Year One

You don't really need a 4x4 on STX unless you are planning on actually driving off road or perhaps hauling a big trailer. The long bed is probably not an issue, the mirrors may be problematic in some areas. I am surprised that spending between $150 and $250/month would be more cost effective than a higher interest car loan. What does the math say? Plus, you will for sure need your own transportation once you are settled on STX regardless and it doesn't sounds like you can be paying for two vehicles. Bringing a vehicle from the states if you have the opportunity, especially one made in the US that won't have import duty, is generally recommended over buying local. You may be better to sell the more expensive truck and by something less expensive, perhaps smaller and more island appropriate and shipping that to STX.

Do you have TIAA-CREF?

You should be able get a maximum 5 year loan to pay off your truck.

And remember, this 6-8% loan is paid back to your retirement account with interest - you're borrowing from yourself.

I am in the middle of making arrangements to ship my Jeep, which has an outstanding loan. Granted, my loan was not as much- but, call your lien holder and explain your situation. It's worth a shot.

We were told by many people it probably wouldn't be approved. Our lien holder was willing to work with us after talking on the phone about our plans. We had to sign a contract stating we would continue to make payments, have full coverage, and provide them with our housing/employment information once we get it figured out on the island.

Good luck!

You don't really need a 4x4 on STX unless you are planning on actually driving off road or perhaps hauling a big trailer. The long bed is probably not an issue, the mirrors may be problematic in some areas. I am surprised that spending between $150 and $250/month would be more cost effective than a higher interest car loan. What does the math say? Plus, you will for sure need your own transportation once you are settled on STX regardless and it doesn't sounds like you can be paying for two vehicles. Bringing a vehicle from the states if you have the opportunity, especially one made in the US that won't have import duty, is generally recommended over buying local. You may be better to sell the more expensive truck and by something less expensive, perhaps smaller and more island appropriate and shipping that to STX.

The truck was built in the U.S., so thank goodness I don't need to worry about the import duty. I didn't actually calculate the cost of the loan before I posted, I just assumed that storing in Miami would cost less than an interest rate jump of 7 points. I did just use the bank loan calculator at bankrate's website, which is telling me that my loan payment will go down over my current payment schedule ($1425 vs $1110 monthly). I'm guessing that I'm doing something wrong, because that isn't at all what I would have expected.

Do you have TIAA-CREF?

You should be able get a maximum 5 year loan to pay off your truck.

And remember, this 6-8% loan is paid back to your retirement account with interest - you're borrowing from yourself.

I do have TIAA-CREF, both through my current and future university. As I am thinking about it, based on how my retirement is performing, paying myself 6-8% is far better than the fund itself is doing. It's probably a better idea to take out that loan than I thought. I have an email to TIAA now, but they haven't responded yet. I stated the rate of 6-8% based off when I had a 401(k) from a different employer years ago. Even if the rate is 15%, I should still be better off taking out the loan, paying off the truck, and bringing it with me directly...I need to get them on the phone...STAT!

I am in the middle of making arrangements to ship my Jeep, which has an outstanding loan. Granted, my loan was not as much- but, call your lien holder and explain your situation. It's worth a shot.

We were told by many people it probably wouldn't be approved. Our lien holder was willing to work with us after talking on the phone about our plans. We had to sign a contract stating we would continue to make payments, have full coverage, and provide them with our housing/employment information once we get it figured out on the island.

Good luck!

I suppose it won't hurt to ask Ford, but since there isn't a true Ford Dealership on the islands (according to Ford's website...but that's another conversation), I'd suspect that they'd say no simply because they have no way of repossessing the truck if I default on the loan...not that I intend to default, though! Somehow, my Ford account is locked, so I'll need to call them anyway.

Thank you all for your advice on these topics. I think this "semi-blog" is going to workout spectacularly!

Metro Motors
located @ Golden Rock STX (also on STT)

https://www.facebook.com/Metro-Motors-VIInc-135189376514451/

Be sure you check your vehicle. I also brought down a Ford F150. It had a VIN starting with 2 because it was assembled in Canada. I had to pay import duty.

That was the longest blog or whatever you called it I think I have ever read here shhheeeeessshhhh. To me a big move like that and your biggest concern is your truck, this is a big change and there are much more pressing issues to concern yourself with. Sell the truck, take the truck either way find where you are and go with that. Concentrate on the fact that you have a job lined up in a beautiful area. Really doesn't sound like you have much to lose for trying. Best of luck

And in regards to the truck... don't forget about road tax, 16¢ a pound. Sounds like your truck might be kinda heavy 🙂

Also sounds like you REALLY LOVE your truck! Do you love it so much that when you see it get dinged up, paint fade at a much higher rate that you will be really sad? If so, you might want to let it go. I have personally never even considered getting a new car the entire time I have lived here for just that reason.

We had a brand new Subaru with a loan on it when we moved down. It was financed through JPMorgan Chase - they partner with Subaru and handle all of their financing/leasing. They gave us no trouble shipping it down here, we just had to fill out some paper work. The fact that there is no Subaru dealer here didn't bother them - it just means that we were foregoing warranty protection if we ran into serious problems.

The car is now paid off, has had no issues, and we are very glad we brought it with us.

Be sure you check your vehicle. I also brought down a Ford F150. It had a VIN starting with 2 because it was assembled in Canada. I had to pay import duty.

I just double checked the VIN inside my door. It starts with a 1, which I believe means that it is assembled in the U.S.

That was the longest blog or whatever you called it I think I have ever read here shhheeeeessshhhh. To me a big move like that and your biggest concern is your truck, this is a big change and there are much more pressing issues to concern yourself with. Sell the truck, take the truck either way find where you are and go with that. Concentrate on the fact that you have a job lined up in a beautiful area. Really doesn't sound like you have much to lose for trying. Best of luck

Yes, I'm long winded. I also wanted to answer as many questions that I could anticipate with, at the least, the initial post as I could.

I actually am accepted the informal offer. They are now typing up the formal offer which will be sent to me...somehow...and then I sign it, send it back, and then start the relocation process. I believe, and for myself I've personally insured, that if you're going to move anywhere you should have a job lined up. I remember reading a post from a younger woman (she was 25, I'm going to be 45 in 6 weeks) where her intent was to just hop on a plane and move. She did apply for jobs but hadn't really secured one. Not my personal cup of tea. I need to know how I'm generating income as well as where my expenses are before I make a move, and again, especially to an island.

Did I mention I'm long-winded? It comes with the territory. The main part of my job is to teach (preach?) for 45 minutes or so to blankly-staring students...at least that's my impression at my current position.

And in regards to the truck... don't forget about road tax, 16¢ a pound. Sounds like your truck might be kinda heavy 🙂

Also sounds like you REALLY LOVE your truck! Do you love it so much that when you see it get dinged up, paint fade at a much higher rate that you will be really sad? If so, you might want to let it go. I have personally never even considered getting a new car the entire time I have lived here for just that reason.

I forgot about that road tax, however, one of the features that the newer model F-150's highlight in their commercials is that the body is made of "military grade" aluminum ("what does that even mean?" to quote one of my current colleagues). The reason I wanted the truck new, regardless of relocation, is that I wanted to be responsible for everything about it. Murray, KY gets hail. The way I see it, the truck's getting dinged eventually. So, since the body is aluminum-ish, is there anyone in USVI that sells one of those suction-cup-like devices used to pull out small dents on your own?

I also wanted to point out that my reason for "concentrating" on the truck is two-fold. 1- the selfish reason: it's the first time I purchased a brand new vehicle, and it was a custom job. The only amenities in the truck are the ones I wanted and 2- The truck represents my most expensive debt at the moment. I'm happy to have it paid off in a couple of years, which I will then turn towards homeownership. It's not really about the truck (aside from 1-), but about the expenses I have which need to be accounted for in the moving process.

Metro Motors
located @ Golden Rock STX (also on STT)

https://www.facebook.com/Metro-Motors-VIInc-135189376514451/

I've actually read some "bad" things about these guys elsewhere on this forum. I also know that the actual Ford dealership, on STT, is also less than reliable. I should point out that I couldn't find the Ford dealership on Ford's dealership locator, but that maybe from the fact that I put in the Kingshill (?) ZIP Code and not a STT ZIP Code.

So, I've made a couple of phone calls, both of which involve the truck.

My first call, inspired by Gator's Mom, was to TIAA-CREF. My concern about the truck is that I will need to pay it off before relocating it, and that I would need to take out a loan against my retirement in order to do that. I would have been fine taking out that loan, even though the interest rate would have been higher, because, as Gator's Mom pointed out, repaying a retirement loan, including the interest, is basically a repayment to yourself: the money and the interest you pay on it go back into your retirement account.

TIAA-CREF told me that my current account doesn't allow for loans against the balance, only withdraws at a penalty.

OH SNAP! (not exactly what I was thinking, but there could be minors reading and I want to pretend that my language is better than it really is)

It turns out that individual organizations can set rules on the accounts, and one of rules set by the state of KY is that a person cannot take out loans against a retirement account that is used to avoid paying into the state public pension system. Now, at this point, I could get political and say what KY's been doing with the public pension plans...but I'm not going to be living in KY three months from now, so, to quote one of my sisters (yes, the sisters that I'm "running away from"): "put it in a bucket...fk it!" (IT'S STILL CLEAN!) When I informed the agent on the phone of the amount I needed, $25K, she informed me that I would need to withdraw basically all of it, because TIAA-CREF would make the tax payment immediately. I would still need to pay off an additional 10% penalty at the end of the year on the original amount, and not the money I received.

In other words...I can't use my TIAA-CREF account from my current employer to assist with the move, so "option 3" is gone. That was yesterday afternoon. I intended on posting this last night, but my computer at home decided it was protesting by not turning on until this morning...fine, BE that way!

So this afternoon, based on some encouragement from Edw94 and NYC to STT, I figured I'd pray for the best and call Ford Credit. At first, the man on the phone didn't understand exactly what I was asking for, but he eventually figured it out, found the information I needed and told it to me, which I'll summarize because of the "Gotcha!" that's in it.

I waited on the phone for a few moments, part of which was spent listening to the automated recording that I couldn't press a button to skip giving me a detailed account of how much I owe.

It's $37K, not $25K..I KNEW something was wrong yesterday.

Ford Credit tells me that they have no problem getting me the documentation that I need to relocate the truck with. The turn around time is, according to them is 2-4 days. I need to state where the truck is leaving from (port of call), where it will be located on STX, and I need to purchase marine insurance.

I need to purchase WHAT?!

To travel overseas, I need to provide proof of marine insurance to Ford Credit, apparently just in case the boat sinks, or leaks, or whatever else they expect. What I do know, is, my current car insurer doesn't operate on USVI. I expect they won't offer marine insurance, or offer it at a oppressive premium. My insurance won't be valid the minute I set foot on STX, so I likely need an island insurer prior to moving, since, I expect, that those insurers will offer marine, flood, and maybe even hurricane sub-policies as part of car insurance...again, at a premium. I'll need full coverage no matter what, I may as well add that on.

So, I get my first choice of relocating the vehicle. Anyone heard of or know about where I might get marine insurance?

On a better note, I've spoken with my future colleagues at UVI, trying to find out what I'll be teaching, and with which textbooks. I'm hoping they can get me desk copies that I can pick up when I arrive. UVI will be open, in part due to summer classes and, for another part, that UVI runs a cybersecurity introduction camp for local middle and high school students. I expect to be part of that next year, and I'm looking forward to that interaction. I've read on these forums that public education on USVI is...inadequate (I'm being nice). One of the "cures" for inadequate public education is to get a limited involvement with public universities in some fashion. As a professor at UVI, I'll be looking forward to that opportunity as well.

You should be able to get the "marine insurance" from your overseas shipping company. It is pretty much the same as purchasing the added value insurance from the carrier who moves your furniture instead of accepting the standard $.50/pound coverage that's included with the move.

Although I am probably suffering from *inadequate education* I find myself 'staring blankly' at a simple google search for "car shipping marine insurance"
There certainly seems to be plenty of info available and if you can work out the lien with your loan officer just a matter of price.

https://www.schumachercargo.com/marine-shipping-insurance.html

You;ll need to have your new island insurance before you can get it inspected and registered.

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/car/

The marine insurance is going to be offered by whomever you have transport it. Crowley, Tropical, Blue Ocean, etc.... As far as insurance on island, the companies here require you to have the bill of lading from the ocean transport company to get insurance. You won't get that until it gets on the boat. I recently had a car shipped through Crowley and this is the quote they gave me for insurance:

Insurance out of Jacksonville: $25 for each $1,000 declared value. Insurance is only available for vehicles less than 7 years old. (If you wish to purchase, please advise at time of booking)

Insurance out of Port Everglades: For $100.00 you will be insured up to $20,000

Although I am probably suffering from *inadequate education* I find myself 'staring blankly' at a simple google search for "car shipping marine insurance"
There certainly seems to be plenty of info available and if you can work out the lien with your loan officer just a matter of price.

https://www.schumachercargo.com/marine-shipping-insurance.html

First, let me apologize for inferring that people in the Virgin Islands are inadequately educated. While I can't point to the exact post, I did get that impression from reading the boards here that schools, especially public schools offer an inadequate education. Inadequate education is a phrase that is used to refer to a number of issues, including: poor facilities, poor equipment, and/or poor instruction from teachers. Unfortunately, some people use that phrase, as well as interpret that phrase, to mean that the students produced are stupid. I can assure you that is not what I meant at all, and I'm sorry if you took offense...none was meant.

With regards to the Google search you suggested, I detail that part below. I asked people reading this thread because word of mouth is usually better than reading webpages and advertisements.

Marine Insurance:

I spent most of last night looking for individual insurance, separate from the transport company. I only found 2 insurers in the Miami, FL area that offered the insurance...and it was ridiculous!

As stjohnjulie points out, the marine insurance is also offered through the transport companies themselves. Not only does her selection of Crowley charges $25/$1000 value, but that is pretty much what I was quoted from the three places I sampled: Tropical, Blue Ocean, and International Logistics Solutions (ILS).

I only have a complete quote from Tropical. Since I am not transporting any furniture, my heaviest items beyond the truck are textbooks, which weigh between 500-700 pounds (yes, I have a LOT of textbooks)! Tropical was capable of quoting on the entire trip because they apparently are able to take responsibility for the entire transport. Blue Ocean and ILS referred me to other companies regarding Less than Container Loads (LCL) for transport. Tropical offered additional packing options that handle small loads such as mine. To restate it, I'm only transporting the books, my computer, and clothes.

Tropical quoted: $2373 for transporting the car with insurance and $550 for the household items leaving from Miami.

ILS quoted $2560 for the car out of Miami, and referred me elsewhere regarding the household items, which I didn't look at because the car transport is higher, and I assume the household items will also be higher.

Blue Ocean quoted $1935, including insurance ($1395 + 1.65% of value), and didn't quote for the household items. I did reply to Blue Ocean, but didn't really hear anything back, so I will likely call them tomorrow to get a better/more complete quote that includes the household items. Given that my colleagues didn't recommend Blue Ocean, and the only place I found any real mention of Blue Ocean is the "ad choices" advertisement.

Housing:
I found a few amazing deals on renting places on STX through Craig's List last night. Given what I saw just two months ago, I'm frankly surprised by the price cuts...they're almost reasonable! When I mentioned this, I was reminded of another post buried deep in this site: rents change during the "off-season", which is June-August, apparently. I'm hoping I can get some help from one of my new colleagues on STX to go take a glance and give me an opinion. The one that they tell me to grab up, I'll discuss it with the owner of that location, give the deposit, and hope to be there by June 1!

I am pleased! 😎

Keep in mind if you haven't already that when some of those Craig's List adds sounds too good to be true they usually aren't. Look out for and pay attention to anything that doesn't make sense like heat included.

Keep in mind if you haven't already that when some of those Craig's List adds sounds too good to be true they usually aren't. Look out for and pay attention to anything that doesn't make sense like heat included.

Heat included! THAT IS HILARIOUS!

Given what I've read about through these boards, one of the locations stated that they offer both electricity and water included in the rent. That sounds odd to me, given that many people agree that electricity on USVI is the most expensive rates in the U.S. I just spoke with the owner of that apartment and, according to him, they have "broadband Internet service that uses an antenna". To me, that sounds a little off, but perhaps someone can confirm this type of Internet broadband service is what I'm likely to expect on STX.

Also, if anyone can beat $625/month and $625 security, please send me a PM. Frankly, I'd like to have electricity and water included with the rent, but I don't expect that will be the case for almost all other apartments.

I signed the formal letter this morning. I am officially hired and coming. I expect to arrive sometime between June 10 and 15, although this entirely depends on when Ford can deliver their permission letter. I'm also not fully certain why I need an EIN for this, even though I do have one. I'd arrive earlier, but I will be attending a seminar on the mainland and figure I should leave after I've done that, rather than drop my things off and fly round trip from STX. I'm already here, after all.

I am a little more excited now than I was last week, but I do realize that there is still along way to go before I finally arrive.

I'm not sure what to add to this update that has basically taken a week to get to. Most of the last week has been "hurry up and wait". I have found it funny to tell people that I am relocating to the Virgin Islands. Their eyes get really big, and their mouths form this "O" shape, before I'm told how lucky I am and how jealous they are. Then I tell them that hurricane season near the equator is 6 months of the year and they temper their enthusiasm a bit. Of course, until today, I suspect my enthusiasm has been a bit too tempered.

Someone earlier in this thread did remind me that I am moving to what most people consider to be paradise. I'm obviously blind since I can't find that post now, but I remember it being there and thinking "It's not exactly paradise to everyone posting on this message board". While there are other threads on these forums that dispute this paradise point, I look at it as moving back to Los Angeles, without all the pollution. I glanced at housing costs, which I use as my core standard with regards to cost of living. The other two are food and fuel. I know fuel is higher, but it's not as high as my sisters have told me about fuel in Los Angeles. I do expect, based on what I'm told, to change my diet as what I'm used to eating is far too expensive. One of my colleagues mentioned strawberries as an example. Where I am, strawberries are about $3.50/box. I'm told by my colleague that they are almost $10 on STX! I'm not eating strawberries for awhile. I did try mangos, though. Once I figured out that I should peel off the skin as opposed to eat it, I discovered that mangos are VERY tasty! It's unfortunate that mangos have such a large core to them, but maybe I'm still eating them wrong.

So, back to the housing prices. My current thought is: pay off the truck in two years, then save the money I was spending on the truck for the next three. By that time, I will have a tenure decision and, if I get tenured, I take the saved money and use it as a house down payment. The homes I looked at were limited above at $250,000, and I further looked for homes that had more than 4 bedrooms, which usually implies that there is some rentable property as part of the home. I found several places that I felt were very reasonable. I know that such reasonableness is relative, but, for myself, I thought $250,000 for what amounts to "live in one, rent out the other" is fine.

I did find a number of places that, while they're prices were lower (for the most part), the homes themselves were, what I would consider, totaled. I'm not certain why some of the places are for sale at the prices they are, since the buildings look like they need to "redo from start". I suppose if I were better with tools than computers, I'd have no problem purchasing one and fixing it up. But it's the other way, so it's the other way. I know this is way off in the future, but are there home building contractors on STX? I expect yes, but I guess the better question is: has anyone used one to build or renovate?

YEA! I'm going to the U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS!

Most places have a cistern, so water would be included. I have a tenant down there and I include electricity in the rent, up to a certain $ amount. I have solar panels and have only paid wapa once and that was when the switched the meters. I always produce more than used. Also BBVI uses antennas for internet, which I have at my location, so that is a correct statement.

Have you seen the place, when I have talked to potential tenants they stated they found cheaper places, but were falling apart and pretty disgusting compared to my place that I rent for a little more than the number quoted. So you do get what you pay for I guess.

Have you seen the place, when I have talked to potential tenants they stated they found cheaper places, but were falling apart and pretty disgusting compared to my place that I rent for a little more than the number quoted. So you do get what you pay for I guess.

The one person I contacted by phone had pics posted, and they didn't seem all that great. He is supposed to contact me with times he can have someone available for a viewing. One of my colleagues at UVI has volunteered to check the place out up close and give me a recommendation on whether I should take it. When I spoke with the owner, he stated that he usually rents to teachers, but that was only after I told him I was taking a position at UVI, so that comment could have been some type of gamesmanship. I'm looking through the board here, though, to see if there is anything that might be a little better. I may end up using a real estate agent as well, although I'd prefer not to.

It doesn't cost you anything to use a Realtor to find housing.
The Landlord pays a commission if a Realtor brings them a qualified tenant, plus they usually can provide insight to the newly arrived.
Never rent, sight unseen and you make want to inquire about barking dogs and crowing roosters in the middle of the night, or noise in general. Nothing makes a nice place not so nice is unwanted, constant noise.

Yeah, just picked up a 1lb box of fresh strawberries at the Walmart for $2 in states. In the tropics we eat tropical fruit:-)

Eating mangoes like apples, now that's hilarious.
Mangoes are relatively cheap at the roadside stands during season. They are expensive in most of the stores, dem come from off-island. I use a mango cutter to remove the seed in one stroke then scoop the fruit out of the two halves. Slice first but not through the skin to get cubes. Funny thing is, the local stores have apple core-ers but I've not seen any for mangoes. Had to order mine from Amazon.

BBVI uses directional radio antennas pointed line of site to towers up in the hills for internet.
The other option is through Innovative Viya TV cable.

It doesn't cost you anything to use a Realtor to find housing.
The Landlord pays a commission if a Realtor brings them a qualified tenant, plus they usually can provide insight to the newly arrived.
Never rent, sight unseen and you make want to inquire about barking dogs and crowing roosters in the middle of the night, or noise in general. Nothing makes a nice place not so nice is unwanted, constant noise.

You have said this many times to many people coming to the islands, and I've read it so often that it's almost a manta now. But I thank you for every time you've posted it. The idea is to have one of my colleagues look at the places that I find on my own. Although, given what you posted about landlords paying commission to realtors for qualified tenants, I'm thinking it's likely easier to contact a realtor now.

Yeah, just picked up a 1lb box of fresh strawberries at the Walmart for $2 in states. In the tropics we eat tropical fruit:-)

Eating mangoes like apples, now that's hilarious.
Mangoes are relatively cheap at the roadside stands during season. They are expensive in most of the stores, dem come from off-island. I use a mango cutter to remove the seed in one stroke then scoop the fruit out of the two halves. Slice first but not through the skin to get cubes. Funny thing is, the local stores have apple core-ers but I've not seen any for mangoes. Had to order mine from Amazon.

BBVI uses directional radio antennas pointed line of site to towers up in the hills for internet.
The other option is through Innovative Viya TV cable.

Okay, give me a little break, will ya?! Prior to purchasing and mis-eating the mangos before, the closest I've come to mangos are the sugar substitute that Snapple puts in their drinks and calls it "mango-whatever-it's-mixed-with". I looked at it, and since I'd been eating apples recently, I just bit in and went at it. I hope the skin isn't toxic. I had a couple of bites before I decided that the skin didn't really do anything for the taste of the mango, so I peeled it away. That was messy, with mango juice dripping down my hands and onto my shirt, but it was GOOD!

I did see Innovative Viya on a Google search a I did while I was on the island for the interview. They had this all-in-one package of cable, internet, and phone service (not sure if it was landline or cellular), but the price looked a bit high to me. I chalked it up to "the islands are more expensive" at the time. I'll need to compare to BBVI, though. If the service is as good as my broadband at home, I'll use it.

Okay, so since I'm here and thinking about it, let's look.

Viya offers "triple packs" (they used to offer double packs, but I don't see those anymore), which consists of unlimited local landline calls, 6 MBps to 50 MBps internet, and their expanded cable service. That price ranges from $125/month at 6MB, to 180/month at 50MB. I currently have 6MBps, but when I get to the STX, I'll likely move to 12 MBps, causing my internet and cable service to go from about $25 to $135...not nice, man!

BBVI only offers two Internet services priced at $50 or $100 a month for 5MBps max or 25 MBps max. I would then need to get cable only from Viya, which has two choices: $35 basic service with 30 channels, or a $80 expanded service with 200 channels. It looks like I can add on other channel packs with Viya, but given that the expanded cable service is approximately half the cost of the bundle that Viya offers, it seems having Viya is the lower cost of the two, with the prices considered.

That means nothing if the place I'm staying at isn't serviced by Viya, however. 🙂

Well eating mango with juice all over your face and dripping down your hands is the traditional way to do it I hear. But I prefer to do it the easier way. Sounds like you're all prepped for the mango eating contest at Mango Melee though.

The Viya triple pack is for VOIP phone.