Apartment hunting! Help!

Hi! I am not currently living on the island yet, but am going down there in September. I have asked all the contacts I have there, and everyone said you just have to get down here and start looking for one, usually by word of mouth. Obviously you will need to have an vrbo or something booked for when you first get down there. There are also a couple of facebook groups that are just for apartment listings down there, I would check them out!

When apartment hunting, start by setting a clear budget and prioritizing must-have features like location, size, and amenities. Research neighborhoods for safety and convenience, and visit multiple properties to compare. Check for hidden costs, and review lease terms carefully. Don’t rush—finding the right fit can make a big difference.

Stj is tough.  There just aren’t many long term rentals that get to the posting stage.  Having transportation and a big budget will help.   The advice in the previous post isn’t really applicable here.  If you find anything you can live with and they will rent to you, just take it.  And if you don’t really like it at least you will have someplace to lay your head while you network and look for another place.  The only other tip I have is that a lot of people go off island for a month or two in off season.  So you may be able to get a house/pet sitting situation when you first get here.  But don’t evict that to come rent free.  Even if you are watching pets people tend to charge you for it.