Key West cottages – Dean Townsend Team

THIS CLASSIC KEY WEST COTTAGE CHECKS ALL THE BOXES!

Posted by Dean in Homes We Love, Key West Homes For Sale, Key West Real Estate

1019 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040—$1,099,000.

While enjoying a quiet morning stroll along Whitehead Street, on your way to the world famous Southernmost Point, you will certainly savor the splendor of the Ernest Hemingway House and the Key West Lighthouse. Just a few steps beyond, the classic island cottage at 1019 Whitehead Street is bound to catch your eye and capture your imagination.

Built in the early years of the twentieth century, this three bedroom, two and a half bath, historic sawtooth cottage has been beautifully renovated for contemporary living. On our list of THE TOP 10 FEATURES KEY WEST BUYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN THEIR DREAM HOME, 1019 Whitehead Street checks all the boxes!

THE TOP 10 FEATURES KEY WEST BUYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN THEIR DREAM HOME—1019
WHITEHEAD STREET HAS THEM ALL!

10. OLD TOWN LOCATION
It’s no wonder that the Key West neighborhood topping the lists of home buyers is our unforgettable, historic Old Town. Amid picturesque Victorian era streets and a lifestyle lived visiting on front porches and walking to dinner at favorite neighborhood eateries, Old Town is the authentic version of classic small-town America that the New Urbanism movement has been trying to successfully recreate across the country.

9. PALM TREES
Key West buyers simply can’t imagine purchasing a home without palm trees in its yard. With a subtropical climate offering an eternal growing season, and over 2,500 species of palms to choose from, palm trees abound in our island’s gardens.

8. OUTSTANDING RENTAL POTENTIAL
Even though we get rental number for a great many of our buyers, most of them grow to love their Key West homes so much, they never offer them for rent. With its dynamite location (close to best of Uptown Duval Street), two living areas, ground floor master bedroom, upstairs guest accommodations, and so much more, 1019 Whitehead Street has the potential to garner a strong rental income.

7. OFF-STREET PARKING
Although they will likely find themselves walking and biking most of the time, buyers are looking for a home with a parking spot for their vehicle. In our historic neighborhoods that were densely built before the introduction of cars, off-street parking can be elusive.

6. HIGH & DRY
With images of Hurricane Irma lingering in the minds of many buyers, the desire for homes that did not take on water during the storm is strong. A flood zone “X” certification eliminates most lenders’ requirements for flood insurance. Luckily, the majority of Old Town—and 1019 Whitehead Street—sits high and dry.

5. MOVE-IN READY
There will always be those looking for a cigar maker’s cottage to renovate, or a neglected Classical Revival mansion to restore, but most buyers are in search of their move-in ready corner of paradise. 1019 Whitehead Street is ready for you to schedule your movers.

4. INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING
With an abundance of great weather to enjoy, our buyers want to be able to open their windows and doors and live a lifestyle that flows seamlessly from the indoors to the outdoors—especially if they have just endured a Chicago winter.

3. FIRST FLOOR MASTER SUITE
Let’s face it, Key West is not an inexpensive place to live. Most of our buyers have reached a stage in life where they can afford to buy their island dream home. With the possibility of mobility issues looming down the road, a ground floor master suite is an important feature for many baby boomers, retirees, and those with elderly parents.

2. FRONT PORCH
What is more quintessentially Key West than kicking back on an old fashioned front porch and watching the world meander by?

★ 1. SPARKLING POOL
A pool and Key West go together like rum and Ernest Hemingway. Is it any wonder that a sparkling pool tops the list of the features our buyers are looking for in their dream home?

We bet you will love 1019 Whitehead Street as much as we do! Call us today to schedule your private tour of this charming Key West cottage. It might just check all your boxes too!

THE TOWNSEND TEAM
Dean & Keith Townsend, REALTORS®
Keller Williams Key West Compass Realty
333 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040
305-942-1369
www.DeanTownsend.com
www.Facebook.com/DeanTownsendSellsKeyWest

1413 Eliza Street, Key West, Florida 33040—SOLD $460,000.

Posted by Dean in Homes We Love, Key West Real Estate

Planning to retire to paradise in the next few years? Looking to add a Key West property to your income portfolio? Ready to escape to island life? Don’t miss your opportunity to break into the hot Key West real estate market with this charming Old Town rental income cottage.

Nestled on a quiet block of historic cigar makers’ cottages, 1413 Eliza Street features two bedroom and two baths in 962 square feet of living space, on a 2,453 square foot lot. The long-term rental is configured with a spacious living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath in the front of the home and a one-bedroom in-law suite in the back. With the island’s high demand for long-term rentals, the property is currently leased at an under-market rate of $2,400.00 a month.

With its quintessential front porch, bricked off-street parking, large covered deck, desirable location, and endless possibilities to make it your own, this priced to sell Key West cottage is not to be missed.

We will be delighted to give you a private tour of 1413 Eliza Street. Give us a call today!

THE TOWNSEND TEAM
Dean & Keith Townsend, REALTORS®
Keller Williams Key West Compass Realty
333 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040
305-942-1369, www.DeanTownsend.com

OUR TOP 10 FAVORITE KEY WEST HOME SALES OF 2017

Posted by Dean in Homes We Love, Key West Real Estate, Key West's Top 10's

2017 proved to be another banner year for The Townsend Team. We joined forces with Compass Realty to be a part of the successful launch of KELLER WILLIAMS KEY WEST COMPASS REALTY, survived an unwanted date with Hurricane Irma, and sold some unforgettable island homes.

We hope you enjoy our fourth annual list of our favorite Key West home sales of the year. Not only did we wish we were buying these beautiful properties for ourselves, family or friends, we had a great time working with the sellers, buyers, real estate agents, closing attorneys, loan officers, photographers, and all the industry professionals that helped to make these transactions happen.

We can’t wait to see what tropical treasures we’ll be marketing and selling in 2018.

Happy New Year!

Dean & Keith Townsend, The Townsend Team
305-942-1369, www.DeanTownsend.com

OUR TOP 10 FAVORITE KEY WEST HOME SALES OF 2017

10. 1211 Washington Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $915,000.
Our buyers traded up from their historic Old Town cottage when they saw the value in this lovely, garden street home. With a spacious 2 bedroom/1.5 bath main house and a 1 bedroom/1 bath poolside cottage, they now have plenty of room to relax into their island retirement.

9. 1423 Patricia Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $987,298.
It took winning five, nerve-racking, online auctions to secure this large, 4 bedroom/ 3.5 bath, investment property for our buyers. They have lovingly transformed La Bella Capri into a family-friendly monthly vacation rental.

8. 53 Seaside South Court, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $842,400.
With its stunning ocean views from four levels, we knew this 3 bedroom/4 bath, end unit townhome would not stay on our roster of listings for long. To the delight of our sellers, we received a full price offer in no time flat.

7. 1711 Von Phister Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $604,000.
After purchasing this charming cottage in 2016, our sellers outgrew this, 3 bedroom/2 bath, home before they even made their move to paradise. We helped them find the perfect home for their retirement and were thrilled when friends of ours chose this cottage for themselves.

6. 1410 Reynolds Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $1,670,000.
Dean represented our sellers in 2008 when they purchased this stunning home for $1,262,500.00. We had so much fun staging, marketing, and selling their spacious, 3 bedroom/2.5 bath, Casa Marina gem.

5. 1407 Rose Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $845,000.
With its well-designed floor plan and sparkling pool, this pristine, 3 bedroom/2 bath, mid-century modern home captivated our buyers and us. We wished we were buying it.

4. 1127 Packer Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $600,000.
When he had it under contract the first time, the buyer of this picture-perfect cottage got cold feet in the days following Hurricane Irma. Once he understood that—like most of structures in Old Town—the property saw no damage from the storm, he went on to happily purchase the charming, 2 bedroom/1 bath, home from our sellers.

3. 1209 Grinnell Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $798,000.
After spending a few years building a lasting friendship with our buyers as they searched for a single-family home, they decided that this move-in-ready, 2 bedroom/2.5 bath, townhouse was their ideal Key West starter home. Located in a small, gated, Old Town compound, the low-maintenance property won them over with its beautiful shared pool and garden.

2. 2601 South Roosevelt Boulevard, A207, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $480,000.
We staged this beautiful, 1 bedroom/1 bath, Key West by the Sea condominium to sell. To our delight, the turnkey property sold for a record breaking price.

★1. 1209 Knowles Lane, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $958,170.
As REALTORS®, we never know when we will meet new friends. We hit it off with the buyers of this exquisite historical renovation when they toured our favorite home sale of 2016: the unforgettable Carpenter Gothic church conversion at 824 Thomas Street. After taking them to see many Old Town properties, they saw past construction chaos and went under contract on this, 2 bedroom/2 bath, saw-tooth cottage months before the renovation was complete. Their patience paid off when they closed on the Key West home of their dreams.

1127 Packer Street, Key West, FL 33040—SOLD $600,000.

Posted by Dean in Homes We Love, Key West Real Estate

Strolling by the intersection of Old Town’s Packer and Catherine Streets, you will likely pause to capture an image of the picture-perfect cottage shining on the corner. A Key West souvenir to enjoy for a lifetime, this adorable island home is a dream come true.

Constructed in 1928, the beautifully renovated and maintained historic shotgun cottage features two bedrooms and one bath in 840 square feet of indoor living space.

Teeming with casually sophisticated coastal style, the home’s inviting sun-dappled interior features gorgeous hardwood floors and high ceilings.

The tranquil master bedroom offers a welcome respite from days and nights of tropical adventures.

Perfect for catching ocean breezes, the shotgun cottage’s architectural design allows air to flow freely through the home.

Guests will feel more than welcome as they settle into their inviting room for a visit.

Flowing to the garden, the sunny kitchen’s beachy décor captures the joyful essence of the island’s laid-back lifestyle.

The 1,687 square foot lot has recently been spruced up with mature tropical plantings, brick pavers, and a convenient irrigation system.

Ideally situated six blocks from Upper Duval Street’s celebrated galleries, dining, and entertainment—and six blocks from Higgs Beach’s shimmering Atlantic waters—you will enjoy easy walking and biking access to the very best of Key West. Stay close to home and savor the cuisine at renowned neighbor eateries; The Flaming Buoy Filet Co., El Siboney Restaurant, and Seven Fish.

Whiling away the hours on the picturesque front porch, visiting with friends and neighbors in the island-style living room, or sharing a bottle of wine with loved ones in the garden, you will undoubtedly come to cherish all your moments spent in this charming Key West vacation home.

—Dean & Keith Townsend, The Townsend Team

Click here to enjoy a virtual tour of this captivating island cottage.

Photo taken by the Property Appraiser's office c1965; 1127 Packer St.; built 1928; Tract 13, Sqr 5, Pt Lot 14 — Photo taken by the Property Appraiser’s office c1965; 1127 Packer St.; built 1928; Tract 13, Sqr 5, Pt Lot 14

SELLING YOUR ISLAND COTTAGE? COLOR IT KEY WEST!

Posted by Dean in Key West History, Key West Real Estate, Key West Real Estate Advice

Key West colors first entered the world’s consciousness in the 1970’s, when free-spirited locals began painting their historic cottages a spectrum of tropical hues. Today, buyers looking to purchase their Key West dream cottages expect them to be painted to match the colorful, idealized images that have been imprinted on their minds over decades.

Beautifully painted in Key West colors, the quintessential conch cottage at 1127 Packer Street radiates captivating curb appeal.

We have found that our clients respond less favorably to cottages that are painted in the traditional (white with black or dark green shutters) Key West color scheme. They immediately see dollar signs when they strongly feel the necessity to paint a home’s exterior to make it look like the “cute” conch cottage of their dreams.

1127 Packer Street before it was colored Key West.

Although buyers often make the declaration that they are purchasing a property because it makes financial sense, the overriding reason is that it makes emotional sense for them. Frequently used to represent and elicit emotions, colors connect with individuals on a subconscious level. The house colors of Key West have come to represent the island’s lighthearted and carefree lifestyle that is envied around the globe.

Key West colors not only enhance a cottage’s curb appeal, they greatly increase the home’s web appeal. Realtor.com and Zillow.com primarily utilize images to market real estate on the smart phone in the pocket of nearly everyone looking to purchase property. Bland, white or beige, shotgun cottages—that look like they could be easily transplanted anywhere—do not capture the attention of online shoppers looking for their island dream home.

If you are planning to sell your conch cottage, wander around Old Town snapping pictures of the quintessential Key West cottages sporting color combinations that speak to you. The coastal colors that garner a positive response from you, will undoubtedly grab the attention of buyers as well. Pickup a selection of paint chips (with HARC approved historic colors) at Strunk Hardware and play with color combinations over a glass of wine with friends and neighbors. Once you have decided on the perfect color scheme, head over to City Hall to get the painting permit process rolling.

The former white and dark green color scheme on display at 1711 Von Phister Street did not command the attention of potential buyers.

Painted to reflect the scolors of Key West, the cottage's personality shines. — Painted to reflect the soft tropical colors of Key West, the cottage’s personality shines.

When successfully selling any product, you must give buyers what they want. Key West cottage buyers want them to look like their fantasy. Reflect the tropical hues of the island’s sea, sky, and flora in the exterior colors you paint your home, and you will not only capture the imagination of eager buyers, you will get your cigar maker’s cottage sold quickly and for the best price.

We strongly encourage our sellers to color it Key West before they offer their cottages for sale. A tropically painted island cottage makes a winning first impression every time.

—Dean Townsend, The Townsend Team