retirement in US VI

I have used this site to get a "feel" for the real estate prices and availablity on ST Croix which includes Property, homes as well as condos and also lists the condo "fees". I think you wil be shocked at the real cost of buying a condo. Hope this helps and good luck with your plans. This is the link for the public MLS search for properties on the island.

http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/mainmenu.cgi?cmd=url+other/createlink/link_receiver.html&no_html_header=true&i=m1v870a6fb1,7

i loved living in florida, lived in indian rocks beach near st pete and also in marathon in the keys. both places were wonderful. the keys became way overpriced though. 500 thou for a 2 bedroom trailer. both very relaxed. if you could have combined them, that would have been perfect.
i love arizona too. mom lives in havasu, gets way too hot in the summer, she has a pool so its ok. also a lake to go to and a public pool. also way too dry, but i hear price wise not too bad to live there. house prices are ok. you can find a 3 bedroom house for about 200 thou. rent is very reasonable, especially if you concider what it is here and in the keys.
arkansas is supposed to be a nice place to go to retire but it does get cold and they have tornadoes.
now here is another thought, if wapa does not do something soon there will be no place to go eat or shop because everybody will be closing up shop because they will not be able to afford the electric bill. just remember, food, electric and housing cost more here than on the mainland. our food bill is about 3 times what it was in the keys. electric is also about 3 times than in the keys. we have no air no dryer and no dishwasher. rent here is the same as in the keys but then the keys were overpriced.
whatever you decide good luck. research all aspects of life here before you make the plunge

Some other retirement locations to consider, for low cost of living and decent (or better) medical services:
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Thailand (well known for low cost, and great medical)
- Colombia (not a popular one, but worth a look)

These countries typically have low income requirements to qualify for a residence visa. For example, in Mexico you need to show income of $1000/month for yourself, plus $500/month for each dependent (eg: your spouse).
More info at: http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm

Other related web sites:
- http://escapeartist.com/
- http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/

Good luck!

Doesn't Belize have a lot of US retirees? How is cost of living there compared to here?

I have used this site to get a "feel" for the real estate prices and availablity on ST Croix which includes Property, homes as well as condos and also lists the condo "fees". I think you wil be shocked at the real cost of buying a condo. Hope this helps and good luck with your plans. This is the link for the public MLS search for properties on the island.

http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/mainmenu.cgi?cmd=url+other/createlink/link_receiver.html&no_html_header=true&i=m1v870a6fb1,7

On the other hand, I think anybody who's never owned a home (or doesn't keep a monthly budget) would be SHOCKED by the REAL monthly cost of owning a HOME over and above their monthly mortgage payment. One giant "hidden" cost of homeowner ownership down here that you don't see on the MLS listings for homes, is the hurricane insurance. Whereas they are openly included on MLS for condos. Just sayin...

I will second what Neil says. Unless you are going to do all your own maintenance on a home the costs are not that much different monthly vs a condo. Remember you have to maintain your own landscaping 12 months a year, do your own pool work, clean your cistern, maintain your sewage treatment and water treatment equipment. Most homes outside downtown areas don't have city sewage or water.

You will also spend lots of time painting and otherwise controlling corrosion. Nothing last down here because of the intense UV, humidity and salt in the air.

Jim

2000 a month in the islands - forget about it

Retirement is a time to enjoy yourself not to be worried about the high costs of food and electricity, poor medical services, high crime rates and just general poor customer service (like waiting 15 minutes on line in a MacDonalds) that you get in the VI. I suggest you look at North Carolina, maybe Charlotte

15 minutes at McDonald's? I've never had that short of a wait 😉

The main thing is to know what you want and what the VI can offer. Too often people expect one thing and get another, or they really don't know what to expect.

That is why we insist on a long pre-move visit. Some people, me for example, find what they want and stay. Others take one look and run away screaming.

But $2,000 a month total take-home income is not enough to live here comfortably, no matter how much you love it.

Sure it was a 15 min wait at McD's????
Sounds more like the wait @ Wendy's.............that drive tru is always backed up!!!!
Its not cheap here unless you want to dine on rum & live under a fema tarp on the beach............lol