Potential Relocation - Need Advice on Areas to Live

Where you live is, you'll find, dependent on your job location. It's impossible to categorize different areas as "good" or "bad" as there are no typical stateside residential areas neatly mapped out and you can find a simple home right next door to a mansion. I would definitely not hinge your search on being near a beach. Nowhere on such a small island are you far from any beach but living up high is, in my opinion (and I've lived all over St Thomas) infinitely preferable to living at sea level. Better breezes, cooler and less salt air to eat at your appliances and electronics!

A 2 or 3 bedroom is going to cost you. My advice has always been to start out simple in a convenient location which works for you. Family and friends wants to visit (of course they'll all be clamoring)? A sleep sofa does the trick or else find them a reasonably priced vacation condo rental close by!

If your husband's job is a transfer (and even if it's not) then hopefully his employer will arrange temporary accommodation until you get settled in, get transportation and find your way around. Good luck!

Makes sense. My husband works for the federal government and it will be a transfer, but they will not provide temporary accommodations. He will stay at a hotel until he can find something suitable.

My husband is originally from Jamaica and most of his family still resides in the Caribbean, so the only person that will clamor to visit is my mom 🙂

It's good to know that it's better for appliances to live at a higher elevation. We currently pay $3500 per month for a rental here in the continental U.S., so we could pay the same amount there, but don't really want to until I find employment as well.

I've seen some online (of course I wouldn't rent anything until we've seen it) that seem to fit what we are looking for, but I don't want to end up in an area where we would be afraid to live in. On that note, do you know any reputable realtors???

For a 3 bedroom single family house in a safe and fairly quiet area you will be paying that. Maybe a little less if its very basic. I suggest as always Northside.

On that note, do you know any reputable realtors???

I'm acquainted with several realtors but have never dealt with any on a professional level so hopefully someone with first-hand experience can chime in on that one!

Thank you so much.

IslandBound: I recommend you find something on a short term basis and see how it works out for you. As everyone says, where you live is a very personal decision. I like the east end; I'm close to a beach, restaurants and grocery stores, the ferry to St. John and beyond. And besides, my shoes don't mold over night.

Wow...seems like something you can't pass up !

Figures the feds want you to pack and go with boot on your backside..lol.
I'm pretty new too and I will be following this thread for sure. I already learned a lot here but just on this one thread alone I learned about the elevation and salt air. (OT)

I did read somewhere that the Electric is pretty high. Not sure how comparable to your $3500 rental size now.

And besides, my shoes don't mold over night.

That's funny - for many years I lived under the delusion that everywhere on the North side was damp and moldy and mildewy as I'd had a few friends on that side who had complained about it. Then when I first moved to that side, I had that problem in a very icky damp house where the walls on the lower level continuously "leaked". So I moved back to "country".

I'm now in my 4th year on the North side and am seriously in heaven. NO mold except a little on the deck when the sun moves around in the late winter months; wonderfully cool, lots of breeze, under a comforter year-round; good nightly rain to keep the cistern full and my plants well nourished. Lots of fruit trees. And oh, the absolute peace and quiet and yet only 10 minutes to town and 15 to the East end.

It's all good, wherever you live but "location location location" is true whatever the area!

I did read somewhere that the Electric is pretty high. Not sure how comparable to your $3500 rental size now.

Our electric rates last year were over 0.50/kWh but with the ongoing conversion to propane and solar we've already dropped to 0.29/kWh with further reductions coming as the conversion continues.

Seems the general spot for me personally is North. But OT, I don't know which Island you live on.

I'm going to all of them over the month I'm there. But North is North I suppose. Seems like the best (for me)

I like the woods and trees and would like to be a little higher than sea level.

And again, I'm basing this on what I've learned on here only until I get there. Just to get an idea of what happens throughout the year and not just while I'm there.

LOCATION - to determine best location for your home:
--- Daily commute to/from work
--- where you spend your leisure time activities
--- your general preferences (i.e. close to a beach rather than higher elevations, etc.)

All locations have advantages and disadvantages.

Island life may not require as big a home as you have stateside. It will require looking at various options IN PERSON and making comparisons to best fit your life.

Welcome to the islands

Thank you all so much. You've definitely given me a lot to think about. I personally love the beach, but I am not completely stuck on living beachside. As far as the commute goes, anything is better than what I do now! It takes me about 45 minutes to an hour after work to get home in the Dallas/Fort Worth traffic. I've driven as far as an hour 15 minutes each way for work before. I am indifferent when it comes to commuting time, as long as it stays at about an hour or less. Of course I would not complain about a five minute commute 🙂

We will not need as big of a home in STT as we have stateside for sure. We know we will be downsizing since I can only imagine that most of our time will be spent outdoors when we are not working. I really appreciate all of the feedback provided here and will surely keep it in mind. Thank you 🙂

I'm open to be adopted. 😛

I'm open to be adopted. 😛

Hahaha. According to our kids, we treat them like slaves...you may want to rethink!

I'm open to be adopted. 😛

Hahaha. According to our kids, we treat them like slaves...you may want to rethink!

I have a Dr. Note! !

Hey IslandBound:

Nick Bailey at John Foster Real Estate is who we worked with during our recon and subsequent looooooong wait for the place we wanted to come on the market. He's good, an islander, knows everybody!
http://www.advantageusvi.com/about/

We're out at Cowpet West - more resort-y but nice 2 and 3 bedroom units with a beautiful beach. of the rentals, most are strictly vacation/weekly, but I think there are a few that go by the month. Call Holly at the Cowpet Bay West Condo Assoc (340-775-6675) to check on that. There are a handful on sale right now. We're really happy with Nazareth in general.

Good luck with your relo!!

Hi, My husband & I have been coming here for over 20 yrs & moved here last Dec. We are above Hull Bay and love it! He works from his home office so there is no commute involved. Only down the hill when the surf is up! I have a great realtor here on the north side if you want to check it out. She is very chill and you won't feel pressured. PM me if interested!

Hey IslandBound:

Nick Bailey at John Foster Real Estate is who we worked with during our recon and subsequent looooooong wait for the place we wanted to come on the market. He's good, an islander, knows everybody!
http://www.advantageusvi.com/about/

We're out at Cowpet West - more resort-y but nice 2 and 3 bedroom units with a beautiful beach. of the rentals, most are strictly vacation/weekly, but I think there are a few that go by the month. Call Holly at the Cowpet Bay West Condo Assoc (340-775-6675) to check on that. There are a handful on sale right now. We're really happy with Nazareth in general.

Good luck with your relo!!

Awesome tip, thank you 🙂 I will certainly keep the information and have my husband make contact once he arrives.

Hi! Islandbound, let me know if you got my PM! I am new at this and for some reason it doesn't show up in my sent folder. Thx

Hi! Islandbound, let me know if you got my PM! I am new at this and for some reason it doesn't show up in my sent folder. Thx

Lexi,

I did get it and responded. Thank you so much 🙂

Ok this is my 1st time on any board so excuse my lack of knowledge. I am also thinking of moving to the VI and while trying to do research this board came up so I'm looking for help.
The scenero is
I am in Financial services and work mostly from home
Wife works from home 2 kids age 4&7
Budget 500k
What are the schools like?
How do taxes work?
How does healthcare work!?
Best islands to live if you want to open up a small business?
BEST ISLAND FOR SCUBA. That's for me
Shipping cost?
General feedback advice PLEASE

Islandbound what part of DFW Kim out of ft worth?

Have you gone through all the information in the drop-down menus top of this page? There's a ton of information there.

Ok this is my 1st time on any board.
What are the schools like?
How do taxes work?
How does healthcare work!?
Best islands to live if you want to open up a small business?
BEST ISLAND FOR SCUBA. That's for me
Shipping cost?
General feedback advice PLEASE

Islandbound what part of DFW Kim out of ft worth?

Good questions. I hope someone answers. (Besides OT)

Your questions are very general and non specific.
There are very good private and parochial schools, Sibilly school is good for an elementary public school.

There is no individual health care unless you work for a company that provides it or the VI Government. Or are a veteran but you may still have to travel to PR in some cases depending on procedure necessary.

Someone else can chime in about taxes.
All I can say:
You live here, work here, you derive your income from here, you pay taxes here and get very little in return for your tax dollars.

Depends what kind of small business you wish to open.

There's great diving all over in the VI and BVI, for that matter.

Shipping cost... for what?
Contact shipping companies.