ST. CROIX REALTY

MessagefromAmy…

Ihope everyone had adelightful Labor Dayweekend with family,

friends, and good food onthe barbecue! Maybe youtailgated with buddies orrooted for your favoritecollege team from an armchair. It’s fall, no doubtabout it. We’ve waved farewell to the college kidswho came home for summer jobs on island. We’vewished our new crop of high school graduatessuccess in their freshman year at universitiesacross the States. While it’s back to business inmany respects, our winds remain calm and we stillmanage time for kayaking, paddle boarding, orpaddle board yoga—things that soothe the spirit.

Speaking of wonderful outdoor activities,consider a winter vacation to St. Croix. Fall is theperfect time to get going on plans. Those frigiddays lie just around the bend; why not pack forParadise? How does a picnic on the beach inFebruary sound? Better yet, come in November forthe St. Croix International Regatta. Or for theChristmas Boat Parade.

The Virgin Islands Department of Tourismintends to spend another $2 million on marketingby year end. I understand it’s planning a FamilyReunion promotion—might be just the thing foryou and yours. Let’s watch for details.

This newsletter features my old friend DebbieSun, a wonderful Crucian textile artist who hascome home to open her design business. We metback in the early 2000s when she worked in realestate with her mother, Emma. Debbie was an acereal estate agent and is a brilliant designer with anarchitecture and business background—a multi-talented lady. We are thrilled to have her back onisland. Check out her work: debbiesun.com

But enough about all of us on St. Croix. Here’s toyou and your autumn, wherever you may be! Iftravel is on your agenda, we would love to see youon our shores. Until then, all the best!

AmyAmy Land-de Wilde, Broker/Owner

St.Croix Real Estatereviews

This newsletter written by Anne Salafia annesalafia@gmail.com

CLICKHERECLICKHERE

St.Croix Real EstatereviewsFeaturing Real Estate Market Updates

and Local News of St. Croix, USVI

SEPTEMBER 2016

l coldwellbankervi.com

l info@coldwellbankervi.com

l stcroixforrent.com

l Buccaneer Hotel 340.718.7000

l Gallows Bay Marketplace 340.778.7000

l Frederiksted 340.642.3333

Amy Land-de Wilde

1We’re a Tropical Paradise! The sun shines nearlyevery day, and temperatures average just above 80degrees. It’s warm and beautiful year-round. Forget

winter heating bills.

2Beaches!With over 25 palm-lined beaches on St.Croix, you have your pick. Most are quiet, many offergreat snorkeling or beach dives, some are perfect for

toddlers, others feature volleyball.

3We’re U.S.! A United States territory, we use the USdollar, and speak English. Buyers receive a deed andcan purchase title insurance; real estate transactions

are familiar and easy.

4Good Values! Prices beat those on other Caribbeanislands, and our waterfront prices are far moreaffordable than in the States.

5Friendliness!We’re good natured and courteous.Islanders open their arms to newcomers. Whereveryou go, you will be greeted with ‘Good morning!’ or

‘Good afternoon!’ (Drivers are friendly, too—we always letyou into traffic! No sign of road rage here!)

6Natural Beauty! From sandy beaches to hilltopviews, from underwater sea life to pelicans andsailboats, from rainforest to nature hikes, beauty

surrounds you.

7Fun Activities! To name a few: golf, tennis, kayaking,paddleboarding, surfing, kite surfing, snorkeling, scubadiving, sailing, hiking, swimming, yoga, paddleboard

yoga, windsurfing, shell collecting and lazing on the beachwith a book. Pick your pleasure.

8Great Food! From vegetarian and local-fare foodtrucks to fine wining and dining, we offer deliciousdiverse foods in diverse settings. We’re famous for our

agriculture, farm-to-table foods, seafood, and our multi-cultural heritage that is reflected in our cuisine. No wonderour St. Croix Food and Wine Experience has gained aninternational reputation as a top food festival.stxfoodandwine.com

9Tax incentives! You may qualify for giant tax benefitsif you relocate, start or grow your business on St.Croix. www.usvieda.org

10Change is good!We embrace the good life andoffer opportunity to reinvent yourself and leave therat race behind. St. Croix is a melting pot of people

from all over the world seeking a better way of life.That explains why we’re all so happy here!

Top 10 REASONS TO BUYREAL ESTATE ONST. CROIX

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 2

Her splendid pillows stand out on Art Thursdays. Her vibrantceiling installation in the lobby of the newly renovatedCaravelle Hotel catches eyes, too. You’ll no doubt see St.

Croix fashion plates wearing her scarves this winter, and don’t besurprised if you spot a beautiful woman sporting one in Barcelona.Home-grown textile designer Debbie Sun is hot.

Caribbean Journal covered her work at the Caravelle, and a London-based writer featured Sun in her lifestyle blog, Little Observationist.“I am passionate about my designs and feel fortunate to do what I really

love,” said Sun.Born in Trinidad and raised on St. Croix, she has lived in California and Barcelona. All four influence her.

After seven years in Barcelona, Sun came home to roost in 2014 but maintains her connections with Spain.She keeps pillows in a designer’s showroom there and has presented work in Barcelona art exhibitions. On St.Croix, designers commission custom lamps, wall hangings, and pillows. (And ceiling installations!)Nature’s intricacies—such as tiny patterns in a single leaf— and architecture spark her creativity. She

earned an Architecture Degree from the University of California at Berkley and has worked with firms on St.Croix. You’ll notice geometric designs alongside her nature-inspired patterns. “It’s how my mind works. I seepatterns and positive and negative space,” said Sun who also finds structural, architectural-like patterns innature. “It all ties together.”As an architectural tour guide to Gaudi's buildings in Barcelona, she made sure no one missed details.

(‘Look up, look up!’) Once in Munich, she photographed a metal grate and has used the pattern in her designs.“Passersby thought I was crazy to take a picture of that!” she said. “It’s about conveying a vision,” said Sun.Sun paints on silk, which she likens to watercolor painting. She then takes a digital image and photoshops

it to create a design she envisions on fabric. She uploads this to a textile company that prints it on linen,cotton, silk, canvas—whatever is handy. Finally, a St. Croix seamstress sews the pillow. Sun launched Debbie Sun Design Studio in 2015. She designs the patterns and runs the business, thanks to

her Masters in Business from UVI. You may want to contact her for some accents for your home!

Spotlight on

Debbie Sun

7athletesrepresented theUSVI in theOlympic Games in

Rio and made theTerritory proud. Rangingin age from 21 to 34,they competed inswimming, sailing, trackand field, and boxing. St.

Thomian sailor Cy Thompsoncarried the Virgin Islands flag highduring Opening Ceremonies thatFriday night, August 5th.

While none brought home amedal this year, the VI OlympicTeam put up a valiant show and

supported each other wheneverpossible. Boxer Clayton Laurentdefeated Germany’s Erik Pfeifer—the heavyweight favorite—in hisfirst fight but succumbed to TonyYoka of France, reigning worldchampion. (Yoka took the gold

medal, his second.)Sports-minded Virgin

Islanders founded the VIOlympic Committee in1967. (virginislandsolympics.org) Its teamparticipated in the 1968games in Mexico Cityand, with the exceptionof the boycotted Moscow

games in 1980, has competed inevery Summer Olympics since. TheUSVI has played in seven WinterOlympics, as well. St. Thomiansailor Peter Holmberg won theSilver Medal in 1988 in Seoul.

THE 2016 VI SUMMER OLYMPIC TEAM

Caylee Watson (STX) Swimming: 100m BackstrokeLaVerne Jones-Ferrette (STX) Athletics: 200mMuhammad Halim (STX) Athletics: Triple Jump

Cy Thompson (STT) Sailing: Laser Clayton Laurent, Jr. (STT) Boxing: Super Heavy

Eddie Lovett Athletics: 100m HurdlesRex Tullius (STJ) Swimming: 200m Backstroke

VI Olympians in Rio

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 3

ST. CROIX REAL ESTATE MARKET WATCH249

2014-2015 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIAN 2015-2016 AVERAGE DAYS MEDIANSOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE SOLD ON MARKET SOLD PRICE

Home Sales 122 319 $255,000 174 317 $231,000 Condo Sales 109 264 $140,000 118 268 $144,450 Land under $39,999 32 343 $29,500 25 401 $24,000Land over $40,000 38 400 $90,000 44 473 $91,000Commercial 14 422 $310,000 16 345 $300,000

Information from the St. Croix Multiple Listing Service * The average sales price and the average days on marketcould be skewed greatly by only one sale or because of thesmall number of annual sales.

CLOSED SALES COMPARISON : 8/31/14 –8/31/15 VERSUS 8/31/15 – 8/31/16

e Good News…

The Numberof HOMESSold was UP 43% during August thisyear, compared toAugust of last year.

Mango Hill GreathouseTake a step back in time at Mango Hill Greathouse! The estate’s design was

inspired by a traditional Caribbean villa with classic architectural features yetmended with modern conveniences. The estate is located on a hilltop in thegated Shoys neighborhood allowing for stunning Caribbean Sea views andprevailing trade winds. Mango Hill, with its 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath great houseand 1-bedroom, 1-bath guesthouse, was designed and built by the current owners in 2006 with the finestfinishes and construction standards. Living in the Caribbean is best enjoyed outside and Mango Hill is perfectfor just that with 2,336 square feet of covered outdoor living space, 1,262 more square feet of pool patio and

a 40-foot heated swimming pool with sea and golf course views.Walking distance from Mango Hill is a gorgeous crescent-

shaped beach fringing the neighborhood. All of the amenities ofthe famed Buccaneer Hotel are nearby for tennis and golfactivities as well as restaurants, a spa, palm-lined beaches andother social activities like live music and wine tastings.Christiansted town, schools and shopping are all nearby as wellmaking this a very convenient location.

The sale of Mango Hill includes adjacent Plot #19 which addsan additional 0.73 acres. This additional lot could be furtherdeveloped, sold for additional capital or kept for addedsurrounding green space and privacy. Plot 19 also hasspectacular sea views and a very buildable slope. Please note,the driveway does traverse both Plot 19 and Plot 18.

MLS 15-176 $3,876,000

ISLAND PROPERTIES72-O AA and 72-O AB Clairmont Sit on the top of the world

in America's paradise! Thisalmost 2-acre homesitehas a gradual elevationthat leads to panoramicviews from ChristianstedHarbor on the east all the way to the North

Shore to the tip of Hamm's Bluff to the west!On a clear day you can even spot the

silhouettes of our sister islands! The propertyconsists of two adjoining lots.

MLS 15-1875 $118,000

28 Canaan Escape to your oasis inlush Canaan Ridge. Thiscustom built 3BR, 2.5BAvilla was thoughtfullyconstructed with topquality materials and

superior craftsmanship. BONUS SPACE: 600sq. ft. office space on the main level, 2BD,1BA apartment and garage.

MLS 16-432 $789,000

DEAL OF THE MONTH94 Judith’s Fancy

Super Sweet Deal! Own a wonderful home for areduced price in the waterfront and gatedcommunity of Judith’s Fancy. This 4-bedroom,4-bath home has a unique horseshoe designframing the swimming pool allowing forultimate privacy and great space forentertaining! This home is walking distance to asandy beach and centrally located between theNorth Shore and Christiansted town. Come livethe easy life at 94 Judith’s Fancy!

MLS 16-995 $449,900

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informationabouttheseamazingproperties!

Feature Property of the Month

NATURE LOVERS PARADISE!