Two-thirds of the island is within authorized National Park boundaries. St. John's pristine beauty will be preserved and protected indefinitely. Real estate here should always be at a premium because of the amount available. Property taxes are relatively low compared to many stateside areas. All live together in a rather remarkable harmony, despite the different backgrounds.
Mortgage loans are available with banking institutions doing business in the Virgin Islands.
Most banks require the buyer to pay for a property appraisal, a survey and surveyors certificate, title search and title insurance, and bank attorney fees. All new construction must be engineered and built to the universal building code to withstand at least 110 mph wind speed and Zone 4 earthquakes. All homes on St. John have their own cisterns and septic tanks. The size of the cistern is based on the square footage of the roof area. St. John has a desalinization plant and water is available for purchase at approximately 10 cents per gallon.