If you can’t find the perfect villa, consider building. All three islands have architects and contractors ready to make your dream a reality. Like homes, land price depends on location. You’ll pay anywhere from $60,000 to $1 million for a half acre on St. Thomas.

On St. John, prices start at around $150,000 for the same size lot in the more modestly priced Carolina, one of the few areas with much land left for sale. If you manage to find a piece of land in gated Peter Bay, you’ll pay $6 million for three-quarters of an acre.

Land is available on St. Croix, with most buyers opting for the East End or North Shore areas. A half acre runs from $30,000 to $100,000.

Many owners opt to handle the groundskeeping themselves, but if you plan to use your property only part of the year and rent it out when you’re away, you can hire a management company to keep the place in shape for you. The staff will line up gardeners, housecleaners and pool-maintenance professionals, and will keep up with repairs. Most management companies charge 20 percent of the rental price for their services.

Buying Into a Vacation-Ownership Property

If you’d like to buy your own slice of a resort hotel, you’ll find that each property handles vacation ownership a bit differently, so look closely when making comparisons.