st croix real estate: Can You Work in the Paradise of St. Croix? Yes! - 08/26/08 12:58 PM
If you are like me, and just can't wait till you're 65 to "retire" to the virgin islands, but are SO READY to quit your current job and start a new life, then this post is designed specifically for you!  I started a new career here, and many other folks have done the same.  Some have turned former "hobbies" into paying jobs.  It's quite possible that you'll be served a fine meal by a former CEO of a large company!
Moving here or "retiring"  here does not mean that you can't be productive or have a full or part time job … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Christiansted, VI: Affordable Buildable Lot Near Christiansted, SOLD - 08/20/08 05:11 PM
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st croix real estate: St. Croix Real Estate - How to Choose a Realtor - 08/16/08 11:14 AM
I'm living my dream here in St. Croix - sold my business a few years back, chose St. Croix from all the Caribbean islands for relocation, bought real estate, and couldn't be happier!  
I'm very bullish about our economy and all the positive changes coming to our island. 
But if you have to sell, or want to take advantage of our drop in prices and invest in property, carefully consider who you want as your guide and advisor to sell your property.
You'll want someone who will deliver the following:
Great internet marketing.  According to the National Association of Realtors, over 84% of … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Summertime and the Livin' is Easy in St. Croix - 08/12/08 06:37 PM
As we enter the dog days of summer, I am falling even more in love with this beautiful island.  The days are hot, but the water feels oh so good!  Nothing better than slipping into the pool or ocean on a hot summer day!  And the evenings are so pleasant!  I couldn't sleep last night and just stood on my gallery feeling the warm tropical tradewinds blow and smelling the lovely jasmine that is just starting to bloom in my yard.  If that's not enough, more announcements about new developments coming that were in today's paper got me all excited and made … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Is the Housing Crisis really a "Crisis" - 08/08/08 01:23 PM
Here's a good short video by Dennis Kneale on CNBC, recorded June 27, 2008, with a fresh and positive approach to the mortgage challenges faced by the real estate industry.
Watch the Housing Video
In St. Croix, we have not had the rate of foreclosures seen in some of the states Dennis mentions, like California, Florida, and Nevada.  But our market has softened, as a result of the "mainland" problems.
This means buyers have more choices and better negotiating power.  Our economy is very strong, and growng.
Contact me to receive my monthly newsletter about the real estate market in St. … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Christiansted, St. Croix Moving Power Lines Underground - 07/31/08 06:01 PM
Friday, August 1, will see the commencement of a multi-year project to move the power lines in Christiansted underground.  The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency will break ground Friday on the lawn of Fort Christian.
The project, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its pre-disaster mitigation grant program, will speed the return of power to St. Croix in the event of a major hurricane.  The work will be completed in 3 phases, running concurrently, and could take up to five years.
Following the devastating hurricane Hugo in 1989, it took about six months to fully restore power … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Want to Purchase a Home in St. Croix? Important Questions to Ask - 07/28/08 12:34 PM
One of the big decisions you will need to make if you are considering relocation to St. Croix is whether to build a new home, buy an existing home, purchase a condo, or rent. There are pros and cons associated with each choice. Here are basic questions to consider that will help you in this decision process:1. How soon do you want to be "in" your own space in St. Croix?2. Would you be able to personally oversee a construction project in this tropical climate? Have you ever done this before? If you won't be here, do you feel comfortable hiring a … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Great Snorkeling Spots in St. Croix - 07/15/08 04:11 PM
Snorkeling is one of my favorite hobbies.  I addition to watching the sea life, I love to look for shells and chaney (small pieces of broken Danish pottery) in the shallows. There are good snorkeling spots ALL OVER this lovely island. Visit the maps page on my web site, to become familiar with the island of St. Croix.I guess I enjoy the snorkeling on the west end best of all. Right in front of our condo at Harbour Beach Village (just south of Sandcastles on the Beach) are perfect coral formations and overhangs  - great spots for fish and lobsters to hang … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Will a Condo "Pay for Itself" in St. Croix? - 07/07/08 05:52 PM
"Can you buy a condo here that will pay for itself?" is a question I am frequently asked.  Here are the questions you need to answer for ME so that I can answer that question for YOU and your unique circumstances: 1.  Do you want a beach front condo? 2.  How much are you willing to spend (initial capital outlay)? 3.  What monthly outgo can you live with for a property here?4.  Will you procure the renters (i.e., thru VRBO or other advertising you do on your own) or will you need a rental manager? 5.  How often, and WHEN do you … (3 comments)

st croix real estate: Swimming with Dolphins in St. Croix - 06/30/08 03:46 PM
As a little girl I used to dream about Caribbean Islands (interesting, I was born in Ky. and didn't see the ocean till I was grown), pirates, and dolphins. Those dreams never died for me(well, maybe the ones about pirating....), and when I came to St. Croix I knew I'd found "home" and my dreams had come true.
Last SunDay was such a confirmation of this. It was Father's Day, and it was already hot by 10 a.m. The sea was like glass in Frederiksted and was that AMAZING color of blue. Larry and I had been snorkeling for about an … (3 comments)

st croix real estate: Value of a Survey for a St. Croix Real Estate Investment - 06/30/08 03:15 PM

If you are purchasing a piece of property here in St. Croix, AND you are getting title insurance (which will be required if you are getting a loan), then you must have an "as built" survey. Many customers are confused by what this really means, and how it differs from other types of surveys. Recently, a local surveyor (Gary Bourdon of Survey Services Co. in St. Croix) provided us with a brief explanation of the three most common types of surveys:
The AS BUILT survey is the standard survey required by lending institutions and title companies before properties can be … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Got Rum? - 06/26/08 07:08 PM
Big news for St. Croix today! Governor DeJongh announced a wonderful landmark public-private initiative with Diageo (the world’s leading spirits, wine and beer company) for the construction and operation of a high capacity distillery on the island of St. Croix.
This new facility will be very high tech and environmentally sound - and is slated to be completed in 2011. Beginning in 2012, this distillery, which will have the capacity to distill up to 20 million proof gallons per year, will supply all bulk rum used to make Captain Morgan branded products for the US.
Needless to say, this will provide … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: St. Croix: Why You Need Title Insurance - 06/23/08 12:16 PM
Many folks do not understand why they need a title search or title insurance.  The following information addresses what a title search does and what the insurance protects, and was provided by the folks at Island Title Services Corp. here in St. Croix.  I hope you will find it helpful.
"A title search is the process of determining from the public record just what the rights of a property are and who owns them.  It is a means of determining that the person who is selling the property really has the right to sell it, and that the buyer is getting … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Living in St. Croix - What a Life! - 06/14/08 06:08 PM
While enjoying one of our beautiful beaches the other day, I made a list of the 10 things I love most about living here, in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.  When you dream of retiring on a Caribbean island, or "getting away from it all" think of the St. Croix lifestyle:
1. The amazing weather - 82 degrees year 'round, 20% chance of rain on most days. 2. The friendly people - smiles are abundant and locals as well as continentals are generally happy and friendly.  It's easy to make friends here! 3. The laid back pace - no need to get … (4 comments)

st croix real estate: There's a Window of Opportunity Open in the St. Croix Real Estate Market! - 06/01/08 06:36 PM
With all the bad news in the media about the housing slump, people are very fearful of investing in real estate now.  Certainly, some members of my profession as well as unscrupulous lenders have created a big mess, by assuring their customers things like "real estate never goes down" and "you'll probably get that big raise you're expecting and will be able to afford your payments as your interest rate rises."   Shame on them!  
Fortunately, we have very good lenders in St. Croix and we are not experiencing foreclosures here like some places in the states.  However, with fewer … (0 comments)

st croix real estate: Schools in St. Croix, USVI - 05/19/08 09:45 PM
I don't have school aged children - so keep in mind that my opinions are based on what my friends with children tell me and what i hear.  It seems pretty clear that the public schools have their share of problems.  Mold, insufficient staff, poor maintenance, and problems finding and keeping good teachers are all topics I hear discussed on our great talk radio show here (and you can listen WHERE EVER you are:  www.paradise935fm.com).One out of every six students who attend secondary school is enrolled in a private school here.There are several private schools here that seem to be very … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Pros & cons of living in the VI - 05/13/08 09:07 PM
I got an email this evening from a mainlander asking me about the pros & cons of living here.  Interesting queston!  And one that would elicit a different response from every person here on the island, I'm sure! 
In the spirit of helpfulness, I did compile my list.  Here it is
PROS:I absolutely LOVE the weather here!  I like it hot - don't even have AC here - so for me - that's a big PRO.  Winters are fabulous - and summers here are certainly no worse than in Atlanta! Plus - we have the breezes and of course the ocean … (2 comments)

st croix real estate: New Property Tax Rates in St Croix! - 05/04/08 10:03 AM
Finally, we have a new property tax bill!  The bill calls for tax payers to pay at a mil rate of .0037 on homes, .0049 on unimproved property, .0071 on commercial properties, and .014 on timeshares.  These rates are paid on 100 percent of the value of the property. 
Previously, all tax payers paid a mil rate of .0075 on 60 percent of the value of the property.  
Since property tax bills have NOT been issued yet for 2006 and 2007, buyers will receive a credit at closing for these taxes, but then will have to pay them once the … (1 comments)

st croix real estate: Mortgage Issues in St. Croix - 02/09/08 11:53 AM
Recently,  a very experienced mortgage banker from Flagstar Bank spoke to us about the mortgage situation here on St. Croix. 
Fortunately for us, there were not a lot of sub-prime loans issued here so we are not experiencing the same problems with foreclosures as in the states.  However, these practices have affected the way our banks here underwrite loans  and the way loans are looked at. 
Many of the programs that were available to buyers are no longer available (such as no income verification loans, and jumbo loans).  Currently at Flagstar, the maximum loan amount is $625,000 for a one unit … (2 comments)

st croix real estate: ONE DAY OF DELAY..... - 02/03/08 05:08 PM
One of our customers, who happens to be a very astute financial and investment fellow, was giving us some good advice recently about the market.  He said, and  i quote, "the simple reality (is) that one day of delay is a day of warm sunshine and balmy breezes lost forever.   Excess money in the pocket, particularly in the final third of a life, has little or no utility."
He said a lot of other things, including "Americans should be snapping up whatever real estate bargains present themselves now or over the next 18 months and buy as big as they can … (4 comments)

 
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Kim Lucas

Christiansted, VI

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USVI Sotheby's International Realty

Address: 1 Queen Cross Street, Christiansted, VI, 00820

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