About Key West's Old Town

I have the best hair stylist. She's not the best just because she's talented. I like her. I love her! I have had 10 solid years of compliments on my hair to prove her value. She's been there by my side through broken hearts and job changes. We've sipped cocktails and been to baby showers. I went to her baby's baby shower! We have the same friends and I adore her, her daughter and her grand daughter.

My stylist is STELLAR! An old salon owner she worked with years ago let me come to a hair show with thousands of sylists in Orlando a few times. I pretended to be the receptionist. The smell of delicious hair products and 10 foot slick ads for hair products made me want everything that was there. There were stages with incredible hair stylists cutting hair. I raised my hand and volunteered to get a new do. I bought $18 bottles of conditioner at cost. I bought boxes of OPI nail polish at cost. I got a $120 hair flat iron at cost. It was SO exciting!

My wonderful stylist didn't hate me... she still kept making me gorgeous...

My husband would cut his own hair if I let him. I want him to have cool edgy hair so he goes to cool edgy hair guys. This cool guy did such an incredible job with my husband that I let him do my hair. It turned out beautiful. I felt like a Victoria's Secret super model for the first 8 weeks. I've gone to him a few times.

The last time I got my hair done I went to a salon that my same smart chic client friend gets her hair done at. Her hair is perfect. That's not easy to achieve in Key West's 90% humidity and 90 degree weather. I thought it must be her hair stylist that made her and her hair so pretty. After I got my hair done I did not suddenly have perfect frizz-free hair. My style was not suddenly super trendy. WHY? I don't get it! My hair is anti-trendy. It doesn't hold a cool style. It always goes back to where it started. It's thick and heavy. Even when they thin it it's THICK.

Now I'm fixated on this male sylist that the same same pretty, fun. smart friend recommended. I've seen him do his magic... It's not the first time I've been unfaithful to my lovely hair sylist. She has been there for me through thick and thin. After the euphoria fades the itch for something new and cool comes back. Later I go back to her and she gives me a new, dramatic, incredible sytle and I wonder why I ever went to anyone else.

For 2 weeks I've been picking up the phone and hanging it up. Yesteday I called Blown Away 2 times and got voice mail. I called the salon again today. MY stylist answered the phone. They have caller ID. I couldn't hang up. I had to tell her I was calling to make an appointment with Hays. She gave me an appointment on August 18th. That's a long time from now. I could hear her hurt on the other side of the phone. I didn't know what to say to make it better because there was simply nothing I could say... Will she take me back if Hays isn't everything my friend says he is?

Maya Thomas
Realtor®
Exit Realty Old Island Key West
1511 Truman Avenue
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 522-1398
MyRealPro@gmail.com
www.ShowcasePortfolioProperties.com

408 Amelia Street is NOT a short sale. But the new listing on this cute 1213 sq ft house on a 2864 sq ft lot is priced like one. The asking price is $429,000 or $354 per sq ft.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way: "This home is in Old Town Key West in the historic CATO district.The home has been well taken care of, originally built in 1943 but received an addition and updates in 1966.Very quiet residential neighborhood tucked away between Whitehead and Duval."

Other features include vaulted ceilings, beautiful built in hard wood bookcases, front porch, back yard with room for a small pool. An additional room off the Master Bedroom is perfect for a third bedroom, office, or storage room. The home is offered furnished. Bring your own toothbrush. CLICK HERE to see the mls listing page and interior photos provided by listing Realtor.

Amelia Street is a one way that runs east from Whitehead toward Duval Street. that suggests to me that the accidental tourist traffic should be kept to a minimum. Yet, the property is within easy walking distance to all of the spectacular nightlife, restaurants, galleries,and attractions Key West has to offer. And the property is located mere blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and the many beaches of Key West.

Earlier this year I wrote about our listing directly across the street at 415 Amelia Street that is priced at $880,000. I took some photos of the neighboring homes to the west CLICK HERE and east CLICK HERE and street scenes CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE so readers can see for themselves what a nice block this is.

If you are looking for a nice property in a good location that does not need a lot of fixing and that has room for a small pool, 408 Amelia Street might meet your requirements. To schedule a showing, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com.

Some fool killed the Golden Goose. And most of the famed Money Trees in Key West got wiped out. But three investment properties in Key West just got a lot more affordable yesterday. I wanted to share those potential buying opportunities with you before someone else beats me to the punch.

I don't have any insider information on these properties other than the units are part of an estate that is liquidating some of the remaining assets. These properties are not short sales. Each property is located in the Old Town area and currently provide "workforce" housing.

919-921 Southard Street has three legal units and sits on a very large (5075 sq ft) lot on a great Old Town block. The listing Realtor suggest the property "could easily be converted back to single family for the creation of a wonderful estate. In heart of Old Town and midst of multi-million dollar properties! House sits on one side of Double lot which provides room for expansion. In Bank Trust. Sold AS IS; Current incomes are month to month as follows: 1. 2/1 Rear down $1100 2. 1/1 down $900, 3. 1/1 up $850. Owner pays water sewer, and garbage." The location is killer! I'd keep the facade and tear down everything behind it. I showed this property a year ago. This place could be a spectacular renovations and expansion. CLICK HERE for more info. This property is now offered at $650,000.

Locals and some returning visitors may know where 1130 Elgin Lane is located, but for everyone else it sits on a small one way lane Just west of White Street between Eaton Street to the north, Fleming Street to the south. If you know where Blossom's Market is on White Street, 1130 Elgin Lane is not far away. CLICK HERE for a pic of Elgin Lane. The listing Realtor says this: "Located on Cute little lane within walking distance of old town and Amenities! 4 units and an extra 832 sq ft. building for storage. Tenants pay all utilities except electric for storage. Month to month rentals: A. 1/1 $850, B. 1/1 $850, C. 2/1 $1200, D. 2/1 $1200 E. Storage. Upstairs 2 bedroom units are two story with bedrooms on 2nd level of units. Charming appointment. Sale subject to Bank Approval and sold AS IS. This is not a short sale or forclosure. Priced right!" 1130 Elgin Lane is now offered at $450,000 or $146 per sq ft. CLICK HERE for more details and photos.

915 Pohlaski Lane is across the lane from the Coffee Mill Dance & Yoga Studio just off Truman near White Street and directly behind the Chevron Gas Station. 915 Pohlaski Lane is the least expensive of the three properties. It is offered at just $399,000 or only $121 per sq ft. The listing Realtor described Pohlaski this way: "Established 3 Unit 2 story building with extra fenced side yard on small Lane just off Truman. All Tenants month to month. Great Location for local old town residents. Just a bike ride to Duval. Sale subject to Bank approval. Rents are month to month as follows: Unit 1: 1/1 down $765 tenant pays all util, Unit 2: 2/1 down $1200 owner pays sew/garb, Unit 3: 2/1 up $1300 owner pays sew/garb. Unit 2 is a nice size 2 bedroom, fairly modernized, Unit 3 exra large with the 2 bedrooms being a combination of 2 rooms each and 2 loft areas to either side of living area, one currenty used as a bedroom. Units 2 & 3 both have washer/dryers. All come with refrigerator and stove as is. Some tlc needed. Good income producer possibilities!" CLICK HERE for more details and photos.

If you are looking to purchase an existing income producing property in the Old Town area of Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com, to schedule a showing on any of these properties. Since the units are tenant occupied, we must scheduled showings 24 hours in advance. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in Key West Florida.

Love Muscle? Buy the appropriately named "Love Muscle House" located at 819 Whitehead Street in Key West, Florida. If you are expecting kink, forget it. This place does rock, however.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Tropical little gem in Old Town. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Large deck and room for a pool. Mexican tile and bamboo flooring throughout. Fully renovated, new bathrooms and kitchen. This festive house comes fully furnished. Priced right."

The Love Muscle House is offered at $475,000 or $447 per sq ft. This place could be the right size for someone looking for a Key West getaway. It measures 1062 sq gt including the second floor (where the master bedroom and master bath are located) and includes the guest cottage at the rear. The lot measures 2874 sq ft and it is big enough for a real pool, not just a dip pool.

I showed this colorful house last week and somehow managed to lose the photos I took. There is a cute smaller bedroom at the front of the house. A spiral staircase leads to second floor which has a really good sized master suite. The views up there are great. The living room and kitchen share the main part of the house and that space totally rocks. There is a very large bath at the rear of the house. The cottage at the back is oh so private and very sharp. CLICK HERE to get more details on this house and view photos of the interior and exterior.

The Love Muscle House is located 1/2 block north of the Hemingway House and one block west of Duval Street. There is lots of foot traffic, vehicular traffic, trolley cars, and bicyclists during the daytime. But the street reverts to typically quiet Key West residential after sunset.

If you'd like to checkout The Love Muscle House please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty Inc. in Key West, Florida.

The adorable cottage at 1109 Margaret Street in the south area of Old Town Key West just became an affordable short sale buying opportunity. This is how the listing Realtor describes this special Key West Cottge: "New in 2004. Sweet, easy care, low maintenance cottage in Old Town, perfectly situated in quiet neighborhood, just a half block from El Siboney and only 5 blocks from Duval. Inside:vaulted ceiling, granite counters, polished concrete floors with one bedroom and full bath down, ladder to stand up loft bedroom or den plus private outdoor shower. Very private back yard and charming 1910 block perimeter walls create exterior interest. CBS building, hip metal roof and off street parking for one car in an X-500 zone, so mitigation credits for windstorm and no flood insurance required. Ideal pied--terre as an in town 2nd home, or perfect little gem of a starter home."

Somebody is going to snap this up in a flash. Here is why: the place has nice street presence and yet it is totally private. Off street parking and the gated entrance set off1109 Margaret Street from most Key West houses and really distinguishes itself from places in the same price range. The listing Realtor says the cottage has 763 sq ft of living space (on par with a large Shipyard unit for comparison purposes) and that it sits on a good sized lot 30' x 70' or 2100 sq ft total.

This place is as cute as it can be. The living area has a huge vaulted ceiling and the room opens onto the rear of the property. There is more than adequate room for a good sized pool. The rear yard provides total privacy so swim alfresco. CLICK HERE to view more detailed listing information and see the photos of the interior of this really cute place. I took the exterior photos this morning. The sky was overcast and rain is on the way. 1109 Margaret Street's facade tricks the eye into believing the property is more old world than new Key West. CLICK HERE to see a photo of the equally charming but larger property next door to the north.

1109 Margaret Street is offered at the price of $399,000 or $523 per sq ft for a real house in Old Town Key West that is 5 years old.. The listing Realtor advises that the current lender "is set up to accept an offer quickly, verified by their independent appraiser". The location is convenient to so many of the reasons buyers prefer Old Town for a second home. This cottage may appeal to that single person of couple who want a place to escape that is priced within reason and that does not require any additional "fixing".

If you want to see 1109 Margaret Street before it is history, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by e-mail at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in sunny Key West, Florida. If you snooze you will lose on this place.