La Mirimar......I spoke to the owner. WOW

[cypressgirl]

Through a forum friend (I consider all of you my friends) I found out the name and number of the owner of this villa. She lives in Florida, spent millions on this villa (I don't think it's my place to say how much), rents thru Caribbean Villa, pays a waazoo (sp) amount of money each month to keep this place up, and it is so rarly rented I'm afraid she won't be able to keep it.

Of course she is the owner and loves her home, but from what I have learned from other reviews and from a pm I got from the "other" forum, this house is much nicer that it looks in the pictures. So I felt so bad for her that I thought I'd mention this house for those of you looking for the amenities that it includes, even though I have not stayed there yet. Of course I will post a detailed review when I get home, but it seems that it is getting little attention from it's management co. and it is fairly new on the rental market, so I thought I'd mention it and you can check it out for yourself. I guess I feel sorrly for her and want to help. ( I know, how do you feel sorry for someone that can spend millions on a STJ villa), but I'm afraid she won't be able to keep it if it doesn't start renting, and she dearly loves this home.

CV sends her huge bills every month for all sort of various things like 600. for towels, huge amounts for art, and I won't go into all the "necessities" that are required to keep up a villa. I also found out the CV charges owners 30% and the others charge 40%,(at least that's what she told me) so maybe that's where they justify charging the renter a 5% service fee. Just a thought.

Back to this villa. It is 3200 sq. ft.(interior) full ac (important to some of us and hard to find), literally 25 feet from the water in Chocolate Hole, huge sliders in every room with views of the water, marble floors and granite counter tops, mahogony cabinates, great sound system, 2 sets of washers and dryers, and the price for a week in off season is about 2500. It does not have a regular pool, instead a "cool pool" which is larger that a hot tub, has jets, just does not get hot. But with the ocean right there, I think that is not a big negative. With the apartment below, it has 3 bedrooms and I think a day bed or two for small children. It is not new and glittzy, but for the price of 2500. for the week, I think a real bargain. Easy to get to, easy turn around driveway. 5 min. past the Westin, and no steep hills to drive at night after happy hour.

I realize most of us go to STJ for the views, and this will be my first time to stay on the water, but I think it might be fun and something new. And for a diverse group that wants varying amouts of beach time, there is the (although not the best on STJ by any means) Chocolate Hole beach to keep those die hard beach goers happy. I also think watching the boats rock in the harbour and listening to the water lap up on the rocks might be really nice. A mosqitoe zapper might be necessary.

After my conversation with her, I would never consider buying a home on STJ. It sounds like a constant money pit and a huge a$$ headache. But I'll be a die hard renter.

Anyway, I'll stop blabbering now. Have a nice evening.

Cypress

[b-as-u-r]

Cypress, I must be computer illiterate tonight because I can't seem find the website to view the villa. When you get a chance, would you please post the link. Thanks, Ali~

[kirk]

Nice looking house from the pics on CV's website. looking at the calander it's booked thru july then it's dead for the rest of the year.
as much as i study the realestate market on St John. i would guess, not knowing the lot size, that it would list for around 2.5-3 mil.
ETA here's the website for the villa.
http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/miramar/index.html

[cypressgirl]

Kirk....I'm not positive, but I think she told me she has an acre. Your high end is right on. I'm such a babber mouth.

[kirk]

Kirk....I'm not positive, but I think she told me she has an acre. Your high end is right on. I'm such a babber mouth.

with a Acre in that area i would think it would list for over 3. don't know what it would sell for. there's a lot of houses on the market right now, not counting condo's, that are just sitting there. i hope it works out for her.

[waterguy]

I"ve stayed straight across from it a few times The snorkeling infront of it is out of this wrold some of the best I've seen on the island I would swim across to snorkle that side.

[cypressgirl]

Kirk.....I'm sure she doesn't want to sell it, but just keep it rented enough to pay some of the expenses.

Waterguy.....I remember you telling me before what good snorkeling is out there. Thanks!!

[snorkelqueen]

Good Snorkeling in Chocolate Hole?? We stayed one year in Cliffside Terrace villa on the hill above Choc. Hole and made the trek down to the water twice and after fighting our way through a million sea urchins we found the water to be cloudy and NO FISH. we were on the right side if you are standing on the little beach at the end facing out......maybe we were in the wrong place??? I am always looking for good snorkeling! I would consider her house if I thought we could snorkel right there.

[cypressgirl]

Since I've never done it, I can't vouch for any kind of snorkeling, but her home is on the other side (away from Cruz Bay) side of Chocolate Hole and at the mouth of the bay. That's all I know. Never been there.

[waterguy]

All I can say is I've stayed on choclate hole 4 times and the snorklring has been out standing You want to go from there to the mouth and a ways around the point the other side can be gooto from straight acrossed and to the mouth you will see turtles out in the middle eating the sea grass too

[cypressgirl]

OK....Tom, I think I undersand your directions!?!?

[RickG]

The Southeastern point of Chocolate Hole around to Devers Bay is excellent snorkeling. There are enormous boulders and some deep water. You see nurse sharks and schools of large fast swimming fish. One of my favorite snorkels. You can swim around to Devers Bay, which has a cobble beach that 150 yards long and no public access. Devers Bay is down Boavacoap Point Road to Mampoo Road.

Villa Sunset Beach is over there as is Vida de Mar.

Here's a view from the point across Chocolate Hole to Maria Bluff.



Cheers, RickG

[PA Girl]

During our last trip, we had the opportunity to pick the brain on a long-time owner of a rental villa (a $4,500+ per week one) and he said if an owner is really, really lucky - they might clear 30% of the gross rental income.

He said plan on at least 30% going to the management company, another 30% on constant maintenance (like linens, pool care, etc.) For what I gathered, the upcoming tax reassessment is weighing heavily on the owner's minds.

I admire the villa owners for taking the leap, I don't think my nerves could handle it - even if my wallet could.

[cypressgirl]

From what I've heard in years past, it's the tax break that makes it desirable to own in the VI. Is that about to change?? My nerves couldn't handle it either.

Rick....Vida da Mar is on my short list. Have you stayed there?? I did't realize Devers is swimable from Chocolate Hole. Maybe I can swim around the corner and check it out.

[kirk]

I'm hearing that some people are worried that their tax bill may raise up to 10 fold. just another reason there are many rental homes on the market right now.
let's say your home has an actual value of 3,000,000 and up to now you were paying $3,405 in taxes. your new tax bill @3m should be around $22,500.
"USVI real property is subject to an annual tax at a rate of 1.25% of assessed value. Assessed value is defined by statute to be 60% of actual value"