had listed and sold the house that the Offputs purchased. Everything fell into place.

The Key West Association of Realtors mls website is open for all potential buyers to view active listings. Buyers tend to shop online by price, location, and somewhat by photos. The Offputs are responsible for not insisting on at least looking at the house they later regretted not buying. You can't really blame any agent for wanting to sell his or her own listing.

If you are looking for a place in Key West and are not working with a Realtor, please consider working with me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. I am no potato head.

The Picture Perfect Key West Home...

The Real Thing!

If you had a checklist of features you want in your Key West dream home, I'll bet that list includes three bedrooms, two baths, a pool, off street parking, cute as a button, located on a Key West lane, and reasonably priced.

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work but this is not my listing) offers the near perfect Key West dream house. The listing Realtor describes the lovely eyebrow house at 815 Sawyers Lane this way:

"This classic eyebrow home is located on a hidden lane in the heart of the Historic Key West Seaport District. The property features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a great room with French doors that open to an enclosed patio area, lap pool, and lush tropical setting. The second floor master suite offers privacy, extensive storage, and a separate balcony with French doors that invite warm breezes from the Gulf. The bricked driveway, blooming hibiscus, and inviting front porch welcome you to this charming retreat in the heart of Old Town."

Sawyers Lane enters from William Street

815 Sawyers Lane was built circa 1889. The Key West seaport is just a block to the north. Many of the houses and commercial buildings of that era still exist. Most of the homes have been updated to meet the needs of modern living. This home was updated in the 1990's. If this home has a drawback, it is the 1990's kitchen. The cabinets are dated. Woe! Alas! The world is coming to an end! That, Dear Reader, is an easy fix.


Downstairs you will find what appear to be the original wood floors which have been white washed. The kitchen is located up front on the right. Two guest bedrooms and a main floor bath are on the left side. A center hall lures you to the rear of the house where the new great room was added. This room has a high vaulted ceiling and several sets of doors that open onto the pool at the rear or the decks on the left and right side of this eyebrow home. The master suite is located on the second floor. It features a large bedroom and super huge bath plus a nice rear balcony that overlooks the seaport. You can see the water and some boats. The home has 1370 sq ft of living space. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to see listing photos of this eyebrow home.


CLICK HEREto view a slide show of photos I took of this home it was listed in mid December. Note how lovely the place looks in December when most places up north are frozen or at least dull and dormant.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

The asking price on the Grand Conch House at 1114 Fleming Street was reduced to just $1,050,000 yesterday. I think this house is worthy of serious consideration by any buyer who wants a large and historic home in Old Town Key West. The listing broker describes the property thus:

"Elegant award winning circa 1886 home with natural cypress siding situated on a beautiful tree lined street. Featuring four bedrooms and four and one-half baths including a separate guest cottage overlooking the pool and patio with covered outdoor dining. The kitchen has a large living area with dining. There is also a downstairs bedroom suite and another room suitable as a den, library or office. There are two bedrooms each with baths ensuite upstairs. The master suite has a walk-in closet and opens to a sunny sitting porch. The property is complete with two off-street parking spaces and much of the designer furnishings are available."

Off street parking for two cars

I showed this home earlier this week. I remembered how lovely it is but at the same time I had forgotten how really lovely it is. This old home has grace and charm that just do not exist in the new houses that are being built today that are supposed to replicate the grand houses of yore.

Last year this house was featured in the Old Island Restoration Foundation's February House Tour and described the property thus: "this two-story home, with its saw tooth additions at the back, was awarded a ceramic star from the Historic Florida Keys Foundation in 1983, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has maintained its charm while incorporating modern amenities for today's living. Floors are old wide plank pine, doors are old, and most of the large windows are original to the house." This house has all of the charm buyers of big old homes want. And this home would make a great vacation rental if a new owner wanted to rent it.


No matter how you describe this house, you can't deny the sheer beauty of the simple lines and the unique pique the Cypress wood siding gives to the property. The house is quite large and boasts four bedrooms and five baths, a guest cottage, pool and patio with covered dining area. The garden area has recently been pruned and some of the once almost overpowering palms have been removed. And the pool was resurfaced recently. If you have seen this house before, you ought to take a second look now that the asking price on this 2510 sq ft home is $1,050,000 or $512 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view the listing photos. I forgot to take my Brownie with me, so no more pics from me.

If you would like to see 1114 Fleming Street, or any other home in the Old Town area of Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

Four years ago I wrote about a new structure that was being built at Gato Village Pocket Park, a small park on Louisa Street just east of First Sate Bank. The park was created to commemorate by design and structure the historic cigar maker cottages that were the predominant type of housing in that section of old Key West. The old Gato Cigar Factory at the corner of Simonton Street at Virginia Street is now a Monroe County office building.

Inviting front porch

View from the front porch

A real life cigar maker's cottage is located about one-half a block away at 624 Louisa Street. The home has been enlarged and probably made grand beyond the expectation of the families that once lived there. It is offered for sale today as a short sale. The listing Realtor describes 624 Louisa Street this way:

"Superbly crafted designer home finished w/ meticulous attention to detail & style. 2 story addition overlooking pool & tropical gardens compliment the original conch cottage architecture creating a total of 3bd/3.5ba plus pool cabana. Careful selection of luxurious finishes include copper sinks, custom tile showers, Jacuzzi bathtubs, wired throughout for sound, custom cabinetry, granite & top of the line fixtures to name a few. Beautiful outdoor spaces within a very private setting finished in brick pavers & mature landscape complete this tropical retreat. Do not miss the chance to step inside this picture perfect gem just a short walk to famous Duval Street."

The original cottage has been expanded and is now laid out to meet the needs of a present day owners with different lifestyles and housing needs. I think a new owner may likely use this home as a part time residence and rent the home as a legal vacation rental during non-personal use times. The house is perfectly setup to that end.

Front bedroom

Jack and Jill Bath

Second Bedroom

The house is laid out with two guest bedrooms on the main level that share a Jack and Jill bath. The living area and a grand kitchen with custom cabinetry are located at the rear of the house. French doors open out to the pool and cabana at the rear. Upstairs you will find the very private and extra large master suite with vaulted ceiling, large walk-in closet, and inviting bath with jacuizzi and a separate shower.


Master bedroom with vaulted ceiling and deck that overlooks pool below

Luxurious master bath

Pool and cabana (with mini kitchen and bath)

624 Louisa Street has 1676 sq ft of living space on two floors. All interiors are top of the line construction and materials. No expense was spared in the renovation and expansion of this once small cigar maker's cottage into a very large three bedroom, two bath residence with off street parking and a pool. The asking price is $799,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. I took more photos which you can view if you CLICK HERE in a slide show format.


This property has a good rental history as a vacation rental. A buyer looking for a large home that can actually function and rent well as a vacation rental ought to take a look at this property.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.