We saw op-ed articles on the St Croix Source and the VI Daily News urging the preservation of the Ham’s Buff Lighthouse. Over the years, Olasee Davis (author of both op-ed pieces) has written several articles over the years about the need to preserve the historic lighthouse on Ham’s Bluff in the northwest corner of St. Croix, which is part of Maroon Country’s steep cliff wilderness area. There is a lot of history and significance to this historic lighthouse and it is in dire need of repair. We recommend you reading the St Croix Source article here and the VI Daily News article here. We hope the restoration will finally happen!
Photo from VI Daily News
Here is a video of the view from Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse. There is a hiking trail to Hams Bluff Lighthouse where you can find stunning view of the North Shore.
Since 1992, the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has contributed $3 million towards enhancing health care services in the region. The VI consortium article reported the insights into the legacy of Bennie Benjamin, a St Croix songwriter. The Foundation executor said Benjamin’s will specified that royalties from his songs be allocated to health care improvements within the Virgin Islands. The latest donation is to Frederiksted Health Care which has received 3 state-of-the-art dental scanners to improve patient care. These advanced scanners, one for each of FHC’s dental sites, were generously provided by the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation to enhance dental care services on St. Croix. Hopefully the music played in the office is that of the St Croix songwriter.
The article also shared the transformative effects of this donation as illustrated by the FHC.
Prior to receiving the scanners, the process of creating dentures, crowns, and bridges was lengthy and prone to errors, involving off-island shipping of molds which could take 6 to 8 weeks. Heat during shipping sometimes caused molds to shrink, resulting in ill-fitting final products and necessitating re-doing the entire process. With the new scanners, images are sent directly to the lab, ensuring precise results and reducing turnaround time to 10 days.
Great news coming out of St. Croix! Travel demand to the island has seen a significant surge in the post-pandemic period, and will soon welcome a new airline to consider when booking travel to the big island. Ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines recently announced they will begin nonstop service from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St. Croix to Orlando International Airport (MCO) starting May 2024. They also announced that flights between St. Croix and San Juan will begin this June.
This addition now connects St. Croix to the vast network of flights from the mainland United States into San Juan and Orlando. “We’re thrilled to again announce new service from St. Croix,” said Josh Flyr, Vice President Network Operations and Design, Frontier Airlines. “It will help further support inbound tourism to St. Croix and, for the local community traveling stateside, Orlando is the most popular destination in the U.S. and offers a huge array of connecting options to destinations both within the U.S. and internationally.”
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Frontier Airlines operates more than 100 A320 family aircraft, serving approximately 120 destinations in the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Thanks to the use of these aircraft models, their seating configuration, and weight-saving initiatives, Frontier’s average of 43 percent fuel savings makes them the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline. On a mission to provide affordable travel across America, the airline offers the lowest fares; plus, children 14 years and younger are eligible to fly free through the airline’s DISCOUNT DEN® travel club on qualifying flights.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Frontier Airlines is offering low fares starting at $69 and Premium Seat upgrades starting at $19. We’re thrilled to have this new option available, as it offers additional opportunities for visitors to our shores and provides our local community with a new cost-efficient option to visit family and friends in the mainland United States. For additional information on discounts and fares, visit the Frontier Airlines website at www.flyfrontier.com.
Monthly 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.
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!
