Finding an escape from the snow last week was tough. Nearly 70 percent of the contiguous United States was covered in the white stuff. The National Weather Service said that every state except Florida reported snow on the ground — even Hawaii.
The Lower Keys of Florida, was the farthest away from snow that you could get without leaving the US. The warm climate, the ocean and the lack of an income tax, appeal to home buyers.
Key West, the southernmost point, is also rich in culture. It's an old historic city with a live and let live, non-judgemental attitude. It is more cosmopolitan than the rest of the Keys, with lots of theaters and galleries. At the center of its famous Old Town is lively and colorful Duval Street, lined with bars, evening strollers and nightlife. Key West has areas — including New Town, Midtown and Casa Marina — where homeowners can walk to shops and restaurants, but Old Town is the most desirable. It is charming. In Old Town, you can get something tiny: a one bedroom, one bath from $300,000. But it is $500,000 minimum for something decent. And the high-end starts at $3 million. In Old Town, you cannot tear down, just renovate, and there are old Victorians and what they call conch houses. It's a small - 2 by 4 mile - competitive island market, where a bargain can be very hard to find even with the help of an agent who is tapped into the local coconut telegraph.
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