Finally, we have a new property tax bill! The bill calls for tax payers to pay at a mil rate of .0037 on homes, .0049 on unimproved property, .0071 on commercial properties, and .014 on timeshares. These rates are paid on 100 percent of the value of the property.
Previously, all tax payers paid a mil rate of .0075 on 60 percent of the value of the property.
Since property tax bills have NOT been issued yet for 2006 and 2007, buyers will receive a credit at closing for these taxes, but then will have to pay them once the bills ARE issued.
As a service to my buyers, I will certainly remind you when these bills come out - and help you get a copy if you need one. Not receiving a bill is no excuse for not paying the taxes - and penalties and interest do apply, even when the tax office is not able to get the bills distributed correctly!
Contact me with questions about your property taxes, or buying and selling real estate in St. Croix.
Kim Lucas REALTOR
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
http://www.kimlucasvi.com/
http://www.retireinthevi.com/
I just returned from a week in Oahu, Hawaii, where I spent a wonderful week with my lovely daughter. She lives in Australia - so Hawaii is half way for us!
I had been to Oahu about 12 years ago, where I studied Dolphin intelligence at the Marine Mammal Institute there (it's no longer there....). It was very interesting to go back to compare that tropical paradise with the one I currently live in!
Oahu is about three times larger than St. Croix - with interstates, TRAFFIC, and of course a big city. The beaches are beautiful and it is the perfect spot for "adventure seekers" who also love the water. The lush foliage and tropical plants are very similar.
I will have to say, I prefer St. Croix hands down. It's a much more "livable" place in my opinion and the beaches and lovely places are more easily accessible. The shopping is much better in Oahu, no doubt, but for me, it just doesn't come close to my lovely St. Croix!
There are plenty of investment opportunities here in St. Croix, and prices are still affordable to buy land and hold for retirement. Contact me for all things real estate in St. Croix! (guess which photos are of St. Croix and which of Oahu...)
Kim Lucas REALTOR
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
http://www.kimlucasvi.com/
http://www.retireinthevi.com/
If you're thinking about living here, you will definitely want to know about healthcare here. We have a nice hospital and are getting a brand new cardiac center - good news for us old timers!!
There are plenty of good physicians here and even some good specialists. We also have a great group of holistic health practitioners - from acupuncturists to nutritionists to herbalists. As you might imagine, the island attracts health-conscious and spiritual people and practitioners. And most likely, you will be able to get medical insurance here - or if you already have it - it will be honored here.
Now, if you have cancer or other life threatening disease, you are most likely NOT going to want to stay here for treatment. And many of us get MASA insurance to fly us off island in the event of an emergency. That insurance is affordable and gives you great peace of mind.
My husband recently had a "prostate cancer scare" which was detected here through a normal physical. He elected to go back to Atlanta for his biopsy (there is a specialist here - but he is SO busy and available on a limited basis). Fortunately for us, things turned out well - and he relies on our general practitioner here for monitoring and maintenance.
If you'd like to see the full range of physicians here - you can check out our yellow pages. www.firstyellow.com
Or feel free to ask me any questions - and if I don't have the answer, I'll at least try to point you in the right direction. 340-626-3758 kim@coldwellbankervi.com
Have I mentioned how much I love this island!!! Oh my goodness, it is just so much fun here! Today everyone on the island, young, old, black, white, protestant, catholic, was IRISH!!! We all headed downtown in our green and had a huge parade! I believe this was the 39th year of this craziness - and it was so much fun! Larry (my husband) and I were on Norma's float. Norma is the proprietress of the famous "beer drinking pigs" bar in the rain forest here (the Domino Club). Here are some photos! Enjoy!
Many people are curious about the cost of living here -and how things compare with the mainland. Here's my 2 Cents:
Dining Out: There are some great restaurants here and I think the prices compare favorably with nice restaurants on the mainland. A nice meal here will cost anywhere from $17 - $35 a plate, not including drinks. Lunches are typically $8 - $15 here. A good burger will set you back about $8. Many of the sandwiches here are gigantic - so while they may cost $8 - $10 - they are big enough to share.
Groceries: The good news is you can find just about ANYTHING you want in our grocery stores (unlike many caribbean islands..). Prices are higher though, sometimes considerably higher. I'd say on average, prices are about 20% more than in the states.
Gas: Our gas is about the same as in the states, thanks to Hovensa, the large oil refinery on the island.
Utilities: Our electricity is expensive and unreliable. Water is inexpensive - in most cases collected in cisterns. Gas is sold in cannisters. It costs us about $200 a year for gas - which powers our hot water heater.
Entertainment: Lots of it, and it's very reasonable here - most times free. Free parking too.
Cable, Internet, phone: All comparable to states. About $50 a month for high speed DSL, about $60 a month for cable + HBO, phone is about $35/ month.
Taxes: Property taxes typically less than in states. New Mil rate for houses & condos is .0037. We don't pay 'state' income tax. There is no tax on any type of consumable or retail goods or services. There is an 8% hotel tax. PLEASE CONTACT A ST. CROIX CPA to find out about income taxes, ANYTHING tax related.
Insurance: Windstorm is high - typically about 2 - 3% of your mortgage - and required if you have a mortgage. Most condos here include insurance in their monthly condo fees (condo fees range from $400 - $1200 a month).
Contact me for details and first-hand knowledge of relocation to St. Croix.
Kim Lucas
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
340-626-3758
I love to help investors and fellow Caribbean Souls find property in St. Croix, and work hard for my Island mates who want to sell their property.
I am a very fortunate lady who was able to make my dream of living in the Caribbean a reality a couple of years ago. I did quite a bit of research and visited numerous islands before making St. Croix my home. It was a great choice, and I love it! If you are considering a tropical island for a second home, or a full time residence, I would be happy to share what I've learned about the places I've been, and also tell you a lot about this beautiful place.
Most of my career was spent as a business woman, not a real estate salesperson. I started and ran a very successful consulting firm in Atlanta, Ga., which I sold in 2003. I have always had a passion for real estate and have numerous real estate investments of my own (most of them now here in St. Croix). I am well educated and have good business savvy, friendly and easy to work with. I have been a licensed real estate agent since 2003 and thorougly enjoy helping others find their piece of paradise here.
You can count on me to be straightforward, honest, hard working, reliable, dependable, and attentive to your needs.
If you are considering selling your property, you will find that I will keep you informed of all activity regarding your property, and will aggressively market your property in creative as well as standard ways. Of course, my affiliation with Coldwell Banker Land de-Wilde gives you the absolute MOST exposure to your property. And I can help you stage your property so that it will show well and sell fast.
I help make dreams come true.
Kim Lucas
Investing in St. Croix
I believe our island is ripe for growth and anticipate that prices are going to continue to accelerate. I have wonderful software at my disposal that can help evaluate property for its investment potential, and can share what information I have to help investors make informed and educated choices for their investment dollars. Whether you are looking for rental income, land to hold, "fixer uppers" to fix and flip, or a second home to rent out until you retire, I understand the market and can help guide you to a well informed decision.
Finding a Home Here
There are so many things to think about if you are truly considering moving here permanently or even part time. I have done a lot of research and am recently transplanted enough (lived here 2 years) that I can help you think through this decision. One client said that I "answered questions before he had to ask them." You can count on me to be honest - and I will gladly share my opinions about life here.
Selling a Home Here
First of all, if you're considering selling property here, you'd be wise to list with a Coldwell Banker Land de-Wilde agent. Our website gets more exposure than any other, and we really do excel in marketing properties - we have such a HUGE and well respected company behind us - we are not reinventing the wheel when we go to market your property. Of course, your property will be listed on our MLS system, which can (and will) be viewed by potential buyers all over the world. I am a very reliable and dependable person, and will honor your wishes about how you want your property to be shown. I will keep you updated and informed after all showings (for homes and condos). We will work as a team to determine the best price to ask and I will work hard to help you achieve the sale of your home in the timeframe that you want.
"Kim did an outstanding job for us. Not only did she help us find the property, but she assisted us at every turn to resolve any issues holding up the sale. She put us in touch with good professionals in the area. We cannot say enough good things about her." Ron & Wendy
"We would recommend you to anyone. Thanks for being honest, kind, and fun to be with." Bobbie and Scott
"It was a pleasure working with you." Mike
"Thank you so much for showing us the properties and all of the information you gave us. You have been more helpful than I could imagine. You answered most of my questions without me even asking. I appreciate that. I can tell you that you have earned our trust. I want you to know that all of your knowledge transfer was not wasted, and I appreciated all of it....." Mike
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