Key West Real Estate

The Florida Keys have been a popular destination for decades. Considering the fact that you can drive from mainland South Florida all the way to Key West and be in a tropical environment is very desireable. Many investors and second home buyers have found the Florida Keys to be convenient for traveling to with close proximity to Miami, Marathon and Key West airports. The Key West area was recently hit by Hurricane Wilma and Key West was flooded along with many neighboring islands in the Lower Florida Keys. It left our community with a lot of clean up and a realization of why many homes in the Lower Keys are built on stilts. The upside to all this devistation is that we will survive this crisis and rebuild and move on. Some residents will sell their homes and find higher ground in the mountains or just on the mainland of Florida, but long time residents of Key West and the Lower Keys still believe in the quality of life here and will remain, thinking they dodged the bullet... meaning a Cat 5 hurricane. For Key West real estate prices this will mean a few things. One is that it will be a buyers market. Homes will sell for less than they were originally priced, and many owners will be very negotiable. If there was ever a time to own property in the Keys, it is now. Buying real estate in Monroe County can be tricky. Not only because of the hurricane damage that will be repaired but because of county ordinances on land, permits, building and rebuilding. A knowledgeable real estate agent will know all this and can get you pointed in the right direction if you are planning to buy in the Florida Keys. Lori Bender, broker, of Key West Real Estate Company offers some invaluable information on her website. Visit the site and sign up to receive the information. It is free and will give any new buyer the information needed to pursue buying property in this area. The Key West area has a lot to offer. Our hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30th. The winter here is pleasant and in the 70s. There is plenty to do on the water and festivals and events are constant throughout the Keys. Knowing how to prepare for a storm and having your home and belongings secured makes the entire experience much more acceptable. I have enjoyed living in the Florida Keys for nearly a decade and hurricane or no hurricane, I have no regrets. Life here is full of friendly people, beautiful blue waters, fresh seafood and an a relaxing tropical atmosphere.