Question: “How do your land photos and videos give me more information than just overgrown vegetation?“
Chris’ Answer:
Imagining boundaries on land parcel photographs is difficult. An aerial mapping photograph can help, but only from an overhead view. We are now including approximate drawings of the boundaries on our photos so that you can better envision the shape of the lot as you look at the different views. Some of the photographs have the lot drawn, and all of the surrounding land is black and white. We feel this helps make the shape of the lot really stand out! We also include the names of the roads, and any landmarks to give you reference points. This can assist you in finding the lot as you drive around. It also helps you if you are off island to better understand the location of the lot. In our videos, we attempt to give as many overhead and angled views to try to show the slope and what your view might be if you built your home there.
Image from our listing at 72 South Grapetree, St Croix USVI. View listing here.
Question: “What is the benefit of scanning the QR code on your signs vs. going to your website?”
Christie’s Answer:
As you travel around the island, look for our new signs with QR codes on them. These are going on our land listings. When the QR code is scanned by your phone, you will be taken directly to an information page created specifically for that land parcel. You can see the most important highlights about the property, like: acreage, price, slope description and photos and videos. This is important because when you are standing at the location, unless the lot has been cleared, all that you will see is brush and trees. Our photos and videos are taken from the street and from the air to give you as much initial information as possible about what you might be buying! For one listing, we drove across the valley so that we could get a different view of the lot.
There is also a contact form so we can send you the complete listing information which includes documents we have (surveys, topographical map, aerial mapping photo), and additional photos and videos.
Image from our listing at 72 South Grapetree, St Croix USVI. View listing here.
We recently saw 2 interesting hotel development news here on St. Croix. This is great news for tourism and the hospitality industry on island.
Hotel on the Cay
On an October 24, 2022 Facebook post, Governor Albert Bryan announced that the Government of the Virgin Islands has signed a fully negotiated and executed lease agreement with Christiansted Harbor Resort and Marina LLC for the redevelopment of the historic 7.2-acre Hotel on the Cayproperty (photo above). Governor Bryan is transmitting that agreement to the Legislature for its approval and ratification. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will receive a 60-year lease and undertake a two-phased $25 million renovation of the resort which includes:
renovation of the 55 existing hotel units
upgrades to the pool and existing restaurants
construction of 60 additional hotel units
dock extensions and ferry improvements.
To contact the hotel, call 1-855-654-0301.
Chenay Bay Beach & Resort
Also on October 21, 2022, Chenay Bay Beach & Resortannounced on their Facebook page that the property is officially under new ownership and management that day. They plan to re-open the restaurant in a few weeks and will be completely rebranding the property, renovating all cottages, building two new pools and a new restaurant. The cottage renovations will begin right away, the plans and permits for the pools and new restaurant will start later. The owners aim to break ground around April 2023, pending permitting, and be complete by November 2023. Call the resort for reservations at +1 340-201-1309.
We saw an article from The Caribbean National Weekly about the top 6 reasons to visit USVI. If you are planning a vacation in a tropical island around the winter holidays, visit the US Virgin Islands and all it has a lot to offer! Read article here.
The Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman’s Reef (winter 2022-2023)
The Seaborn at Frenchman’s Reef (winter 2022-2023)
The Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort’s 75th Anniversary (St. Croix, December 2022)
St Croix Crucian Festival (St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, December 11-January 27)
The Caribbean Charter Yacht Show (St. Thomas, December 8-11)
UberSoca Cruise (a stop in St. Thomas)
YES US Virgin Classic Is Back for More (St. Thomas, December 29-January 3)
In the future, visiting St. Croix and the other US Virgin Islands may get easier. As many may know, US citizens can visit beautiful US Virgin Islands without a passport because they are a US territory. Did you know that there is new bill has been introduced to the US Congress House Judiciary Committee, and if they approve The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act, this bill would allow visitors from the Caribbean to receive a nonimmigrant visitor visa exemption to enter the US Virgin Islands, for up to 45 days. named 6 reasons to visit the US Virgin Islands.
This is big news for Virgin Islanders planning to be first-time homeowners! On October 20, 2022, Governor Albert Bryan introduced a new home loan program for moderate income Virgin Islanders. Governor Bryan said this new VI Slice Moderate Income Homeownership Program will help first-time homebuyers secure financing to become homeowners through a partnership between the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI) and local banks that will be administered through the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA).
Oriental Bank, FirstBank VI, Bank of St. Croix, Banco Popular, and Merchant’s Bank are part of the program. Governor Bryan emphasized in the announcement that the program is part of his administration’s effort to turn more Virgin Islanders into homeowners.
The program will provide up to $200,000 in gap financing to Virgin Islanders who qualify for a conventional mortgage through any participating bank and meet the other requirements of qualification for the program. According to the VI.gov website, applicants must be first-time homebuyers who meet established household income requirements; attain a commitment letter for a mortgage loan based on underwriting standards of the primary financing lender; be able to make a minimum earnest money deposit of $5,000; and be a resident of the territory for the last three years prior to the signing of a sales contract, with the exception of those applicants who were prior residents of the territory for at least 10 years and have now opted to return, or whose birthplace is the U.S. Virgin Islands.
More information about the program, read the program fact sheet from the official Virgin Islands government website here.
