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Topic starter
Just curious on availability of houses and real estate in STX. I have teen age son and daughter and thinking of relocating. Don't really have a lot of info but need a good real estate agent that has good credentials.
Thank you
Posted : February 25, 2006 5:32 am
Marilyn...
Welcome to the board!
This topic has been covered often here -- I'd like to encourage you to run a search on real estate agents, buying a home, etc., which will give you more than enough info to come back and ask 50 more specific questions. 🙂
One thing I will repeat from my previous comments is that I was unable to find a buyer's agent anywhere when we moved here two years ago. Every agent on the island of STX at that time considered him or herself as working for the seller, even if they spent days showing a buyer around. One agent I interviewed told me that if he was the listing agent on a home, he would NEVER consider sharing his commision with a buyer's agent, even if I could fine one to work with. It was unlike anything I had ever seen in the real estate industry in the three states and DC where I was either a buyer or seller.
I feel this advice can't be given often enough: I strongly suggest engaging the services of a real estate attorney to ensure that there is someone on your payroll who is loyal only to your interests as a home buyer and who doesn't stand to make money from getting the highest selling price possible.
Just my two cents based on personal experience from 2004.
Again, welcome! You've come to the best resource there is for info on how to make the big move to the USVI in the most hassle-free way possible -- the good folks here have helped make dreams come true for so many of us.
--HC
Posted : February 25, 2006 5:46 am
Topic starter
This board is very informative but it is hard to really know if the person typing really knows what he or she is truthful and trustworthy. It is a big decision to uproot two teenagers and relocate to uncertainty. I will be researching awhile since I need to make the best decision for all of us. Thank you for your input so far.
Posted : February 25, 2006 5:52 am
A must have is the Settler's Handbook, which is for sale on this site. It wasmy bible from beginning to think about moving right on up through, well, now. That Handboolk will definitely give you enough factual insight to determine if someone's take on reality is current and factually accurate. And the book does a very good job of providing extensive info about life on each island.
--HC
Posted : February 25, 2006 7:11 am
Marilyn - the real estate market on STX has been so active in the past year that there is very little inventory on the market at this time. Even so, there are still some good properties available and more do come on the market. Touring the island to determine your areas of preference is a good first step. Then you can see if there is a property currently available to suit your family or you can wait for new listings to come on the market and jump on the right one when it appears. You can see for yourself what is available in the MLS at any given time from my website at:
http://www.ourhomesite.com/stcroixhomes
Feel free to ask any questions about properties or anything else that comes to mind.
Posted : February 25, 2006 7:37 am
If you have not been here, or only here of vacation, I STRONGLY suggest you come for a 2-3 week pre-move visit. Try to find accomodations in the least-touristy (is that a word?) place you can find. Rent a car and visit the grocery, the drugstore, the bank, the schools -- everyplace you can think of that will be important to you if you move. If you think you can't afford such a trip, I think you can't afford NOT to make it.
Moving two teens to the VI is a huge step and not one that can be researched from afar.
My 2 cents. Good luck.
Posted : February 27, 2006 8:56 am
DEFINATELY do a PMV. I just moved my 2 teenage daughters here. I brought them with me for a PMV to make sure they liked it. It still doesn't give the FULL effect of living here, but it helps. I hope your teens are able to entertain themselves. It takes awhile for them to find other kids to do things with. Mine found thier friends on the island through "Myspace.com". They found some wonderful kids that go to Country Day School. Since I couldn't afford to enroll both of mine into Country Day, it was very hard for them to meet other kids. Now that they have friends, they are just fine with living here. (well...as fine as a teenager can be, we still have teen drama because there is no real mall.) LOL!
By the way, we live on STX. STT may be different.
Posted : February 27, 2006 9:25 am
