STJ-where to live

Got deep pockets? There was a house...apt? for rent here recently here on the forum. I would call some real estate people and ask about rentals. The Villa business is doing well and homes are being converted to Villas. Good areas? HMMM

The whole island is rather quiet but in the Daily News the other day there was an article about an increasing crime rate. The place is SO small that anything is amplified and CLOSE BY.

I think it is a great place to visit, but.................

Hello Jen,

As far as the house vs. apartment option, it's a lot about budget. A house is going to be very expensive, if you can even find one for rent. Often you will find that a rental property is referred to as a "house" when actually it is more of an apartment. An example is where we have lined up to live. It's called a house but it's actually two apartments (one above, one below). We've found that because it is such a small island you look at what's available and take the one in your budget that's in better condition (if you can find one that's even okay) and it is where it is. My husband knows the island really well and would be a good one to ask about a specific area. September is a really good time to be looking. Once October gets here places will start going quicker so I would look right when you get there. Word of mouth is the best way to find something. Everyone you visit with (even for a second) would be good to hit up for ideas. The board at Connections is the only other really good source that we've found. Do you have a pretty good knowledge level of the different areas of the island? I can offer up some personal opinions on different areas.

Kelly

Dear Jen and Jason,

Forgive me if you've posted previously but I presume that you have a temporary place to stay once you get to STJ?

KellySTJ has the best suggestions for you but, as one would advocate for all the islands, you need to be here to find the right place for you. Regular poster Teresa I think moved three times on STT (with a family!) before REALLY getting settled.

Generally speaking, many of the really good places are rented by word of mouth and local notice boards, and I think that speaks for all the islands.

There's no saying really what are either good or bad areas on any of the islands. I'm in Smith Bay, St. Thomas which generally gets a bad rap because of what goes on WAY down the road, but my neighbors and I ensure that it stays safe here and it has been so for many years now.

There will always be naysayers whatever area you choose to live in on whatever island, but take their comments with a very LARGE grain of salt,

The very best of luck to you and I'm quite sure you'll find something which will suit you admirably. Cheers.

All Islands-

Thank you for the reply...why wouldn't you want to live there? And as far as the crime goes..yes we decided to move there because it has less crime than STT..but crime is every where you go. Anyway, just wondering what your reasons are for not wanting to live there.

Thank you!
Jen

STT resident & Kelly,

Yes, we do have a place to stay for a couple weeks when we arrive. Kelly- I have some knowledge of the different parts of the island..I'd like to know your personal opinions if you don't mind. 🙂 (like are there more run down parts than others..)

Thank you for your reply, and STT resident: thank you for the kind words 🙂

Jen

We have an apartment for lease. It's an entire "upper" which is not like living in an upstairs of an home as you would imagine but more like two homes stacked to help you understand it better. It's a ROOMY 2 bedroom, 2 bath, quiet loctation on a dead-end road 5 min from town overlooking Chocolate Hole bay. If you are interested, I can email you pictures and more information. Good luck to you regardless.

I guess it would have to be that I don't want to be a slave to livivng there. Unless you are independantly wealthy you will have to struggle just to live.

I love the place, really, it is amazing. I have been going there for close to two decades. I guess the cabin fever aspect is another reason. Once again, with a big enough boat ( expensive) you could get out on the water and feel "off island" but that is for the more well heeled.

The place is getting more and more like south beach, the "place to be". Pompus waitstaff (continentals who havn't earned the priviledge), mean bums, drug pushers, etc. are ruining it. The have and have nots thing is increasing tensions too.

FYI to those who haven't seen it, Cruz bay is about two city blocks square. In a place that small these things should not happen.

OK, I think this will be my last STJ related post.... I really don't have anything constructive to say so... I'll leave those who live there to reply.

All the best and really any island you choose down here will be awesome. Please do try to enjoy all of it's idiosycracies.

I pick on STJ because it can be just perfect. It is small enough to have control of all of the negative things that happen on bigger Islands. The only problem now is that it is only for the rich to truly LIVE there. The rest of us a just RENTERS.

Dear Lisa,

I would love to check it out! The only thing is when would it be for rent? We don't arrive until October 13 and we have a place to stay for two weeks, so we'd be moving into a place late Oct/Nov. Even if that doesn't work out, I really do appreciate your offer! I'd like to see pictures, even to just see what i can generally expect for housing, if you don't mind. You can e-mail me at Jenniferdances00@aol.com

Thank you Lisa!

Jen

I hear you All Islands. Thank you for voicing your opinion. Even if you think you have nothing constructive to say, its nice to get different peoples point of view. 🙂

-Jen

Jen,

I sent you an email last night with more info/comments.

Kelly