Our St. John Real Estate Team

Cruz Bay Realty, Inc. is a second generation, family owned real estate company serving St. John since 1985. We take pride in our reputation, integrity, and understanding of the real estate market on St. John. Whether you are looking for the ideal island property to purchase, or you are trying to make a decision about selling, you can rely on the professional team at Cruz Bay Realty, Inc. to give you accurate and informed advice and information.

AMANDA ARQUIT, BROKER
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Amanda graduated from the University of North Florida before fulfilling her dream of moving to St. John in 2009 and quickly immersing herself in all the island had to offer. Initial positions in hospitality management led her to aid in the relocation of an array of guests. This fueled her decision to pursue further knowledge and licensing in real estate, first as an agent, then a broker. Amanda is an active member of the St. John Board of Realtors and stays one of our island’s top-producing real estate brokers.  In her free time, you can find her surfing, paddle boarding, scuba diving, or hiking. Her strong work ethic along with her caring and accommodating nature makes her well-liked by clients and customers alike. She is currently in the middle of building her own island home and is happy to share all she has learned along the way. Amanda is eager to meet you, and help you discover your own slice of paradise!

(340) 244-2194


GRETCHEN LABRENZ, BROKER
Gretchen’s parents, Jim and Margie Labrenz, founded Cruz Bay Realty in 1985. Originally, from Columbus, Ohio, the Labrenz family built the first home in Estate Fish Bay, appropriately named “Goodbye Columbus” in 1977.  Her father, Jim Labrenz, was instrumental in the development of Estate Fish Bay and a founding member of the St. John Board of Realtors. Gretchen worked at Caneel Bay for 10 years prior to joining the family real estate company. After living on St. John for 40 years, Gretchen now splits her time between St. John and Ft. Lauderdale.

(340) 642-7503


NANCY COXE BATTEN
Nancy has had a love for island living since she was a young girl when she was first introduced to the Virgin Islands after sailing through most of the Caribbean with her parents and three sisters.  Upon graduating from Appalachian State University, she followed her lifelong dreams and moved to St. John in 2009.  She is passionate about all things under and on the water and found a place where her love for scuba diving, snorkeling, underwater photography, and sailing could grow into a sustainable lifestyle.  She met and married her husband and together they began building their solar-powered, off-the-grid dream home in Chocolate Hole.  It was during this time she became enthralled with the building process. Nancy is been an integral part of multiple builds and renovations and has been Project Manager on several projects in the Virgin Islands.  Her extensive knowledge of properties and land potential, in addition to her hands-on work experience, gives her a practical and realistic approach to the St. John real estate market. Let Nancy show you all that St. John has to offer and how to make your dreams of owning property in St. John a reality!

(340) 626-2698


TORI PALOMARES
Tori is originally from Dallas, Texas by way of Baltimore, Maryland. She had never been to the Caribbean but with a passion for trying new things, she bought a one-way ticket in 2015 and took a chance on St. John! Tori quickly fell in love with the island and has made it her home. She spends a lot of her time growing her property management company, Driftwood Properties but in her spare time, she can be seen on one of the many hiking trails with her dog. Her experience managing properties and being in hospitality since college go hand in hand with real estate. Tori is well versed in the short-term rental opportunities that properties have to offer as well as finding the perfect home for anyone on St. John.

(340) 227-0940


YELENA ROGERS
Yelena is a native of Ukraine. She moved to the United States in 1998 and holds a BA Degree in History and Foreign Languages from Moscow State Lomonosov University (1994) and MS Degree in Investment Management from Boston University (2004). She spent 10 years working For Fidelity Investments in Boston, MA as a financial analyst. After calling New Hampshire her home for 12 years, she moved to St John in 2010. She started her photography business and became a successful business owner. Her activities as a photographer quickly became recognized by St Johnians and visitors to the island as an example of professional and artistic portraying of the natural beauty of the island and laid back lifestyle.  She quickly became part of the St John Community.  Yelena supports several charities of the island among which are Animal Care Center of St John, Friends of National Park, and St John School of the Arts. She also speaks Russian, Ukrainian and Italian.

(340) 474-1917


JESS KIMBALL
Originally from Montpelier, Vermont, Jess first came to St John in 2003 and worked at the iconic campground and art studio at Maho Bay. After attending art school at Savannah, GA and hiking the Appalachian Trail, Jess found her way back to St John in 2010. She worked in the boating, hospitality, and landscaping communities before founding 340 Construction with her husband in 2013. As the mother of two children born and raised on St John, Jess has helped to establish innovative educational programs for kids and is passionate about recycling, composting, and green building on the island, where our natural environment is our pride and joy. Through her company 340 Construction Jess supports local home and business owners in the community with building, renovation, and maintenance needs, and is committed to helping new homeowners understand exactly what it takes to build or renovate a home on St John and make their dream into a reality!

(340) 244-8615


DENESHA THOMAS
Born and raised in the Virgin Islands, Denesha brings unique local knowledge to island real estate. And as the mother of 2 beautiful children, Ledisi and Lemar, she’s an active member of the community. After four years at our local Merchants Commercial Bank, she’s diving into the real estate world and we are so lucky to have her skill set in our office. She loves singing, dancing, and cooking but her true passion is helping others. Seeing the people she’s working with happy, makes her happy. So connect with us, let’s dream big.

(340) 643-7473


SUSANNE KIRK
A Peter Bay property owner since 1994, has the experience to help you navigate the upscale St. John real estate market to make win-win transactions for both buyers and sellers. Susanne is committed to providing quality service, along with extensive knowledge of building, renting, and market trends. Originally from Wilmington, Ohio, Susanne earned her Ph.D. in education and was a college professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati before making St. John her home. Susanne serves as the chair of the Peter Bay Architectural Review Board, as well as a board member of the St. John Animal Care Center and is involved in other community service organizations.

(340) 514-4444

View Susanne’s luxury rental property, “Villa La Susa”