About Key West's Old Town

Just listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty (but not by me) La Casa Roja at 1403 Catherine Street in Key West, Florida. La Casa Roja is the kind of home that you would expect to see featured in Architectural Digest or Coastal Living magazine. It is of that caliber. But you lucky readers get to see it here in my little blog instead, keywestproperties.

CLICK HERE to see the before photo of this historic 992 square front home as it appeared five years ago with its white clapboard siding and chain link fence. If fit right into the neighborhood. But a very creative young architect and his partner bought the house and transformed it into a work of art. CLICK HERE to see the renovated property as it now appears. The six room house consists of the living room, kitchen, guest bedroom, guest bath, and master bedroom with en-suite bath. Other living areas include the outdoor lounge off the master bedroom, the open-air dining alcove near the pool, the bar off the kitchen, and the two story carriage house with upstairs loft. Each room or area is rich in architectural detail and quality construction. There is nothing "undone".

This simple little house is simply just that: a simple little house. But that is an understatement of grand proportion. It is elegant in its simplicity. The new wide oak plank floors were custom milled as were the extra-large crown molding and the extra-wide baseboards. New cedar doors were custom made. The original windows were restored to retain their character.

Doors and floor patterns in the original house were reworked to make the house flow efficiently. The relocated kitchen for example opens onto the hallway adjacent to the living room. The kitchen windows tilt and provide access to the covered outside veranda bar. I would not call this home a "party house", but it was certainly designed for an owner who loves to entertain in style. The kitchen is the heart of this home. And the several social gathering spots flow from or toward the heart of this home.

What was once the kitchen is now the master bedroom with its own private covered porch with hot tub. The master bedroom features two sets of pocketing French doors and screens which allow the room to open up to the back yard. Mirrored pocket doors conceal the generous ten foot long closet. Paneled wainscoting and coffered ceiling add depth and interest to this cozy retreat.

And then there is the two story carriage house. It's the perfect place to house your classic Key West car or the perfect place for your own gym, workshop, or studio. Upstairs there is a secret retreat that is just as simple and just as elegant as the rest of the main house. Some people skimp on things that are barely seen. Here, the barely seen is treated as a treasure for the very few.

I dare the reader to walk around the outside of this property and find something amiss or something not done. Every place you look you see solutions to everyday issues. Here is a "for instance": the front door hurricane panel was turned into a whimsical work of art and greets guests near the cocktail bar.

This is the kind of house a second home buyer should consider because the present owner designed the house and all of its components to standout from the crowd and function properly. It does. Indeed. Some readers may say "I could do that." Perhaps. But most of us see a home like this and admire it with awe. That is why I discerning buyer will seize the opportunity to own a property of this caliber.

La Casa Roja is offered at $1,299,000. If you would like to see this simply elegant property, please call me, Gary Thomas, at 305-766-2642. Some very lucky person is going to buy this little treasure and experience the elegance of living well...in Paradise. Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. is an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates.

P.S. I have shown this charming home to several buyers that actually purchased a home from me. They ended up hiring the owner-architect of La Casa Roja to design the remodel of their new Key West property. My advice to buyers: save the trouble and hassle of months and months of construction. Buy the real deal now.

One of the interesting things about Key West real estate is the continued development of boat slips in the Key West area. The Historic Seaport "Conch Harbor" was re-vitalized a few years back and it looks great. It has great new facilities including pool, showers, restaurants, and businesses that meet the needs of boaters.

CLICK HERE to read what the listing Realtor has to say about Boat slip No. 12 at Conch Harbor Marina that was JUST LISTED and PRICED TO SELL at $325,000. This is a 45' slip. It is part of an association whose monthly fee of $553.82 includes electric, water, and cable. Owners have full use of the facilities at the Conch Harbor Marina including showers, pool, restaurants, and other fun stuff. Taxes are presently $3150.43.

There are two other new boat slip listings.

Boat slip No. 15 CLICK HERE is a 50' slip and it is offered at $399,000. The monthly condo fee of $714.56 includes electric, water and cable. Current taxes on this slip are $3150.43.

Boat slip No. 21 CLICK HERE is a 60' slip. It is offered at $499,000. The monthly condo fee of $964.80 includes electric, water and cable. The current taxes on this slip are $4201.00. This slip is located at near the outside entrance to the marina for easy entry.

I took some photos of the area this morning before the birds woke up. This place is so quiet right now. Wait till Fantasy Fest in October and the boat races in November. This place will be a madhouse of activity very shortly. CLICK HERE to see the photos.

CLICK HERE to do your own personal search of Key West Association of Realtors mls database. If you see a property you like, whether it is a boat slip, a little Key West Cottage or a big old house, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com.

I wrote about 524 White Street a couple of months ago. It is a Short Sale. It is located in Old Town on a somewhat busy street and it is located across the street from Navy housing. The street does get busy during the daytime but it is pretty quiet after sunset-just like most of the rest of Old Town Key West.

524 White Street (CLICK HERE to see the mls info and listing realtor photos)is a modified two story with dormers. It is offered as a short sale at the new asking price of $499,000 or $295 per sq. ft. for this 1690 sq ft home that sits on a good sized 2997 sq. ft. lot. The downstairs has been remodeled and it is just great. There is a semi-formal entry that looks into the living room and then the dining area followed by the delightful kitchen at the rear. This kitchen is a killer! CLICK HERE to view lots of photos I took.

There is a guest room or third bedroom on the main floor as well as a fully remodeled bath. Upstairs there are two very large bedrooms that share a large bathroom. The second floor landing is quite large as well. The entire second floor has a very open feeling about it. Nothing claustrophobic like so many older homes.

Outside there is a "pool". Ha! It could be made bigger. But for the asking price, it is still a pool and it is surrounded by a nice deck. It does get real sunshine unlike a lot of Old Town properties. And then there is the bricked off-street parking space as well. This property is rented. The tenant requires at least 24 hour advance notice to view the property.

If you are looking for a livable house with two or three bedrooms, a pool, and parking in Old Town, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in sunny Key West, Florida.

Just Listed, but not by me, 810 Carey Lane in Old Town Key West, Florida. CLICK

HERE to see this precious two bedroom two bath home located on arguably the quietest little slow lane in Key West. This is how the listing Realtor describes 810 Carey Lane:

"Perfect! Beautifully remodeled cottage on a quiet Old Town Lane with pool and parking. The master bedroom and living room open to a deck, pool and covered dining area. A third bedroom space can be easily created by closing a set of pocket doors in the guest bedroom. The kitchen is a cook's delight with lots of open space, convenient island work space, wolf gas stove, and more. This property has been well cared for and is easy to show."

I have written about Carey Lane before. It is just the dreamiest of the lanes in Old Town. The lane is only one block long and is accessed at Margaret Street across from the north entrance to the Key West Cemetery. The lane is narrow and is enveloped in lush foliage and flowering trees. All of the little houses have white picket fences. There aren't any straggler houses here to bring property values down. Each of the houses is perfect in its own right. The location looks like some Hollywood set designer created it.

The house is a bit deceptive because what looks from the lane to be the "front" door is actually a door off the front bedroom. The front porch as an old fashioned swing hanging from the ceiling where you can sit and watch absolutely nothing go by except maybe the clouds.

The real entry is just off the bricked parking space through the beautiful kitchen located in a sawtooth addition at the back. That gives you a vaulted ceiling and lots of volume and a real spacious feeling. That kitchen is just the bees knees. The front bedroom has an adjacent sitting area. But the neatest feature is the loft above with a ladder hanging from a rope that permits occasional entry. When I first saw that space I immediately thought "FORT". What kid doesn't want a fort.

The rear bedroom has French doors that open onto the secluded pool. The living room shares the rest of the rear side of the house which is a second sawtooth addition to the main house. There is a little outdoor kitchenette or whatever you might call it. The area is very private and the only things you see are the blue skies and neighboring trees. Lots of sunshine in this place.

810 Carey Lane is offered at $1,150,000 or $799 per sq ft. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or e-mail me at kw1101v@aol.com to arrange a showing of this special house.

The term "Pied-à-terre" comes to mind when you first see 526 William Street Unit #3. This sharp 2 bedroom 1 and 1/2 bath two story unit is located on the second and third floors of the chic Delancey Hall Condominium. The living room and kitchen share the second floor space with a half bath and the interior stairway to the third floor bedrooms and bath. The front second balcony is shared with the unit across the hall. Other units in the building have their own private outdoor spaces.

There are only five units in this building that was very tastefully renovated in 2001. The front just oozes class. The side gate provides entry to the shared pool and bricked courtyard area. There is no off street parking. But since most of the surrounding properties are single family homes, street parking is not an issue.

The listing Realtor described this unit this way:

"Short Sale! Prime Old Town Locatation: 2bedroom 1.5 bath two-story condo. Delancey Hall Old Town Building. Spacious second floor plan with open living area, granite counters and custom cabinets. Dade Co. Pine wallsn Brazillian purple-heart hardwood floors, Italian marble floors, cathedral ceilings with crown molding. Brick terrace with landscaping and heated pool. Entry Bell & intercom on front. Convenient to Library, restaurants, Duval St and Waterfront. Most desirable William St block between Fleming and Southard Streets."

CLICK HERE to read more detailed information on Unit #3 that is priced to sell at $365,000. Don't get greedy. This is a price the listing Realtor believes that the mortgage lender will accept. So there is no sense is wasting printing ink or brain matter on a low ball offer. It will not fly.

I co-listed this unit in 2004-2005. I held several open houses at this property. Everybody loved it and the location. The only problem I know about this unit is the height of the bathroom ceiling. It is tucked into the roof and a tall person (someone over 6') will have to bend the neck to the side while taking a shower. Other than that the rooms are comfortably sized. This unit would make an excellent getaway place or one could live here full time.

If you would like to see 526 William Street please call me, Gary Thomas 305-766-2642. The unit is rented and requires 24 hour notice to be shown.