where to live on St. Thomas?

So much depends on your needs- proximity to work, stores, school, transportation, view required, etc. If you are not familiar with the various parts of St Thomas, I'd recommend getting short term housing (1-2 weeks) and start looking around. A lot may also hang on what is available at the time you are looking!

And it also depends on what you are accustomed to. If you are coming from the projects of Detroit, then looking at a place in Peterborg or Water Point is going to be quite a change. If you are used to having a separate room in which to eat (read: dining room), a foyer, a breakfast nook (or anything with 'nook' in it's name), etc., then places in Savan or Contant may be disappointing. But, remember, our island is only 3 miles wide X 13ish long. There may be a beautiful apartment in a nice home, right above a derelict-looking hovel. In 'general' you can say that certain areas are this or that, but, IMHO, I think it always best to come down for a PMV and check it out for yourself. What I call nice, you may call a hovel...and vice versa.

I currently live in a 3 bedroom , 21/2 bath plus loft. I know I won't find anything comparable in our price range. I'm looking for a decent neighborhood. I"ll be coming for a PMV in Feb. I'd like to know some tips at that would point me in the right direction.

I know it sounds silly on islands of our size, but proximity to work will be important. You will not want to have to travel through a congested area every day to get from home to work.

I live on STX and my commute is made difficult by having to go through Chirstiansted every day during peak hours. We found a home we love before we found jobs we really like. The 9 or so miles I travel one way can take as much as 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

Beachie: Are you planning on working? That would give us some amount of help. The neighborhoods here are very different from those in the states. A very nice area might have half-finished houses, dogs kept in small enclosures, roosters crowing at all times of the day and night, junk cars, and bush growing over the street. It will depend what you need. Do you need a grocery close by? Do you want to be near the safari route? How much are you willing to spend? Lots o' questions...

As others have pointed out, more information is needed in order begin advising you. However, it sounds like you might be happy in Mahogany Run. That's on the north side, great views (from some of the units), gated community with 24-hour manned gates and regularly patrolling security, golf course, etc. I rented there for six months and then bought a condo (the unit below the one I was renting, so at least THAT move was easy). I plan to build on Peterborg but that won't start for another year or so and I hated renting.

There are frequently condos at MR available for long-term lease. There are 1, 2, and a small number of 3 bedroom units. I've never seen a 3 BR for rent. Expect to pay $1600-$2600+/month in rent, depending on unit size, the season, length of rental, and location.

There are three "villages" of condos in MR: the main one (no specific name), Golf Village, and Tennis Village (there's no longer a tennis court there, though). Main and Golf are accessed via the main entrance to MR and Tennis Village is accessed from Mandahl Road ("42", I think) near its junction with the road to Magen's ("35"). The Tennis Village entrance is also the entrance road to Old Stone Farmhouse restaurant (YUM!)

Views from these condos vary. Many of the units in the main section have spectacular, broad, downisland views (from Peterborg to St John and all islands inbetween). Golf Village mainly overlooks the golf course, with just a tiny view of water. Tennis Village has somewhat bigger views of water and you can see the west half of Hans Lollik but no other islands. Tennis Village also overlooks part of the golf course and the new low income housing units (which are actually nice). Some units in each village look south instead of towards "the view", so they don't have much to look at other than parts of the golf course.

You can see some photos of the view from the "downisland" side of Mahogany Run at my website: www.inaru.vi (go to the Virgin Islands gallery). Most of the view shots were taken from the master bedroom balcony or from the main patio balcony. I don't have any pictures of the condo I rented but there are some pictures of the unit below that I'm in the midst of remodeling.

Jules,
This looks great how can I find out more about renting in Mahogany Run?
Thanks

Why is every thing got to be so vague??

whenever I see this question asked, Its like a big secret or something???, I realize that certain information is needed to give a more distinct answer..like if you have kids, schools, work travel etc, but come on, shes asking a general question here!, "will you need to be near a grocery store"? what kind of question is this? who doesn't need a grocery store? I'm not trying to be condescending but c'mon you know what shes/we're asking here! where are the safer more civilized areas? middle class? the north? the west? the east? the south????? whats the big secret.......I also realize that a PMV is a must, but It is nice to narrow down an area at least to research property etc from home before the PMV........but if that is to "broad" then why don't you tell her/us where NOT TO MOVE? ok,? give us the bad areas to stay away from......can we do that? where are the slums, and the really bad areas that are not safe, that most people wouldn't care to live, and will just guess from there OK?

the areas to stay away from are just as broad....it is not the smaller of the two catergories.....you can easy see the really expensive house online and 9 out of 10 (or greater) those will be safe neighborhoods....house are built individually here there are no large subdivisions here. It is quite often a street by street situation or at least estate by estate.

Well, gee whiz, MattyNJ, why don't you answer the OP? Personally, I prefer the south side. However, lots of people like the North Side which I don't because mildew can be a problem & while cooler, it can get cold (to me) in damp weather.

There are slums in every area of this island. Without knowing what budget is being planned for, who could really recommend anything? The south side & east end seem to be dryer. It's much quieter with NO groceries, ATMS, etc. in Fortuna. I think anyone who is coming for a PMV will quickly see what areas they prefer & which they wouldn't be caught dead in.

Matty,
People sound vague because this is not an easy question to answer, at least on STX.

The East End is generally considered "safe" on STX, that is, anything east of C'sted. But there are NO groceries or other facilities in the east end. Plus, there are "bad" neighborhoods right below million $$$ homes, even on the east end.

Many neighborhoods are totally mixed, with the more expensive homes being higher up the hills.

Again, no easy answer. Me, I live in the hills just South of Cane Bay on STX. We love it, but it would not be to everyone's taste. Way out in the country. But grocery stores, etc. within 5 miles.

IslandExplorer,

In general, there are three ways to find a place to rent:

1. Published ads
2. Realtors
3. Word of mouth.
(4. Find a house for sale and ask the listing agent if the seller would consider a long-term rental)-- longshot.

I guess you could also count drive-by signs, but often those are also published.

So, here's how to search (STT):

1. Published ads
a. VI Daily News www.virginislandsdailynews.com Classified ads
b. Island Trader http://83.138.169.18/Openpagesuite.aspx?pubid=115 (there is a link buried in small print in the left column of the VI Daily News home page)

2. Realtors. Their websites are typically not updated often enough to find actual available properties online, but you can call them. Here are some realtors to try:
a. Curreri and Co , 340/776-9292 www.currerirealtors.vi Mucki Wesley is my realtor; you can also talk to Rosie Nichols, Claire Mancilavano, or Lisa Curreri
b. John Foster Real Estate, 340/776-5000, http://www.usvi-realestate.com/ They have many realtors. Try Fiona Suart. She's my neighbor and a lovely person.
c. David Jones Real Estate, 340/774-4444, www.davidjones.vi I don't know any of their realtors personally. Not sure if they ever have long-term rentals but they do represent lots of great properties.
d. Calypso Realty, 340/774-1620 (or 800/747-4858). There has been extensive negative information about Calypso on VIMovingCenter but the condo I recently rented was through them and dealing with them was and OK experience. Talk to Dianne first; if properties are available she'll probably put you in touch with one of Calypso's agents.
e. Lots of others. Too many to list. You can throw a rock and hit a realtor down here. The agencies listed are just some of the more prominent companies.

3. Word of mouth. Post inquiries on this site, call any friends you have in the VI, ask around on your PMV/vacation, etc.

4. You could try asking sellers if they'd rent. There are many realtors' websites that have links to the VI MLS. Some links are better than others in that they let you narrow things down by specific areas. I like to search that way so that I can eliminate areas that I consider undesireable (more on that at the end of this post). Calypso Realty has an excellent MLS link. It allows you to search by specific areas and it displays more information about the location that some other links. John Foster Real Estate also has a decent MLS link. I think you have to register to use theirs, though.

OK, now for the can o' worms topic: areas to avoid. MattyNJ seems frustrated that no one will give her(?) a direct answer to this question. Like others have said, there is no real direct answer. "Slums" to some are acceptable to others; crime can occur anywhere (yesterday a woman was assaulted in her home at Mahogany Run, Tennis Village). No matter where you live, take reasonable personal safety measures. Another reason residents hesitate to publicly state areas to avoid is probably fear of insulting someone else. Also, the demarcations between "nice" neighborhoods and unkempt neighborhoods is nonexistent for the most part.

That said, I personally would avoid the Smith Bay area including neighborhoods that abut it, anything "in town" or very near town ("town" being Charlotte Amalie).; South side (east of Frenchman's Bay until Red Hook). I'm not fond of the South side simply because there isn't much to look at except for St. Croix in the distance on a clear day. I prefer to look at lots of other islands. I also wouldn't want to live on the western half of the island simply because there almost no amenities there (grocery stores, etc).

I prefer the north side, from neighborhoods just west of Magen's Bay to Harmony and Tabor. Peterborg is a wonderful neighborhood. Very little in the way of long-term rentals, although I did see an ad for a 2/1 cottage yesterday. Other areas I like are Misgunst, Mafolie, Estate Elizabeth, Bakkeroe, Mandahl, St. Peter Mountain (Mountaintop), and Wintberg. Other people probably have additional neighborhoods to recommend. My overall favorites are Peterborg and Mahogany Run (Lovenlund).The island is divided into several "quarters" and those are further divided into other sections with names. The map that's in one of the airport magazines shows the neighborhoods. That map can be viewed online at http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/st/stmap.shtml

Hope this info helps.

Oh, IslandExplorer-- I didn't really give the short answer to your specific question. There is no one way to find out more about renting in Mahogany Run.

There is a condo association but it does not have anything to do with rentals. You'll have to proceed with calliing realtors/ads to find a property. Just call some of the realtors and ask if they have any Mahogany Run condos listed for long-term rental.

See? Jules prefers the North Side, I like the South Side. If you wind up working in Red Hook, you don't want to live in Fortuna (long commute.) It all boils down to you driving around & seeing the different areas & most importantly finding something decent for rent. Since it's a rental you aren't wedded to it for life anyway & after you're here a while you'll find what you like where you like it. I started out in Bakkeroe & much prefer Frenchman's Bay but those in Bakkeroe probably think I'm nuts.

Jules:
I agree with your post whole-heartedly (and those of LindaJ and Trade) in that Matty's expectation of an easy answer isn't realistic and it's perfectly correct to assume that if you do "dun" a certain area you're likely to offend someone. That said, your comment "That said, I personally would avoid the Smith Bay area including neighborhoods that abut it...etc" entirely makes the point, because I've been a Smith Bay resident for over 12 years and HATE it when people make such crashing generalizations. Cheers!

Thanks Jules, that was very helpful, especially the map!

... sometimes people dont realize that those of us serious about moving there, NEED solid information and rely on USVI residents to help out....I'm sorry if this comes across condescending.......as its not meant to be........

Thanks again Jules.

Matty: In the Virgin Islands, the neighborhoods are not as clear cut as they are in Big America. Zoning and enforcement are pretty non-existent. If you live in say Peterborg, you will NOT be close to a big grocery store, yet people live in Peterborg. Some people like the north side, but I was talking to someone over there yesterday who was complaining about the loud music in their neighborhood. Not to mention the green mold/mildew growing on them over there! 😉 As for Smith Bay, I know people who are very nice human beings who live in Smith Bay. I lived in town, in a huge apartment in the home of a very nice person. Okay, grouchy sometimes, but very nice usually. I loved the convenience of town. The south side is great- best area to see the green flash. Slums? What do you mean? Public housing? Not much chance you will get to live there are there is a long waiting list for units. It comes down to, what is important to YOU. There is something for just about everyone! 🙂

I posted this topic for some preliminary info before our pvm in Feb. I currently live live in a gated community in a suburb with a view of a pond and open field. While I know I won't have anything close to that on a small island, let alone in our price range, I'm looking for a relatively clean,friendly neighborhood with grocery store/laundry/gas station/restaurant close by. To start, we'll only have one car. I'm coming down with my husband & small dog. No kids..so the school thing isn't an issue. I currently don't have any work lined up, but my husband does. He'll the the visit the company in Feb. to decide 100%. I work for a chiropractor, so if anybody knows of any Dr. hiring....please inform.
Thanks to Jules on giving some great info. That map really helped. I'll most likely start on the north side and take it from there. Our current housing price range is $900-1100, unless we win the lottery 🙂
Thanks to all who posted on this topic...I'm open to any further suggestions, advice, opinions.
BeachLover

It's been said before, and I'll say it again...this is NOT like the U.S.A. Your million dollar home may be next door to an unfinished project which only consists of a cistern and some concrete and rebar on one side, and on the other might be a 'less than disirable' neighbor whose home and property do nothing but bring your value down, while above you is empty and overgrown, but below you is a road...and the store/gas station/laundry/restaurant might be just over the hill, but that's not 'in' your neighborhood, so does it count? Take Wintberg on STT, for example. I've lived in my same apartment for over 7 years, but Hometown (grocery and gas), whcich is very convenient, is actually on the South side of the Wintberg Peak, so it's not considered 'in Wintberg'. It's darn close, don't get me wrong. It only takes 3 minutes to drive to it. But, it's NOT in Wintberg, so would that make Wintberg undesirable for you? Well, Mandahl Market is on the North side of the hill, so maybe that counts? Oops! No laundry! But you can drive right down into Tutu in about 4.5 minutes and you have a few to choose from. See what we're trying to say here? Given your parameters, Wintberg wouldn't cut it for you, but, those of us that live there, know differently. Oh, wait! Wintberg won't work for you...you wanted a 'friendly neighborhood'! Haha! It's been my experience here that our nighborhoods aren't 'friendly'. I mean, the people are nice and all, but more than just a wave or a toot of the horn is not common. Most folks are very private here. Are you starting to understand? It's one of those "you have to see it to understand'-type things, ya know? So, to say to you, "Oh, you want a relatively clean,friendly neighborhood with grocery store/laundry/gas station/restaurant close by? No problem, check out ********." It just doesn't work that way. And, trying to eliminate places is kind of the same thing. Take Smith Bay, for example. Yeah, sure, there are some shady homes and characters in that area, but if you drive up a hill, BAM! There's a beautiful home, great view, wonderful people, secure...you name it. But, because it's in "Smith Bay" you should avoid it? I don't think so. Things just aren't that cut and dried here. And, on an island like STT, where it's only 3 miles wide by 12-13 long...EVERYTHING is close! But, if you live in Fortuna and have to drive to Red Hook everyday...crikey, you'd think you were still in the States cuz it's gonna take you 45 minutes to an hour to get there! Haha! So this question really IS hard to answer. Does this makes sense?

I hope this helps some....:)

I get it....I'll be coming down next month for a pvm.