Home Styles in the Keys and More!

When you start on your search for your dream home or your very own slice of paradise, there are a couple things that might be a little different than in other parts of the United States or even in other parts of Florida! Lets go through the list of possible differences.

What are the Residential Styles in the Keys?

The question really is Condo vs Townhome vs Single Family vs Half Duplex vs Duplex vs Mobile!                                               

1. Single family residence (SFR): a detached building designed for and occupied exclusively by one family, which has one building right.
2. Duplex: a detached building containing two dwelling units, designed for occupancy by not more than two families, which has two building rights
3. Half Duplex: an attached building designed for and occupied exclusively by one family, which has one building right.
4. Triplex: a detached building containing three dwelling units, designed for occupancy by not more than three families, which has three building rights.
5. Townhome: a multi-story, usually frame house, in a development which is attached to one or more similar houses by shared walls. Owners typically are responsible for maintaining their own exteriors, including walls, roofs, porches, etc. HOA fees vary and might include things like basic cable, sewer and in a couple of instances, water. They are usually paid monthly or quarterly. Typically building insurances are paid individually.
6. Condominium: is a complex comprised of individual units, and each unit is owned separately. Most condo buildings in the Keys are concrete or CBS (concrete block structure). Entrances can be from exterior hallways or interior hallways. COA fees vary and might include things like basic cable, sewer and in a couple of instances, water. They are usually paid monthly or quarterly. It is common for building insurances to be included in the condo fees. 
7. Condotel: A condo that operates more like a hotel. Individuals own each unit, although the complex shares amenities like lobby registration and a cleaning service. Most condotel's in the Keys have restricted owner use and must use onsite resort rental management.

What are the Building Styles in the Keys?

Very simply put, homes are: concrete/CBS, frame, modular, or mobile. There are RV parks designated specifically for RV's.

• In the Keys a CBS home may have stucco, be plain, or may appear to have siding, which is molded from concrete.
• A frame home can have siding made from wood, hardiboard, or plastic.
• Modular homes are not manufactured nor mobile homes! They are frame homes build to current code (at the time they were built) and trucked in usually two (or more) pieces and assembled onsite. 
• Mobile homes are a movable or portable dwelling built on a chassis, placed on a foundation. Many mobile homes have created additional living space with frame additions.
• Tiny homes, well we have seen two so far as of 2022! They still have to be built to current code like any other structure, anchored into the bedrock and can withstand 180mph winds (as of 2022)!

How do HOA's work in the Keys?

Well the good new is that for SFR's in the Keys, there are very few communities that have HOA's with the normally associated restrictions! The only restrictions you have are from the local municipalities! Those would include things like building codes, rental restrictions, bylaws, etc.

We do however have a number of voluntary HOA's. They consist of community waterfront parks that might have a boat ramp, day dockage, and some picnic tables. Most are gated and require a Key. Other HOA's might ask for a very small yearly fee be to maintain some common areas if they have private roads or other private areas. Some even have beach access for that community!

Let us know if there is anything else that you would like to know about! 

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