The Best Places to Retire in St Croix
By Amy Land-de Wilde
CJ Contributor
St. Croix has long been a destination not only for vacationers, but for retirees alike.
Their interest is sparked during a first visit, and is renewed by subsequent trips to America’s Paradise.
For those lucky enough to be able to retire on this tropical haven, there is much to choose from.
There are neighborhoods like Buccaneer Bay Estates on St. Croix’s east end characterized by upscale homes in an established community with gated entry and paved roads. The gorgeous crescent-shaped beach fringing the neighborhood is energetic walk for those whose properties sit off the coastline.
All of the amenities of the famed Buccaneer Hotel are nearby for tennis and golf activities as well as restaurants, a spa, palm-lined beaches and other social activities like live music and wine tastings.
Christiansted town, schools and shopping are all nearby as well making this a very convenient location.
Christiansted, St Croix’s historic capital
Home prices range from $595,000-$8.6 million for three bedrooms or more and homesites start at $90,000.
St. Croix is not an island of gated neighborhoods, but there are a couple of more.
Carambola is located northwest in the lushest part of the island on a Robert Trent Jones designed golf course. The homes, condos and homesites are scattered throughout the luxuriant course a few moments’ drive from several gorgeous beaches and with views of the verdant hills and valley.
Carambola
At this time, all are valued at a steep discount to their replacement cost, making this such a buyer-friendly market.
Carden Beach is a gated waterfront condo community in the northeast of the island.
This is St. Croix’s newest condo product, with gorgeous views of the reef beyond and Buck Island, a protected island with a spectacular underwater national park. Coastal Living has crowned Buck Island one of the top 10 places to snorkel in the Caribbean. Prices start under $500,000 for a 3-bedroom condo.
Visitors to St. Croix can thoroughly justify why they’ve chosen their special location.
Above: an old sugar mill in the North Shore
The North Shore is one such place very popular with retirees and second-home buyers because of its lushness, varied topography, access to stunning beaches with diving, kayaking and snorkeling, sweeping views, and nearby to a number of fun and diverse restaurants. There are options of single family homes and estates, condos and vacant homesites.
The more adventurous have fallen in love with St. Croix’s west end—more adventurous because it is the least developed part of the island and a tad farther away from other conveniences.
Of course, St. Croix is only 27 miles long and 7 miles wide, so nothing is that far away. It is the lushest part, has stunning beaches, gorgeous sunset views and lots of undeveloped rolling hills.
There are a couple of condo developments and lone units are occasionally resold. Also available are homes and homesites, both waterfront and in the hills.
Any new visitor to St. Croix will have many more neighborhoods to discover and those lucky enough to retire on the island have many good choices.
Amy Land-de Wilde, Owner/Broker of Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty has enjoyed traveling all over the world, but there is no place like her favorite place, St. Croix, Amy’s home for 37 years. Originally from New York, and a graduate of Northwestern University, Amy has lived all over the U.S before moving to St. Croix in 1979. She began her real estate career on St. Croix in 1986, and through thousands of real estate transactions, has helped people from all over the world to find their perfect island property.
