David Fedeles, St. Croix Real Estate

Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty

Featured Client: Turnkey Properties

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The Wall Street Journal recently featured our clients, The Stapleton’s, in an article about turnkey properties in the Mansions section. The article, In the Caribbean and Bahamas, Turnkey Properties Are the Biggest Luxury, shares how vacation-home buyers in hard-to-reach destinations opt for fully furnished properties.

Turnkey properties, or as the article calls them, “toothbrush ready,” are pretty common on St. Croix. As such, many homes are sold furnished or partially furnished. This 8,000 sq. ft. residence in Estate Shoys, named La Belle Hortense, is offered with tasteful art and furnishings, so you truly only need to bring your toothbrush!

The main house of this turnkey property has 4 bedrooms and 4 en suite baths. Plus, there is a detached one bedroom with one bath guest house. Outdoors is a beautiful courtyard, pool, BBQ and wet bar. Meanwhile, inside is a gourmet chef’s kitchen, deluxe wine cooler, spacious closets, and the finest in amenities and finishes. The home is a practical investment, too, with solar and net metering, private well and drinking water filtration, and hurricane resistant windows.

Perhaps one of the most important features…La Belle Hortense is just steps away from sandy Shoys Beach.

Featured Client: No Strangers to St. Croix

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Vinnie and Anita Jensen, of Dawsonville, GA, are no strangers to St. Croix. they have been long-time visitors and have owned property on St. Croix since 2002. In fact, they have been two-time lot owners and two-time Villa Madeleine owners over the years.

Team Fedeles recently worked with them to sell a Villa Madeleine condo and a plot of land. The land transaction required several rounds of negotiation and resulted in a favorable outcome for our happy clients.

The Jensen’s have visited St. Croix frequently over the years. They had originally intended to move to St. Croix; however, family medical issues have led them to keep their main residence in the States.

Their favorite things about St. Croix are the beautiful blue water, which they had sweeping views of from Villa Madeleine, and the restaurants. Two of their recent favorites are Duggan’s Reef and The Buccaneer.

We asked Vinnie and Anita if they’d be willing to share any details about their experience working with Team Fedeles and they said:

We’re blushing, Vinnie and Anita. Thank you for your kind words. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with you. Please don’t be strangers!

April Newsletter: Resilience 2.0

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If there’s one thing Virgin Islanders prove time and time again: we’re a resilient bunch. While COVID-19 is a new type of challenge, our community is responding in the only way we know how. With resilience.

Like most of the U.S., the U.S.V.I. is under a stay-at-home order through April 30. Our beaches were temporarily closed for the safety of all residents and re-opened on Monday, April 20. Only “essential” businesses are open with adjusted/limited hours and extra safety precautions. Many restaurants have responded with carryout ordering and grocery stores have impressively taken the situation in stride. No shortage of toilet paper here! See below for links to various resources.

Thankfully, real estate has been deemed an “essential” business and our clients who had been excitedly waiting to close have been able to do so. In fact, we’ve had one buyer and two sellers close in April — Congratulations to all!

Here’s how we are adapting our showings to keep sellers and prospective buyers safe:

  • Sellers are asked to open all doors, including bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, balconies, etc., so no doorknobs or handles need to be touched.
  • Similarly, all lights are to be turned on and blinds/curtains drawn, so no touching of switches or cords is necessary.
  • Buyers and agents are advised not to touch anything and to remove their shoes.
  • We are practicing the recommended 6-feet social distancing.
  • Masks and gloves are worn as deemed necessary.

We’re also capable of preparing a 100% virtual listing presentation, and we use Google Hangouts and DocuSign for meetings and paperwork.

COVID-19 U.S.V.I. Resources:

U.S.V.I. Restaurants & Businesses

We urge you to continue supporting these businesses and restaurants as you are able. If you’re not local to order carryout, consider purchasing a gift card for a restaurant or excursion for your next visit. Send a gift from a St. Croix shop. Write a review on your favorite business’s Facebook page.

Stay safe and healthy, wherever you are!

Warm regards,
Team Fedeles

COVID-19 Precautions and Updates

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St. Croix, along with the rest of the world, is reacting to the challenges presented by COVID-19. Below is a list our COVID-19 precautions, as well as a few resources specific to St. Croix.

COVID Precautions

Here’s how we are adapting our showings to keep sellers and prospective buyers safe:

  • Sellers are asked to open all doors, including bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, balconies, etc., so no doorknobs or handles need to be touched.
  • Similarly, all lights are to be turned on and blinds/curtains drawn, so no touching of switches or cords is necessary.
  • Buyers and agents are advised not to touch anything and to remove their shoes.
  • We are practicing the recommended 6-feet social distancing.
  • Masks and gloves are worn as deemed necessary.

We’re also capable of preparing a 100% virtual listing presentation, and we use Google Hangouts and DocuSign for meetings and paperwork.

COVID-19 U.S.V.I. Resources

February Newsletter: Taking the Leap

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It’s Leap Year! Are you ready to take the leap of becoming a homeowner on St. Croix?

We’ve been having fun on Facebook showing off some of the incredible features of our clients’ listings. From a home with two pools to a condo with its own private pool, we can help you narrow down your search for St. Croix real estate with a pool. Or maybe it’s important to you to find a home with furnishings, like this impeccably decorated home (with a killer closet, we might add!). Buck Island view, we can help you find that too!

It’s also been a joy getting to know The Keane’s as we seek the next happy owners of their stunning two-home beachfront property, Paradise Found, in Cotton Valley. In their Featured Client blog, they shared what they love most about their home:

“The Caribbean ocean at our doorstep, the ability to snorkel or scuba dive right off our beach, as well as paddle-board. Lying in the hammock between the palm trees and unobstructed views of Buck Island. We really love sitting at our pool with a glass of wine looking out at the sailboats and catamarans gliding past!”

In January, Governor Bryan gave his second State of the Territory address. Watch the video or read the transcript. A key theme throughout is how his administration has improved the Territory’s financial position, laying a solid foundation for continued improvement of our economy. The Governor was also in Washington, D.C., last week discussing GERS, Medicaid, National Park land and federal tax legislation impacting the territory with senior White House officials. Follow Government House – US Virgin Islands to see a new Facebook live series of interviews with the current administration, The Press Box, as well as other updates from the government.

We were thrilled to see the recent news that the BMV Launches “Skip the Line, Renew Online” Vehicle Registration. Now, vehicles that are 6 years old or less do not require a physical inspection and vehicles between 6 to 10 years old are inspected every two years. If your vehicle fits that bill, be sure to register online. If you’ve ever had business at the BMV in the USVI, you know how great this is!

We’ll leave you with this Meet Team Fedeles video so you can get to know Stephen and me a little better. We hope your extra day this month involves taking a leap into something exciting!

Warm regards,
Team Fedeles

Featured Client: Paradise Found

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This house simply creates memories”

Brian and Cathy Keane have owned their Cotton Valley beachfront home for nearly 15 years — and have created an endless number of memories, from family and friends birthdays to weddings and anniversaries to fantastic family gatherings.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, they moved to the States 32 years ago with the intention of moving back to Ireland within five years. That never happened! They now live in Villanova, PA, and love it, “but not during the winter!”

The Keane’s have four grown children — three boys and one girl (also the youngest, “and, yes, she is our princess,” Brian adds). Some of their favorite memories in their home involved their kids. One son proposed to his girlfriend on their beach. And last November, their daughter and her boyfriends surprised them by flying from their home in Hawaii to join the family for Thanksgiving.

With a dream of having a vacation home and a place to retire, Brian and Cathy searched for the perfect location for years.

We visited an exhaustive number of Islands and kept coming back to St. Croix. To our minds it offers the best of everything – variety of quiet beaches, a rainforest, great food options (we are foodies!), cultural diversity and easy access to the mainland.”

They truly found a gem in Cotton Valley. Beachfront, nearby restaurants, and easy to hop on East End Road to explore all that St. Croix has to offer. While they are selling Paradise Found, they are searching for something smaller on St. Croix.

Paradise Found has been equal parts fun and hard work for the Keane’s. “There is almost no part of our home that has not been improved upon.” The main house has undergone major renovation, including a new kitchen, new master bedroom with state-of-the-art en suite bathroom, new bathrooms, hurricane-proof doors and windows throughout, and new air conditioning. Meanwhile, the guest house has a new balcony, and the property features elevated pergolas, a new irrigation system, and lush landscaping.

We asked what has been the most challenging renovation and the most fun renovation. Cathy’s answer, all in one: the kitchen! We imagine it’s the part that gets the most use, too, with all of that entertaining!

But their favorite part of their home has nothing to do with what’s inside. Their favorite feature…

The Caribbean ocean at our doorstep, the ability to snorkel or scuba dive right off our beach, as well as paddle-board. Lying in the hammock between the palm trees and unobstructed views of Buck Island. We really love sitting at our pool with a glass of wine looking out at the sailboats and catamarans gliding past!”

Top 7 Favorite Things To Do On St. Croix

The Keane’s love the outdoors and all the things St. Croix has to offer, including:

  1. Scuba Diving
  2. Snorkeling
  3. Paddle boarding
  4. Kayaking
  5. Hiking (especially up Goat Hill and between Jack’s and Isaac’s Bays)
  6. Sailing
  7. Eating

St. Croix is the birthplace of vertical farming and and we truly enjoy eating local, healthy, and organic foods and produce. The island offers a wide array of cuisines – and our mission is to savor them all!”

The Keane’s came to Team Fedeles on the recommendation of several friends and other professionals, and we are so grateful! Upon meeting, we discovered our Philly connection — David being from the same area outside of Philadelphia as Brian and Cathy. Not only do we share favorite sports teams and experiences, we connect with our similar sense of humor and large look on life.

Cheers to the next chapter of yours, Brian and Cathy! Another family will be very lucky to make their own memories in your beautiful St. Croix home.

About David Fedeles

Twice voted Best Real Estate Broker on St. Croix. Coldwell Banker President's Circle three years in a row. Read More…

St. Croix and New York

David Fedeles is a licensed real estate broker in both St. Croix USVI and New York. If you are looking for your dream home in America’s Paradise, David is ready to work with you!

Contact David Fedeles today!

Tel: 340-778-7000
Cell: 340-690-4665
[email protected]
Office Location:
Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty | Gallows Bay Mkt
5030 Anchor Way, Suite 12 | Christiansted, VI 00820