Hato Mayor

Welcome to the forums.  For what you are looking for there is an abundance of areas to choose from. 

So, first, yes land in the countryside tends to be cheaper, including what would be considered farmland.  The key will be finding what you like.

Tell us more about what you want. Do you need to be reasonably close. To an airport?  Where does family live?  Do you need to be near good medical care or specific types of medical care? Other interests?  Near beaches? Near good shopping? Do you need to have any other expats nearby?

Your best bet is to come back and spend time here when it's safe to do so!  Spend time in the various communities. Once you narrow down your search spend a month or two in that area.  That's how you get to know it better.

Once you buy something you will be locked into it.  You want to make sure you get that right.  If you get it wrong it can take months and years to sell.

I have just relocated to rural life again in the adjacent province to Hato Mayor - Monte Plata.

Both provinces are rural in general but Hato Mayor does have a coastline and will give you easier access to the East Coast beaches and resorts if that is important. The southern part of the provice is flat - sugar cane country and to the north of Hato Mayor you have the eastern mountian range.

I did find that eastern mountain range lush and green and still relatively virgin compared to say the range to the south of the North Coast. Near El Seibo might be good for you. It was always an area of interested to me too and the proximity of Miches was important. I read the roads are in very bad shape though.

Monte Plata is also lush and green with forested rolling hills and were what I always considered as tropical and had the dream to be part of this when I commuted back and forth up the Samana Highway north of the Monte Plata turn.

I have lived in rural DR before and wanted to get out of Santo Domingo this time and found a plot of land of 29 tareas in the village where my wife's family lives. This plot of land with title cost us 5k. I've built a 2,000sf single storey 3 bed 2 bath house of the property for 60k. I get my water from a well I drilled on the land. We are connected to Edeeste. I have planted lots of fruit trees on the land and now I am growing vegetables. I created a pond and have 40 ducks and have 50 chickens too. We have some cows and are looking at another adjacent plot of land which is larger and the same sort of price range to accomodate those cows and sheep and goats. The nearest towns are Cotui at 45 minuted away and Sabana de Grand Boya at 30 minutes drive. Santo Domingo takes just under 2 hours. Roads in the provinces aren't so good. It would take me about 80 minutes to get to Las Terrenas and a simlar time to get to Las Americas airport. You do need to think about nearest towns, shopping and hospitals even nearest gas station and quality of water, electricity and wi fi service. Cable TV might not be available too.

I had plenty of time to plan my venture which was accelerated by covid19 this year. It will take you at the very minimum a year to buy and build your property - where will you stay when this is happening?

In theory you should get a construction permit from MOPC but 90% of Dominicans don't - and probably near 100%in the campo. The situation may change but that is what it is now.

You need roots to live in rural DR. Where do your inlaws come from?

It is best that you find that land through family and where it is not advertised. It will be much cheaper that way. Changing title needs perserverence and my wife had that.

Land in Samana peninsula will be considerably more expensive, in fact anywhere near the coast.

Hope this helps.

What made you say you need roots to live in rural DR?

My fiancé’s family live in Santo Domingo but her mother would go where we’d go also.

It helps if your partner is able to settle with family around her. You will likley settle more easily than her.

It is sometimes hard for people who have been brought up in the city to adapt to rural life without close aquaintances alongside. My wife is taking time to adapt back to rural life.

Equally if you plan to farm/maintain your land to some degree you will need the help of locals and through family connections this is best.

Construction of your planned property is another issue to consider. You are more likley to have to use the local contractors who tend to be labour only. Family contacts will help drive down costs.

Being an expat, you will be seen as very wealthy living in rural DR even if you are not. Some people will be envious of your perceived wealth and being amongst them. If you have family around that can buffer any misconceptions about the depth of your pockets.

"Being an expat, you will be seen as very wealthy living in rural DR even if you are not. Some people will be envious of your perceived wealth and being amongst them. If you have family around that can buffer any misconceptions about the depth of your pockets.'

Very good point and have noticed this regardless rural or not.

Things I would want would be:

Close enough to Punta Cana (2 hours)

A beach with an hour or so would be fine but I plan to build a pool as I love to swim and the last time I was in DR I was the only one swimming in the ocean, guess most people don’t swim in it.

Being reasonably close to airport, something I could got to within 90 minutes.

No specific type of care, just a functioning hospital and dentist office nearby.

As far as shopping I shopped in the Dominican Grocery before as long as they have one of those I’d be fine. I don’t eat out much or really do the nightlife thing. I have a 13 year old daughter and 11 year old son.

Internet would be important. Don’t watch tv much.

From my understanding no water in DR is of quality to drink, so something strong enough to run house.

lennoxnev wrote:

It helps if your partner is able to settle with family around her. You will likley settle more easily than her.

It is sometimes hard for people who have been brought up in the city to adapt to rural life without close aquaintances alongside. My wife is taking time to adapt back to rural life.

Equally if you plan to farm/maintain your land to some degree you will need the help of locals and through family connections this is best.

Construction of your planned property is another issue to consider. You are more likley to have to use the local contractors who tend to be labour only. Family contacts will help drive down costs.

Being an expat, you will be seen as very wealthy living in rural DR even if you are not. Some people will be envious of your perceived wealth and being amongst them. If you have family around that can buffer any misconceptions about the depth of your pockets.

Thank you this has been very informative.

Reading what you write, you perhaps need to find that elusive balance between city (SD) access and life and the campo.

Here are a few suggestions to investigate:

San Cristobal province west of that town towards Palenque. 45 minutes from city. Still feels undeveloped. Very Dominican.

San Cristobal province north of city. Some interesting unbuilt properties available in the lush hills either side of the highway to Santiago with infrastructure in place. Between Pedro Brand and Piedra Blanca.

Peravia, west of Bani, which will feel so close to the capital once the ring road now under construction is complete. Even up to San Jose de Ocoa. This is a potential growth area with the same people who developed Punta Cana involved in a large beach development.

El Seibo and better Miches area which is due for expansion. Perhaps too far from the services sought.

Samana would be good but expensive. Near Cabrera too. We have several posters living here to offer advice.

Time to investigate more.

I was just looking online at the Peravia project. Seems expensive for what it is at this point. How far along are they?

So  if you need to be within 2 hours of Punta Cana you will want to stay  east of Santo Domingo. There is a lot of country  between SD east and  Punta Cana! Lots to consider there.

And you have two kids you need to worry about  schools and education!

planner wrote:

And you have two kids you need to worry about  schools and education!

Yes of course, honestly it is the reason I have not moved there yet. I just don’t have enough information on the area, school, services etc in the places of interest. One thought was to use an online based program from the US but would need good internet, but kids are better with other kids. Because of that would you think my wanting to live rural will work? I know Punta Cana has international schools but I’m guessing Santo Domingo has a lot more to offer. I’ve been searching online everyday for information but the best information I have is you guys here, and when I am there it’s easier to find things out.

My children are 11 and 13. If I had to stay within the city for their best interest that’s a no brainer but I’d rent while I consistently searched for what will be our paradise. Any and all information on potential good fits is appreciated as i will try my best to gather information and visit and stay in these areas this upcoming spring and summer.

Punta cana has schools and so does La Romana.  It's a smaller town, so maybe a better fit than the big city or expensive Punta Cana.