Four years ago, Sharifa Garcia didn’t set out to start a company. She simply decided to rent out her
own St. Croix condo on Airbnb and VRBO. “I literally fell into the industry,” she recalls. “I had no specific
plans, but I quickly fell in love with hospitality and the short-term rental world.” What began with a single
property grew into helping other owners on the island, and today Sharifa is the Founder and CEO of
Our Home Rentals, a boutique vacation rental co-hosting firm dedicated exclusively to St. Croix.
Unlike large property managers or do-it-yourself hosts, Our Home Rentals takes a hands-on, boutique
approach. “Because we’re small by design, we can give every home and every owner individualized
attention,” Sharifa explains. That starts before the first booking ever happens. Her team invests
significant time upfront making sure each home is presented beautifully, stocked with the details visitors
expect, and positioned to compete in a crowded market.
Ownership is another key difference. Our Home Rentals works as a co-host—homeowners always
retain full control of their listings. Rental payouts from Airbnb, VRBO, or direct bookings go straight to
the homeowner after every check-in, while Our Home Rentals sends a simple invoice at month-end.
The results speak for themselves. Sharifa’s own North Shore oceanfront condo was earning about
$25,000 a year as a long-term rental. After transitioning it to a short-term rental with Airbnb, VRBO, and
her direct site—and layering in dynamic pricing, guest digital guidebooks, and optimized
presentation—revenue jumped to over $70,000 annually, nearly tripling its performance. “We don’t just
host properties,” she emphasizes. “We maximize profit and give owners their time back.”
For investors and off-island homeowners, this blend of personalized service and technology is
powerful. Our Home Rentals combines dynamic pricing (updated daily), guest digital guidebooks,
expert communication, turnover crews, booking calendar management, and comprehensive reporting.
“My mission is simple,” Sharifa says. “Exceptional stays for our guests and effortless experiences for
our homeowners.”
With more than 1,000 active Airbnb listings on St. Croix, competition is real—but so is opportunity.
Sharifa believes the island’s vacation rental market is just getting started, fueled by travelers seeking
authentic, flexible, and memorable experiences.
Sharifa’s advice to anyone considering turning a beachfront, oceanfront, or ocean-view property into a
rental? “Don’t wait. The sooner you start, the sooner your property begins working for you.”
Sharifa Garcia is the Founder & CEO of Our Home Rentals, a boutique vacation rental co-hosting firm
focused exclusively on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. Learn more at
www.ourhomerentals.com.