What's New - David Fedeles, St. Croix Real Estate

Meet Team Fedeles

January 27, 2020 by Team Fedeles

Meet David Fedeles and Stephen Swanton of Team Fedeles, Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty.

David has a sales and marketing background and moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, on a whim 30 years ago. Stephen got in to real estate after purchasing a home on St. Croix from David Fedeles.

David loves taking buyers out house hunting on St. Crox. He works with a lot of second home and vacation home buyers who live stateside, but want to have getaway or investment property in paradise. Stephen enjoys photographing properties and doing drone work, then sharing photos and videos on social media. These qualities make Team Fedeles the best team to buy or sell a home on St. Croix!

David and Stephen both have a love of animals and enjoy sharing Coldwell Banker’s Homes for Dogs campaign.

Get to know more about David and Stephen.

Team Fedeles looks forward to the opportunity to get to know you better!

50th Annual VI Agrifest is May 28-30

May 23, 2022 by Team Fedeles

2022 marks the long-awaited return of St. Croix’s ever popular Agriculture and Food Fair, also known as Agrifest. Since 1971, this three-day agricultural festival has attracted attendees from all over the world to the island to taste, touch and feel everything rooted in agriculture from locally grown fruits and vegetables to livestock, arts and crafts and local cuisine. From May 28th to May 30th, attendees will flock to the Rudolph Shulterbrandt Agricultural Complex in Estate Lower Love to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this cultural exposition that shines a light on this cherished source of livelihood on St. Croix – agriculture.

Historically, AgriFest is held each year in February over President’s Day weekend. Due to the ongoing uncertainties courtesy of the global pandemic, the event was postponed to May 2022 over Memorial Day weekend.

A few highlights experienced at St. Croix’s AgriFest is centered around the four F’s: food, fun, family and friends. Once you enter through the gates at the fairgrounds, the limitless sights and smells of St. Croix warmly greet you. The main exhibition hall on the west side of the fairgrounds is where the farmers market is held. There, attendees will encounter an assortment of fruits, vegetables, spices, and a variety of plants on display and for sale. Several exhibits sponsored by local schools, youth groups, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, and the US Department of Agriculture can also be found on display.

There are lots of fun activities on hand for Agrifest- goers. Stop in at the livestock exhibits featuring animals such as goats, chickens, rabbits and peacocks. Visit the petting zoo, ride a donkey or hop on one of the carnival rides with the little ones for an extra dose of fun. Enjoy the melodic tunes from local musicians performing throughout the day and visit several informational booths throughout the fairgrounds where attendees can learn about a variety of agriculture-focused topics.

“This is a true Virgin Islands reunion,” said U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture Commissioner Positive T.A. Nelson. “This is where you see it all – our traditions, our food, and our people.” Get your fill of local delicacies like kalalloo, red peas soup, roast pork and salmon balls and wash it down with a tall glass of sorrel, limeade, ginger beer, peanut punch or passion fruit juice. Come out and celebrate the 50th annual VI Agrifest from May 28th to May 30th. Admission is $6
Adults, $5 Seniors, $4 Kids 12 and under. Passes for all three days are available for $12 Adults, $10 Seniors, $8 Kids 12 and under.

– from the Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty enewsletter

2022 Max Loan Amounts for St. Croix

December 10, 2021 by Team Fedeles

The official 2022 maximum home loan amounts for St. Croix have been released.

Conventional

One-Unit: $970,800
Two-Unit: $1,243,050
Three-Unit: $1,502,475
Four-Unit: $1,867,275

FHA on St. Croix

One-Unit: $420,680
Two-Unit: $538,650
Three-Unit: $651,050
Four-Unit: $809,150

Thank you to Bonnie Rapine and Nathan Purdome at Schaffer Mortgage Corp for the update!

Mark Your Calendar… July 4th Celebration!

June 27, 2021 by Team Fedeles

Need plans for July 4^th? Mark your calendar to join in the celebration of America’s Independence Day on St. Croix at the Frederiksted Pier! Fireworks begin at 8:00pm, but make sure you come early to snag a spot. This free, family-friendly event is being hosted by St. Croix Christmas Boat Parade and the Frederiksted Economic Development Association, Inc. and sponsored by our local businesses. This event will be one of the largest events on St. Croix since the COVID-19 pandemic swept through and will be wonderful for our island and businesses down in Frederiksted. Seems normalcy is creeping back onto our island and we could not be more ready!

Team Fedeles wants to thank our hosts and sponsors who could make this firework show happen. Pack up the family, friends, and a couple beach chairs and come celebrate. What is better than fireworks over the Caribbean?

June Newsletter- A Huge Month

June 27, 2021 by Team Fedeles

The theme for this month’s newsletter is inspired by a recent special visitor to St. Croix — Hugh Jackman! The celebrity visited Mt. Victory Camp to learn bush skills in early June. He posted a very complimentary video on Facebook thanking St. Croix and saying he had THE best time! Hugh’s visit was closely timed with the newest season of Alone, a survival reality show in which Matt, of Mt. Victory Camp, was a participant — another islander putting St. Croix on the map!

Two other types of visitors are coming out in huge numbers: sea turtles and tourists! We’ve been enjoying updates on Facebook from St. Croix Sea Turtle Project. They are reporting more than 130 Leatherback nests, 16 Hawksbills and 21 Greens! And all you have to do is walk through town to see how busy things still are, even beyond our typical peak season. It’s fantastic!

The St. Croix Real Estate Market Watch at the bottom of this email speaks for itself as we are seeing huge interest in Virgin Islands real estate. The market has been very active and we’d be hugelyappreciative if you’d consider Team Fedeles to list or buy a home on St. Croix.

The Buccaneer had huge news this Spring. The 4-star hotel has joined the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts family as part of their Trademark Collection. Local ownership, management and staff will remain in place, while the destination will gain exposure to the 86 million Wyhdham Rewards members. Here’s a fun article giving a sneak peak of the epic bathroom in the Beach House at The Buccaneer.

Like many places around the US, things are starting to feel a little more normal in the Virgin Islands. Our community still respects a mask mandate, while other restrictions have loosened up. Governor Bryan has a goal of 50,000 people vaccinated by July 1 and, so far, more than 42,000 have received their first dose. If you have not yet been vaccinated and would like to, you may schedule an appointment here. Visit the USVI Department of Health for complete COVID-19 details.

If you’re planning travel between St. Croix and the U.S., be sure to check for updates on the USVI Travel Portal and use it to submit your test results. Currently, travelers are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result within five days or a positive antibody test within four months to come to the U.S. Virgin Islands and no test result is required to travel to the U.S. (unless required by a specific state).

We’d be remiss not to mention that we are now in hurricane season. VITEMA has excellent resources for hurricane preparedness, including an emergency supply checklist. Here’s hoping we’ll have an unremarkable — or shall we say un-huge — storm season.

Finally, huge congratulations to my Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty colleague, Pamela Hunt McFadden, on the opening of her new shop, The Hunt. She has impeccable taste in decor, no doubt from her years in real estate, and will be curating and selling a selection of gently used furnishings. If you’re decorating your new island home, stop in to see Pamela and tell her Team Fedeles sent you!

Hugh Jackman visits Mt. Victory Camp early June

BREAKING NEWS: Limetree Bay Refinery Closes Indefinitely

June 22, 2021 by Team Fedeles

The news of Limetree Bay Refinery’s indefinite closure hit headlines on Monday, June 21, 2021. Local news, including the St. Croix Source, as well as national news sources, like the Washington Post, reported that the refinery will not be re-opening due to financial constraints.

What the Virgin Islands Government is saying

It is reported that the Governor Says Limetree’s Decision to Shut Down Was Not a Surprise. In May, the refinery was forced to temporarily close for 60 days by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Of high importance is the roughly 800 jobs affected by the closure. Governor Bryan says, “This announcement is not something our administration wanted or hoped for, but it is certainly something for which we are prepared. Our Department of Labor has already activated its rapid response teams to help affected workers transition to new employment and or connect them with unemployment benefits.” The Governor has also said that the closure of the refinery will not affect the oil storage terminal, which is a separate entity with about 88 employees.

Read: Governor Bryan Statement on Limetree Refinery Announcement to Lay-off 271 Workers, Suspend Plans to Restart Refinery Operations

How does this affect St. Croix real estate?

There is no indication that this news will slow down the real estate industry. St. Croix has experienced a robust market of statesiders investing in and/or moving to island, whether as a primary or secondary home. Environmental impacts are a positive byproduct that is expected with the closing after some recent pollutants were dispersed in local neighborhoods, causing a 60 day shutdown in May.

Team Fedeles will be keeping close tabs on St. Croix real estate trends in order to best advise our buyer and seller clients.

March Newsletter: Marching Along

March 18, 2021 by Team Fedeles

Greetings from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands! Things are marching along here in America’s Paradise. Tourism is bustling, the real estate market is active, businesses and restaurants are keeping safe and busy. St. Croix even made Caribbean Journal’s 21 Best Caribbean Islands to Visit in 2021.

The St. Croix Real Estate Market Watch for February can be found at the bottom of this email, but here is the bigger picture: In the last 9 months, homes $200,000 – $400,000 have been selling in less than a week. Now, within the past month, homes $500,000 – $800,000 are selling within a week! (and for a more desirable price.) If the thought of selling your condo or home has crossed your mind, we’d love to help you list it! Alternatively, if you’re in the market to buy, work with Team Fedeles to find the perfect fit for you before it gets snatched up.

At the beginning of May, Governor Bryan announced slightly relaxed restrictions in a press conference. Beaches are now open until 5pm on weekends and holidays (previously 4pm), while taxis and restaurants may have increased capacity. Masks are still required in all public establishments and social distancing requirements remain in effect.

If you’re planning travel between St. Croix and the U.S., be sure to check for updates on the USVI Travel Portal and use it to submit your test results. Currently, travelers are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result within five days or a positive antibody test within four months to come to the U.S. Virgin Islands and no test result is required to travel to the U.S. (unless required by a specific state). Read the most recent Key Takeaways from the Governor’s Press Conferences:

Here’s a photo of Team Fedeles at a showing of The Fred Resort & Spa. This luxurious, turnkey property features 23 rooms, a gorgeous spa, a large infinity pool, a popular restaurant and bar, a spectacular sky deck, and 230 feet of sandy beachfront — and it’s ready for new owners who want to see Frederiksted continue to thrive. The Fred has been named “Best New Boutique Resort” by Caribbean Journal and “Best New Business/Spa” by the readers of the VI Daily News. View The Fred’s Listing

Congratulations to my Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty colleague, Diane Burns, on the opening of Carambolazipline! This attraction has been a long time coming and will surely provide good times for visitors and residents for many years to come.

The weather forecast for Christiansted is pretty repetitious this week. High of 82, low of 73 EVERY day for the next 10 days. Don’t worry about us though — we’ll survive. Here’s hoping you’re healthy and happy wherever this message finds you.

Warm regards,
Team Fedeles