Important Things To Consider When Buying or Building a House in St Croix USVI

Below I will share my own personal insights about things that I have found to be important.  This is just MY OPINION - but I hope it is helpful.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRADEWINDS

For most of the year, we have wonderful, cooling tropical tradewinds.  If your home is facing in the right direction to take advantage of these breezes, you may never have to turn on your air conditioner.  It is July 23 as I write this - and I'm sitting comfortably on my porch overlooking the blue ocean, and the breezes are just fabulous.  We don't even own an air conditioner here - and I can honestly say I have never missed air conditioning.  I just love feeling the breezes at night and hearing all the criters!  I even sleep with a quilt over me - even in the summer!

On the other hand, if you buy or build a house that is NOT oriented toward the breeze (typically they come out of the east), then you are likely going to swelter.  AC will be a necessity - and you will have a stroke when you get your electric bill.  Our power here is very expensive and not particularly reliable.  WHich brings me to another tip:

GO OFF GRID IF YOU CAN

If you are building, I highly recommend that you consider alternative sources of energy and go "off grid" to the fullest extent you can.  We have wonderful companies here to help with that - and in the long run - you won't regret it.  We are still fully "on grid" (our home is nearly 40 years old) - but if I were going to build - I woudl certainly consider solar or wind generated power, water, etc.  I can put you in touch with the right folks if and when you're ready!

ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Let's face it - this is PARADISE!!  And while it is the best deal around - it is still expensive here.  Your money will buy you a LOT more house on the mainland that it will here - but do have the views or the 82 degree weather there?  OK - so adjust your expectations!  Many people want me to help them find "fixer uppers," thinking that they can purchase a home for under $200,000 in a nice area and fix and flip - or just enjoy it.  The homes under $200,000 are NOT in desirable areas and will not have the 'amenities' that most people from the mainland are looking for (i.e., view, proximity to the ocean, etc.).  There are some homes that indeed could be remodeled and sold for considerably more than current asking price - but these homes are typically half a million to three quarters of a million - some even more.  

USE MATERIALS THAT DON'T SHOW DIRT!

One of the biggest surprises I've had here is how dirty and dusty everything gets.  I'm sure it's because we have our windows wide open ALL THE TIME - which I just LOVE.  However, we get dust from the Sahara desert (yep, you read that right) and also ask from volcanic eruptions in Montserrat - and salt spray from the ocean if you live anywhere near it - so everything is pretty much dusty all the time.  If you're a clean freak - you are not going to like this!  My advice is to just adjust your expectations and if you're building - use products and colors that don't show dirt so badly!!!  We have white tile floors, white tile countertops with white grout - and I really wish that was not the case.  It looks great - but it is a lot of work.  

REMEMBER THAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE WILL CHANGE IF YOU LIVE HERE

I moved here from Atlanta.  I thought nothing of driving 30 - 45 minutes to a restaurant for dinner.  I now live on an island that is 27 miles long.  It takes about 30 minutes for me to get from my house in pretty much the center of the island on the north shore - to the west end.  That seems like a LONG way now!!!  Your whole frame of reference changes once you get here.  Now if you're the kind of person who likes to be "out in the boonies" and doesn't mind driving 30 minutes to get to "civilization" - then by all means - look all over the island and pick what you like best.  BUT - if you like the conveniences of being able to get to the grocery and back in an hour or so - AND you're going to spend quite a bit of time here - then you may not want to look at land or homes that are somewhat "remote."  If they seem remote to you on your visit and tour- they will seem all the more remote once you live there.

TAKE IT SLOW - BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE DOES!!!

We joke about the "invisible line" that you cross when you come here - where time slows down!  That is one of the beautiful things about this  place - people here are not in such a rush.  They take time to say hello, make eye contact, and have a real interaction with you.  If you are a "type A" personality and want things done fast, now, hurry hurry, you might become frustrated here.  I gotta tell you, I am a REFORMED type A!!!   I just love the "kinder, gentler" way here.  Yes, it does take longer to get things done here.  Sometimes, much longer!!!  But if you just look around, take a deep breath of that warm tropical air, and look down at yourself in shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of Feb. - you kind of get over the frustration.  Life here is GOOD!

MOVING HERE - SOME TIPS

I strongly encourage you to hire an expeditor if you are going to "move" here.  And Lee Fleming of Managed Freight is the best (call or email me for his number).  Lee takes all the guess work out of your move, and believe me, there are SO many details to attend to.  He guides you through a myriad of decisions.  You won't be sorry you used him, I can almost guarantee.  

Now, about what to bring.  In our salt filled environment, everything rusts and corrodes very quickly.  Our mega expensive TV and electronic equipment bit it after about a year.  Our new stainless steel appliances are beginning to rust.  Our aluminum table and chairs were totally rusted in about a year.  We have mildew on our leather furniture.  Our picture frames are corroding. My advice is this - most of what you have in your home in the states is NOT going to fit well here - or hold up well.  Sell it if you can, and then buy what you need here.  Most homes and condos here are sold FURNISHED anyway!  You'll want wood that the insects don't like (mahogany, teak, bamboo, rattan, wicker) anyway - and fabric that can be washed.

You can move your vehicles a couple of different ways.  We put ours (2) IN our container and were able to load them up to the gills.  With everything ON the container, I think there was less chance of pilfering.  We've talked with other folks who shipped their cars down separately (and NOTHING can be in them) - and radios and other things were missing when the vehicles arrived.  Lee can advise you - because each person's situation is different.

Contact me for details on real estate here in St. Croix.