Dominican Republic Shakes Its Caribbean Property Investment Rep

The Dominican Republic is the best Caribbean island to make a property investment on because it is one of the least developed Caribbean countries, therefore living costs are the lowest, and people can go there on holiday with half the spending money they would need elsewhere in the Caribbean. Tourists are a shrewd bunch themselves, and this fact has turned the Dominican Republic into a tourist hotspot. Increasing tourism then helps the economy and the development of the island as a whole.

However, the currently under-developed state of the country means that property prices there are lower than the other Caribbean countries – much lower. For instance you can pick up a 1 bedroom apartment in David Stanley Redfern's Sosua development and accompanying tourist resort for only £30,000. Between five and ten minutes from the beach, upstairs apartments have sea views and the development surrounds a stunning communal pool. Nearby beaches are Sosua beach, Kite beach, and Cabarete bay.

A 1 bedroom Dominican Republic Caribbean beach house, literally right on Cabarete Bay's fantastic beach is only £67,000 in David Stanley Redfern Ltd's Oasis development.
Contrary to common belief about the Dominican Republic, these properties low price and their location in a tourist centre gives them the possibility of bringing their owner a decent rental yield of 6-8%. Common belief and a fact is that Dominican Republic rental yields are low, and while residential yields will very rarely reach over 4%, a holiday letting property is a different kettle of fish.

Capital Gains and rental income are taxed at a flat rate of 29% for foreigners, capital gain is calculated by deducting the acquisition price, after it is adjusted for inflation, from the selling price, property tax is a nominal 1% of the property value, and inheritance tax is a reasonable 3%. Round trip transaction costs are a moderate 10.3%.

Overall Dominican Republic investment property is currently a golden opportunity because your getting a Caribbean property for lower than you can anywhere else with a Caribbean coastline. The gap will close soon though as the tourism develops the economy and prices start to rise in line with what they are worth on the global market as oppose to being affordable to the local population.

Find out more about Dominican Republic investment property at: http://www.davidstanleyredfern.com/investment-property/dominican-republic/

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey: media@davidstanleyredfern.com

Dominican Republic Property – Perfect All-Round

Dominican Republic property is attracting masses of media attention at the moment along with several other Caribbean islands and sun-drenched coastal locations around the world that offer similarly affordable properties. A recent David Stanley Redfern release announced that the Dominican Republic had retaken the top spot of having the most affordable Caribbean properties, and focussed on that point, without giving any real details of the bargain property.

The apartment-hotel complex offers studio apartments from £24,000 in Sosua, one of the Dominican Republic's most popular areas with tourists. The complex, only a five minute walk from the beach is a long-standing, reputable and extremely popular resort, which readily enjoys occupancy rates of 80% and above.

Taking that with a pinch of salt as reader probably will, even with only 50% occupancy and at below the going rate for rentals on similar properties in the area, a rental yield of 12% is easily attainable for pure investors. Holiday home investors should still be able to take an 8% yield, obviously depending on how many weeks of the year they use it themselves, or offer it to friends etc.

The Dominican Republic is definitely a rising star, with low living costs it offers the opportunity of a cheap Caribbean holiday, and with major operators like Thomsons opening new Dominican Republic packages, serving their platinum range no less, global tourist are quickly cottoning on to Dominican charm and tourism is rising quickly.

Emerging markets where growth is fuelled by massively rising tourism numbers tend to be best for short-term investment, because people who fall in love with a place tend to buy resale properties in their favourite spots, with cost often coming as a second consideration. This is great news for the investors who get in early, as strong demand in the resale market makes it easier for them to collect the return on their investment. Not to mention tourism demand pushing up rental yields.

Of course business fuelled markets have the same benefits of affluence spreading through the communities, who then have money to spend on their own homes, but this process takes longer, and that is why these markets tend to be suggested for long-term investment.

Dominican Republic is showing all the right signs of being incredibly profitable for short-term investment, but is also suitable for long-term investors, who will collect healthy rental yields for as long as they choose before reselling.

Find out more about Dominican Republic property.

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey at media@davidstanleyredfern.com

Dominican Republic: Cheapest Property in the Caribbean

According to independent investment analysis, the Dominican Republic is the most affordable market out of 20 Caribbean countries assessed: Bermuda, was the most expensive at $7,861 per square metre, compared with Dominican Republic’s $1,324 per square metre.

Tourism arrivals to the Dominican Republic in the first four months of 2008 have also grown by 5.6 percent when compared to the year before. The number of tourists rose by around 84 thousand bringing the total for the period to 1.6 million. And the tourist influx is expected to continue increasing at a steady pace for the foreseeable future.

The World Travel and Tourism Council forecasts that the tourist industry will contribute 16 percent to GDP in 2008, and currently one out of every seven people in the country are employed in tourism related jobs. Around 35 percent of total export earnings for 2008 are expected to come from international visitor related transactions.

In terms of GDP, the Dominican Republic is one of the most stable Caribbean economies. Its telephone and internet infrastructure in metropolitan and tourist areas are well developed and reliable. Its substantial local agricultural and manufacturing industry results in much less costly imports than some alternative Caribbean island destinations, meaning a lower cost of living. And the country is a stable democracy with a foreign investment friendly outlook.

The Dominican Republic real estate market has also shown impressive growth over the past few years with the government enacting laws that protect the rights of international property owners and investors. And unlike some other Caribbean countries, investors don’t have to become a citizen or a resident to purchase property.

The message from analysts is buy now as the prices won’t last forever and property is expected to see 10-20 percent capital appreciation and 8-10 percent rental yields.

David Stanley Redfern Ltd, the overseas specialists, have three properties in the Dominican Republic. The Apart-hotel Sosua Plaza contains 32m² studios, each with private balcony overlooking the pool in a well maintained gated hotel complex. All apartments are equipped with kitchenette, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, phone, and cable TV. Prices start at £24,000.

The Sousa Development contains a range of fully refurbished and furnished one bedroom apartments in a stunning complex surrounding a spectacular pool. Its hillside position offer ocean views from the higher floors and all apartments have living rooms, fully installed kitchens, bathroom, bedroom and terrace. Prices start from £30,000.

The Oasis Cabarete is an ocean front development offering one, two and three bedroom private residences within an enclosed community with private entrance and 24hr security surrounded by miles of deserted beaches. Inside, winding paths take you through lush landscape to natural waterfalls and two pools, Jacuzzi, fountains, restaurant, bar, surf shop, sun deck or private beach. Prices start at £67,000.

Find out more about Dominican Republic property

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey: media@davidstanleyredfern.com

Investment Potential Heats Up in Dominican Republic

Visitor numbers to the Dominican Republic grew by 84,000 in the first four months of 2008 compared to the same period last year. The total number of visitors was 1.6million in four months – very impressive. People who have long been avid lovers of the Dominican Republic referred to it as the Caribbean's best kept secret, but the cat has been let out of the bag. The Dominican Republic is set to become a hugely popular tourism destination in the coming months and years.

Little wonder, the Dominican Republic has everything that any of the other massively popular islands like Barbados has; white beaches, tropical climate, warm crystal blue waters full of exotic sea life, and striking mountain ranges, but its only just being discovered makes it an excellent opportunity for investors because property prices are far lower than on the likes of Barbados.

With tourism now growing so massively as the Dominican Republic moves over for its time in the spotlight, it is easy to predict that property values will quickly grow to the levels they are on other popular Caribbean Islands.

That is a long way to grow, which offers an excellent opportunity for holiday home and pure investors. For instance David Stanley Redfern Ltd have just added the Mar Del Ray development to their books, offering 1 bedroom apartments with a 10% guaranteed rental yield in the first year, from just £36,750. Mar Del Ray is a complex of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, townhouses and duplexes on a fully equipped resort near the coast and just 20mins from the capital. Penthouse suites come with 45m2 roof terraces, where a Jacuzzi can be installed.

Another Dominican bargain from DSR is the Sosua Plaza, a resort development of resale studio apartments, already at 80% occupancy, and priced from just under £24,000.

Find out more about Dominican Republic property.

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey at media@davidstanleyredfern.com

Dominican Republic: Another boost for the tourism industry

Dominican President Leonel Ferandez has announced that businesspersons from the Balearic islands want to invest 3.7 billion Euros into the tourism industry in the next four years.

The same group have already invested heavily in the island but want to build a railway linking Santiago and Santo Domingo; likely to significantly boost the country’s development.

The Dominican Republic has also recently seen a quasi-donation of $30 million for the reconstruction of highways granted by the OPEC Fund for International Development; the announcement of a number of new Aerocaribbean flights likely to attract multi-destination tourists; and has accepted plans for the construction of a ferry terminal costing $10 million at the Sans Souci tourist port.

Such plans are yet another boost for a country where tourism accounts for 24 percent of GDP and is fuelling economic growth. The contribution of tourism to employment is now expected to rise from 555,000 jobs in 2008 to 743,000 jobs by 2018. By 2012, it is forecasted that the Dominican Republic will receive five million annual visitors, a one million increase over expected 2008 visitor totals.

And according to a recent report by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2008 have already increased by 8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2007; approximately 1.3 million guests selected the Dominican Republic as their vacation spot of choice.

Over 15 percent of these arrivals arrived at Puerto Plata on the North Coast. The airport is just 10 minutes away from David Stanley Redfern Ltd’s Sosua Plaza and the studio apartments are only 5 minutes walk from Sosua Beach. All are equipped with kitchenette, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, phone, and cable TV, as well as security locks, electronic room safety deposit box and a balcony overlooking the pool.

Apartments come fully furnished and fully managed, offering tax free returns and no work for the owner. Occupancy rates are consistently higher than 74 percent, yet the price is one of the lowest in the Caribbean at £24,000. With Dominican Republic’s huge tourist numbers rental yields of 10 percent can be expected, while the property has the potential of 10-20 percent capital appreciation.

Find out more about Dominican Republic property

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey: media@davidstanleyredfern.com

Dominican Republic Property Investment gets a Boost

Thompsons, the travel giant have announced new routes in their premier range, the crème de la crème of package holiday experiences. One of the new packages is to Samana in the Dominican Republic, which is great news for the Caribbean Republic trying to emerge onto the global property scene.

The announcement will help the Dominican Republic in that aim no end, because one of the only downsides of holidaying or buying property in the Dominican Republic is the high crime rate, including corruption, which the government and population have been working hard to bring down to a level less detrimental to the country's future.
The fact that Thompsons plans to send its Platinum customers to the country, tells the world in no uncertain terms that the government and population at large have been largely successful in their aims. This will do massive good to the Dominican Republic's reputation on the world stage and now the country can be looked at purely on its strengths.

Dominican Republic was previously the most affordable location to buy a Caribbean beach house, but that title has just been stolen by Margarita. Nevertheless, Dominican Republic's new found peace and stability will increase the chances that, despite its prices being slightly higher than Margarita, it will be able to hold its own and attract more than its fair share of international property investors.
David Stanley Redfern Ltd have just what they are looking for. Two developments, one right on top of one of the Dominican Republic's best and most popular beaches, namely Cabarete, and the other not much further away but also close to Sosua beach – both of which are in the town of Sosua.

The beachfront property is the Oasis, a development of 1-3 bedroom beach houses on a fully equipped, enclosed resort, with prices starting from just £67,000. Go just that little bit further back from the beach, and you can get a 1 bedroom apartment, again on a fully equipped resort for under £30,000.

Find out more about Dominican Republic property.

About David Stanley Redfern

David Stanley Redfern Ltd is one of the U.K.'s leading overseas property investment specialists. The reasons for this are an incomparable range of international properties spanning 40 destinations worldwide, and unrivalled customer care, which lasts long after the purchase has been completed. Experienced, professional staff and membership to the overseas property market's regulatory body: the Association for International Property Professionals, as well as their stringent due diligence procedures gives buyers the confidence that any purchase with David Stanley Redfern is a safe one.

Media enquiries should be directed to Liam Bailey: media@davidstanleyredfern.com