Question: “What are the top 5 hidden costs to buying a home or condo?”
Chris’ Answer:
We get this question a lot. In the excitement of finding your island home, keep these costs in mind:
Closing costs, prepaid fees, and other fees. Getting a loan costs 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.
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.
Contact us with any questions about real estate on St. Croix!
Question: “What are the most important features to think about when looking at St Croix properties?”
Christie’s Answer:
Consider the features that suit the needs of your lifestyle both now, and in the future:
Outdoor space. Because of the temperate climate, be sure to think about creating wonderful outdoor spaces. Even in condos, there will be galleries. You’ll want enough space for you to relax and enjoy the view and breezes, and maybe entertain outside.
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 having fresh air circulating will deter mold growth.
View. What do you want to see when in your outdoor space or looking out your windows? Many people want a sea view. It can be an expansive one, or just small. Some people love a view of the rolling hills or of a garden. Others want to see the old buildings in one of the towns.
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 sites? 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 in a more rural area where the glorious moon, stars, and planets will shine brighter!
Pets. We live with our dogs and cats, all Crucian rescues. We have enough space for them inside and outside. Although they are not pets, we have created garden spaces with flowering plants for hummingbirds and banana quits (sugar birds). We have several bird baths, bird houses, feeders for the sugar loving birds, feeders for finches, and we put out cracked corn for the doves, pigeons, and the 2 peacocks which roam the neighborhood.
Contact us with any questions about real estate on St. Croix!
One of St. Croix’s most rewarding nonprofits is celebrating its 10th year in service to the community! Incorporated on January 24, 2014, Project Promise is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to nurturing the potential of young individuals in the territory. Founder & Executive Director Resa O’Reilly’s decade-long work with the area’s youth unveiled a strong need for a holistic program that would address many of the challenges that the island’s at-risk youth face. Like many communities around the world, the U.S. Virgin Islands has challenges that include economic disparities, educational gaps, and social issues. With her motivation and desire to make a difference in her community, O’Reilly launched Project Promise. With a Board of Directors, she created an organization that combines one-on-one mentoring with an educational, cultural, and vocational focus to safeguard a brighter future for at-risk youth in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment. Today, Project Promise stands as a testament to resilience, offering a wide range of programs and initiatives tailored to address these pressing concerns. Their goal is to identify the youth within the community who are experiencing adolescent hardships and may have a rough transition into adulthood.
Project Promise centers its programs around 7 programming pillars: personal wellness, financial literacy, career exploration, creative expression, cultural awareness, community service, and life skills. At the heart of Project Promise is the organization’s belief in the power of education. Through academic enrichment programs, tutoring sessions, and scholarship opportunities, the organization equips young minds with the tools they need to excel academically and pursue their aspirations. In addition to its focus on academics, Project Promise understands the importance of holistic development. Their flagship program, the Caterpillar Project, is a long-term program designed to make a significant difference in the lives of at-risk youth in St. Croix. The program includes mentoring, life skills workshops, community service, and counseling services to foster emotional well-being and personal growth among participants. Their newest program, Empowered Me, is a holistic enrichment program for young adults ages 10 to 18 that will equip them with the tools and attitudes they need to be winners in life with classes and activities centered around the program’s pillars. Other programs include:
The Buck Island Program, which offers every public school fifth-grade student the opportunity to visit and learn about the Buck Island Reef National Monument.
The Open Outdoors for Kids Program, which offers every public school fourth-grade student the opportunity to visit and learn about the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.
Throughout the year, Project Promise hosts various fundraisers to support its mission. The largest is the Havana Nights Silent Auction Fundraiser, held every February. Here attendees indulge in the sights and sounds of Cuba, including vintage cars, live cigar-rolling demonstrations, a domino tournament, salsa dancing, and delicious Cuban food. The grand prize of a roundtrip ticket to Cuba for two makes the event even more irresistible!
To learn more about Project Promise and the organization’s amazing impact on St. Croix’s underserved youth, visit their website at www.projectpromisevi.com.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced last week that almost $4 million had been allocated to projects and programs in several U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands as reported by the VI Consortium recently. This is aimed at combating climate change, restoring coastal areas, and eradicating invasive species. Read the full article here.
In the announcement on February 5, 2024 found here, the Dept of Interior said $971,000 will go to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support the development of an early detection and rapid response framework of invasive species and support surveys of plant communities that connect northern and southern shorelines across St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. This is a component in the nearly $7 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to advance climate resilience and restore lands and waters through impactful ecosystem restoration work in the U.S. territories.
WTJX recently interviewed actor and musician Dan Aykroyd and discussed his new collaboration with St. Croix musicians to record a Virgin Islands tribute song called “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night.” The new song features the legendary actor’s “Blues Brothers” character, Elwood Blues.
It is a wonderful song and we want to share it! Click on this link to listen on Spotify.
In the WTJX interview, we learn more about local talent behind the song by Dan Aykroyd:
“The two famous performers teamed up with residents Kevin Motta, who also sings on the track, and Jeff Tareila, who wrote the music and produced the song in his studios in New Jersey and St. Croix. Other local musicians who play on the track include Kurt Schindler on guitar, Abbie Leung-Massicot on steel pans and a choir organized by Leslie Highfield-Carter. The drummer on the song is Chuck Treece, a member of various bands, including G. Love and Special Sauce. The collaborating artists for “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night” are known as VI Peeps.”
WTJX
Having purchased a home on St. Croix after visiting the island over the years, Aykroyd spoke of his love for the island. He said there is a warmth in the territory that he hasn’t found in many of the other parts of the Caribbean he has visited.
If you read our blog and follow us on social media, you know that we love St. Croix, it has been our home for 20 years! You can see what St. Croix is like through our lens with “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night” playing below:
