Seasonal Rentals
I have been reading this Forum for quite a few years as we visit STX every year. We hope to spend more time on the island during the winter months of 2015 and then beyond. Would love to get some advice from all of you about how best to go about finding a rental (home or condo) that we could rent for one to three months. We will be on STX in March '14 for a couple of weeks and thought it would be wise to do some looking then but aren't sure if there are particular realtors that are known for their short-term (but not weekly) rental pools. We have worked with a realtor in the past (when we thought we might buy) and could call him. Just would like to hear from others what the best route might be to find something.
It can't hurt to check with your Realtor but to do so far in advance (2015) may be hard for him to to nail down a rental at this time.
Check anyway. Good to have someone local looking, in your corner, especially if you have worked with him in the past.
You can check vrbo and flipkey and other vacation rental sites but it's going to be pricer in season/winter months than off season.
Most have monthly rates as well as weekly and some will offer some discounts. Good Luck.
It's going to be tough finding a rental that will rent to you for a period as short as 3 months, especially this early before 2015. Most if not all want to rent full time or else want to rent by the week as vacation rentals, which will cost you and arm and a leg to rent for three months. But good luck, we would love to hear how your search is going.
Thanks for the responses so far. I am not expecting that we could nail something down now for 2015. Just thought it would be great to be able to see a few possibilities for 2015 when we are there in March '14.
And would love anyone's thoughts on how much of a discount we might get from weekly rates if we rent for multiple (4 to 8) weeks.
And, off topic, but....I have checked "Follow Topic" but got no notice in my email inbox that you had responded to this post. Is there something else I should do?
Thanks, all!
Most vacation rentals will post a weekly and monthly rate on their listing.
I post a weekly and monthly rate for mine (STT)
The iisue is that as renting owners we want to get a full year lease. Vacation rentals make most of their money during the winter months. So our rental properties are generally pretty much filled during the winter months. So you will not get much of a break on the vacation rentals.
The iisue is that as renting owners we want to get a full year lease. Vacation rentals make most of their money during the winter months. So our rental properties are generally pretty much filled during the winter months. So you will not get much of a break on the vacation rentals.
That might be so for the time being Bill, but those times be a changing. With all the Condo's, time shares, vacation rentals, new housing construction with one or more bedroom apartments added and not to mention the economy will be causing some problems with how well places will be renting.
Hi Luvstx,
We rent for a month each visit and have found Donna Ford to be great to work with us on price. Her website is www.enjoystcroix.com We've rented out at Coakley Bay condos through her several times. She also has some good ones out at the Reef. We're newly retired and thinking about how to get my mom settled in here at home so we can stay on the island for longer 🙂
Just a tip: This past May we stayed for 5 weeks and found we needed something to do while staying there that long. We've been vacationing on St Croix for a month, sometimes going back the same yr for another 2 wks, since 2004 and feel like we've done all the touristy things we can do at our age, so I think we need to figure out things we can do on the island to stay occupied. Probably volunteer work. Hubby likes genealogy and can hang out in the cemeteries all day taking pictures of headstones to enter in Ancestry.com, mind numbing boring for me! But he loves it. This year I came down with Rheumatoid Arthritis and am very limited in what I can do-- breaks my heart when I think of all the places I want to go on St Croix, but anything with an incline or steps of any kind is now an issue. Anyway, you may want to have something you can occupy your time with (other than the beauty of the island) if you plan on staying here for longer than a normal vacation time-- just my 2 cents from our experience.
Good luck! Paula
Contact the offices of condo complexes you'd be interested in.
Thanks again all. Great and helpful suggestions. And some folks have also responded to me by PM and offered important and valuable perspectives.
We went out with Chris Hanley to look at real estate two years ago so will probably give him the business as we look at rentals. But I will also be looking at VRBO/Homeaway and Craigslist to keep other options open.
I totally get why those who rent to vacationers do not want to give too much of a break for longer term rentals. But I'm assuming we'd get some type of break given that we won't be needing turnover cleaning and there will be less wear and tear on the house or condo.
Paula, your perspective is helpful (and you "know" me from the Tripadvisor board). We definitely know that we will want to do some volunteer work while on St. Croix and maybe also use it as an excuse to finally focus on our golf games. But we are eager to connect with the community and will be looking at those volunteer opporunities that would want help for a limited amount of time.
Last I checked their ads in their windows at Gallows Bay, STX, Coldwell Realty had literally tons of short term rentals available. They have website. Since Hovensa's closing the rental market is great with many, many great places to rent with rock bargain prices as well. Good luck!
Check out www.vrbo.com. My parents found a condo to rent when they came down. Not sure what they have for 3 month rentals but it might be worth the look. Good luck!
Hi luvstx,
We have a small apartment complex on St. Croix. Our units range from small efficiency to large 2 bedroom, 2 bath. All are completely furnished and equipped, so just the type of rental you would be looking for. We offer very flexible rental terms. We are not on the beach or in a resort setting, so it's not like a hotel, at all. We are in an extremely convenient north side, mid-island, location, with easy access to most everything on island.
You can check us out at http://www.virginislandsrentals.com . You will find lots of pictures and general information. As you read over the FAQ's, keep in mind those are pretty much guidelines, and we can adjust any rental terms to suit you.
We would love to show you the property during your March visit.. Please PM me here or email casita37@hotmail.com. There is also additional contact info on the website.
Thanks for looking and hope to hear from you.
Hi Juanita,
Thanks for being in touch. Your units look great but we really want a water view and a pool. Sorry if that sounds snobby....we love St. Croix and all her people but just know what is really important to us for our stay.
I have been overwhelmed by how helpful and kind everyone on the board has been in answering my inquiry. Not really surprising....it's the people who keep us going back to the island!
Carol
Understand, completely!! Chris Hanley, and his team, would be my choice for help finding just the right place!
All the best to you,
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