Hi James, Thanks for your blog and for your interesting takes on the real estate market here and in the Dominican Republic in general. Personally I've made the Dominican Republic my home now for just over 16 years. In that time I've lived in various places around the island, including Costambar, Puerto Plata, nearby to Playa Dorada, Punta Cana & Bavaro and finally in close proximity to Sosoua & Cabarete. The east coast is developing quickly, property prices are much higher down there, particularly within the Cap Cana area which is a very exclusive development. As you point out however the east coast area has taken over in terms of it's growth within the tourism sector, and most visitors to the island choose these resorts now because of the newer and better quality tourist facilities that exist there. In terms of living here, personally I have a stronger affinity to the north coast because the towns and infrastructure here are not held together specifically by tourism. There are very real and typical Dominican towns and villages here that have been established for years. The countryside is more diverse in terms of hills, mountains and general vegetation and the beaches in my opinion take some beating. It's a good place to live generally, the pace of life is relaxed and the place in general warm and friendly. That is not to say that there are no shortage of characters here, but I guess you could say that this is true of most places in the world these days. The north coast of the Dominican Republic is home to the Luperon Marina which is considered one of the safest hurricane holes within the Caribbean. The general trajectory of storms historically means that the north coast is at less risk than other parts of the Caribbean as mountainous regions that run through the middle of the island do much to deflect and take the sting out of major weather patterns. That is not to say that we are bullet proof, but certainly the odds are better here. As you point out James, there are some magnificent properties here and now is definitely the time to sniff out a good deal. Alternatively you could always look to build yourself but do your research and make sure that you work with a reliable and reputable builder. As I mentioned, I have been lucky enough to travel the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic extensively and I would have to say that the issue of security is something that should be taken seriously, so make sure that whatever you do and whatever you buy is safe and secure with good protection, that way you will avoid petty pilfering and you can relax knowing that you have covered all your bases.

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