Introducing our new weekly short video series: Coffee, Tea & Listings. Starting March, every week you can see us on our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts. Follow us!
This is something we’ve wanted to do for a while. You can spend a little time with us on Monday while we will discuss our favorite new listings from the past week – what we like about them and why they were our choice.
The origin story…
We all have a routine. Every morning Christie drinks coffee and Chris drinks tea and we talk about things that interest us. As Realtors, inevitably our discussions always include real estate listings.
It’s important to us to engage with Buyers and Sellers on the timely opportunities in this buzzing real estate market. So the idea of doing weekly short video “check-ins” is a accessible and approachable way to do that. Coffee, Tea & Listings came naturally to us.
Why it is the right time…
Our January real estate sales data shows the St Croix market remains active while transitioning into a more balanced and opportunity-driven phase. Sales activity has increased compared to last year, while pricing adjustments across several property types are creating new entry points for buyers and investors.
As experienced Realtors, we know what’s happening on the island and know the properties that come on the market. For example, did you know that it’s rare to find 3 or more bedrooms in a condo on St. Croix?
How we choose which properties to highlight…
We will watch the new listings during the week and pick properties which interest us. Although we will be mentioning our listings sometimes, the ones we choose can be any listing for sale on St. Croix from any real estate agency.
We hope to have at least one from every category – house, condo, land, and perhaps, commercial. There may be weeks when we like a couple of properties in a given category if they are really special or unique.
They can be at any price. We won’t always go for the most expensive. There are some very interesting properties which are in the lower price ranges.
Besides discussing the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and view, we will also be sharing…
Primarily, we will discuss why a listing stood out to us. What features were especially attractive, unusual or distinctive.
You may be surprised what might interest you from our videos. You may be attracted to a property very different from what you are currently thinking you would want. For example, we were working with buyers who were sure that they wanted a condo on the north shore between Salt River and Cane Bay. They saw a house listing by accident and changed their minds! They are now buying that house!
If you hear about a property and think you may want to find out more, you can contact us. We are always interested in answering your questions or giving our advice from the 22 years experience we have living on this lovely island.
Winter is the perfect time to shop for an island dream home on St Croix. With clear skies, beautiful weather and plenty of homes to tour, it is one of the best seasons to explore the US Virgin Island real estate market. Sometimes off island Buyers with cancelled or delayed flights, tight timetables, or inconvenient free time for traveling may make it difficult to look at a listing in person. We can help.
As Accredited Buyer’s Representatives (ABR) and Seller Representative Specialists (SRS), we are delighted to share our experience & local knowledge on St Croix’s real estate sales process and how to mitigate risk when buying a home from afar. Here are some common questions we receive from off island Buyers:
“What is your approach to helping Buyers who can’t be on St. Croix in person to look at properties?”
Our answer: We have sold several properties to off island Buyers sight unseen and we are carefully cautious every time.
If the listing has photos with poor lighting or no walkthrough videos available, we take our own onsite photos or videos showing the Buyers just what they want shown.
If there’s something our Buyers particularly want to see, like a video of the drive to the property, or a video of the neighborhood, we are happy to provide those.
We have also done FaceTime calls with our clients walking through the property answering their questions as we walk along.
“What are ways to mitigate risk of buying sight unseen?”
Our answer: Buying a property is a big financial decision. We always remind our clients to:
Carefully watch all listing videos which show the property. And look at the photos.
Read any available documents such as maps, surveys or plot maps, list of improvements, rules and regulations, and floor plans from the listing.
Hire a licensed home inspector to do a thorough inspection of the property.
Include in the contract a contingency clause that may provide you with an out should inspections reveal any issues with the property.
Ask questions!
If buying property on St. Croix is a goal for you this year, contact us and we will work with you! Every sale is personal to us. We are the experienced real estate professionals on island who can help you every step of the process.
For more information about condo features, visit our recent newsletter on the topic here.
Leading up to the holiday season, we meet many people who are interested in giving back to the St Croix community by donating to non-profits on St Croix. Some who are new in the territory sometimes ask us, “where do we start?” There are many non-profits that do important work in our local community. We suggest you think about the causes that are meaningful for you, then research organizations that work in that area and the impact they make.
If you would like to gift funds to a non-profit this holiday season and are looking for suggestions, here are some organizations which would welcome your monetary gift to help people and animals. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!:
St Croix homes can offer a unique blend of classic island charm and unexpected luxury. Whether it’s a hillside estate with sea views or a double lot home, St Croix homes can suit different lifestyles and personal needs. An experienced real estate agent will be able to help Buyers find the perfect place to call home on island. Very few neighborhoods on St Croix were developed by the same build, so you will find varied floor plans, layouts, and lot sizes. St Croix homes offer a wide range of features which will suit different lifestyles, personal needs, and budgets. Some of those features are common, some are unusual.
Here are the most common features you will find in homes on St Croix:
Pool
Generator
Stainless steel appliances
Walk-in closet
Built-in bookcases
Home office space
Vaulted ceilings
Apartment
Garage or carport
Off street parking
Water filtration system
Beautiful outdoor spaces
Lush landscaping
Fruit trees
Fenced yard
Gas grill
Electric gate
Garden shed
Some features are uncommon and found at only a small number of houses on St Croix. Here are some examples:
Tennis court
Sugar mill
Elevator
Beach access
Workshop
Hot tub or spa
Fountain
Koi pond
Tray ceilings
Interior archways
Kitchen pass through
Private dock
Reverse osmosis plant
Wine cellar
Game room
Gym
Dive equipment room
Water sports storage room
Sculpture
Heated pool
Solar panels with Tesla batteries
Refrigerator drawers
Chef’s kitchen
Farm sink
Wet bar
Pool table
Ping pong table
Danish brick interior or exterior walls
Surveillance equipment, video and/or audio
Historic cannon
Mural
Separate guest cottage
Gray water system
Well
Outdoor shower
Mosaic tile mural
Pocket doors
Nano wall glass doors
Ice maker
Outdoor kitchen
Choosing the island home and lifestyle on St Croix comes down to more than just the number of bedrooms, baths, location, and view. Most of St Croix homes are truly unique. There are features that are fairly common and some that are rarely seen. If you need an experienced real estate professional to help you navigate the process, contact us!
For more information about condo features, visit our recent newsletter on the topic here.
Click image below to watch our YouTube video about Home Features for Your Island Lifestyle
There are 42 different condo complexes on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and they vary quite a bit. Features and amenities relating to design, location, and services can be differ even within complexes next to each other. Some complexes emphasize on luxury and resort-style experiences while some focus conveniences typically found in many condos. Many of them will have:
Pool
Common room
Tennis court
Restaurants either on site, or nearby
Manager on site
Walking distance to activities, services, or shops
Beautiful garden, or lush landscaping
For features that are less common, we found only one or a few complexes on island that have:
Direct beach access, or beach nearby
Pet friendly
Generator
Security gate
Golf course
Pickle ball court
Private pool
Security guard
Frisbee golf course
Security bars
Video security cameras
Hair salon on site
Underground parking
Elevator
Sugar mill on site
Weight room
From common to stand out amenities and services on St Croix condos, we have seen it all! If you are looking for a condo to buy, we would be happy to help you to find a property that meets your priorities. Contact us!
For more information about condo features, visit our recent newsletter on the topic here.
Click image below to watch our YouTube video about Condo Features for Your Island Lifestyle
Inheriting a home is one of those life moments that often brings mixed emotions. Before rushing into decisions, give yourself time. A home tied to a loved one can carry emotional weight, and there’s no need to tackle everything immediately.
Start by gathering key documents. These will help you get a clear picture of what you’ve inherited and what is still owed or required:
The will or trust
Mortgage information (if any)
Homeowners insurance policy
Utility bills
Tax records
Deed/title paperwork
Determine ownership and legal standing. If the home was left to you in a will, the estate will likely need to go through probate before you can take ownership. If the property was in a trust, this process may be quicker. It’s smart to consult a probate attorney or estate planner, especially if there are multiple heirs or unclear ownership.
Understand the financial impact. Inheriting a home can come with financial considerations:
Property taxes
Capital gains taxes
Ongoing expenses – mortgage payments (if applicable), insurance, utilities, and maintenance will all need attention
For more information about what to do when you inherit a property visit our recent newsletter on the topic here.
Watch our YouTube video on What to Do When You Inherit a Island Home below.
