AFFORDABLE WATERFRONT HOME on the canal

Good things come in all sizes and with a smaller footprint that lives large, this 1,260SF home delivers a comfortable laid-back lifestyle on the canal. Under a vaulted ceiling the generous gathering/dining room spans the width of the house and opens to the sunny Florida room at the back. Compact and clever, the kitchen with its deep bar has room for food prep and you can easily converse with family and friends whilst cooking. Everything you need is within easy reach of the large pantry closet. Rich wood floors gleam in the Florida room and you’ll really enjoy this space in the cooler months as you bask in the setting sun.

The 18′ x 14′ party deck is just off the dining area so parties will have a natural flow inside and out. There’s a pergola waiting to be decked out in fragrant jasmine and honeysuckle and a mature cedar adds a privacy screen in the corner of the backyard. The two bedrooms are on the east side of the house so the sunrise over the nearby Atlantic Ocean will peek in to say good morning. A comfortable master has a walk-in closet, en-suite bath and new hardwood floors that complement your personal style. Featuring the same wood floors (so smooth on bare feet), the second bedroom has two windows inviting in diffused sunlight from the east and south. A small alcove makes for a workstation or media arrangement. The hall bath has a stack washer/dryer tucked behind the door.

On the street side there’s a 6′ x 6′ storage shed for a small lawn mower, beach bikes and boards – a place for everything. A parking pad will accommodate two cars off-street and you can increase the size if needed. But really, all the living will take place in the back where your daily view will include water birds in flight, brilliant sunsets and the occasional mullet performing backflips in the canal.

Look to the south and you’ll find a living vignette of old Florida – marsh grasses ruffled by the breeze, stands of tall trees across the waterway, blue skies and lazy clouds passing through. No nature deficit here, if living here doesn’t make you relax, it may be too late. The closest beach access is 4/10s of a mile to the south and while you’re there you can grab a bite to eat at the South Beach Grill. Not too big, not too small – if the size fits your needs and wants, the rest is easy.

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