The Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Island Dream

The Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Island Dream 1 Table of Contents Fast Facts:..............................................
Author: Nigel Robbins
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The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Island Dream

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Table of Contents Fast Facts:................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Why Choose The Dominican Republic? .................................................................................................. 5 Cabarete: A Caribbean Town of Contrasts.............................................................................................. 6 Bavaro, Punta Cana: The Quintessential Caribbean ............................................................................. 11 Caso de Campo: The Ultimate Caribbean Hideaway ............................................................................ 17 La Romana: The Affordable Country Club Dream .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Las Terrenas: A Beachfront Blend of Caribbean, French & Italian Style ............................................... 22 Top Property Picks in Las Terrenas ....................................................................................................... 27

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Fast Facts: Area: 18,704 square miles/48,422 square kilometers. Population: 10,219,630 (2013 Census). Currency: Dominican Peso. Climate: Mostly tropical maritime. Annual average temperature is 25C/77F. Hurricane risk. Economy: Exporter of sugar, coffee and tobacco. In recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the biggest employer (tourism, Free Trade Zones, telecommunications). GDP growth was an estimated 4.5% in 2011 and 4% in 2012. Its expected growth for 2013 is 4.7%. Geography: Powder beaches, Caribbean Sea, and much, much more. A central mountain range forms the country's backbone. It's home to the Caribbean's highest peak, Pico Duarte. The island's landscape includes waterfalls, mountains, valleys, forests and lakes. Official Language: Spanish.

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Introduction Dear Reader, If I say the words "Caribbean island" I'll bet the first image that comes to your mind involves ribbons of coral sand beaches, brilliant blue tropical seas and swaying palm trees. The Caribbean's sultry charms are familiar to many. Equally familiar is the feeling that the Caribbean is no longer affordable...that it slipped out of the price range of mere mortals more than 20 years back. You expect to pay a premium for that Caribbean combination of sun, sea and sand...right? That’s partly true. But one Caribbean island location gives you the beaches, the crystal-clear seas and the palm trees – without the sticker shock prices. I’m talking about the Dominican Republic. Long a favorite with vacationing Europeans, it’s only in recent years that this island started to attract large numbers of North American tourists. And despite the steep property prices you’ll see in a couple of the island’s tourist hot spots, there are plenty of bargains in other island locations. I’ve scouted extensively in the Dominican Republic. And in this report, I’ll give you the highlights. Five very different locations – and only a few that make it to my shortlist as a place I’d recommend. And, in case you're wondering, my favorite location offers gorgeous beaches, affordable properties and strong potential rental yields. Read on to find out more. Margaret Summerfield

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Why Choose the Dominican Republic? The Dominican Republic is a great location for a second-home. Here are some of the reasons why: 



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It's quick and easy to get to. Flights take two hours 10 minutes from Miami, three hours 35 minutes from Atlanta, and three hours 41 minutes from New York. Low-cost airlines like Spirit and JetBlue help keep fares low. It's got great beach weather. Temperatures along the coast hover in the 80s year-round. The Dominican Republic offers powder beaches and crystalline Caribbean Sea, and a central mountain range that’s home to the Caribbean's highest peak, Pico Duarte. The island's landscape includes waterfalls, mountains, valleys, forest, and lakes. In Santo Domingo, the capital city, you'll see colonial buildings and ancient forts. It's easy to become a resident here. The economy is strong. The estimated growth rate for 2013 is 4.7%. Traditionally it focused on agriculture - the export of sugar, tobacco and coffee. Today, the big earners are tourism and Free Trade Zones. Property prices are still affordable in the Dominican Republic compared to other Caribbean locations.

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Cabarete: A Caribbean Town of Contrasts

Cabarete's a hot spot for adventure tourism

We’ll start with Cabarete. (Click here to see Cabarete on a map). Cabarete is a town of sharp contrasts. Old hippies amble round town, rubbing shoulders with a young crowd of adventure seekers. Run-down hotels sit alongside shiny new residential blocks. Beer and billiards joints (ringing to the sound of dominoes slapping on hotly-contested boards), are across the street from hip nightclubs and restaurants specializing in world cuisine. Properties range from super-cheap lots to multi-million dollar homes in exclusive communities. A half-moon of golden sand curves around a wide bay, with year-round Atlantic breezes. Located on the north coast of the island, Cabarete started as a resort destination back in the 1980s. Over the years, the resort scene declined as tourists switched to the new and trendy Punta Cana in the south of the island. Today in Cabarete, you'll see old hotels sitting alongside sites earmarked for luxury residential development. Those developments have set their sights firmly on the new breed of tourist in town: independent, obsessed with adventure sports and not interested in the all-inclusive hotel experience.

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The afternoon skies fill with kite surfers...

And when I say obsessed, I'm not joking. The afternoon skies over Cabarete fill with kite surfers (almost 200 on the day I counted), and the seas with windsurfers (75, on the same day). These adventure sports fanatics don't want an all-inclusive resort, or even a hotel. They prefer short-term rental apartments as close to the beach and the action as possible. They’re mostly from Scandinavia and Russia. Kite Beach is their focal point. If you're not an expert in kite-surfing, don't worry; plenty of local schools offer training. The Master of the Skies competition takes place here. Competitors surf, wind-surf and kite-surf. Whoever gets the highest average score in all three sports wins the competition. Other attractions around Cabarete include deep sea fishing, diving, mountain biking (excursions range from a relaxing couple of miles to a grueling 50 kilometer course), white water rafting and horseback riding. The town's buzzing nightlife scene includes a club that sums up the flavor of the younger crowd in Cabarete. It boasts curtained "opium" beds on the beach, champagne, guest DJs and partying until dawn under the starry skies. The town's restaurants vary from little Italian places and pizza parlors, to Asianfusion and steakhouses. Seasoned when it comes to tourists, store keepers in the town don't hang back. Walk past, and they’ll charm and cajole you into their stores with promises of discounts, superior wares and shameless flattery. But it all feels friendly, and a refusal is met with a simple smile or a wave.

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You'll find a wide choice of properties here...from luxury villas to affordable lots

Properties in Cabarete vary enormously, reflecting the town's checkered fortunes. On the outskirts (east and west), you'll find small new residential developments and mini-malls clustering close to the beach. Farther out, you'll come across Sea Horse Ranch with its $499,000+ homes, super-private setting, a beach club, an equestrian center, tennis courts and a helicopter pad. Off-beach lots without a view run from $150-350 a meter in Sea Horse. Resale homes list for up to $3.75 million. In the lush hills close to Sea Horse overlooking the ocean, small private developments offer non-view lots from $15-20 a meter. These communities don't offer fancy social areas or cobblestone streets. Instead, you get gravel roads and a security gate. You don't get any communal areas, but it means that you get large home sites for a fraction of the price of those closer to the beach or in high-end communities. One development caught my eye. Situated in lush gardens with a communal swimming pool, this furnished 1-bed 1.5 bath condo is decorated in a tropical Indonesian style.

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It’s in a beach community overlooking Kite Beach with views of landscaped grounds surrounding the complex and partial ocean views. Owners get direct beach access. The unit is 90 square meters (968 square feet) and priced at $169,000.

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If you’re looking for something a little closer to town, then take a look at this two-storey townhouse located in an attractive project quiet residential area. It’s a ten-minute stroll from both the beach and from downtown Cabarete. This 2bed, 2.5- bath home also has a living room, a dining room that’s separated by a fully equipped kitchen by a breakfast bar, and a roof terrace with views of the tropical gardens and swimming pool. It’s on the market for $165,000.

Or how about this property that sits right on the beach? It’s part of a six-unit building. It features a spacious balcony with excellent ocean views. It’s got three bedrooms and bathrooms. Amenities in the complex include a swimming pool and maid service. It’s furnished and listed for $269,000 but the seller is open to negotiation:

Finally, take a look at this luxurious one-bed beachfront condo situated just a few minutes from Cabarete Bay. It’s got an open-plan kitchen with granite counters, a living room that leads onto a balcony overlooking the beach, and a spacious bedroom with a full bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. It’s on the top floor of the building and commands ocean views from the bedroom and living room.

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The whole complex has 24-hour security, a beachfront restaurant, and on-site rental management. Price: $159,000. Cabarete has appeal for the adventure sport market. If you're an outdoor or water sport enthusiast, you'll think you're in heaven. Prices remain affordable, outside high-end communities like Sea Horse Ranch. If you want more details on properties in Cabarete, contact West Indies real estate here. If all this sporty exertion leaves you cold, our next stop on the island is a sunning and tanning heaven, with spas, ritzy coffee shops, yachts and luxury malls.

Bavaro, Punta Cana: The Quintessential Caribbean

White sand, turquoise water, sunshine, and palm trees...what more could you want?

It's the stuff of glossy magazine travel supplements: A wide carpet of dazzling white sand, fringed with lofty coconut palms, and washed by glittering-turquoise ocean. With the Dominican Republic's best beaches, this place is also tourist heaven, and home to most of the country's all-inclusive resorts. When friends or family tell you they've visited the Dominican Republic, chances are they spent their time here. 11

Bávaro is set on the Coconut Coast. (For a map, click here). The Coconut Coast covers 32km (20 miles) of the island’s southeast. Its warm, dry climate and plenty of sunshine makes it an ideal tourist destination. The Dominican government selected the Coconut Coast as the country's tourist hot spot, back when it was an undeveloped, wild coast. The government installed the infrastructure, and developed this coast in the same way the Mexican government developed Cancun. Major hotel groups (mostly European) quickly snapped up prime beachfront parcels of land on the Coconut Coast and built huge resort hotels. A private company built Punta Cana international airport in 1984 (5.5 miles from Bávaro). That made getting here easy from places such as Europe, the USA and Canada. Tourist traffic through Punta Cana airport more than doubled from 2000-2009. In the early days, most of the island’s tourists came from Europe. In 2006, North American arrivals at Punta Cana airport outnumbered Europeans for the first time, and that trend continues today. Don't expect a major city or charming beach town on the Coconut Coast though. They created this resort area from scratch. Despite the high tourist numbers, the only proper town is El Cortecito, close to Bávaro's beaches. El Cortecito started as a fishing village, before becoming a town for the workers building the hotels and infrastructure on this coast. The original town lacks any real charm; it's not quaint or colonial. Instead, it's convenient...with ATMs, banks, hardware stores, car rental agencies, and a smattering of bars and restaurants. In the short strip between El Cortecito and the beach, you'll come across new plazas, American-style cafes and restaurants, and shopping malls stocking luxury designer brands. The upside of the Coconut Coast is that the infrastructure in this area is excellent. And, with the opening of a new highway, the Coral Highway, getting to Santo Domingo, the country's capital is now quicker and easier. The new road cuts the drive time to Santo Domingo from 3.5 hours to 2 hours. The nightlife in Bávaro is excellent. You won't want for golf courses, either, with a choice of 12 along the Coconut Coast. Moreover, the little cafes and plazas dotted around Bávaro give it an upscale feel. It's all a bit "Miami" - sun, sand and fun. The downside of the hotel chains starts with the lack of local flavor. It's not entirely their fault; this area was developed from scratch, rather than expanding on little fishing villages and local beach towns already in place. It doesn't feel very Dominican here, although most tourists won't notice, as they don't venture outside the confines of their all-inclusive resort. 12

The hotels make it difficult for anyone other than guests to get to the beach, too, despite the fact that all beaches in the Dominican Republic are public. Just try explaining that to the security guys as you try to cross their ropes and barriers...

It's the perfect playground for swimming, tanning, and relaxing in the sun

The biggest drawback here is the cost of beachfront land. It’s incredibly high, and that’s down to the hotel chains. Larger land parcels suitable for hotel development command premium prices. Smaller parcels rarely come onto the market (they just aren't available), and when they do, the pricing reflects the premium paid for the hotel-sized pieces. A developer showed us a 3000-square-meterparcel he purchased right next to a beautiful section of beach. He paid $4 million. If he built 20 condos, the land cost alone comes to $200,000 per condo. Then you factor in the cost of permits and approvals, architects, build costs - and you can see why beach properties don't come cheap here. If you buy a property here and plan on renting it out short-term, you face stiff competition from the hotels, and their 24,000 rooms. You'll find some opportunities in rentals for a week or a month at a time. Long-term rentals also make sense, but you need to choose your area carefully. Advertising boards for new condos sometimes state "with title". That sets alarm bells ringing. You should get title on a property when you buy it. But in Punta Cana, it can take one to two years to get title. Plus, density regulations can lead to delays in getting title. These regulations relate to the number of bedrooms (yes, blame the hotels again).

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If this all sounds negative, it's not meant to. There's a reason more tourists come here than anywhere else in the Dominican Republic. It's stunning...it has the Caribbean beach and ocean we all dream of. Many of the big resort hotels offer day passes so you can use their beach clubs, restaurants and bars. And properties in new little communities back from the beach are still very affordable. If amenities close at hand are important to you, then take a look at these 1-bed 1.5 bath units in the heart of El Cortecito. These 915-square-foot units are in a good location, with restaurants, hotels, casinos, food markets and drug stores close by. Water parks, golf courses, nightclubs and international restaurants are within a short drive.

In this small residential community, you can buy a second-floor unit for $60,000.It comes with a balcony and is fully furnished. All units face the communal swimming pool. Monthly condo fees run around $125. Another option is the two-bed two-bath condo below. It’s only a five-minute walk from the beach and just minutes from two popular shopping centers.

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The condo has a private rooftop terrace with its own barbeque and it’s fully furnished. It’s 1518 square feet in size (including the rooftop terrace). It’s priced at $179,000 with monthly condo fees running around $150. Another option is this 980-square-foot two-bed, two-bath condo in a golfing residential community. The condo comes fully furnished.

The community amenities include three swimming pools, landscaped gardens and discounted green fees for the surrounding golf course. Price: $100,000. If you’re looking for luxury right on the beach, this 1431-square-foot one-bed two-bath condo is in an exclusive beachfront community. Owners get access to amenities including a swimming pool, restaurants and a beach club.

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If you’re a fan of golf, you’re in luck, as you’re close to three golf courses. The condo comes with its own mezzanine loft area and a private rooftop terrace. It’s listed at $199,000. If you're looking for somewhere with year-round warmth, and dry sunny weather...perfect beaches, and balmy tropical water...good infrastructure...proximity to the US...and a relaxed, easy second-home destination, then Bávaro could fit the bill. You're likely to have frequent visits from friends and family, eager to share your piece of paradise. And off-beach properties are still affordable. Contact Scott Medina, a broker we work with here, if you'd like to know more about properties in Bávaro.

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Caso de Campo: The Ultimate Caribbean Hideaway Next up is Caso de Campo. If you're looking for a luxury Caribbean hideaway, this private community certainly fits the bill. It's a golfer's paradise...a boater's paradise...and a beach paradise, all rolled into one. On my first visit here, my driver took a wrong turn on the way to the hotel reception. We ended up at a gas station. That was the first hint as to the size of this place. You see, the gas station is inside this private community. And you'll probably need it. We finally found the main lobby and I checked in. I got the key to my room. I also got a key to a golf cart. I hadn't asked for one. I don't play golf and I quite enjoy walking. But it turns out that there's a golf cart allocated to every room in the resort. And, as the helpful receptionist explained, you need it. You need it because this place is massive. It covers 15,000 acres. It's a spectacular private kingdom. The golf cart keys are only the start of the adventure... I’ve never seen anything like Caso de Campo. It's not just the scale of the resort. It's a masterpiece - the ultimate location for pampered living.

Casa de Campo offers an elite hideaway for the utmost in pampered living Casa de Campo started in the 1970s as an exclusive retreat created by Charles Bluhdorn, the founder of Gulf & Western and president of Paramount 17

Pictures. He invited friends to join him—fashion designers, movie stars and directors and business moguls. He built two golf courses, an artists' village and even a replica of a 16th-century Italian village. After Bluhdorn's death in 1983, the Fanjul family bought the resort and opened it up to paying guests. The resort began as one man's private passion, a personal playground to share with family and friends. As a business proposal it wouldn't have made sense to bankers, investors or hoteliers at the time. But it wasn't built with a financial return in mind. Today, it's an elite hideaway for those seeking privacy, security and superstar pampering. But it's not a remote hideaway. It's a 90-minute drive from the airport in Santo Domingo. You can fly into La Romana airport which is less than 10 minutes from Casa de Campo's hotel reception. Or there's the heliport if you've got your own helicopter. If you prefer to travel by boat, you can dock at the 400-slip marina. Mega yachts and sleek powerful boats fan out from the marina's Italian-style square. You'll find little cafes, restaurants, boutique stores and a wellstocked grocery store at the marina.

The marina village is a nice spot for lunch The marina village is modeled on Portofino, Italy. And Italy was the inspiration for one of the most ambitious elements of Casa de Campo: Altos de Chavon.

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Altos is a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village set high above the Chavon River. Local artisans handcrafted cobblestone pathways, immense wooden doors and wrought iron details to get it looking just right. It's a pretty convincing replica, complete with a little church. It's a charming spot. You can dine in one of the restaurants and bars, browse the designer stores or the artifacts on display in the museum. In the evenings, the 5,000-seat amphitheater in Altos hosts concerts. And we're only getting started on the amenities... If you're a golfer, you can choose from five courses—including the legendary “Teeth of the Dog” course by Pete Dye.

It's a golfer's paradise...a boater's paradise... There are tennis courts...a shooting range...a country club, gym and spa...swimming pools...an equestrian center and polo fields...20 restaurants, bars and cafes...a beach club with impeccable service and a beautiful curve of white sand beach. As I'm sure you can imagine this place doesn't come cheap. It's wellestablished, super-convenient and super-luxurious. Mansions dot the manicured grounds. Low-rise condo buildings gaze across the calm waters of the marina or the green oasis of a golf course. It's expensive to rent here and expensive to buy here. But this place is unique. I can't think of anywhere else you get such a beautiful setting, topquality infrastructure and gold-star amenities on your doorstep. The price tags are certainly high—but it feels like you're getting your money's worth. You're getting the best. And you don't have to wait for it—it’s already there. 19

So what does it cost to own here? New is king here. Buyers prefer new properties with modern layouts and modern style. Some of the older houses date back 20-30 years. They're welllocated, well-built and spacious with landscaped yards and swimming pools. But they often need some updating to the finishes and feel a little darker than more modern homes in the resort. But they're priced lower than those more modern homes. You could buy one, do some remodeling to your own taste and still pay less than the going rate for a newer house. Older villas start from $640,000. That gets you 3400 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a Jacuzzi. You can also choose from golf condos or marina condos. I saw a 2600square-foot marina condo with sea views from the top terrace listed at $590,000. A penthouse condo with gorgeous views overlooking the Dye Fore golf course offered owner financing. With almost 3500 square feet and new furniture it could rent for up to $600 a night in high season which would help with running costs. The asking price was $799,000:

I viewed a house with a $12 million price tag, marble floors, more than 40,000 square feet of living space and impressive views of the sea, the marina and the Chavon River. For $13.5 million you get an oceanfront home with a beautiful pool:

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I loved a Bali-style villa with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a pool and a Jacuzzi for $1.9 million. It was beautifully designed with high ceilings and lots of natural stone and hardwood finishes:

Home sites start from $200 per square meter. Lots are large so you're looking at paying at least $400,000 for a lot. Construction costs run around $110 a square foot. But building your own house means you get your perfect dream home. Words don't really do justice to Casa de Campo. It's unique. I've scouted all over Latin America for property and I've never seen anything that comes close. So, if you're interested in property in Casa de Campo, simply contact Maria Taylor here. She'll chat with you to find out what you're looking for and then send you some sample listings.

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You'll pick the ones you like and then Maria will arrange a custom tour for you. You'll see what you want to see, when you want to see it, at your own pace. No hurry or pressure or stress... Maria can also help you arrange your hotel reservation at the resort and airport transports.

Las Terrenas: A Beachfront Blend of Caribbean, French & Italian Style

Las Terrenas boasts warm golden sands and sparkling sea

Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic is picture-perfect. Clear, tropical seas wash up on scene-stealing coral beaches fringed with coconut palms. Warm sunshine sparkles on the gentle surf. (For a map, click here). Las Terrenas isn’t over-developed, over-run by cruise ships or drowning in mega-resorts. Instead, it’s tranquil, laid-back and chic. And property here is very affordable. Las Terrenas is my favorite beach town in the Dominican Republic. You really need to see this place for yourself to appreciate its charm.

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It’s easy to find gourmet food in Las Terrenas

The Dominican Republic is a popular vacation spot for Europeans. But it wasn’t well-known to North Americans. That’s slowly changing. In 2002, for the first time, more North American tourists visited the island than Europeans. The number of North American tourists continues to grow. Most travelers fly into Punta Cana, the island’s busiest airport. Tourists come to Punta Cana to relax and party in the big all-inclusive hotels that line the white-sand beaches. Their beach loungers pack the sand. They’re convenient but they’re bland. They lack any local flavor. It’s not just big hotels that jumped on Punta Cana. When it came to property development, this place pulled out all the stops. Development centered on the coast around Cap Cana, seven minutes from the airport. Big-name luxury resort and residential developments moved in. Swarms of international investors followed. Cap Cana became the Dominican Republic’s hottest boom zone. But in recent years the frenzy has slowed down. Some developers scaled back big projects or shelved them. Property prices started to fall. Some properties listed at fifty cents on the dollar compared to the boom years. While Punta Cana became the Dominican Republic’s hottest boom zone, Las Terrenas didn’t follow suit. It skipped the craze for triple golf courses, multimillion dollar condos and luxury resorts taking over entire beaches. Las Terrenas followed its own beat: low-key, laid-back and boutique. Today, it’s a pretty beach town with lots of amenities and some remarkably affordable property. 23

Thirty years ago, Las Terrenas was a rustic fishing village in the Samana peninsula. You needed a boat or a donkey to get here. The town had three small hotels, dirt roads and no phone coverage. Electricity only came along in 1994. But it’s a gorgeous location with 19 miles of stunning beaches backed by steep green hills. It attracted 8,000 Europeans, mostly French and Italian, who fell in love with the town and settled here. They didn’t want to change the town too much. They simply wanted to add some finishing touches. They opened restaurants, boutique hotels, cafes, bakeries and spas. Restaurants in Las Terrenas serve everything from simple snacks to gourmet food. You can try grilled fish, wood-fired pizza, steak or lobster. You can buy warm flaky croissants from the French bakery in the morning. And hand-made Italian ice-cream in the warm afternoons… Strict planning laws should preserve the town’s low-rise profile. A new highway connecting the Samana peninsula with Santo Domingo opened two years ago. It took around 2.5 hours to drive to Las Terrenas from the capital. But the last part of the journey was the trickiest part of the trip. It involved a steep climb into the hills, on a curving, narrow road. The road wasn’t in good shape, with lots of potholes. It made for a bumpy ride on a dry day. There were no safety barriers or street lights. It took at least 45 minutes to cover that last 12-mile stretch of road. But a new coastal boulevard road opened in October 2011:

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The new road cuts the drive time to Santo Domingo, and boasts stunning views It cuts out the mountain route. It cuts the last leg of the trip to 15 minutes. It now takes around 90 minutes to drive to Las Terrenas from Santo Domingo. So it’s easier for locals to come here for the weekend or longer vacations. It’s easier for foreign tourists and expats, too. The new road places Las Terrenas only 20 minutes from the international airport at El Catey. The airport currently receives direct flights from Canada, the UK and the US. Direct flights from JFK airport in New York started in November 2012. Las Terrenas wants to stay low-key and low-rise. Strict planning laws limit development along the beaches. Construction isn’t allowed within 60 meters of the shoreline. And they only allow two-story properties close to the beach.

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Las Terrenas is one of the most affordable island beach destinations in Latin America. It attracts well-heeled travelers from across the globe. They’re looking for a tranquil spot, far from partying crowds and sprawling hotels. They often prefer the space and seclusion they get with a private rental. So your home here can earn a very handsome rental income when you’re not using it yourself. Take a look at some of the properties available in Las Terrenas today: A one-bed one-bath condo in the heart of Las Terrenas in a small complex with a swimming pool. Price: from $72,000.

A one-bed one-bath condo with a big terrace overlooking landscaped grounds and a swimming pool. It's got a good central location, close to shopping, dining and the beach.

Price: $110,000.

Or, if you’re looking for more space, you can snap up larger homes from $295,000…such as this threebedroom town home, in a quiet residential area. It boasts an infinity pool with the most amazing ocean views, and a large outside deck where you can spend the evening watching the sun set over the clear blue waters below. It’s on the market for $295,000.

If you'd like more information on properties in Las Terrenas, contact Toni Green here. Toni can also arrange a custom chill weekend for you in Las Terrenas… First, contact Toni here and let her know what type of property you’re interested in, what your budget is, and whether you’re looking for a property for rental, or 26

a second home. Toni will send you sample listings. Then you can choose the properties you like, and Toni will create a customized real estate tour for you. You’ll see only the properties that you want to see, at your own pace. Toni will also show you Las Terrenas and the beaches nearby. She’ll give you the lowdown on this charming location, and what it’s like to live here. The custom chill is your chance to soak up the Las Terrenas lifestyle, try it on for size, and see if it fits… Contact Toni here to start planning your trip.

Top Property Picks in Las Terrenas Pick #1: An Affordable Caribbean Escape in a Beachfront Community If you believe owning your own home in the Caribbean sun is simply an unattainable dream, think again. You can own a home just 200 meters from one of the nicest beaches in Las Terrenas. The home has three bedrooms and two bedrooms. It comes fully furnished. You can move straight in or start renting it out to generate some income.This is the view from the spacious covered terrace. The yard has room to add your own swimming pool to create your own private oasis:

It’s on the market for $250,000.

Property Pick #2: Pure Luxury with Panoramic Views

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Imagine waking to a view like this every day!

If you’re looking for the ultimate beach getaway you’ll be amazed at how far your real estate dollar will go in the Dominican Republic compared to other Caribbean islands.

The property includes an open-plan living area

Located in the most sought-after neighborhood in Las Terrenas, this impressive 10,764-square-foot house boasts seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, including two master suites. The house also features a massage room, a large games room and a garage that will accommodate four cars.

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The open-plan living area opens onto a big terrace where you can enjoy outdoor dining. An infinity pool, complete with built-in bar overlooks the stunning Playa Bonita beach. You can catch some gorgeous Caribbean sunsets from the pool and social area. This home is on the market for $2.95 million. It’s got a proven rental history if you decide to rent it out. Or you might decide to keep this luxury home all to yourself—and who could blame you! If you’d like more details on this dream home, or any of the Las Terrenas property picks, fill in your name and e-mail address here. Let local real estate agent Toni Green know which property you’re interested in and she’ll get back to you with a full information package.

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We always recommend strongly that buyers perform their own complete due diligence, use a qualified legal professional to help with real estate transactions and purchase title insurance. Should a reader decide to purchase a property from one of the developers/real estate agents we cover, we will receive a fee from the developer or real estate agent.

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