Ok – so I talk about “dreams” a lot in my marketing. “Let me help you fulfill your dreams” ….that kind of stuff. My own slogan is “Living the dream.” And I am certainly living MY dream. But here’s the thing. If your dream is totally unrealistic, and you’re not willing to compromise or try to understand “reality” here, then I really can’t help you much. It is GREAT to have dreams – great to have BIG dreams! But it’s also important to be rooted in reality. You can’t always fulfill your dream in one fell swoop, ya know! If your dream is to live in a million dollar home on the beach, but your income is $25,000 a year and you don’t have any savings, let’s be honest…that’s NOT likely to happen!  There’s a great quote that my friend Teri Anderholm sent to me, written by Henry David Thoreau, and it applies here:  “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost.  There is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” 

I’m happy to help you put the foundations in….just understand that I can’t work magic! You may have to put aside that fantasy of having an adorable little bungalow on a white sandy beach with fruit trees, flowers, birds singing, for $100,000…. because that’s NOT going to happen here!!!!  However, you might start with a little condo on a white sandy beach for $100,000…..that could be a fantastic step in the right direction…and it would allow you to see if this is really the right dream for you!  Baby steps are good on the way to dream fulfillment!  But be realistic!   That $100,000 condo on the beach is going to cost you at least $500 a month in condo fees… and the electric bill will be $150 – $200….and your maintenance costs will be hideous….so don’t OVEREXTEND yourself, or that dream will quickly turn into a nightmare!!

I don’t want to dash anyone’s hopes or dreams, I just really want folks to understand the REALITY of real estate here, and living here. It’s hard to tell people that they can’t get what they want for the price they are wiling to pay, but it’s much worse to see them make bad decisions and sacrifice things like their safety and security (including financial security) to get a little closer to their dreams.  Baby steps, and making compromises on the way to achieving your dreams and goals is good…..but NOT at the expense of these important factors.   St Croix is not an inexpensive place to live.  There are areas where it’s not really safe.  (There are areas like this EVERYWHERE….in your town, too!).  So work with me, people!!  I’ll do everything I can to help you, and you can count on me being honest, but please, be willing to hear the truth, accept reality, and compromise on some things, but NEVER on safety and security!   Put FOUNDATIONS under your castles in the air!!!!