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My Mission Statement:
My objective is to totally educate you about
the market here. That
way you will make informed decisions when choosing your future
home in Paradise.
"
Tom Willi did such an amazing job for us with our recent purchase
of a condo in Key West".
About Big Pine-Lower Fl Keys
Big Pine in particular is one of the largest and most interesting Islands in the Keys. It has a population just over 5000. As of the last quarter of 2010 the average property sale value was $407,000 in the Lower Keys.. As you get closer to the water or buy a home on a canal, the prices rise accordingly. But there are quite a few different developments, mostly of single family houses, and some are pricier than others.
Water depth affects prices, and some areas have
about 15 inches and some have 3-4 feet. Obviously this means you
can have a certain kind of boat in some areas that won’t work in
other areas. It depends what you’re looking for.
The shallower areas have more direct and private access to a lot of the wilder and more pristine parts of the Island and adjacent backcountry. They may also (but not reliably) be less expensive.
Until now, on the drive down the Keys from Miami,
the housing areas were arrayed on either side of the road, gulfside/bayside
or oceanside. Here it’s different. The 2-lane, 45 mph Overseas
Highway (what a misnomer!) runs across the southern edge of Big Pine,
through the restaurant and business area; most of the residential
areas are situated several minutes drive to the north. To some buyers
that slow drive (30-35 mph speed limits, for the deer) is a price
deterrent the farther north you go; to others the isolation means
extra value.
Monroe County’s elementary and middle schools for
the Lower Keys are on Sugarloaf; for high school kids are bused to
Key West.
What’s this isolation feel like? Not bad, actually.
Recreation: Boating, exploring, fishing. Whether you are interested in offshore or backcounty, Big Pine offers quick and easy access to both venues. Or walk along the nature trails that wind through Federal Refuge land of pine barrens and hardwood hammocks, and observe the miniature deer and bird life. Or kayak any of a number of “trails” in the shallow water backcountry. Or ride a bicycle along miles of safe roads and trails. Or snorkel or dive Looe Key, perhaps the best of the best when it comes to Florida’s coral reefs. It’s 3 miles or so offshore, straight out Newfound Harbor Channel.
The Lower Keys are definitely getting away from it all.
Employment: If you live here, and are not retired,
most likely you will work in either Key West or Marathon. Both of
these towns are about a half hour to one hour drive at max from Big
Pine, even at rush hour (an oxymoron for sure).
Remember that “mile markers” in the Keys, which are the standard way of giving an address along the Overseas Highway, start at Key West and number 1. Big Pine is mile marker 30 or 30 miles away---Marathon is mile marker 48. Key Largo is 99.
Local employment is fairly highly concentrated at this time, either tourist-related or construction. The rest of the services sector is still pretty small.
But in conclusion, if you want to be near world-famous Key
West but yet have a quiet neighborhood and homes that are more
affordable, the Lower Keys could be the answer. And if you really
want to get away from even the sight of traffic on the Overseas Highway, Big
Pine Key Real Estate offers that too.
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