Oct 2, 2024 | QA
Question: “What are some important features to consider in a St Croix home?”
Our Answer:
Consider the features which suit the needs of your lifestyle now, and what you see in the future
- Outdoor space. Because of the temperate climate, be sure to think about creating wonderful outdoor spaces. You’ll want enough space for you to relax and enjoy the view and breezes, plus space to entertain your friends and family.
- Air flow. Unless you intend to use AC all of the time, having cross breezes and ceiling fans are important. This will keep you cool, and the circulating fresh air will deter mold growth.
- View. What do you want to see when gazing through the windows?
- Activities. Do you like to be near diving or snorkeling? Do you like to hike or bike and want to be near places to do that? Perhaps you are an artist who would want to be near the Botanical Garden or historic buildings? If you have a boat, you may want to be close to where it’s moored. If you are a star gazer, you may want to be more in the in a rural area where the glorious moon, stars and planets shine more brightly.
- Pets. Like most people, our dog and cats are so important to us! We have enough space for all of us to live together. Although wild birds are not pets, they are important to us, too. We have several bird baths and feeders with sugar water or small seeds to feed the hummingbirds, banana quits, finches, and sparrows. We spread cracked corn for the doves, pigeons, and two peacocks. We love watching them! There’s always bird songs or peacock noises floating into the house!
Contact us with any questions about real estate on St. Croix!
Oct 2, 2024 | QA
Question: “What are the hidden costs of buying a home or condo?”
Our Answer:
In the excitement of finding your island home, keep these costs in mind:
- Inspections. An inspection by a licensed home inspector is key to any home or condo purchase. This will inform you as to the condition of the home or condo so that you better understand what you are buying. The owner will disclose anything they are aware of, but an inspector will give you a full detailed report. For a home or land, you will want a survey done. Often an appraisal is needed.
- Association fees. Condos have have HOA fees associated with them. Some homes do, too. These fees will be pro-rated for the year at closing.
- Maintenance, repairs, and decorating. Your monthly budget responsibilities could include landscaping, pool maintenance, pest control, garbage pickup, cable TV, and internet. There might be a few minor things for you to repair after closing. Also, you will want to make your new home YOURS. So, budget for decor, paint, landscaping, furniture, or anything else you may want to change. Sometimes just adding new decorative pillows will change the look of your living room and make it more personal!
- Utility bills. Don’t let budgeting for utilities get lost in your excitement. Think about the energy you will be using (water, electricity, AC, pool, washer/dryer, etc.), and add that to your monthly budget.
- Closing costs, prepaid fees and appraisal: If you are getting a loan, it does cost money. Plan on paying for your loan to be processed along with an appraisal fee. Closing costs and prepaid fees generally range between 3% – 5% of the purchase price.
Contact us with any questions about real estate on St. Croix!
Sep 18, 2024 | Reports
August 2024 sales data, inventory, and days on market for the St. Croix, USVI real estate market is available in our downloadable Coldwell Banker real estate reports. The is a report for each category: Homes & Condos, Condos, Homes, and Land!
If you are not familiar with with the implications of the data, please give us a call or email us directly with any questions. We are Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) and have the experience and local knowledge to help you in every step of the process. We can help you narrow down neighborhoods based on your priorities. We can also advise you on the market trends in your desired neighborhoods.
Open reports by clicking on links below:
Homes & Condos – August 2024 Report
Homes – August 2024 Report
Condo – August 2024 Report
Land – August 2024 Report
Note: The average sales price and the average days on market could be skewed greatly by only one sale or because of the small number of sales
Sep 16, 2024 | Island News
Thanks to the approval of a Coastal Zone Management permit on Tuesday, the once popular Hibiscus Beach Hotel on St. Croix, which was built in 1992, closed in 2009, and demolished in the 2017 hurricanes, will be resurrected over the next few years according to St. Croix Source. The article also reported that in the Coastal Zone Management report, upon on completion of all three phases of construction planned, the hotel will be transformed into a sophisticated and fashionable establishment which will feature all amenities associated with a boutique hotel including a bar, a gym, a restaurant, a large pool and 115 adequate parking spaces, The establishment will boast 103 guest rooms.
Christie and I remember going to the Hibiscus Hotel many years ago beginning when we first came to St. Croix in 2002. When the Hibiscus Hotel was in full operation there were meetings, events, good food, and drinks. We have very fond memories of the beach and the beachfront bar and restaurant. It was a great scene!
We know there are development details that need to be worked out about neighborhood impact, site drainage, runoff, and beach access for residents as highlighted in the article, but we wish the developers the best of luck!
Read the full article here.
Photo by Susan Ellis of St Croix Source.
Sep 9, 2024 | Island News
Coral propagation can happen in different conditions. According to the VI Daily News, despite the many factors in play, researchers can identify the windows in time when corals are most likely to release gametes. Over the past week, teams of Nature Conservancy divers scoured the waters off The Deep End and Cane Bay for those gametes while others monitored the corals at TNC’s Coral Innovation Hub in Estate Little Princess. The researchers found a smaller number of colonies than they hoped for. The effects of the bleaching event in fall of 2023 is still being felt. The recent slight yield followed another disappointing spawning season in May, when another brain coral species The Nature Conservancy monitors showed the effects of last fall’s severe bleaching and heating event. When corals bleach, they exhaust their food reserves and find themselves with little energy to procreate according to researchers.
While bleaching does occur naturally, warming oceans means it’s starting earlier, ending later and more intense, giving corals less opportunity to recover according to the researchers in the article. The Nature Conservancy’s St. Croix work — which this week included late nights diving in worm-ridden waters or peering over dimly-lit aquariums — is meant to restore coral reefs by, eventually, churning corals out at scale.
Read the full article about the researchers work here.
Photo by Kat Macavoy of VI Daily News
