S T. C RO I X R E A LT Y

Messagefrom Amy…

Happy Fall! Are youpulling out bootsand sweaters?

You’re making sure thatwinter coat will be up tosnuff, right? (Never mindthat we Crucians keep ourbathing suits handy anddon’t need muck boots.) Maybe you are planningyour winter getaway... Consider St. Croix, right herein America’s very own paradise!

The USVI Department of Tourism has a WinterNice program that offers a 6th night free in specialhotels and $600 in spending credits. It’s for travelbetween January 2nd and April 10th, but you mustbook before October 31st. Check out visitusvi.comunder Packages and Promotions.

Last month, Tourism Commissioner BeverlyNicholson-Doty met with journalists and travelagents in Orlando. You’ll probably catch us featuredin one of the glossy magazines or on Islands.com.She promoted upcoming activities like Winter Nice,our 2017 Centennial Celebration, and the Wine andDine VI program that runs October 27th-November12th. An Orlando radio station interviewed her aswell. Lots of limelight!

You know that St. Croix has earned aninternational reputation as a top food festivaldestination, don’t you? Our Food and WineExperience has caught global attention. In its 2ndyear, Wine and Dine VI celebrates the Territory’sgreat restaurant scene and culinary diversity, not tomention our delicious local ingredients. I will reportback next month, no doubt.

Hats off to Julie Printy, Manager of Palms atPelican Cove. She has worked hard to earn andmaintain Blue Flag status at the Palms, includingprotecting the turtles who nest there and theirhatchlings—hawksbills, leatherbacks and greenturtles. Thank you, Julie, for helping make ourisland so green. Read all about St. Croix's Blue Flagsnext month!

Don’t stash your swimsuits; we hope to see youat the beach! And please stop by Coldwell Banker

St. Croix Realty; I would love to say ‘Hello.’

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

OCTOBER 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

St. Croix Foundation turned 26 and threw a communityblock party to celebrate. On the evening of September24th, the Foundation closed off Sunday Market

Square (aka Times Square) in Christiansted, hired DJ Slick,provided great food vendors likeBilly D’s BBQ and made merryover their 26years. Twohundredislanderscameout tojoin in thefestivity.EvenGovernorMapp put ina surprise appearance.

“Instead of windingdown, the party woundup! People were doing the Electric Slide and everyone sangStevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday,’ said Deanna James,Executive Director of St. Croix Foundation. “We finally hadto shut it down!”

The Sunday Market Square venue suited the occasion.In days of yore, the square bustled with commerce. Itserved as a community meeting place; residents gatheredthere through the mid 1900s. But then things wentdownhill. The anniversary party provided a glimpse intothat older way of life. In 1998, St. Croix Foundationacquired several abandoned buildings around the squareand began an all-out revitalization. It makes its home inone of the four historic buildings it restored. Once again,Sunday Market Square enjoys activity.

St. Croix Foundation believes that healthy townssustain healthy communities. One of its initiatives, theScrape, Paint and Rejuvenate Program, has perked upChristiansted and Frederiksted. The Foundation nowbrainstorms weekly with other non-profits.

“Twenty plus non-profits are talking together,collaborating. We know we have to roll up our sleeves andwork together. It’s a powerful time for St. Croix—aninspirational and encouraging time,” said James.

Happy BirthdayST. CROIX FOUNDATION

St. Croix Real Estate Reviews, page 2

The Virgin Islands Departmentof Agriculture understands thebenefits of bees, and it wants

to spread the word and encouragebeekeeping.

On September 24th, thedepartment hosted the 5th AnnualFresh Bee Bazaar at Sunshine Malland brought beekeepers and thecommunity together. Beekeepers soldhoney, beeswax, pollen, and honey-based products such as soaps,candles, mead, vinegars, lotions,candies, and salsas. They alsobrought a fountainhead of knowledgeto share.

“This is an opportunity for smallproducers to showcase their products anddemonstrate what they can do,” said Wanda Wright,a beekeeper on St. Croix for over 20 years. Wrightspecializes in honey meads (wines) of tropical flavors(guava, mango, Surinam cherry and carambola). Shealso makes mustard, glazes and salad dressings.Fellow bee aficionado Karim Francis managed herdisplay and offered samples to the public.

“It was a great success,” said Audrey Browne,Project Coordinator for Agriculture. “There was asteady flow of shoppers. Some shopped for honeyproducts, some shopped for information—especiallystudents.”

“People are more health conscious now; they’re

interested in the industry. They become consumersand in some cases they become beekeepers,” saidBrowne. “Information and skill-sharing from thebeekeepers help promote beekeeping.” As does anappreciation of honey’s value-added products andhealth benefits, according to Browne. She providedsupplies and literature in her Sweet Buzz Shop tent.Workshops, one on one mentorships, and classes allcontribute to the making of a beekeeper.

Although the bee population in the Statescontinues to decline, it prospers on St. Croix. “Recentrains, flowering trees, bushes, and wild flowers havefostered substantial recovery from last year’sdrought,” said Wright.

The Buzzat the Bee Bazaar

CoastweeksStarts at Southgate ReserveBeach lovers

gathered atSouthgate Reserve

on September 17th andcollected flotsam, jet-sam, and litter. So beganCoastweeks on St. Croix.Coastal cleanups con-tinue across the Territorythrough October.In an effort to collect

and track debris thatmight pollute oceansand damage marine life,Ocean Conservancydeveloped the program30 years ago. The VIMarine Advisory Servicecoordinates our localprogram, and St. CroixEnvironmental Associa-tion, which owns South-gate Reserve, facilitatedthe cleanup there.“Everyone worked

hard; they even went offinto the bush,” said Jen Valiulis, SEA’s Environmental Education Coordinator and Conversation Steward. Shecommended the volunteers who came out for both wildlife and people. “We record what we’ve collected on a card; it’s the same card used worldwide—in Africa, South America,

throughout the Caribbean, everywhere,” said Valiulis. Worldwide, Coastal Cleanups (Coastweeks) submitfindings to Ocean Conservancy.“We learn what’s most common and that tells us where the trash is coming from and we can focus our

efforts. Bottles don’t just go away,” said Valiulis. She emphasized the importance of presenting the numbersand adding them to the world count. “Numbers make an impact,” she said.Kids got involved. Some earned community service hours, some came with their families. A teacher from

Pearl B. Larsen Elementary brought her class that was studying endangered species. After the pickup, Valiulis and her team gave a free snorkel clinic. “The cleanup made the snorkeling

experience all the better,” she said.

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 135 319 $260,000 167 315 $240,000 Condo Sales 111 264 $140,000 123 291 $150,000 Land under $39,999 33 321 $28,000 26 426 $25,000Land over $40,000 41 461 $90,000 42 376 $86,000Commercial 13 385 $295,000 15 354 $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 : 9/30/14 –9/30/15 VERSUS 9/30/15 – 9/30/16

e Good News…

The Numberof HOMESSold was UP 24% during Septemberthis year, comparedto September of last

year.

Casa Vista 96 & 97 ConcordiaCasa Vista has panoramic views from St. Thomas to the most Eastern point of St. Croix including therenowned Buck Island. This extensively renovated and energy efficient home has multiple level verandas, anopen great room with a gourmet kitchen, upper-level loft with a half bath, 3 bedrooms on the main level with2 full baths, a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath recently renovated lower level apartment, a poolside efficiency with akitchen and full bath and a refreshing salt water swimming pool. You will fall in love with your new island lifesitting high in the lush hills of the popular Vista Concordia neighborhood on the North Shore. Cooling breezeswaft steadily through the home while the sound of the sea echoes up towards the residence. Due to year-round sunshine and perfect 75-85 degree temperatures, island living is best enjoyed outside, which makesthe design of this home ideal! This amazing villa is located a short drive to popular Cane Bay beach, worldclass diving, restaurants and golf at Carambola. MLS 16-351 $949,000

43C Little Princesse Is your dream of paradise palm trees swaying in the

sea breeze, crystalclear water and whitesand? This 0.70-acre

waterfront homesite isa rare opportunity to

build a life that dreamsare made up of! From

your back door youcan walk straight into the Caribbean Sea for a swim

or paddle board ride.

MLS 15-1908 $375,000

300 Peter’s Rest Zoned commercial in thebustling Peter’s Rest areajust before the high-trafficshopping district of SunnyIsle with easy access offthe main road and anattractive rent roll, this11,256 sq. ft. building

is a VERY desirable investment! Completelyremodeled, with four large bays, a 100-KWgenerator and bonus space above suite A.

MLS 16-494 $1,200,000

44 Boetzberg This sweet 2-bedroom, 2-bath home has an

upgraded kitchen,carport, spaciousliving area and iscompletely gatedwith an abundance ofblooming fruit trees.Conveniently locatedclose to palm shaded

beaches, the historic Christiansted town, GallowsBay, shopping at the market, restaurants, schoolsand gas stations. MLS 15-1391 $199,999

310 & 311 La Valle Two amazing North Shore

homesites can be purchasedseparately or together! Each lotis almost ¾ of an acre and has

an elevated, close-up view of theCaribbean coastline out to the Hamms Bluff

lighthouse. Located walking distance to the beach,restaurants and world-class diving. Build the life

you have always dreamed of in Cane Bay!

310 = MLS 11-1864 $79,000311 = MLS 11-1870 $99,000

Feature Property of the Month

Endless BUSINESS

possibilities!

CLICK HEREfor a VirtualTour of

Casa Vista!

MORE ISLAND PROPERTIES