Lighting Up the Streets!
A group of gentlemen who shared holiday cheer, political stories, and local chatter is who we can thank for the lighting up of Christiansted town during the Christmas season. The Gentlemen of Jones is a St. Croix based organization that focuses on community service and community outreach. Because of their love for the season, the […]
Mind Your Money | Record Retention Guide
This month Joel Lee, CPA, discusses record retention that will help you when preparing for your tax returns this year and in the future. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has developed and distributed a detailed guide for record retention. I have included below selections that may be of particular interest to housing cooperatives […]
Coquito Recipe
Eggnog is a staple during the holiday season. In the Virgin Islands, Coquito is our flavor of the season! Also known as Puerto Rican eggnog, Coquito is a thick decadent drink that can be kicked up a notch with the addition of rum. We love Coquito so much that we even have a festival in […]
Chef Digby Stridiron on balter
The most exciting revitalization project in Christiansted town in recent years is almost ready and of course, Blue Sky was involved! USVI Culinary Ambassador, Chef Digby Stridiron, talks about balter, an upcoming restaurant on the corner of Company Street and Queen Cross Street in the heart of Christiansted town. Blue Sky sold the property in […]
Market Stats, November 2015
The numbers say it all! St. Croix’s market has rebounded in all segments, experiencing double-digit increases in average sales prices almost across the board. The residential market, despite a decrease in the number of units sold, has witnessed a very healthy 30% increase in average sales price. Great news for sellers so buyers, if you […]
First Time Home Buyer Tips
Have you been planning on purchasing a home and ready to begin the process? Here are a few steps to get you prepared for a successful purchase experience. The first thing you should do before you shop for your new home is to get a copy of your credit report and credit score! You can […]
Curb Appeal: Is Your Property Ready?
When preparing to sell, it is important to ensure that your property is attractive from the street and stands out from the others on the block to increase your chances of attracting buyers. When potential customers arrive at a property, they usually know within the first 5 minutes if the property is “the one” based […]
Mind Your Money | Time to Start Year-End Tax Planning
This month Joel Lee, CPA, discusses money savings ideas to help you when preparing for your tax returns next year. The federal income tax rates for 2015 are the same as last year: 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%. However, the rate bracket beginning and ending points are increased slightly to account for […]
Homebuyer Loan Option Change
Have you been considering an FHA Loan? Did you know that in September of this year, one of the biggest benefits of acquiring a FHA Loan has disappeared that may impact your home buying experience? Student loan debt is now reviewed and considered as part of the debt to income ratio. In addition, closer scrutiny […]
Say Goodbye to Summer
Summer on St. Croix is always exciting. The last three months were filled with events including Summer Heritage Jump Up, St. Croix Landmark’s Society Come Home to St. Croix Celebration, Mango Meleé, the Emancipation Day and 4th of July celebrations, the Laugh out Loud Comedy Series, Good Hope Country Day School’s Lion King performance, Kayak […]