Coveted by second-home buyers and vacation-rental entrepreneurs, St. John can be a tough place to find the right real estate fit. While there may not be a ton of availability, there is diversity in size, condition, and price.
Two St. John residences available for under $1 million couldn’t be more different, although both are spacious in their own way.
A seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate in Grunwald, off Centerline Road just outside Cruz Bay, offers plenty of space. The 1,940-square-foot, two-story, wood-framed home sits at the end of a dead-end road and offers lovely southern sea views. The asking price is $725,000. Mature topiaries, including bougainvillea and fruit trees, surround outdoor decking and parking. Listing agents 340 Real Estate Co said the property is currently used as a longterm rental. It’s move-in ready.
For $775,000, the right buyer could get an extraordinary investment in a 2,000-square-foot Hansen Bay property. This three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom hilltop gem took a beating during the 2017 storms. But years of renovation have brought it back to live-in shape. The right buyer could do the final work and bring it over the finish line. “The hard work has been done,” said listing broker Tammy Donnelly. “Contractors have looked at the house and they say the bones are good.” Remaining repairs needed include work on the pool and deck, new windows, doors, railings, and more.
The upside is decidedly high, however. Pre-Hurricane Irma, this three-floor house was five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. The top floor had two bedrooms and two baths with a great room and kitchen. The middle level had three bedrooms and three baths. The lower pool level had a half bath. The 220-degree panoramic views to allow endless gazing out over Round Bay, Coral Bay, and all the way south to St. Croix. The property comes with deeded beach for pedestrian access.
St. John buyers looking to hop the $1 million fence could snag a lovely 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom sanctuary in Calabash Boom, above Coral Bay. With a panoramic view of Coral Harbor, East End, the British Virgin Islands, and right down Sir Francis Drake Channel, this property offers a poolside, hilltop dreamscape. A dedicated car park makes for easy access to a garden path entry. $1.39 million is nothing to sneeze at, but for 3,610-square-feet in this location, you could do worse.
Buyers looking for a versatile live-and-rent property might look to Kamabesu Villa, a popular vacation rental on Fish Bay. The four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom main house has an upper wrap-around deck and a lower porch that leads to the 30-foot by 15-foot pool and screened lanai.
A separate two-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse is accessible from a private driveway and parking area. Below the guest house, a large studio unit for a caretaker also has its own driveway and parking area adds an extra layer of convenience and versatility. Pathways are lit by motion sensor lights.
The property comes with a 27.5 kilowatt generator with a 500 gallon diesel storage tank. Split-unit air conditioning units are throughout the houses, which are equipped with three concrete, lined cisterns — one under each structure. It also has two septic systems.
