Warning Re: Housing

[Experienced]

Greetings and Salutations,

My landlord just told me that several Sabans are currently building TINY (~10' x 10') apartments and planning to charge $700 or $800 dollars for them. Apparently word is out that we are suffering a housing shortage, but the market does not have to bear price gouging from some of the locals!

Even these days you should be able to get a decent apartment with a spectacular view -- a spacious 2 bedroom in certain places -- for that amount. A decent one-bedroom should be quite a bit less. Ask Laura in Housing to help you but DON'T pay $700-800 for a tiny cell!!

E.

[SillyDoc]

I agree that overpriced housing sucks and I certainly have been there and done that, but the locals on Saba can charge whatever they like for their housing, just as you have the option to refuse said housing.

Imagine if a Saba local came to your office ten years from now wanting medical treatment and received it, and then tossed your bill aside indignantly because it's too high. Expensive housing is just one more hurdle to deal with in the whole carib med thing.

[BTH]

Salutations "Experienced":

I have not head of this rumor as of yet. I'm sure I will sooner or later. In either case, I am not surprised if there is a housing shortage since Saba is accepting more students for their classes. However, I am looking at the housing schedule as we speak and there seems to be quite a lot of housing left to choose from so it has not yet come to that. Anyone who is willing to pay $700-$800 just for rent alone is insane. I know some people who opted for a single room in Matthews Dorm had to pay $3,100. That hurts me just thinking about it.

I'm sure the locals will try to get as much from the students as they can. Nothing we can do about that except hopefully find someone who is either moving out and take over their place or find a cheaper place to live. Ciao.

[rdecastro]

While there was a distinct shortage of housing right at the start of the semester, there seems to be enough available on the island right now, with a number of nice, moderately priced places available.

The key factor is transportation. If people INSIST that they need to live only in Windwardside, or in the Bottom, then the law of supply and demand will kick in. There are lots of places available elsewhere.

As far as the rumor of 10x10 places, if people are willing to move into them, so what? I wouldn't, and the cost of my cottage in Hells Gate includes a car. I'm willing to pay it, and not spread unfounded rumors (BTW, did you hear the rumor that [insert whatever you want here]?). As I drive around the island I see a number of larger places being built, and I haven't seen any 10x10 places going up. In fact, the smallest places under construction I've seen are the ones between Family Deli and My Store, which may be under construction again (or may not, it's hard to tell). And they're bigger than 10x10.

[omega's]

It's far easier to find a place (easy, in fact), very reasonably priced as a single. The issue is really for families. Finding 2 or 3 bedroom places that aren't on a precipice (and therefore uninhabitable for a family with rampant toddlers) is a real challenge.

There are more than enough single rooms/apts in the Bottom alone. I rented one until my family returned for $400/mo.

[thedirtychemist]

I suppose. Good thing that my wife and I only need a one-roomer!