Homes for Rent on stx

Hi Gerren,

I just got myself out of the same situation that you and your family are in. I came here two months ago with my 14 yr. old son, and left my husband and two dogs behind in Florida. They just came in on Sunday, and I just signed a lease on Sunday night for a house that would accomodate us all. I have been in and out of hotels (when I could find them, due to the Hovensa crews, there is a big shortage), but grabbed the last one I could, and forget about a budget when you go that route. But what choice do you have when you're in a bind?
I know of no house within that budget, and I have been house shopping for weeks, because that was initially the same figures I wanted to stay within. You will have to consider something between $1500.00 and $2000.00, and that depends on if you want it furnished or not. I wouldn't count on anything for less, because I have turned down some real doozies, even if it meant another night in the pricey hotel, with time not on my side. There is a house for rent below where I live, just down the hill, east side, 3 bed. 2 bath, $2000.00 a month, not sure if it is furnished. I also know of a 4 bed. 3 bath unfurnished house, with a pool, $1700.00, east end. I could email you some of the ones I have looked at, or give you the names of some realtors, if you're interested. But just like me, you might have to raise your budget just to even consider anything decent, cause houses here aren't like anything I'm accustomed to back home, nor are the prices. Just food for thought mind you.

As Candi says, everything is different here. The climate, lack of winter and possibilities of hurricanes, means that housing construction is totally different. Being on an island means you can't expand your neighborhood out into neighboring farmland. Here there is no "urban sprawl".

Plus the East end of STX is the smallest part of the island and is seen (wrongly, in my opinion) as the white, safe end. So you are definitely going to pay a higher price to live there.

Ric and I have a 2 BR, 2 bath house with a 1 BR apartment below and we pay $850 a month, water included. But we live out in the hills south of the North Shore. You could get from here to Divi, but you'd be looking at a 40-50 minute commute, depending on the time of day.

Also, you don't say how many kids you have, but maybe you could do with 2 BR instead of three. A lot of living here is done outdoors on porches, or galleries as they say here.

Good luck and if you have other questions, feel free to post them.

Please feel free to email me anything that you may have. I would really appreciate your help. I have two kids, so in that way we could do a two bedroom if needed, we just were hoping for a three bedroom so that we would have the extra room, especially since we are hoping that my in-laws and other friends would be visiting regularly. We could get by on two bedrooms though if that were our only option.

We are able to stay at the resort for a while, but my in-laws are coming with us and it would be six people in a one bedroom, which just wouldn't work real well.

I guess I thought our price range was okay originally, because some of my husbands employees had told us that we could easily find a nice place for that price. Oh well, I am expanding the search and trying to find anything that will suit us. Thanks again for all of your help.

Gerren

Hi Gerren,

I hate to assume, but is your husband one of the Hovensa plant employees? The reason I ask is because most of the guys who are here working for them have their accommodations paid for by the company and aren't having to look for housing like you would be with your children. Until you search for adequate housing for yourself, it's easy enough to look in the newspaper and see prices that are within a range that you've set up for yourself. However, actually driving to and touring inside of one, you soon realize what you're up against. I hate to sound so negative, but as I explained before, I have seen some of the most unusual and not particularly family friendly housing, and that was enough for me.

No, my husband works at Divi. This is why we want to be close to the resort. I wish that they were going to pay for our housing but that is unfortunately not the case. I am flying in down in another week to find a place if he doesn't come up with anything in the next few days. We can put off the family move for another week or two, I just really did not want to. One month has been more than enough as a single mom!!! Thanks again for your help.

Gerren

Hi Gerren,

Does he work for the resort or the casino? When I first came here two months ago, I was put up at the resort also. It's convenient to where I work at, so I didn't mind. But for a teenager, there's only so much swimming and hanging out at the beach that one can do. He survived though! Hope I can can be of any help to you in the future. I passed on a really cute 2 bed. furnished house 2 weeks ago that's still available, for $1200.00, on the east end, and I only passed on it cause I have 2 dogs, and some people are wary of that. But the house is adorable, and that's saying something! Quiet area too!

He is the food and beverage director at the resort. We could stay in his one bedroom studio for a bit, except that my in-laws are helping me move the kids down, and then staying for an undecided amount of time until I settle in and we feel comfortable, so we really need more room than just his studio. The house sounds like it would be right up my alley and the price is definitely closer to what I had in mind. A nice quiet area would be nice, I would feel a bit safer with my husband working such long hours. If you could get me a phone number or information to contact someone about the house that would be super. I could have my husband check it out right away. We are leaving our dog with my parents here, so that won't be a problem for us. Any help is so much appreciated. Thanks again.

Gerren

I'll check on that number and email you back tomorrow. I wish you all the luck and don't mind offering the help. It's always a bonus to give something back when you know the ropes a little yourself!

Candi,
What company did you use to help for a place or did u do it all on your own?

Ann from NYC

Ann,

I went on my own, because after using two rental companies, and one realtor with Remax, I thought my options to seek something on my own would be better. I have one realtor who was a great help, very friendly, but I have dogs, as you may have read in prev. threads on this site, that seems to be a big issue when trying to get a home. condos aren't even a consideration, they will not take dogs. So, I just decided to keep looking in the newspapers.

Gerren,

I still haven't had a chance to get that number for that house that's available, but I will tomorrow, and it is still available. I always look over at it on my way to work! So cute!

Hi Gerren,

Yesterday I had a chance to get the number and the name of the realtor that is representing the house I mentioned before. If you are still interested, email me back and I will share the info. with you.

Candi, Sorry I did not get back to you, I have moved into my in-laws and they have snail internet so I have not been on a whole lot. My husband just got us a place yesterday, finally! Thank you so much for your help though, I was really starting to stress after all the time he spent looking at dumps! We should be down on Thursday, I can't wait to get on with life. Thanks again for your help.

Gerren