Condo Purchase Questions

The ocean water quality is suspect at Colony Cove as there are constant issues with sewage discharge. Also the units are close together so not much privacy.

Thanks for the feedback.

The Reef should be on that list, if you're visiting Coakley Bay. More spread out site plan, own golf course ( 9 hole), restaurant ( Duggan's Reef ), you might like it.

I live on STT but I've heard that the whole area known as "condo row" has water quality issues, are not in compliance with EPA/ECHO guidelines and test regularly for high levels of enterococci bacteria. This is true of many seaside resorts and condo locations on both STT and STX. You may buy there but you may not wish to swim there unless it's in a pool.

Thanks! I will look into that. We are looking at 2br and most of the reef units we saw were 1br. But will be there in a few days and check it out.

Thanks for the feedback.

I rented a 2BR condo for my family at Colony Cove several years ago. I signed a year lease but we hated it so much that we left after the end of the first week. Fortunately, the management company had a high demand for units and let us go without penalty.

I don't want to say that colony Cove is bad, just that it was too noisy for me after coming from a single family home. There also is a restaurant located at the complex next door that can be bothersome with noise into the evenings.

Realtor. Kim Lucas. She'll give it to you straight up.

http://www.stcroixislandlife.com

There is a 2br at the reef that is amazing. It's listed at 299,000 which is a little high but compared to the other reef condo's the upgrades definitely make it worth while. From my understanding the owners won't go any lower, but according to the info I saw, they seem to do a lot of renting it out. The other 2 bedrooms there don't compare. It overlooks the golf course and the has a very good view of the ocean and I think buck island, but don't qoute me on that. I stayed at colony cove, nice to visit and stay, but not the type of complex I would want to live at.

I spoke with her last year and appreciated her candid and honest answers. I thought she was gone, I tried to email her and did not hear back. We've been looking for a while and over time I have spoken with a few other realtors that didn't give us clear answers about stuff like some of the issues posted here. Things I'd rather know ahead of time.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

I think that the realtor's get so many dreamers, it's really hard for them to keep up with those who really want to buy and I'm sure it's hard via email to determine which is which.

We worked with Kim's office to buy our condo, much of it remotely. But we were easy customers, we knew what we wanted, did meet face to face first, and had a referral. We have a few 2bdr units for sale at Pelican Cove, 2 of them priced reasonably. Very quiet there.

BTW- I assume you are aware you can look at the VI MLS on several of the realtor's web sites and get lots of info on condos for sale.

Daveb722 - I would agree! We have been looking for a while. For some it's a fast easy decision, others dreaming. It would be hard for realtors down there for sure. We probably seem like dreamers. I am hopeful we can find something that fits this next trip.

Scubadoo- we've been to pelican cove and it was nice and quiet. Seems like a great complex.

We've stayed at Coakley Bay condos since 2004 (off and on) while vacationing on St Croix. We stay 4 to 6 wks and got a feel of what it would be like to live there. We loved it. We've stayed in the F and G buildings, once in M and once in J. F and G were the most comfortable being high with great breezes. M was hot because it didn't catch the wind and the evening sun came full in. J was comfortable and close to the pool. There is an on site restaurant that's nice. Coakley also has generators if the power goes off. (I should say when) There is a beach down the hill and across the road, but we found it to be rocky. We saw people snorkeling there, though, from our condos so maybe we didn't give it a chance. Many great beaches you can drive to though. And a very nice one just up the road to the left about 5 minutes away where Big Beard brings his tour boats in to let his guests swim and picnic. Coakley has a great pool that is kept very clean. You can't beat the view from these condos!

I actually lived at Granada del Mar when it was first built in the early 70's. I know the layout very well. They also have a nice big pool. And a tennis court. We walked around them last June and it looked like it was being painted. This condo complex is not on a very swimmable beach, it's grassy and rocky. But you can walk down the beach to your east to Pelican Cove where you can swim and snorkel in front of The Palms. The Palms has nice outside and inside restaurants ,too. From this part of the island you can easily get to Food Town and Pueblo grocery stores. We spoke to a lady who lived at Granada del Mar and she really liked it. However she did say sometimes the kids who live nearby feel free to use the pool.... But she didn't seem concerned and said everyone she knew there seemed to like it. I think Coakley Bay is a step up from Granada del Mar. Just my opinion.

I've never stayed at the other two complexes. Colony Cove was built about 10 yrs after Granada, but I'm not sure about the quality of the beach water.... And Saman is out at Carambola at the golf course so not close to beach. Beautiful and lush,though.

Happy hunting!

Realtor. Kim Lucas. She'll give it to you straight up.

http://www.stcroixislandlife.com

This. Kim is awesome. We brought two properties with her.

I would look at Coakley Bay. View of Buck Island, pool, less salt spray, HOA is relatively reasonable, feels safe and wifi throughout complex. They have instant backup generator.

Kim was who I rented from when I did my first PMV here 5 years ago. We became fast friends. She is just such an honest no BS kinda gal and I LOVE that.

She is on island now and as always - super busy. Its best to CALL her. Don't email - she gets like over 1K emails a day lol. She does go to Portugal for a few months out of the year... this year we are meeting her there after our Spain trip and all heading to Morocco! Cant wait!

My only advice... don't expect the PERFCT place. That does NOT exist in the virgin islands. Even with millions there will always be "something". Also don't expect waterfront w/ land or peacefully quiet bliss for $50k-$300K. Get into the $500K range and you'll start to get some of that. Don't think you'll find stateside size - you wont.

I still laugh when I think about my 4K sq ft house in AZ that I rent out - my mortgage is $600. Granted I did buy in 08 and it was a short sale but My little 1100 sq ft here is double that, plus some. Honestly I don't mind - and even prefer the smaller place with as much dust and grime there is, its a lot less work!

Alana was it you that warned me about dust in the VI before I moved here? I remember saying there was no way it would be worse than the haboobs we had in AZ.... I. WAS. WRONG. haha. Dust... in the tropics? Who knew!

Just in the summer tho with the Sahara dust.
Love winter in the tropics!
No AC running, hardly use the ceiling fans and don't have to clean windows and screens every 5 minutes plus the weather is generally great and no hurricanes!
Not ready for it to be over!

Thanks for the tips! We are looking for a small place and we are ready to do a little TLC! We love it down there!!

Less furniture equals less dusting. The furniture I do have, most is covered with some kind of decorative fabric, like they used to do in the old days.

Make sure you check on HOA fees as they are all very different . Although the water is not the best on " condo row" there are so many wonderful beaches not far. The best part about living in this area is it is centrally located, walking distance to 2 stores, makes it nice if you all of a sudden are in the mood for ice cream 😎

Is it hard to get a mortgage for condo in St.Croix for US citizen living in Florida?

Not unless it's self insured for windstorm/hurricane damage.

The Colony Cove has a windstorm/hurricane insurance.
Would that be enough to get a mortgage?

As long as they are not self insured, then you can get a mortgage. I believe you could get a mortgage at Colony Cove. But rent a place there first to see if you like it, it was nice for a visit, but wasn't where we would buy for long term stay, but that's just us. It is convenient to things though, that was a plus.

One of the draw backs about Condo Row is Harbor View projects, 100 units of Section 8 housing with the occasional gun shots and the drop out wannbe gangsters. Then there's the notice and fumes from the power plant and sewage discharge. But, to each there own. Lots of Fast Food if you're into it.