CARIBBEAN TRAVEL & LIFE Nov. 2007 feature article bills St. Croix as the new 'hip' destination... writer Laura Kelly states that "with renewed energy and investment, the overlooked Virgin is getting ready for it's close-up." We love the coverage and hope it brings more tourists and buyers to our friendly shores... SAY HELLO TO DISNEY CRUISES! Disney Magic will offer a series of nine seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries throughout 2009 that will call on St. Croix (in addition to St. Thomas and Castaway Cay). Disney also announced that it will offer a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages that will stop at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. All this is an effort to provide the line's legendarily loyal repeat passengers with some variety in itineraries... HOME DEPOT IS COMING! Thanks to developer Jim Watson, the rezoning has been approved and construction should start soon for a 60,000 sq. ft. Home Depot and 24,000 sq. ft. shopping center to be located across from the Hess Training School at the traffic light, plus an affordable housing development built adjacent to the center. GOOD NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATURE The Senate passed a bill removing the 4% personal tax charged on items valued at over $1000 and imported into the USVI for personal use; Circuit Court of Appeal's Judge Harvey Bartle III said the tax was unconstitutional.... LOTS OF C'STED RENOVATIONS! Club Comanche is under new ownership and is being renovated and the same is true for The Anchor Inn Hotel as well as Danish Manor Hotel....three cheers for C'sted as well as the waterfront! Now if the PFA would finalize with the right suitor to "finish" King's Alley Hotel we'd be all set!... FOR THOSE THAT PREFER TO BUILD your permit process is becoming easier and more 'user friendly'... Maureen Burke-Ventura is the new Director of Planning's Building Permits Department and says they will have a web-site that will enable applicants to go online and get answers to permit questions, download an application, links to codes and many other interactive features...

SOME NEW LISTINGS AND UPDATES Coyaba in Teague Bay is a charming vacation villa w/ 2 BRs, 2 baths and lovely pool plus large covered gazebo that could make a spectacular master suite, huge views to Buck Island!, $685,000; Mediterranean Villa in Shoys enjoy vaulted ceilings and custom paint and frescos in this 3 BR, 2 bath home in Buccaneer Bay, nice pool and wrap galleries, big views of the boats at Green Cay Marina, $1,150,000; 5+ acre hilltop high atop Recovery with 3 plots offering north and south shore views $499,000; South Shore waterfront executive retreat expansive house on sandy beach w/ 3 separate suites, large kitchen, many living/dining/den areas, under market asking $1,295,000; Estate Corn Hill never offered before! solid West Indian-inspired 3 BR, 2 bath home w/ front and back galleries, sparkling pool, sweeping views over South Shore, $1,150,000; Coakley Bay Condo Unit L4 larger than normal flat floorplan w/ 2 BRs plus den, 2 baths, fabulous views, $389,000; also Unit N4 end unit w/ split A/Cs and Broadband internet service $369,000; Verandah Villa G at Carambola w/ 3 BR, 3.5 baths, wrap gallery, partially furnished, coveted location, $635,000; also Tower Villa #28 nicely renovated w/ upstairs master suite and 2nd BR suite below, upgraded kitchen and baths, $479,000; and Courtyard Villa #40 Granite kitchen and fabulously furnished 3 BR, 3 bath unit; private sunning patio, $595,000; Sugar-white sand at Sugar Beach! 3 BR, 3 bath vacation villa overlooking the sea and beach is ready for a new owner, on-site rental mgmt., open kitchen, pool and tennis, $345,000; Carden Beach Condominiums exclusively listed, final phase of brand-new Building 3 w/ four different floorplans and top-of-the-line finishes, prices starting at $845,000, also 14 free-standing private villas w/ your choice of floorplans and building site; enjoy the best of waterfront living... call me for a private tour!

Real estate sales as depicted from MLS statistics show that transactions are down in 2007 compared to 2006 though prices are up 29% in condos and 30% in land sales over $50,000... residential sales are off slightly and prices are down about 5%.

TO FURTHER MY REACH, I am proud to mention that I am a Broker Associate with Prudential Douglas Elliman in New York City, the largest metro New York real estate firm. I am advertising some of my properties in the exclusive Profile Magazine which reaches 500,000 readers in the NY area. This certainly increases exposure to my listings as an added plus to my sellers! Take a look at www.elliman.com...I'm there among the ranks!

Call or email us for your St. Croix real estate needs. David Fedeles at Farchette & Hanley Real Estate 800-964-9755 or 340-773-4665 ext. 18, Email: david@fedeles.com. If you are in town, our office is located at 52 King Street, Christiansted, just across from the Lutheran Church.

We look forward to seeing you!