Moving end of 2017

Does anyone have experience being a landlord there?

Yes.

Welcome to the forum!

1. http://www.rlshospital.org/Home.aspx (for your nurse girlfriend) (tu)
2. People will tell you to rent for a period of time until you are sure you want to plunk down a bunch of money on this paradise/hell hole.;)
3. Many homes are constructed with an apartment built-in, just for helping with mortgage payments. 😀

3. Many homes are constructed with an apartment built-in, just for helping with mortgage payments. 😀

Exactly. We don't have basements here but the space adjacent to the cistern is very often utilized as a studio or 1BR depending on available space. There aren't many detached cottages here. As EE says, best advice is to rent for a few years until you figure out whether or not you plan on staying for a while.

Yes, I've been a LL here and also worked in the food industry, several months managing a retail outlet of a wholesale food distributor (my first job which was a disaster :D) and then - much later on - managing a convenience store for a year; and then creating, opening and operating a restaurant for 16 years.

Good luck with your plans!

Being a landlord is a double edged sword.
Have a great detailed and explicit lease.
If someone balks at signing, you don't want them.
Take pictures of rental property, before and after.
Sometimes, you'll have the most wonderful tenants.
Sometimes, you won't.
Document everything in writing.
Even with good references and credit checks it can be a coin toss.

If you're planning on moving end of 2017 I recommend starting PMVs sooner than this time and do more than one.

All great tips. We definitely plan on renting for a bit before buying.

Any Veterans on here? How's it living on the island?

Veterans get a LOT of privileges here that others do not.

But as far as health care, we hear nothing but complaints.

Many of the Veteran's privileges that CruzanIron mentioned, such as tax breaks, and other government benefits, are reserved for Veterans who joined the service from here. I've had nothing but good experiences at the STX VA clinic, don't know about the one on STT. A lot of businesses give us discounts. We have the VFW, American Legion, probably more that I haven't found yet. No commissary or exchange, but rumors persist that the National Guard may open a branch PX or some such.

I have no complaints about the VA health clinic on STT. I thought they were very thorough and professional. I like the fact that they have medical erecords which I don't think all other health providers use.

If you need to go to PR for more advanced treatment, flight is free as I understand it.

There were problems with people selling liquor purchased from Exchange so the one here on STT was closed.

There is a veterans license plate which I think is free for veterans. I posted a list of some veterans' benefits on this forum a while back. I had just registered with VA so had the benefits list in my hand. Don't know where it is now.

There is a senator who heads a veterans committee. Justin Harrigan. He has a website and you can see what he has done on behalf of veterans. Haven't finished my research of senators that would include St Croix.

Thanks guys. Ton of good info.
Glad we are treated well.
I think I saw something about the free license place also.