US Virgin Islands

I've been saying for years - if you want a home with a sea view in St Croix, you'll have to pay at least half a million. Well - thankfully - there are now a dozen or more homes on the market here with an Oceanview for under $500,000! Click the link below to view my favorites. They are all in established residential areas, dotted around the island - ranging from west, to south shore, to north shore, to east end - something for everyone!

My favorite is the charming, traditional cottage in Cotton Valley. Great views and such a warm, homey place! These homes are priced to sell and compete with condo properties! So if you are in the market for a condo - have a look at these and consider owning your own home instead! You could afford to put in a pool in a few years with the amount you'd be saving in monthly condo fees!!!

Asking $359,000, 2 bedrooms/2 baths, 0.52 acres.

Follow this link to see the page:

Click to view listing(s) (Link only good until 12.5.09 so take a look now!)

Contact me for relocation information, rental ideas. neighborhood insight, and market statistics. St Croix has the lowest prices in the Virgin Islands - don't miss this opportunity!

The third quarter of 2009 saw continued success for Crime Stoppers USVI, including an increased rate of tips, arrests and rewards, and the addition of a second law enforcement coordinator within the VI Police Department (VIPD). They continue getting more positive outcomes than anybody would have predicted.

Here are the figures from their launch in January 2009 through September 30, 2009:

As you can see, there have been impressive increases for each quarter as Crime Stoppers gains traction in the community. The statistics directly reflect all of the efforts of Crime Stoppers USVI and their partners, and show how the community has jumped on board to provide tips, and to trust the program to maintain their anonymity. So far, many rewards have been unclaimed. Crime Stoppers believes a lot of the tipsters don't want the money; they just want to do their part to help reduce crime.

In the third quarter, in addition to the removal of 16 weapons from the streets, there were arrests for the following crimes: 1 Homicide, 4 Burglaries/Robberies, 1 Bail Violation, 8 Drug Offenses, 1 Harboring a Fugitive, 1 Person of Interest, and 4 Weapons Offenses.

As Crime Stoppers gains traction, the investigating officers have become more enthusiastic about the community's tips. In the early months of the program, it was sometimes difficult to get law enforcement to look at the tips, but now the officers are not only acting on them, they are asking for them. Recently, there have even been more tips than law enforcement can handle at times, but they remain committed to investigating each tip thoroughly.

Lieutenant Hannah of VIPD noted that there is a renewed sense of cooperation between VIPD and the community that probably would not have happened as quickly without Crime Stoppers, and further stated, "What has been accomplished in this short period is testimony to the drive of the volunteers, to the community, and to VIPD. Although there have been some bumps, Crime Stoppers is helping to clear the path to a safer, more viable community. Crime Stoppers will remain ever so important to law enforcement as a bridge between the community and policing. We at VIPD appreciate the service provided by Crime Stoppers USVI."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

SUBMIT TIPS:
By phone: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
By web: http://www.crimestoppersusvi.org/
By text message: Text "USVI" plus your message to CRIMES (274637)
All tips are completely anonymous. We don't ask your name, there is no caller ID, no voice recording, and our stateside operators will not recognize your voice.

DONATE: As the reward payments increase, so does our need for funding. Donations are currently our only source of funding, and donating is a quick and easy way to play a part in a program that is working. If you are not already a member or sponsor, please see http://www.crimestoppersusvi.org/supportus.aspx for instructions on how to donate by check or by credit card. Student memberships are $10 per year, individual memberships are $50 per year, business memberships start at $100 per year, and sponsorships start at $1000 per year, or you can donate as little or as much as you want. We also accept in-kind donations and sponsorships for things like advertising, printing, etc. We are a 501(c)(3) organization.

Crime on any Caribbean island is a concern to residents and visitors alike. It's great to know this volunteer effort is having such a positive impact.

The St Croix CZM (Coastal Zone Management Committee) has approved an application from William and Punch Partners to develop a $640 million marina and casino resort. They plan to break ground next year.

The company owns almost 600 acres on St Croix's northwest shore, and will include condominiums, a boutique hotel, spa, restaurants, retail shops, a casino, timeshare units, a championship golf course and a 64-slip marina for the property. They had to agree to "beach restoration" to get the approval, and the plans still must pass the US Corp of Engineers, obtain legislative approval to relocate a section of Emancipation Drive to accommodate the marina, and have the Legislature approve a submerged land lease for the marina.

The CZM permit was approved in January with 36 special conditions. In July, the developers asked the committee to modify three of the conditions - changing the specifications of the entrance channel and flushing channel that lead in and out of the marina and restoring the beach. The modifications for the channels were approved but the beach modification was not. In August, the developers came back to the committee with some more data and environmental studies supporting their request and it was reconsidered at a St. Croix CZM Committee meeting Monday.

In the original CZM application, the developer asked to extend the beach 250 feet, but that request was denied. The new modification will allow William and Punch to extend the beach 46 feet seaward from the mean low tide line. Kevin Rames, VP of William and Punch, said the sand that will be used will come from the dredging channels leading to and from the marina.

The sand will cover the exposed rocks at the shoreline and continue into the water, gradually sloping down to the sea floor. Rames said adding the sand will restore the beach to the way it was prior to Hurricane Lenny in 1999.

Named Amalago Bay (from a common plant of the region as best I can tell, the Spanish-elder), the developers will tie the resort to an international brand. The announcement of which hotel they will use is expected in a month. A deal is almost finalized with a celebrity golfer who will design the resort's golf course. They already have the reservation for a casino license from the Casino Control Commission.

Here's a PodCast on the development. Read local comments about the proposed development at Trip Advisor.

St Croix is building for the future and is still the best buy in the Caribbean. Combine this news with the planned community on the other end of the island called the Clusters - read my blog about the Villages at Orangestaad - and...what are you waiting for? Make your dream of living on an island in the blue Caribbean come true. Contact me today!

(resource: Virgin Islands Daily News, photo courtesy of Trip Advisor)

IfIf you haven’t heard already, the Virgin Islands real estate market is starting to show signs that the market is turning around.

In order to stay ahead of the market I want to let you know what the market is doing and what we are doing here at Sea Glass Properties to make sure you have all of the tools you need to buy, sell, or rent a home.

1. July and August saw 12.6% and 21.1% increases in year over year sales.

2. I just published our very first HOMESVI.com real estate guide. 4,000 copies are currently on a ship coming to the Virgin Islands. If you would like, I can mail you a copy for free!

3. Sea Glass Properties has increased our local market share from 4% in 2008 to 13% in 2009. Our aggressive growth strategies and marketing will only further our market share.

4. You are now able to save searches and set up auto email on www.sellvi.com

5. If you are in the market for a condo, now is the time to buy. Prices are down and sales are picking up quickly.

6. Home prices are leveling off, and in some cases are raising prices.

7. Commercial real estate is still taking a hit. If you are looking for an investment property (office space or multi-family) now may be the time to make an offer on something.

8. Unlike the majority of real estate agents in the Virgin Islands, I offer buyer representation. Don’t be stuck buying a home without having someone looking out for your best interests.

9. Next month I will be launching a new RENTAL website: http://www.rockcityrentals.com – here you will be able to access many of the available rentals on island.

10. Sea Glass is expanding. If you know of anyone in the Virgin Islands who has real estate experience and wants to join one of the premier real estate companies on island please let me know.

If you are looking for a waterfront property, there is a great deal in Frenchman’s Bay. Also, there is a potential resort/ hotel opportunity in Red Hook. Email me for details.

Let me know if you are still in the market for a property here in the USVI.

The commemorative quarter-dollar coin honoring the United States Virgin Islands was officially launched Friday, Oct. 9 by United States Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart and United States Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh Jr.

"The United States Virgin Islands commemorative quarter-dollar coin reflects a rich culture steeped in the outstanding natural beauty of the three islands," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.

The United States Virgin Islands quarter was released into circulation on September 28. The coin's reverse (tails side) design features an outline of the territory's three major islands. The design also includes the Yellow Breast or Bananaquit, the official bird of the United States Virgin Islands; the Yellow Cedar or Yellow Elder, its official flower; and a Tyre Palm Tree. Inscriptions on the coin's reverse are U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS and United in Pride and Hope.

The new VI Quarter isn't the only valuable commodity here - come check out our real estate!