One of Florida’s rare private islands is back on the market in the Florida Keys, but this time with a significant price cut.
Howell Key, which is about a mile offshore from the 25-mile mark in Summerland Key, hit the market this week with a new asking price of $16.9 million. The nearly 10-acre private island was last for sale back in 2024 with $21.9 million price tag.
Accessible only by boat or helicopter, the off-the-grid private retreat was completed in 2012, and comes with a five-bedroom, four-bath main house, a saltwater pool, a guest house, a garage, multiple animal pens, a pickleball court, a tiki hut with beach, a helipad, and a finger dock, says the listing.
The island has had a few notable owners over the years. In the early 1950s, Howell Key was owned by Monroe County Sheriff Berlin A. Sawyer, who built a retirement home on the island. A large portion of the island was later sold to inventor Mark H. Rhodes, who also retired to the island after becoming wildly rich by creating a mechanical timer used for parking meters and home appliances.
Most recently, the entirety of Howell Key was purchased by a Canadian-based LLC in 2010.
The listing agent is Lisa H. Ferringo with Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate.
This story was originally reported by Colin Wolf and published by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
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