Second homes: A peaceful, protected corner of the Caribbean

— -- For American second-home buyers who want a slice of paradise, the U.S. Virgin Islands are one of the easiest entries into the Caribbean. The island group has all the things people love about the region — warm, sunny weather, clear turquoise waters and sandy beaches — along with the things they love about home: the English language, U.S. laws and political stability.

The main selling point of the U.S. Virgin Islands is its governance. After seven versions of foreign rule, the islands — the best-known are St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John— became a U.S. territory in 1917, and the majority of second-home buyers are U.S. citizens.

"The No. 1 reason is the security," says longtime broker Amy Land-de Wilde of Coldwell Banker Land-de Wilde Realty on St. Croix. "It pops to the top of the list every time. You feel like you are away from home, but with all the things you are used to. There is also the ease of getting here."

The second attraction is the islands' natural beauty, protected by several national parks. Fully two-thirds of 19-square-mile St. John is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, and offshore lies Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. St. Croix offers Buck Island Reef National Monument, and St. Thomas has the Marine Sanctuary Mangrove Lagoon. All three are covered with mountains, lush flora, hiking trails and vast expanses of beaches. The islands also offer watersports, with some of the Caribbean's best scuba diving.

Waterfront property is less expensive than in other Caribbean destinations, especially now, as larger inventory makes real estate is more negotiable, Land-de Wilde says. "I just sold a condo on the water for under $100,000," she says. On St. Croix, the least-expensive island, typical condo prices begin around $150,000, she says, and $500,000 for single-family houses. Unlike much of the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands have few large planned developments, though several are in the works.

A look at three islands within the USVI

•St. Thomas:With an active cruise port since the 1960s, St. Thomas is most commercially developed island, good for those who love nightlife and a livelier atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie is the USVI's capital, home to a bustling harbor and much shopping. Prices run slightly higher than on St. Croix: A luxury development, the 400-acre Preserve at Botany Bay with housing options from $900,000 to $2 million, is expected to open in 2011 (thepreserveatbotanybay.com).

•St. John:St. John is more rural and wild than the other islands, appealing to escapists and nature lovers seeking untouched Caribbean. It's also considerably harder to get to, accessible only by ferry from St. Thomas. The limited supply of homes means St. John is more expensive. Condos begin at more than $250,000, and most are more than $500,000. Houses range from $300,000 to $32 million.

•St. Croix:St. Croix is the largest island, which makes it the most affordable. There's "lots of open space, with lush rain forest at one end and desert at the other," says real estate agent Amy Land-de Wilde. The main towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are known for Dutch West Indies architecture, art galleries and restaurants, and the island has three golf courses. Single family homes begin around $500,000 and go to $9 million, though the vast majority on the market are less than $1 million. Condos are much less.