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The beautiful island of St. Thomas, is situated in the US Virgin Islands, and benefits from wonderful year-round weather, white sandy beaches, and of course a wide range of homes. If you are looking for a new home in the sun for either a vacation home, or a permanent home, there are plenty to choose from on St. Thomas.

St Thomas is the most cosmopolitan of all the US Virgin Islands, yet it still keeps its distinctive secluded Caribbean paradise atmosphere. The island provides visitors and new residents with a home away from home feel, while being surrounded by tropical scenery and friendly locals.

St. Thomas property is being purchased by many expats looking for a new life in the Caribbean sun, or a base as a vacation getaway so that they can visit anytime they want. There is a vast choice of properties including condos, beachfront properties, beautiful luxury villas with private pools, land lots to build your dream home, and much more.

The first inhabitants of St. Thomas were the Cibony Caribs, and the Arawaks. Christopher Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands in 1493, naming them ‘The Virgins’ after the beauty of St. Ursula, and her 1,000 virgins. The islands had a quiet period after the visit of Columbus, although Spanish settlers from Puerto Rico, are said to have carried out regular raids on the islands forcing many of the Indian inhabitants to work while others fled. The European exploration spelled the demise of the indigenous groups living on the islands as they had no immunity to the different diseases brought over with the explorers, nor were they prepared for the harsh labor they were forced into.

Over the next few decades, the Indian population had plummeted on the islands and they no longer exist in what is known today as the USVI. Many countries expressed an interest in St. Thomas during the 1600’s including Holland, France, England, Spain, Denmark, and the Knights of Malta. However, it was the Danes who managed to establish the first settlement on St. Thomas in 1672 with the Danish West India Company in 1733, and sugar plantations began to appear all over the island. The slave trade serving sugar plantations on the islands thrived until a rebellion caused the abolition of slavery in 1848. The lack of slavery led to many plantation owners abandoning their properties, and land and decline in the economy ensued. Very little was heard about the US Virgin Islands until World War II, when the United States negotiated to purchase the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. Although the islands were purchased in 1917, citizenship was not granted to Virgin Islanders until 1927. Tourism grew on the island once the US imposed an embargo on Cuba in 1959, and today St. Thomas is a thriving destination for visitors in search of the perfect destination and for those looking for a new home.

St. Thomas is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities, with a wonderful climate, beautiful clear blue waters, and a diverse landscape. You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing what to do every day. There are activities available for all the family to enjoy together, here are just a few on offer on the island:

• Snorkeling or Scuba diving
• Sailing
• Sport-fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Biking

St. Thomas Cuisine

Food and drink are a very important part of St. Thomas culture, and dining is something of a social event for islanders. St. Thomas boasts some of the best restaurants in the entire Caribbean, and some of the most delicious local and international dishes can be found on the island. The local foods common to the islands today are the result of many interactions between the native Indians and the Europeans during the years of exploration.

Some of the most popular local dishes include fish soup, Callalo soup, stewed oxtail, and Saltfish. Most dishes come with a side order of rice and peas. However, if you are not the most adventurous type there are plenty of restaurants serving up delicious international cuisine, such as American, Chinese, Italian and more.

Buyers choose St. Thomas as a vacation destination or to purchase their own property for many reasons, including the modern facilities, great weather, luxury homes, and more. With so many stunning properties on offer, you will be sure to find exactly what you are looking for.