We want to retire on an island!

One very good match for your request list would be Pelican Cove Condominiums on St. Croix.

You should also look at the Reef on STX.

They have their own beach, swimming pool, tennis courts and a nine hole golf course. Some of the owners are working towards getting an exercise room.

Jim

StThomas has a great deal to offer in exactly the areas you're looking, plus offers "advantages" (don't mean to stir up an island war here, so please don't turn this post into that), that might appeal to your family as a good reason to stop off and visit you.

Case in point: my parents retired to Santa Fe, New Mexico and both my brothers and I visited them more living there than any other "home" in which they resided.

Yes STT has Condo opportunities - that are located on a beach with tennis courts, swimming pools and the like. We also have cruise ships that arrive (one way that your family might take the opportunity to visit with you for a day!) Easy access to St.John and the BVI's for attractions all around.

Tim & Rita:

We were in the same situation as you. We were considering Florida and even possibly Hawaii. (By the way we're from New Jersey, also) But as you indicated Hawaii is just too far. During a cruise stop-over in January 2004 we had contacted a realtor and looked at two properties (Sea Cliffs and Point Pleasant). I fell in love with Point Pleasant. We returned in April 2004, stayed at Point Pleasant for a week to be sure it was what we desired and also viewed about 6 other properties. We purchased a unit at Point Pleasant in May 2004. It met all of our needs. It has three pools, is located on the beach, doesn't resemble a "resort hotel/motel complex", has an execise room, two restaurants and a hotel plan (to rent our unit when we are not there), has the "own home feel", and the view is spectacular.

Our plans are to become "snow birds" in a couple of years. In other words spend the winters on St. Thomas and the rest of the year in New Jersey (close to family and friends). We use Continental Airlines to get to STT, it's a 4 hour non-stop flight. It couldn't be more convenient. Also, we love STT, it's great. If you want further information regarding how we made our decision contact us at mikehrom@yahoo.com.

Regards,

F.I.

Hey Tim and Rita,

Just to add another option to your fast growing list: www.hangyourhammock.com has some nice two bedroom condos, beachside, tennis courts, pools, restaurants, gated, etc. Just good to have options and compare. This is on STT on the South Side. Good luck on your search and let us know how it goes!

Hey Future Islander,

Did you look at Watergate Condos by chance or is that the same as Sea Cliffs? I haven't seen Point Pleasant and wondered how they compared. I may have my condos confused, but anyway. 🙂

Teresa

Thanks for all your suggestions! I am going to start searching online for Point Pleasant, Sea Cliffs, and Hangyourhammock.com! Thanks!

Also, because of the suggestions in a couple of other posts, I have started to read www.dailynews.vi. I am a bit concerned with the crime(just today two people were shot/stabbed, one death). I do not know the bad/good areas, the places listed for the most recents shootings are: Annas Retreat, Norre Gadde, Queen Mary Highway, Mutual Homes (this is in this article: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=5670307) are these all bad areas that my wife and I would never travel to?

Queen Mary Highway and Mutual Homes are on St. Croix. Queen Mary Highway is one of the main roads on St. Croix. It's not really a highway, just a heavily traveled two-lane road. Mutual Homes is a housing project, and I don't think you would be traveling there. The other two places are on St. Thomas, but I don't know enough about those specific areas.

AH, the Daily News with their wonderful reporting! After stating the man was stabbed in a fight, he becomes the sixth shooting victim! Wonder if they even read what they write!

Don't let that article dissuade you. It does raise some concern and we hope that the police force will step up and start some more aggresive action. There has been a lot of talk about helping and new strategies abound. Each of those cases listed were related to some fight or the other, some grudge or turf war, with the exception of the gentleman being shot outside the bank. I don't believe you will be in those types of area. You do need to be cautious.

Do a pre move vist to all three islands and see which appeals to you. Different ones appeal to different people. Lately St. Croix has been attracting the early retirement crowd, which I fully endorse! So the PMV, and you will see!

Ronnie

Ronnie is right. Do a Pre Move Visit. The folks we purchased our condo from bought their unit on the first visit. They moved from MA in October and were homesick by April. The life style just didn't fit them.

F.I.

Hey Tim & Rita,
I would suggest the Ancorage Condo. it features all the requirements you mentioned. As for a realtor i would suggest Shane Foster @ John Foster Realty. I recently purchased a house on the east end of stt and she was was beyond excellent and still continues to work w/ us, assisting us in needed repairs, painting... as i also live in New Jersey (AC area) and setting up contractors can be difficult long distance. however im not near retirement 🙁 i have 3 kids under 6.

Are the Ancorage Condo's on St Thomas or St Croix? Because we are thinking that St Thomas would do us best since it is easier to reach, and their is a direct flight from Newark on Continental.

Ronnie...thats for clearing that up, I feel a lot better about the move knowing that they were mostly gangs wars and pre-existing relationships.

Anchorage Condominiums are on STT (St.Thomas) in Cowpet Bay (the southeast tip of the island)

st thomas is definitely the better island

Hey folks

Have you checked out the crime figures on Maui....?

Yes the VI police are incompetent, but the crime isn't too bad despite nepotism,lazyness and incompetence of the police force.

Ronnie....don't "dis" the Daily News...they are only telling the truth...even if we don't want to hear it...

Crime is not a serious problem in the VI....

But it does happen.....

Oh and "Mellows" St Croix is better, but don't tell anyone.....
your ignorance shows....

lol
oldsalt

Oldsalt,
Reread Ronnie's post. The victim was STABBED in a fight making him the sixth SHOOTING victim... I read both the Daily News and the Avis just for the laughs.

Ric

Hi Tim & Rita,
I'm new to this board and have just been reading til now. We have thought of buying and just came back from our third visit this past weekend. We had looked at houses the last 2 times. This time we looked at condos and stayed at the Anchorage with our kids for the weekend. I don't reccommend buying there. You can email me for more info. We did like the Elysian. But would stay there before buying, just to be sure. Good Luck. St Thomas is a beautiful Island. There are other places to visit from there giving plenty to do if wanted.
Take Care
Dana

Tim and Rita: i would like to hear the answer to that question, too. The Anchorage has lots of families with kids, the Yacht Club is next door and Montessori is down the street. Very convenient and nice!

I am a bit confused on the situation with condos on the islands. Are there hotel condos and residential condos...or are there some that are hotel and residential. Somebody reccomended the Elysian, but it looks more like a hotel then a place to live.
Sorry about the confusion and I hope someone clears it up.

Hi Tim, Rita and EastEnder,
I will answer the question- East Ender don't take offense- this is my opinion- your mind is already made up from your response. We stayed for the weekend, talked to people in the complex and looked at other places. This is worn looking, it needs a fresh coat of paint etc. Our sliding glass doors didn't lock (that was comforting) and noone was around to fix them- I was told the weekends are hard to get someone to be around. One toilet ran out of water the first night and that was never fixed either.I did get money back for these things. But I truly would rather the door locked. The beach is small and the water so-so. The pool is small. The restaurant is nice and the people that run it are so nice. I was told a woman that worked there was fired for using peoples condos to take men into and have sex- the lady that is renting there with her family til the winter wasn't happy about that- I didn't blame her. No activities at night we were told because the board (older residents) do not want anything there. Now we went to the Eylsian and it was beautiful, like I posted before, I would want to stay there and chat with people too. If I'm going to buy and retire I want more than I saw Take Care Dana

Dana: No offense at all! One just must be specific about problems. You are reporting as a visitor, I presume? And I think living in a place is a bit different. When you say "the toilet ran out of water", I wonder if they have a gray water system. Occasionally pumps and such go out, however, gray water systems are great for water conservation. Systems (electric, water) don't always work perfectly here the way they do on the mainland. The pool IS small at the Anchorage, I agree. I'm not sure that the beach is small, but there is a great deal of development on Cowpet Bay. However, there are plenty of families with children who live there. If someone was looking for a condominium unit and had a family, it is still one I would check into! (P.S. I don't have any allegiance to them). Re: the paint...lots of people do their painting in the summer- off season.

Hi East Ender,
I was with lots of families on Sunday, specifically talking to one Mom for a while. She was telling me some of the problems and one would think there is a better place to spend retirement money. The toilet should have been fixed, they were not accomadating. Not what I would want to rely on if buying something. Painting may take place at other times but when out and looking at a lot of properties, this place is just tired looking and looks like nothing has been done in a while. Where the other place I mentioned is gorgous from the moment you drive in. Plenty of workers around busy and so nicely greeting you. The pool is beautiful as well. There is definite upkeep, I know they were recently taken over. The condo we looked at was just redone and the balconies and views were very lovely. Just different and much more desirable. We love this island and would love to find something here, not rushing and hopefully we'll get something .
Take Care
Dana

My husband & I are looking for a condo on St Thomas also. I would like to know how you decided on Point Pleasant. It is one of the areas we have researched. What is the rental income like & can you share information about a recommended realtor to use. We are going to St Thomas 8 days in Feb. - we plan on looking at property on St Thomas, St Croix & possibly in the BVI. We have been working toward the goal of this purchase for quite sometime & feel we are now ready to take that step.
Thank you in advance for any helpful information that you are willing to share.
Kent & Teresa
Johnson City, Tn

tee:

Send me a Private Message (see top) with your questions.

We are very happy with our choice of Point Pleasant.

Future Islander