Once you've found your ideal home you need to consider how you will finance your purchase. Many expats tend to buy property outright, rather than rely on mortgages.
Interest rates are high and tend to fluctuate around the 20% mark. Worse still, they are adjustable and can only be secured in pesos - a currency which moves a great deal against the dollar.
As a result, most foreign buyers tend to buy property outright, dodging the huge rates. Naturally this requires a great deal of capital in the first place, but it’s still the best option if you can afford it. If not, it may be worth thinking about renting.
Another option is to refinance an existing property in your home country, using the capital to secure your new home in the Dominican Republic.