PHONE: (340) or Toll Free (866) Dear Friends,

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1 LIVE YOUR DREAMS Joy Stanley Island Dreams Real Estate Broker - Owner, CRS, GRI, ABR, RSPS August IslandDreamsVI@Gmail.com PHONE: (340) or Toll Free (866) Dear Friends, Hope you re having a wonderful summer! If you aren t lucky enough to live here, and are experiencing the high East Coast temperatures, remember come on down! Our temperatures continue to be in the 80 s with delightful trade winds, plus less tourists and traffic. We are now in hurricane season and the tropical storm Ernesto went thru last week with some much needed rain. A lighter than usual hurricane season is predicted and I ll keep you updated. There are also several free tracking sites available online: or Please make sure you have made arrangements to have your property secured in case of a storm. Sales are continuing to slowly pick up as inventory continues to decrease and we just had a slight increase in interest rates. If you are renting, Zillow just came out with a report that the expense of buying now will be off set within 3-4 years due to today s prices and interest rates. If you are thinking of investing in a new home, don t wait! The number of available properties is down in all categories except timeshares & the average sales price of condos has already increased. Work continues on the road widening at Havensite and Raphune Hill and on the new Walgreens. Hopefully these will be finished by the time season starts. Upcoming events include Rotary Sunrise Golf Scramble on September 16 and Pistarkle Theatre is already planning their new season. Local Realtors and Senator Hill are spear heading legislation to save and restore downtown properties that are being left to decay and are housing vagrants. Please visit and add your voice to support this effort. If you are a Virgin Islands resident, please register to vote. Elections are this November and we need strong responsible representatives in our government! Thank you for your business and support. Please call or me with any questions or if you, your family or friends have any real estate needs. Live Your Dream!

2 ST. THOMAS REAL ESTATE MARKET CLOSED SALES COMPARISON YEARLY AVERAGES THROUGH THE END OF JULY 2012 Per St. Thomas MLS JULY 2012 SOLD AVERAGE PRICE # of Properties on MARKET DAYS ON MARKET JULY 2011 SOLD AVERAGE PRICE # of Properties on MARKET DAYS ON MARKET HOME SALES 60 $529, $549, CONDO SALES 63 $214, $212, LAND SALES 32 $133, $155, TIME SHARE SALES 15 $40, $56, FEATURED PROPERTY INVESTMENT OR 2nd Home Opportunity This property is ideally located on the top floor of the St. Kitts building at Sapphire Hill Village. Property boasts a guard gate entry & offers two swimming pools, tennis courts & mere steps to Sapphire Beach one of the island s most desirable white sand beaches. Sapphire Hill Village is located on the east end of the island. For shopping and dining it s less than ½ mile to Red Hook. Some of the other amenities on the property include laundry, a restaurant and even a generator to insure power all the time. Once you enter Sapphire Hill Village you will never want to leave. For an appointment to see or more details please contact me via or telephone. MLS Just Reduced to $89,900

3 6 Ways to Save Money on Gas Over the past few years, we ve seen fuel prices increase to record highs, affecting our daily commutes and travel plans. The days of cheap gas are over. To ease the pain at the pump, follow these easy tips: 1 Don t tailgate. By keeping your distance from the car in front of you, you can take your foot off the gas pedal to slow down instead of slamming on your brakes. Gas Savings: Driving aggressively lowers your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% around town. 1 2 Drive the speed limit. Stay within the posted speed limits, and your vehicle will sip fuel instead of gulp it. Gas Savings: Speeding along at 75 mph, as opposed to 65 mph, can increase fuel consumption by 25%. 2 Close your windows when you re on the highway. While air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency, you ll create more drag on your car with the windows open. However, when you re cruising around town, turn off the AC and run the fan instead. 3 Reduce weight. Remove anything you don t need from the car. This includes ski racks in the summer, bike racks and golf clubs in the winter and luggage racks when you re not traveling. Gas Savings: Extra junk in the trunk can reduce gas mileage by 2% or 8 cents/gallon, while sports racks can reduce gas mileage by 5%. 1 4 Keep tires properly inflated. Look in your owner s manual or on the side of the door to find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. However, don t over inflate them as you ll reduce tire grip and could cause an accident. Gas Savings: Underinflated tires increase fuel consumption by 3%. 1 Keep your car in top shape: change the air filter, spark plugs and fluids as advised by your owner s manual. While the fuel savings of a new air filter is debatable, there s no doubt that keeping your car in good condition will improve its performance. 5 Don t idle! Turn your car off if you won t be moving for more than a minute. 6 Gas Savings: Idling can cost up to half a gallon of gas an hour, especially if your car has a large engine. 3 Avoid rush hour and combine your trips. By anticipating traffic conditions and combining trips, you ll keep your engine warm and reduce fuel consumption. Gas Savings: Improves fuel economy by 5-10%. 2 Sources: 1. Seattle Times, April 16, US Federal Trade Commission 3. Investopedia, March 2, Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. LGK AUGUST IOV S

4 Joy Stanley Operating Costs per Mile Ownership Costs per Year Ownership Costs per Day Total Annual Cost per 10,000 Miles Total Cost per Mile (10,000 miles per year) Total Annual Cost per 15,000 Miles Total Cost per Mile (15,000 miles per year) Total Annual Cost per 20,000 Miles Total Cost per Mile (20,000 miles per year) Source: AAA, Your Driving Costs: 2012 Edition Island Dreams Real Estate PO Box St Thomas, VI Small Sedan (340) Average Annual Driving Costs by Car Type Medium Sedan Large Sedan 4-Wheel Drive SUV Commuting to work costs an average of $60 in total vehicle expenses per 100 miles, up from $58 in Source: AAA, Your Driving Costs: 2012 Edition Minivan 16.3 cents 20.1 cents 22.6 cents 24.8 cents 21.4 cents $4,293 $5,771 $7,937 $7,640 $6,301 $11.76 $15.81 $21.75 $20.93 $17.26 $5,761 $7,488 $9,878 $9,845 $8, cents 74.9 cents 98.8 cents 98.5 cents 81.6 cents $6,735 $8,780 $11,324 $11,360 $9, cents 58.5 cents 75.5 cents 75.7 cents 63.4 cents $7,684 $10,024 $12,716 $12,830 $10, cents 50.1 cents 63.6 cents 64.2 cents 54.0 cents If you use your vehicle for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes, visit IRS.gov to see if you qualify for the standard mileage deduction. Smart Ways to Reduce Fuel Costs Carpool to work: Form a carpool with neighbors or visit ERideShare.com or CarPoolConnect.com to find a carpool near you. Bike or walk if possible: Both options are good for your health and your wallet. Take public transportation: Many automobile insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who take public transportation to work. How Much is Your Car Costing You? The costs associated with owning and driving your vehicle may differ. To calculate your annual cost per mile, use this handy formula. Operating Costs Gas per mile Total miles driven x Total gas = Maintenance Tires Total Operating Costs = Ownership Costs Depreciation Insurance Taxes License and registration Finance charges Total Ownership Costs = Other Costs (washing, accessories, etc.) Total Driving Costs: Total Operating Costs + Total Ownership Costs + Other Costs = Now you have all of the figures you need to calculate your Cost Per Mile: Total driving costs/total miles driven =

5 AUGUST 2012 HIRE POWER Finding a qualified contractor for a home improvement project can seem overwhelming unless you know what qualifications to look for. Start your contractor search by following these guidelines from Angie s List. Begin by clearly defining your project. Read remodeling magazines and search websites for designs and materials. Even just jotting down ideas on paper can help potential contractors understand what you want to accomplish. To find contractors, ask family and friends for references, or check out sites like Angie s List and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for recommendations. Also check the Better Business Bureau for any reported complaints. Ask the contractor for names of previous clients and talk to them about their experience. Find out if they were pleased with the workmanship and whether they would hire the contractor again. If the contractor is reluctant to give names of past clients, find another one. Make sure the contractor has an established street address and phone number where they can be reached in case of an emergency. Be wary of contractors who use a box office address or an answering service. Obtain at least three written estimates, and ask if the contractors are licensed, bonded and insured. A reputable contractor will usually come prepared with proof of these items. Review the contract thoroughly to ensure that you understand all of the details and how change orders will be handled. Most contractors require a 10 percent to 15 percent deposit before beginning a project. Use a credit card for payments so you have some recourse in case something goes wrong. Before signing off on the project and making the final payment, check that the work is completed to your satisfaction. Hiring qualified contractors can provide some peace of mind throughout the project. RENTAL STRATEGIES For some homeowners, renting may be a viable option to selling. Whether you are an experienced landlord or a first-timer, the following tips from Frontdoor.com and USAA Insurance can help you evaluate prospective renters for your home. First, know federal and state landlord/tenant laws, especially the Fair Housing Act, which outlines illegal discriminatory actions. The Department of Housing and Urban Development s website is a good place to start to gather information. When advertising, focus on the details about the home, such as amenities, features, number of bedrooms and baths, and rent. Providing photos can also help sell your place to prospective renters. Show your house at its best by keeping it clean and in good repair. Remember to remove any personal items. Use a standard rental application that conforms to state laws, and give renters a list of policies about pets, co-signers, credit scores and late payments. Review all applications in the order you receive them, conduct a background check and call references. A good rule of thumb is to accept only applicants whose gross monthly income is three times the rent or more. Keep marketing the house and accepting applications until a lease is signed and the deposit check has cleared. Ask potential tenants to show proof of renters insurance, which covers the cost of the tenants belongings and any damage that might occur to the property during their stay. By following these tips, you can find tenants who appreciate your home as much as you do. fast fact >> >> >> >> The U.S. Weather Bureau began naming hurricanes in 1950, and names rotate in six-year cycles. BROUGHT TO YOU BY JOY STANLEY, A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS

6 country that are receiving rain aren t in the clear, as standing rain water breeds mosquitoes, which can spread West Nile virus, she adds. The NPMA suggests the following tips to prevent pests from entering the home. NO BUGS ALLOWED The excessive heat and drought conditions that have gripped much of the country may have curtailed normal outdoor activities for some, but the weather has also created an ideal breeding environment for pests, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). The growing pest population has wreaked havoc on homes and everyday living. Hot and dry conditions send many pests indoors to seek moisture and cooler temperatures, so homeowners will likely encounter more pests in their homes than usual, says Missy Henriksen of NPMA. Even areas of the Keep all tree branches, shrubs and plants trimmed to create a barrier between the shrubbery and the house. Seal off any holes outside the home to eliminate entry points for small pests. In the kitchen, clean out areas where food is stored, and keep cereal, crackers and cookies in sealed containers. Dust and vacuum regularly to prevent cobwebs and spiders. Eliminate all sources of standing water around the home, which can attract mosquitoes, and check gutters, windows and porch lights for wasp and hornet nests. After spending time in grassy or wooded areas, check yourself and your pets for ticks before coming indoors. If a tick has latched on, use a hot matchstick or vegetable oil to remove it. If a pest problem persists, contact a local pest professional. While you can t change the weather, you can take steps to prevent bugs from spoiling your summer. Say Yes to CRS Buying a home is one of the biggest and most emotional decisions you will ever make. So it s important to work with someone who can provide sound advice and a steady, guiding hand when you need it. That s why a CRS agent is the best person for the job. A Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is among the top 3 percent of all agents in the country. CRS agents have achieved a high volume of transactions and advanced training in areas such as business planning, real estate investing, marketing and technology. They must also maintain membership in the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and abide by its Code of Ethics. Why work with anyone else when you can work with a CRS agent? DID YOU KNOW? Only the female mosquito bites; the male feeds on plant nectars. Source: PestWorld.org