USVI-On-Line

cypressgirl wrote: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.

We haven't stayed at Vida da Mar, but I've walked through. I like the accessible layout and the beach front location. It is quite open to ocean with sunset views, but has more privacy than Sunset Beach. Since the house adjacent and overlooking Sunset Beach was built, Dream Come True, the pool privacy at Sunset Beach was lost. That was one reason we stopped staying at Sunset Beach. The other was the dawn and dusk no-see-ums.

If you're a strong swimmer, the swim from Choco Hole to Devers is straightforward. As a snorkel, I would call it intermediate.

Cheers, RickG

This is really good information for my husband and I to have, since we came back from STJ seriously considering buying land relatively soon, to build on later. Maybe we will be die hard renters as well.

After reading the great posts from all you "pros" out there, it seems I need a new camera. I am strickly a point and shoot girl, so if I want to upgrade to one of the Canon Rebels, which one should I be looking at?

Also, the internet has a huge price difference on the same camera. As much as several hundred dollars. What's the deal with that and am I nuts for shopping an interntet store for a camera or should I go to Best Buy or some other local camera store?

Lastly, do I need a college course to figure out this type of camera, or is it fairly easy to read the manual and start shooting.

Lastly, does it come with everything you need, or do you have to spend hundreds more on accessories. I read about the polorizing lense. That seems like a nice feature for STJ photos.

Somehow I pushed the wrong button. I meant to start a new topic. Maybe I don't need a new camera.

cypressgirl wrote:Somehow I pushed the wrong button. I meant to start a new topic. Maybe I don't need a new camera.

Look at newegg for online buying. http://www.newegg.com/
I hate and i do mean hate Best buy. but if you're comfortable about buying online then they would be one place to look. i'm not sure what you have down in Texas, maybe Fry's?
ETA:sometimes the big price difference is just for the camara body without the lens. also check it's MP

Last year John and I picked up some information on buying property on St. John (just looking, not serious) and it included a breakdown of costs as far as renting your property out, what the expenses would be, etc. Basically, what it boiled down to was that if you had a good property with the correct amenities, a decent website, and a good agent, you could expect to break even or make a very small profit. The stress was more on locking in a place to retire now, and, with the help of renters, paying down the principal on the mortgage while you could still "afford it." It definitely did not seem like a good money making investment--more of a lifestyle investment.

Cypress,
I appreciate what you are trying to do in helping this villa owner and I do feel for her. It was probably her dream to own this villa and losing your home, vacation home or main home is a terrible thing even to have to think about. I have to say though, that Mrb & I have also been looking at properties here and in St John. Maybe we live in the "wrong" state but our taxes are high. I was just loooking as I always do at 5+ acre properties in my area and of course the mansions pop up in the search too so, me being the nosey and ever so much a dreamer, I took a look at a house on the market for 10 million. The property taxes were an eye-popping, jaw-dropping 60,000 per year! $3500 taxes on 3 million is dirt cheap. I just can't feel too badly about the taxes on St John. The other downer is that the economy is in the toilet and most are having a tough time selling their homes. One of our two businesses is a very good indicator of what the economy is doing. It is a luxury service so when people stop calling, I know times are getting tough. Last year when gas prices went from 2.50 to 3.50 in a matter of months, (fun) travel came to a screaching halt for most. The oil companies wanted to see what market would bear and 3.50 was it around here. Cha Ching! The main thing is not to raise prices so much or taxes for that matter in such a short time span. It will crush business owners here and in the USVI's. Hopefully someone will see that. Off my soap box. Our hope is to one day own on St John and live there 6 mos a year. I would not buy or build though with the intent of making a boatload of money or even having to rent it. Just my humble 2 cents and nothing against villa owners. I can relate when it comes high taxes.

We sure will. We are on a roughly 5 year plan, if all goes well. If I hit the big one tonight, I'll be calling you tomorrow!

Hi Mrsb.

I don't have any first have into on property taxes on STJ but 3500. for 3 mil. is dirt cheap in my book. We pay about 15,000. on our home here in Houston and it's no where near a 3 million dollar home. But someone on this site said that taxes could rise "ten fold". That seems substantial and I wonder what that would do to the STJ housing market.

We are in an odd position because we (my husband) makes most of his income off "big oil". He tells me to quit complaining about oil prices. Most of his biggest clients are in oil. He thinks the economy is doing great. But I'm sure we are in the minority as far as that is concerned. But he doesn't seem to think oil prices will get to 4.00 or 5.00 a gal. as some on the "news" shows predict. I only half listen when he gets on his soap box. I wish it interested me more.

Good luck in your dream to own a home on STJ. I feel it too, but I know it will never happen. But I'll be more than happy to be one of your renters.

Hey Cypress,
I'm not saying we (the US) should not be paying more for gas. We have had it cheap for a long time compared to other countries *but* when prices skyrocket so high in such a short period of time it impacts so many in that chain-reaction way. Our clients are impacted and then it impacts us. We were spending almost $1200/month in gas alone last summer. Many in our line of business are just throwing in the towel because of that factor alone. We got scooters last year to try to reduce the expense. Crazy

I hear ya!! I hate to fill up.