Length of time-apt search

With the friends I have, its the norm....as long as its not January or February....

My situation is different but when I arrived in December, there was an apartment waiting for me to rent by my employer. Definitely much easier in summer than winter, for the most part.

It also depends on how flexible you are and how much $$$ you can spend. We found a place we liked on our second or third day on STX. We were able to plunk down $1,800 in cash - first, last and security - which eased the owners mind about our ability to pay rent. And we are older and don't look like a couple who are going to be hard on a house or apartment.

The main thing is to hit the ground running, start your search immediately. And ask EVERYONE you meet, at bars, shops, etc. Word of mouth is a great way to find apartments.

Like Linda said it will depend quite a bit on money and which island you're on. Hovena has had a big job this summer and it has driven rental prices up even more so summer has been quite a bit like season with prices and availability. If you can afford to take a couple of weeks, one week just to really get to know the island and see where you're going to be working.

I know to statesiders it sounds incredibly goofy but you will want to live close to your work if possible. The island is small but the roads are windy and curvy and going from one end to the other easily takes a hour one way which is not fun after the honeymoons over. If you don't have much time I would really suggest trying to find something centrally located. Something inbetween sunny isle and christiansted. Lots of condos and houses in that area.

But to answer you question you can find something the first day if you're lucky it will all depend luck and budget. Don't be shy ask people you meet once your in town. Someone almost always knows someone who needs to rent something.

Okay

Follow-up question for Linda (:-))-was that start to finish. When were you able to sign the lease and move in?

Tx!

Cool Chica,

Yes, that was start to finish. We say the apartment one day, decided the next, paid our money and moved in on the 3rd day. We had been on-island either 5 or 6 days when we moved in. We were lucky. Ric saw the rental sign driving around on our second day here. The owner liked us and the apartment was ready to move in.

It did take WEEKS to get our phone and cable connected properly!!

And Betty is right about living near your work. We love our neighborhood, but is not the best area from which to commute. We now both work at the Buccaneer and we have a 25 - 35 minute one-way commute every day - 10 miles.

This is why I offer a place like Villa Fairview for short term rental. It gives you a month to find a place. You will not be strapped with the high cost of a hotel room and you will get the chance to really find a nice place and not take one you will hate! And yes, it is best to find the job first, then find a place close to it. Hard to explain for such a small place, but it's the best believe me!

RL

PS. Some folks do find one in the month or less, some take 2 to 3 months!

Ronnie

If I were relocating to St. Thomas or St. John, nothing would give me more pleasure than to stay at Villa Fairview! Unfortunately, there really is nothing comparable on St. Croix!

I once saw an add in the real estate magazine for a place that did do it in Christiansted. Don't remember the name! I have not seen it in a long time. It was through a Real Estate office.

RL

that probably would have been at the Comanche Hotel. They still do low monthly rates, but the property is pretty decrepit and the owner, "Crazy Mary", scares most of the would-be clientele away.

Could be, don't remember the name or maybe it wasn't mentioned. Did say downtown C'sted though. Read some reviews on Trip Advisor. How can she still exist?

RL

Only thing we can figure is she owns the property outright and has some sort of other income. The place is actually frightening looking from the boardwalk. It would make a great movie set - think Psycho or the Shining.

It's pretty frightening from the inside looking out - Vargrave Richards helsd a bash there to announce his bid for Governor!!!!!!! Can you believe that he thought it would be the right venue to entertain the rich Continentals. It was a frigging hoot, mon.