Nursing in the VI

Healthcare jobs: There are plenty. You shouldn't have a problem finding a nursing position.

Purchase of a home: I considered this and then decided to do at least a 6-month rental and give myself time to learn the island better. I'll probably end up renting even longer. It takes a long, long time to sell a house on STX, so you have to be sure you know what you're getting into if you buy.

Learning the island: I did a month-long PMV, and I feel like I know the island reasonably well. However, I certainly don't know all the ins and outs. STX is tricky; there are adults who were born there who are still discovering places they've never seen. I like that about it, though -- less chance of getting bored. 🙂

Property tax issues: I haven't heard anything about that. What I heard when I was looking into real estate is that property taxes are actually quite low compared to the mainland.

Shipping a vehicle: I shipped my car last week, and our Jeep will be shipped in a month or two. It was a lot easier than I expected. Not cheap, but some jobs will cover it as part of moving expenses. I haven't gotten my car on the other end yet, but so far, I highly recommend Fleming's Transport.

Property taxes haven't been paid by homeowners for 6 years. Something to do with it being in litigation regarding the islands right to increase... well that a very brief summation anyway. That is very good to hear about the health care industry and we are looking forward to the move. On average how much does it cost to ship a vehicle?

From what I've read here, it tends to run in the $2000-5000 range. One of the main factors is whether you drive it to Florida yourself or pay to have it trucked there. Gas prices, of course, also make a difference.

In January we paid (including customs, road tax and tags) $4,439.36 for a 2005 Chevy Avalanche and $2,581.40 for a 2003 Jeep Liberty to have them shipped here from Ohio. It was worth it for us because we know the history of the vehicles and we were still upside down on both of them! Hope this helps, and good luck in your move.

Lisa

It cost us just over $2,000 to ship our truck from Miami. I did not consider the cost to get the truck to Miami . . . my hubby took the auto-train from VA to FL so I guess all in all the total cost was closer to $3,000 from Baltimore including the auto-train and return airfare.

I think within a month you would know what part of the island suits you best - close to work and school and how you live. Not sure you'd complete a purchase within 3 months. I bought my house with the requirement it would close in 90 days , , , was more like 150. A decent agent will be able to make the best recommendations based on your likes and dislikes. The property tax thing seems to be a mess, but not yours, don't let that deter you.

It is amazing how large such a small island becomes when you live there. I tend to stay very close to home on the island and venture out of that radius very rarely which is completely different from how I live in the states.

Thank you for the input on shipping vehicles. And I must agree... since every aspect of my life will be changing; there will be something comforting about getting into my own vehicle. 🙂 It is all quite the welcome adjustment of trying to get things done but no worries.... I am set on the move and have no hesitations about the island. 🙂 Peace, and look forward to seeing you around.
Jenn

It is good that you have no hesitations, but keep your options open. Don't burn your bridges back home. And give yourself six months or a year to make a final decision. So sayeth the East Ender.

Jenn... one bonus you will receive as an RN at either hospital is that they will give you a substantial moving allowance.

But....if spend it on moving your car, for example, and then six months or a year later decide the island isn't for you, you will have to pay back the moving allowance (plus either sell your car or pay to move it back to the states). The moving allowance contract is usually for 3 years and pro-rated, so if you stay a year you'll only have to pay about two-thirds of it back. After the third year, you don't have to pay any of it back if you move.

I am a nurse in MN and plan on moving to STX this fall. Oddly enough a new nurse just started on my unit here that just moved back from STX. She worked as a traveler at the hospital for six months and hated it. She says the care is dismal, slow and extremely frustrating but as a traveler they did provide a housing allowance and expenses vs higher wages (tax benefits). After her stint at the hospital she worked as a hospice nurse for four years and really liked that until the agency owner started catering to the wealthy and neglecting the poor clients. She did enjoy getting to know the "people" and the STX culture.
As for realtor...are there any on STX that are actually professional and want to help transplants? I have had contact with two and they are pretty impatient and do not want to seem to help unless you are willing to unload your pockets RIGHT NOW! Seems to me, everyone we have met on STX is a former "continental" yet they seem to have no recollection of how difficult it is to move thousands of miles away from home to a new environment. We are getting a lot of attitude and very little help. Any realtors out there that want to actually work or is this "Island Time" at it's worst?

Lisa

Lisa, I sent you a PM!

Lisa (also) 🙂

Lisa, try Alexandra Bentley with Great House Realty. She used to be a frequent poster here, but I haven't seen her in several months. When I was visiting STX in September, she spent two afternoons showing me some properties. I ended up waiting on buying anything, and she was fine with that. Very patient and helpful. A few other posters on this board have used her and had good things to say about her, too.

I am a nurse in MN and plan on moving to STX this fall. Oddly enough a new nurse just started on my unit here that just moved back from STX. She worked as a traveler at the hospital for six months and hated it. She says the care is dismal, slow and extremely frustrating but as a traveler they did provide a housing allowance and expenses vs higher wages (tax benefits). After her stint at the hospital she worked as a hospice nurse for four years and really liked that until the agency owner started catering to the wealthy and neglecting the poor clients. She did enjoy getting to know the "people" and the STX culture.
As for realtor...are there any on STX that are actually professional and want to help transplants? I have had contact with two and they are pretty impatient and do not want to seem to help unless you are willing to unload your pockets RIGHT NOW! Seems to me, everyone we have met on STX is a former "continental" yet they seem to have no recollection of how difficult it is to move thousands of miles away from home to a new environment. We are getting a lot of attitude and very little help. Any realtors out there that want to actually work or is this "Island Time" at it's worst?

Lisa

Travel nurses tend to have a different experience than regular staff nurses. They are considered overpaid outsiders, and some come with that attitude too. It takes time to adjust to realities here in the hospital. Some units are better/worse than others. If you have a low pain threshold, are touchy, and don't try to get to know people, forget it.

Lisa: Hospice here, as everywhere, is generally financed by Medicare. I do not believe that a hospice owner/manager can cater to rich people at the expense of the poor. And if it is the agency I think it is, I definitely don't believe it! As Neil said, travelers have a different experience than staff...