Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
WHOA.
HE IS NOT HAPPY.
POOR BABIES.
(Andromeda) CHAD AND EMILY ARE VOLUNTEER DOG RESCUERS...
OH, ARE YOU GIVING KISSES?
EVEN THOUGH IT'S LITTLE BIT THAT WE OFFER,
IF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE DID IT, IT ADDS UP TO A LOT.
AND WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
ON THIS *** ISLE...
WELCOME TO THE EAGLE'S NEST.
THEY'RE HUNTING FOR A MODERN HOME WITH KNOCKOUT VIEWS...
THIS IS AMAZING.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VIEW.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST CRITERIA-- WATER VIEW.
BUT ISLAND LAYOUTS CAN GET INTERESTING...
WELCOME TO THE NEXT ROOM WITH A VIEW.
AND THEN WE GO DOWN A REVERSE STAIRCASE
LEADING YOU INTO...
A SECOND KITCHEN.
AND BUILDING THE HOUSE OF THEIR DREAMS
COULD BE JUST THAT...
SO HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE US TO BUILD?
NOTHING BUT A DREAM.
AT LEAST A YEAR.
DO YOU WANT TO RENT FOR ANOTHER YEAR?
WHETHER THEY BUY IT OR BUILD IT,
CHAD AND EMILY AIM TO MAKE TROPICAL ST. CROIX
THEIR NEW HOME.
(Emily) I CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE.
(Chad) WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE LEFT SOONER.
♪♪
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Captioned by Closed Captioning Services, Inc.
(bottle crinkling)
(Emily laughs)
WHILE CHANNELING THEIR COMPASSION FOR DOGS
INTO VOLUNTEER WORK...
HE'S REALLY GOOD.
CHAD RUNS A SOFTWARE BUSINESS FROM HOME,
AND EMILY PRACTICES LAW IN DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
(Chad) SO EMILY AND I MARRIED EIGHT YEARS AGO.
WE LIVE--
NINE YEARS AGO.
(laughs)
NINE YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, GOT MARRIED IN ST. LUCIA--
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND BREATHTAKING--
THUS STARTING OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CARIBBEAN.
EMILY AND I LIVED IN A HOUSE IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF DALLAS.
BECAUSE DALLAS IS SO FAST-PACED,
WE WERE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR A MORE LAID-BACK WAY OF LIFE.
AND ST. CROIX OFFERED THAT DIFFERENCE.
KIPPER, READY?
(Emily) GITCH, COME.
THEY'VE BEEN RENTERS SINCE RECENTLY ARRIVING HERE...
(Chad) SINCE IT'S A RENTAL,
WE CAN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE COLORS OR THE FLOORING.
BUT AS THEY PONDER THEIR FUTURE DREAMS...
AND HOW LONG HAVE Y'ALL LIVED HERE?
(woman) 40-SOME YEARS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
VETERAN HOMEOWNERS SHARE A FEW WAR STORIES
ABOUT ISLAND HOUSE HUNTING.
PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS,
THEY'VE SOMETIMES BUILT ON ADDITIONS TO THE HOMES,
AND THEY'VE KIND OF JUST ADDED THEM SPORADICALLY,
HERE AND THERE, WITHOUT ANY REAL THOUGHT.
(Emily) OKAY.
(man) IF YOU CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU WANT,
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO END UP RESORTING TO BUILDING
WHAT YOU WANT.
(man) WE ENDED UP BUILDING.
HOW--HOW DID THE BUILDING PROCESS GO?
UM, WELL, IT'S, UH...
(laughs) IT'S LONG.
IT'S A CHALLENGE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE.
(Emily) A CHALLENGE.
AND DID YOU STAY ON BUDGET?
NO, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT OVER BUDGET.
UM, I'D SAY SOMEWHERE AROUND 15%, 20%.
OKAY.
EMILY AND CHAD MAY HAVE HOUSE HUNTING EXPERIENCE
IN DALLAS,
BUT THE ST. CROIX LOCALS HAVE SPOKEN.
ISLAND HUNTING IS A TASK ALL ITS OWN.
NEARLY 83 SQUARE MILES IN SIZE,
ST. CROIX IS THE BIGGEST OF THE THREE U.S. *** ISLANDS.
AZURE CORAL REEFS AND OTHER TROPICAL DELIGHTS ABOUND,
AND THE ISLAND OFFERS A MORE SUBURBAN,
LESS CONGESTED CHANGE OF PACE.
ALEXANDRA? HI.
YES, HELLO.
THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET IN THE ISLANDS
TENDS TO BE FAIRLY SMALL.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND,
ONLY SO MANY HOMES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE,
AND I REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU TWO ARE LOOKING FOR
AS A COUPLE IN YOUR NEW HOME ON ST. CROIX.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE CLOSE TO TOWN FOR WORK.
I WOULD LIKE
A NICE, OPEN LIVING AND KITCHEN SPACE.
IF THERE WAS A SEPARATE GUESTHOUSE
THAT WE COULD EVENTUALLY RENT OUT,
THAT WOULD BE NICE.
WHAT ARE THE DEAL BREAKERS?
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A WATER VIEW,
UH, WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE IT.
ANY PROPERTY WITH A GORGEOUS OCEAN VIEW
IS GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF A PRICE TAG SURCHARGE ADDED TO IT.
WE INITIALLY STARTED IN--IN THE PRICE RANGE
OF $500,000 TO $700,000.
BUT THAT BUDGET WAS GONNA HAVE TO BE EXTENDED
TO $1 MILLION PRICE RANGE.
UM...
AND REALLY, THAT WAS SO WE COULD GET ON THE WATER.
WATER VIEW, WE CAN GET IN THE PRICE RANGE, NO PROBLEM.
MOST WATERFRONT HOMES START AT $1 MILLION AND GO UP.
AND THERE AREN'T REALLY ANY WATERFRONT HOMES
THAT HAVE THE FEATURES YOU WANT UNDER $1 MILLION.
OKAY.
HOMES RIGHT ON THE WATER
ARE OUTSIDE CHAD AND EMILY'S BUDGETARY COMFORT ZONE.
WELCOME TO THE EAGLE'S NEST.
SO FOR HOUSE 1, ALEXANDRA HEADS TO HIGHER GROUND
TO GUARANTEE A KNOCKOUT VIEW.
THIS PROPERTY IS IN ONE OF THE PREMIER LOCATIONS
ON THE ISLAND
WITH SOME OF THE MOST GLORIOUS VIEWS THAT YOU WILL EVER SEE.
IT HAS FOUR BEDROOMS, THREE AND A HALF BATHROOMS.
THE LISTING PRICE IS $990,000.
AND AS YOU SEE THIS HOME, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND
WHY THE PRICE IS WHERE IT'S AT.
WOW.
OH, MY GOSH.
AND WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS?
THIS IS AMAZING.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VIEW.
ON CLEAR DAYS, YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER ISLANDS.
THAT'S ST. THOMAS, ST. JOHN, TORTOLA, AND *** GORDA.
THERE'S A SWIMMING POOL.
THIS IS A PERFECT SIZE, TOO.
(Emily) RIGHT, NOT AS MUCH MAINTENANCE AS WE HAD IN DALLAS.
THIS IS A GREAT SPACE, THOUGH, AND I WOULD THINK
WITH THESE BREEZES, WE'D BE OUT HERE A LOT.
OH, I REALLY LIKE THE TILE.
YOU HAVE THE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS AND THE GAS RANGE.
AND THIS IS REALLY CONTEMPORARY.
I LIKE THIS.
(Emily) THE KITCHEN,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO EVEN CHANGE THE APPLIANCES OR ANYTHING HERE.
WE COULD JUST MOVE RIGHT IN.
AND, EMILY, YOU WANTED A GREAT ROOM,
SO HERE WE HAVE THE LARGE OPEN SPACE
WITH THE KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM ALL IN ONE.
THIS HOUSE GIVES YOU THAT.
(Chad) THIS IS A GREAT OPEN AREA HERE.
SITTING ON YOUR COUCH AND SEEING THIS VIEW--
THAT'S--THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS HOUSE
IS THAT THE HOUSE IS SOLAR-POWERED.
MANY HOUSES THAT HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING
WILL PAY $500 OR $600 A MONTH
JUST TO RUN THE AIR CONDITIONERS.
OH, MY GOSH.
HERE, THE SELLERS SAY THEY'RE PAYING
$20, $30 A MONTH TOTAL FOR THEIR POWER BILL.
LET'S COME ON IN AND SEE THE MASTER BEDROOM.
IT'S A DECENT SIZE.
YEAH, THIS IS PLENTY BIG ENOUGH FOR US.
AND ANOTHER FEATURE EMILY IS GOING TO LIKE--
WALK-IN CLOSET.
LET'S GO ON IN NOW. THIS GOES ON THROUGH TO THE BATHROOM.
OH, I LIKE THE SHOWER.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SECOND SINK HERE.
WE'RE GONNA GO UP THE STAIRS AND LOOK AT THE SECOND BEDROOM.
I THOUGHT THAT THE BEDROOMS UPSTAIRS WERE REALLY NICE-SIZED.
WOW.
(Alexandra) YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE BATHROOM
TO GET TO THE OTHER BEDROOM.
IT'S A CONTINENTAL BATH.
ONE OF THEM WOULD WORK REALLY WELL FOR CHAD'S OFFICE,
AND IT COULD BE SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER BEDROOM.
AND THEN WE GO DOWN A REVERSE STAIRCASE,
JUST THE SAME AS THE FIRST.
(Emily) OKAY.
(Alexandra) AND THEN WE HAVE CROSSED
THE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE, AND WE'RE COMING INTO...
A SECOND KITCHEN.
YES.
(Alexandra) IF THEY WANTED TO HAVE A PRIVATE RENTAL SPACE,
IT HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY
IN HOW THEY COULD USE THE PROPERTY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS HOUSE?
WELL, IT IS AT THE TOP END OF OUR BUDGET,
BUT I MEAN, THE VIEWS ARE TO DIE FOR.
THE FLOOR PLAN IS A LITTLE...
NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
I-I LIKE THE SEPARATE GUEST AREA.
AND ALSO, I-I WOULDN'T MIND
BEING CLOSER TO THE WATER.
YEAH.
BUT THIS IS--THIS VIEW, YOU CAN'T BEAT.
THAT'S TRUE.
WE HAVE MORE HOUSES TO SEE.
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE.
TO LIVE CLOSER TO THE WATER...
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A STARTING BUDGET OF $800,000.
ALEXANDRA PRESENTS A SANDY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF THIS LOT BY ITSELF?
(Alexandra) THIS LOT RIGHT HERE
IS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR $350,000.
THAT PUTS US WAY OVER OUR BUDGET.
OH.
EMILY AND CHAD
ARE TRANSITIONING THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS
TO AN OCEAN-LOVER'S SHANGRI-LA.
I THINK, IN DALLAS, WE WERE VERY HARRIED.
AND I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE CAR
ALL THE TIME.
THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DOWNTIME.
ST. CROIX'S LAID-BACK PACE
ALLOWS MORE TIME TO SHOW THEIR COMPASSIONATE SIDE.
WE LOVE SPENDING TIME OUT HERE WITH THESE LITTLE GUYS.
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS WHEN PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER.
BUT THEY'RE STILL LIVING IN A RENTAL.
THE RENTAL MARKET HERE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S NOT OUR HOME.
WE CAN'T PAINT THE WALLS IF WE WANT TO.
WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
IF OUR DOGS ARE GONNA TEAR UP THE BACKYARD.
THEIR TASTES ARE MODERN,
AND HOUSE 1 HAS A VIEW TO DIE FOR.
THIS IS AMAZING.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VIEW.
EMILY AND I ARE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE
THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE WATERFRONT OR A WATER VIEW.
I WOULDN'T MIND BEING CLOSER TO THE WATER.
BUILDING A HOME ON THE BEACH
WOULD CERTAINLY PUT THE WATER WITHIN REACH.
SO THIS IS THE LOT
WE'RE THINKING OF-- OF POTENTIALLY BUYING.
OKAY.
BUT THAT OPTION'S A BIT MORE DICEY.
A REALISTIC GOOD STARTING POINT
WOULD BE $800,000.
WOW.
OH.
THE LISTING PRICE ON THIS LOT IS $350,000.
(Emily) OH.
I THINK IT WAS ENCOURAGING AND DISCOURAGING
AT THE SAME TIME--
ENCOURAGING BECAUSE THE LOT IS GREAT.
BEING RIGHT HERE ON THE BEACH WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.
SO HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE US TO BUILD?
AFTER THE DESIGN PROCESS, AT LEAST A YEAR.
(Chad) BUT THE DISCOURAGING PART OF IT
WAS KNOWING THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET INTO A HOME
IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND ALSO KNOWING THAT WE WERE
GONNA HAVE TO, SOME WAY, COME UP WITH SOME MORE MONEY.
DO YOU WANT TO RENT FOR ANOTHER YEAR?
I DON'T... (laughs) I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.
SO WHY DON'T WE GO WALK THE LOT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEACH?
OKAY.
LET'S DO THAT.
AS EMILY AND CHAD PINE FOR THIS STRETCH OF SAND...
I THINK EMILY ALREADY SAW HERSELF
LIVING IN A HOUSE ON THIS LOT.
IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO CALL OFF THE HOUSE HUNT.
I THINK CHAD AND EMILY WILL STILL KEEP THIS ONE
ON THEIR LIST, BUT WE NEED TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.
WITH HOUSE 2, ALEXANDRA EASES UP ON THE BUDGET
WITHOUT SACRIFICING OCEAN VIEWS.
(Alexandra) WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME.
(Emily laughs)
THE DISTANCE FROM TOWN MIGHT BE AN ISSUE.
ALEXANDRA, THIS LANDSCAPING IS BEAUTIFUL.
THIS PROPERTY IS FOUR BEDROOMS, THREE BATHS.
AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWNSTAIRS,
AND THERE'S A 1-BEDROOM, 1-BATH APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS.
SO THAT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO RENT THAT OUT.
AND WHAT'S THE PRICE ON THIS?
THIS PROPERTY IS $850,000.
WE HAVE A BIG POOL, WE HAVE A GORGEOUS VIEW,
AND WE HAVE ONE OTHER FEATURE EMILY'S GONNA LOVE
THE MOMENT WE WALK IN THE DOOR.
THE DRIVE OUT TO CATHERINE'S HOPE
IS--IS PRETTY LONG FROM TOWN.
IT PROBABLY TAKES ABOUT 20 TO 30 MINUTES TO GET OUT HERE.
HERE IS THE GREAT ROOM YOU ASKED FOR.
OH, WOW.
THIS IS AN OPEN SPACE.
I LOVE THIS.
LOOK AT THAT. LOOK AT THE HIGH CEILINGS. WOW.
OH, MY GOSH.
IT'S REALLY NICE, AND LOOK AT THAT VIEW.
(Chad) EVERYWHERE YOU TURN AROUND,
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THOSE VIEWS.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY WE WANT WATERFRONT
OR A VIEW.
YEAH, WE'D LIKE TO BE AWED LIKE THAT EVERY DAY.
OH, MY GOSH!
THERE IS BLUE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE VIEW AT EAGLE'S NEST BETTER,
BECAUSE I'M NOT REAL CRAZY
ABOUT THE VIEW OF THE GOLF COURSE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A BIG BACKYARD.
YES.
CAN WE GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE POOL?
LET'S WALK THIS WAY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GOOD SIZE.
WHAT KIND OF TILE IS THIS?
THIS LOOKS LIKE A CORAL TILE.
YEAH, I LIKE THE TILE.
WHY DON'T WE GO ON BACK INSIDE
AND LOOK AT THE REST OF THE HOUSE?
AND I LIKE THE PASS-THROUGH
BETWEEN THE KITCHEN AND THE LIVING AREA.
WE HAVE CORIAN COUNTERS AND LOTS OF--
LOTS OF COUNTER SPACE AND LOTS OF CABINET SPACE.
AND THE APPLIANCES
LOOK FAIRLY NEW.
FULL APPLIANCE PACKAGE.
THE CABINETS--
WELL, THEY'RE--THEY'RE NOT REALLY MY STYLE.
WHY DON'T WE GO IN
AND TAKE A LOOK INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM?
OKAY.
THIS IS A GREAT SIZE FOR A MASTER.
PERFECT.
AND LOOK AT THAT VIEW TO WAKE UP TO.
WE HAVE THE MASTER BATH
ON THE BACK OF THE MASTER SUITE.
OH, WOW, THIS IS A REALLY NICE SIZE.
YOU HAVE YOUR LAUNDRY CENTER RIGHT IN THE BATHROOM.
THAT'S VERY CONVENIENT. I LIKE THAT A LOT.
THEN WHY DON'T WE GO ON DOWNSTAIRS
AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE GUEST APARTMENT?
(Chad) I PREFER THAT THE GUESTHOUSE OR APARTMENT
IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE MAIN HOUSE
SO THAT THERE IS A SEPARATE ACCESS.
THIS IS A VERY SELF-CONTAINED 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
(Emily) BUT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD SIZE
IF WE WANTED TO RENT IT OUT TO A SINGLE PERSON OR A COUPLE
OR EVEN FOR OUR GUESTS COMING TO STAY.
YEAH.
(Chad) THE PRICE OF THE CATHERINE'S HOPE HOUSE,
IT WORKED,
PLUS, YOU KNOW, SAVE US ADDITIONAL MONEY.
IT IS A NICE HOUSE, THOUGH.
I LOVED THE OPEN LIVING AREA.
UM, I LOVED THAT THERE
WAS A SEPARATE UNIT DOWNSTAIRS THAT WE COULD RENT OUT.
I WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO THINK ABOUT
IF I WANT TO MAKE THAT DRIVE EVERY DAY.
RIGHT.
(Alexandra) IT'S A LITTLE BIT OLDER HOUSE,
BUT THE VERY BOTTOM END OF YOUR BUDGET
GIVES YOU ROOM LEFT OVER
IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS OR UPGRADES.
GETTING THAT MODERN HOME MIGHT REQUIRE SOME T.L.C.
(Chad) YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE DATED.
COMING FROM LANDLOCKED DALLAS, TEXAS,
EMILY AND CHAD WISH THEY WERE CARIBBEAN HOMEOWNERS.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SEE ST. CROIX FROM THE WATER.
AND HAVING A VIEW OF BUCK ISLAND REEF,
A U.S. NATIONAL PARK NEAR ST. CROIX,
WOULD BE AN ADDED PLUS.
I'M A BIT MESMERIZED DOWN IN ST. CROIX
BY ALL--ALL THE VIEWS, AND I'M TAKEN BY THEM IMMEDIATELY.
YEAH, WE'D LIKE TO BE AWED LIKE THAT EVERY DAY.
BUT AS THEIR HOUSE HUNT HEATS UP,
THE STORIES OF VETERAN HOMEOWNERS
ARE RINGING TRUE.
PEOPLE, OVER THE YEARS, THEY'VE SOMETIMES
BUILT ON ADDITIONS TO THE HOMES WITHOUT ANY REAL THOUGHT.
(Alexandra) AND THEN WE GO DOWN A REVERSE STAIRCASE
JUST THE SAME AS THE FIRST...
OKAY.
LEADING YOU INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
YEAH, YOU GOTTA GET THE RIGHT VIBE,
AND IT TOOK US A WHILE BEFORE WE FOUND OUR HOUSE WITH A VIBE.
THERE IS BLUE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
I LIKE THE VIEW AT EAGLE'S NEST BETTER.
WE JUST WEREN'T FINDING THAT VIBE,
AND WE ENDED UP BUILDING.
BUT BUILDING A HOUSE FROM SCRATCH
HAS CHAD AND EMILY STEPPING OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A STARTING BUDGET OF $800,000.
(Chad) THAT PUTS US WAY OVER OUR BUDGET.
OH.
YEAH, ADDING IN THE COST OF THE LOT.
I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO STRETCH ENOUGH
TO DO THAT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE BANKS.
THINKING BIG, HOWEVER,
MIGHT BE OVERSHADOWING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
ALEXANDRA THINKS A FIXER-UPPER CLOSE TO EMILY'S OFFICE
HOLDS SOME PROMISE.
I WANTED THEM TO SEE JUDITH'S FANCY
BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN TOWN LOVE TO LIVE IN.
(Alexandra) THIS PROPERTY, IT IS A 3-BEDROOM, 2 1/2-BATH HOME.
UM, IT ALSO HAS A SEPARATE 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS.
IS THAT APARTMENT CONNECTED?
NO.
IT'S A SEPARATE APARTMENT.
AND HOW MUCH IS IT?
$685,000, WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELOW YOUR BUDGET.
IT'S A WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT IS VERY CLOSE TO TOWN FOR WORK.
RIGHT STRAIGHT INTO THE GREAT ROOM.
SO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK, EMILY.
(Emily) THIS IS A REALLY NICE OPEN SPACE.
I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE THIS WALL HERE,
BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY OPEN.
THAT STOVE IS ENORMOUS.
THE CABINETS ARE NOT REALLY MY STYLE.
I WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO...
REPLACE THESE.
TO CHANGE THESE OUT.
WELL, THE BUDGET WAS A LITTLE HIGHER
THAN THE $685,000 LISTING PRICE,
SO YOU DO HAVE ROOM TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN,
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
OKAY.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO THIS HOUSE
THAT WERE MORE THAN JUST COSMETIC.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THE CEILING.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST FELT A LITTLE CRAMPED.
WE HAVE A FULL GUEST SUITE THAT HAS A BEDROOM, AN OFFICE,
OR A SECOND BEDROOM, AND A BATHROOM.
IT'S ALREADY SET UP AS AN OFFICE.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A VIEW.
NO VIEW.
THE OTHER GUEST ROOM HAS A GREAT VIEW.
OH, THIS IS A MUCH BETTER VIEW
FOR YOUR OFFICE.
IT HAS THE LOW BEAMS IN HERE, TOO.
AND WHAT ELSE IS ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE?
THERE'S ANOTHER BATHROOM.
SO YOU HAVE YOUR SECOND FULL BATHROOM
AT THIS END OF THE GUEST SUITE,
SO NICELY SEPARATED FROM THE MASTER BEDROOM.
IT'S A LITTLE DATED.
THERE'S STILL THE WHOLE MASTER SUITE TO SEE
AT THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE,
AND THEN WE GET TO GO OUT TO THE POOL DECK.
SO YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE MASTER SUITE
WITH AN EXTRA SITTING AREA SPACE.
THIS IS A NICE SIZE,
BUT THIS BEAM REALLY MAKES THE ROOM FEEL SMALL.
YEAH.
HOW DOES THE BATHROOM LOOK?
JUST AROUND THE CORNER HERE.
AND THEN A REALLY WIDE, OPEN BATHROOM.
IT'S A NICE-SIZE SHOWER.
(Emily) I LIKED THAT THERE WERE THE TWO VANITIES,
BUT IT WAS--IT WAS A LITTLE DATED.
WHY DON'T WE GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIEW?
THIS IS A GREAT BREEZE.
AND YOU CAN'T KNOCK THE VIEW OF BUCK ISLAND.
SO THAT WOULD BE NICE TO BE THIS CLOSE TO TOWN FOR WORK.
IT'S ABOUT AN 8-MINUTE DRIVE FROM HERE TO DOWNTOWN.
PERFECT.
I-I LOVE SEEING BUCK ISLAND.
I-I LIKE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF TOWN,
A LITTLE BIT OF THE HARBOR.
(Alexandra) AND A REALLY NICE-SIZE POOL DECK,
SO YOU CAN HAVE BIG PARTIES,
ESPECIALLY AS-- WITH YOUR ENTERTAINMENT.
IT'S A VERY BIG PATIO AREA.
AND THEN, REMEMBER,
WE STILL HAVE A 1-BEDROOM APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS...
OKAY.
SO WHY DON'T WE TAKE A TRIP DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT?
OKAY.
LET'S DO IT.
JUST COME RIGHT IN TO THE APARTMENT.
(Emily) THIS IS REALLY NOT A BAD SIZE AT ALL
FOR AN APARTMENT.
THEN WE HAVE THE BEDROOM HERE,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY LARGE ENOUGH
FOR A FULL KING-SIZE BEDROOM SET.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY GOOD SIZE FOR A GUESTHOUSE.
YOUR RENT THAT YOU CAN COLLECT ON THAT
WILL, YOU KNOW, SAVE US ADDITIONAL MONEY.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK TO TRY TO DO,
BECAUSE THE LOCATION IS REALLY GOOD.
BUT THE HOUSE NEEDED-- NEEDED SOME WORK.
(Chad) I THINK--I THINK WITH THE PRICE, THOUGH,
IT ENABLES US
TO MAYBE COME IN LATER
AND DO SOME OF THE WORK TO UPDATE THE HOUSE.
ONCE YOU'VE KIND OF REACHED SOME CONCLUSIONS,
GIVE ME A CALL, AND WE'LL TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT STEP.
CHAD AND EMILY HAVE SEEN SO MUCH
THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW.
THEY'LL CHOOSE TO BUILD
OR CHOOSE TO BUY.
(Chad) THIS IS A BIG DECISION,
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST IN OUR LIVES.
(Emily) YAY!
(bottle crinkles)
COMPASSIONATE DOG LOVERS EMILY AND CHAD
ARE TWO TEXANS
*** FOR A CARIBBEAN HOME BY THE WATER.
WE ENDED UP BUILDING.
BUT DID YOU STAY ON BUDGET?
NO, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT OVER BUDGET--
SOMEWHERE AROUND 15%, 20%.
BUT AS OTHER VETERAN HOMEOWNERS CAN ATTEST,
THE RISKIER CALL TO BUILD SEEMS APPEALING
IF EXISTING OPTIONS DON'T ADD UP.
THIS IS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT DECISION OF OUR LIVES.
BASE COST TO BREAK GROUND IS $800,000,
AND THE ADDITIONAL $350,000 FOR THE LAND
ALREADY MAKES THE BUILDING OPTION 150K OVER BUDGET.
SO HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE US TO BUILD?
HOW LONG FROM TODAY TILL WE WERE IN OUR HOME?
AT LEAST A YEAR.
(Chad) DO YOU WANT TO RENT FOR ANOTHER YEAR?
I DON'T... (laughs) I DON'T KNOW.
BUT AT $990,000,
HOUSE 1 CAPTURES THOSE GREAT OCEAN VIEWS
WITHOUT THE HASSLES OF CONSTRUCTION.
THAT VIEW WAS JUST AMAZING 180 DEGREES.
BUT HONESTLY, IT IS AT THE TOP OF OUR--OUR BUDGET.
AND I WOULDN'T MIND BEING CLOSER TO THE WATER.
AT $850,000,
HOUSE 2 ALSO DELIVERS THE VIEWS
WHILE GOING EASIER ON THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, I-I THINK THAT THE CATHERINE'S HOPE HOUSE
WAS--WAS NICE.
I LIKED THE BIG, OPEN LIVING AREA.
UM, IT COULD PROBABLY WORK FOR US.
YEAH.
I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THE WHOLE "WALK THROUGH THE BEDROOM"
TO THE OFFICE.
AND YOU KNOW,
I DON'T THINK I COULD MAKE THAT DRIVE TO WORK EVERY DAY.
THE DISCOUNTED FIXER-UPPER, HOUSE 3,
IS THE CHEAPEST OPTION AT $685,000.
(sighs)
HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT LOCATION?
I THINK IT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW--
A CENTRAL MID-ISLAND.
IT'S CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GREAT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN WALK THE DOG.
THE LOCATION IS PERFECT,
BUT I'M NOT REAL CRAZY ABOUT THE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE NEEDED SOME WORK, FOR SURE.
I MEAN, WE COULD SPEND THE MONEY WE'RE SAVING
IN BUYING THAT HOUSE, YOU KNOW, PUT IT TOWARD RENOVATIONS,
BUT THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG EFFORT.
♪♪
SO WE'RE NOT REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE HOUSES.
I KNOW.
EAGLE'S NEST--IF I'M NOT REALLY CRAZY ABOUT IT,
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.
I-I-I AGREE.
AND THEN CATHERINE'S HOPE HOUSE,
THE DISTANCE WAS A BIG ISSUE.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DRIVE.
YEAH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE JUDITH'S FANCY,
IN MY MIND, ALL THE EXTRA WORK--
IT WAS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT, I THINK.
WHAT IF WE TAKE WHAT WE WANT FROM ALL THESE HOUSES
AND PUT IT IN THE LOCATION THAT WE WANT,
PUT IT ON THE WATER,
GET EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT WHERE WE WANT IT?
AND WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
LET'S BUILD A HOUSE.
(laughs)
I THINK YOU'RE CRAZY...
(laughs)
BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
LET'S DO IT.
TAKING THE PLUNGE,
CHAD AND EMILY OPT TO BUILD
ON A STRETCH OF BEACH NEAR DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED.
♪♪
INHALING UP.
EXHALE, HANDS TO THE HEART.
I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME ADJUSTING
TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF TEXAS,
BUT NOW I ALMOST CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE.
(Chad) WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE LEFT SOONER.
WE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ON THE MARKET IN ST. CROIX
THAT BROUGHT THIS VIEW IN.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO AT THE TIME,
UH, AND ENDED UP GOING QUITE A BIT OVER OUR BUDGET.
AND IT ENDED UP TAKING, OF COURSE,
MUCH LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SHIPPED IN,
AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT TAKES IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
WE DECIDED TO KEEP A SEPARATE GUESTHOUSE
FROM THE MAIN HOUSE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE IT MORE CONVENIENT
IF WE DECIDE TO RENT IT OUT LONG-TERM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD PROBABLY GO THROUGH AGAIN HERE.
UM...
WE'RE THRILLED WITH THE RESULT,
BUT IT WAS A VERY STRESSFUL PROCESS.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE OUR DREAM COME TRUE.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK EITHER OF US ENVISIONED
BUILDING A HOUSE
THIS NICE.
AND IT'S MADE A BEAUTIFUL HOME.