Harris Levinson
American looking for information about Dominican Republic
Forum posts
45
Contacts
1
About me
American
Lives in Punta Cana, San Juan
Speaks English
Registration: 23 June 2021
How to find out if a home builder is legit? by mjcoello
Hello All, any suggestions on how we can be 100% sure that a builder of new construction homes are legit and we won鈥檛 lose our money? It鈥檚 for a project in Vista Cana, development is called Paseo Isle帽os, builder is Construger. ...
@pharrison742 Thanks for the information, do you have a list of questions that everyone could use? Thanks - @cpcoldmaniv Stick with a well known realtor (preferably local to where you are buying). Get an attorney. Make sure both are fluent in ... Read More
Furniture Packages in Punta cana by Ethen Royal
Hello, I am trying to get some solid answers on furniture packages in Punta Cana. I just purchased a villa that hasn't been fully completed yet, but in the meantime I am trying to locate places that have furniture and appliance packages. On the site ...
@Isdad27 I would like information. - @pharrison742 The person that posted about being a furniture broker only has one post in this entire forum and that post was a year and a half ago. others along with myself have messaged the person directly ... Read More
Visiting for the first time as we decide on a place for retirement by Tkhoff
So we are planning a visit this summer or fall. This is for a vacation as much as it is to hunt for our retirement destination. We are trying to figure out where best to stay in order to see what retirement life would be like.
Easy access to a downtown area, with restaurants and shopping would be too of the list. Typically for vacation we prefer to be pampered but understand that may not be possible while searching for our retirement destination. - @Tkhoff look at the ... Read More
Hoping to buy property in the next 6 months by dpatient63
Hi my name is Debra, me and my husband Andrew are hoping to buy a property in the next six months.We have 5 years left before we retire but would like to be established in the DR before then.I'm a receptionist in a care home and my husband is a ...
@dpatient63 we are building a condo in bavaro. we liked the area since you don't need a car to get around. everything is within walking distance. you can always uber or take a taxi if needed. preconstruction is your best deal in the DR as they will ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
I just saw this video posted on Macao Hills development progress. Does not seem to be much of anything happening there yet.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtbfRHL3l4w Read More
Tax on income from US pension by wondering9
If I become a DR resident, will I have to pay DR taxes on my US Social Security benefits?I have it in my head that the answer is "no," but I haven't been able to find this written down anywhere. Can anyone say yay or nay for sure?Thank you!
the answer is that it depends on your status and timing. Link to article posted below. https://www.taxesforexpats.com/country-guides/dominican_republic/us-tax-preparation-in-dominican_republic.html Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
@Harris Levinson Hi, curious to know if your Condo purchase with Noval was completed this year? as you noted in your comment.. - @marcia.rosario We just got our regular picture update from them showing the progress. We are visiting there next month ... Read More
Recommendations on reputable construction companies by jealvear
Hello everyone,I just joined this fourm.Nice to know there is a support group for expats in D.R.Wife and I are planning on buying a villa in the Punta Cana or Juan Dolio area.We are (were) considering buying in Velero at Punta Cana but, upon ...
the first thing you need to do is visit developments that are in progress (To see what the construction of each developer looks like) as well as completed units to see the quality of the finished product. Look for someone with a long, proven track ... Read More
Industrial pharmacist jobs in DR by Aamna Hamid
Hey, I'm from Pakistan and I completed my pharm D degree recently. I was looking for a job in Dominican republic. Please do help me with the procedure and requirements for foreigners. Is there any eligibility test for the license or Pakistani ...
I am a pharmacist also but decided that when I retire to Punta Cana I will no longer be practicing pharmacy. The salaries there are much lower than where I live (US) and I am sure there will be some type of licensure / training you will have to ... Read More
Moving to Punta Cana by Lindy Mann
Hi, my wife and I are planning to move to Punta Cana in 2025. I would appreciate any tips. thanks
if you want to move in 2025 then you will be looking at existing/ preowned / already built units which means you will likely not get the benefits of the Confotur laws. The Punta Cana area is pretty spread out so you need to decided on an area and a ... Read More
Preventive care in Dominican Republic by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Dominican Republic, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your ...
wouldn't this be different for everyone as it will depend on some specific individual choices like, area (Access to Doctors / facilities) and which insurance you have ? Read More
Furniture Packages in Punta cana by Ethen Royal
Hello, I am trying to get some solid answers on furniture packages in Punta Cana. I just purchased a villa that hasn't been fully completed yet, but in the meantime I am trying to locate places that have furniture and appliance packages. On the site ...
@cmerschen the person that posted about being a furniture broker only has one post in this entire forum and that post was a year and a half ago. others along with myself have messaged the person directly with no response and that person has not ... Read More
Hiring a REPUTABLE Lawyer by GuestPoster306
With all the legalities in purchasing property, even conducting personal business, what is the best way to be certain in hiring a lawyer you can trust? Is there a trusted online website based on location advertising legal services? Already leery of ...
@GuestPoster306 i was put off by drlawyers. one of the guys there had a really bad attitude. we ended up going with Johan as he came very highly recommended and has done a fantastic job for us. https://occlawyers.com/johan-confidente-2/ Read More
Retirement by m1key125
Hello all, it鈥檚 been a while since I鈥檝e been on the site, work, work work!last time I posted I wanted some info on a home in a gated community, not sure where to search? My wife and I plan to retire in DR in about 2 years . We would like ...
areas around the country vary in what they offer as well as pricing. you really need to visit each area to see which makes the most sense for you. some are more family oriented areas, some are more beach type areas, etc. and the closer to the beach ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@Hennyud359 if construction has not started you can expect the timeline to be 3-4 years to complete a project. so 2/27 sounds optimistic. figure sometime in late 2027 to 2028 for it to be done.the contact will be in spanish, but make sure it is ... Read More
Furniture Packages in Punta cana by Ethen Royal
Hello, I am trying to get some solid answers on furniture packages in Punta Cana. I just purchased a villa that hasn't been fully completed yet, but in the meantime I am trying to locate places that have furniture and appliance packages. On the site ...
@planner - I am not optimistic since many other people also asked for this info (Posted over 2 months ago) and there appears to be no response at all to any of those posts. Read More
Furniture Packages in Punta cana by Ethen Royal
Hello, I am trying to get some solid answers on furniture packages in Punta Cana. I just purchased a villa that hasn't been fully completed yet, but in the meantime I am trying to locate places that have furniture and appliance packages. On the site ...
@kalinatrajkov - i messaged you several times looking for this info. can you kindly reply. Read More
Furniture packages from builder consist of? by Cupiddod6
What do the furniture packages consist of and also do we need to bring pot, pans,appliances etc?
it should be spelled out exactly in your contract what is included with a furniture package. it may vary slightly from unit to unit based on living spaces, outdoor spaces, number of bedrooms etc. Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56I quoted what we paid for legal services which was more than just a contract review. I noted that this will vary need on your specific situation, location, etc. I find it very rude that you commented negatively on my situation ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@planner everyone's legal fees will be different based on a number of factors. In our case we did a lot of contract revisions and went through a number of contract versions back and forth with the developer. There was verbiage in the contract that ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@sumeer01 $5,000 USD attorney fees. Read More
2 Married 55+ Planning to Move to the DR in late 2026 by helpsinvestmentsllc
Hello, From Woodbridge, VA (DMV).. East Coast. I(Wifey) have a number of questions. However I will Read the Forum to get most of the answers. I am 100% sure that I will not be cooking or cleaning 90% of our new life in the DR. So, I would love good ...
one thing we noticed on some condos is a live-in housekeeping bedroom. it is very tiny. enough space for a bed and maybe a dresser. not all the units we saw had that feature, but would be something to look for with a full time housekeeper. Read More
Real estate attorney by gainkeeper
Buying a house. What was the name, phone number and location of the real estate attorney that has been highly recommended several times here?
we have dealt with a real good attorney in the Punta Cana / Bavaro area. Message me if you would like his contact information. Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
@Dave1967 Noval has a lot of issues. As a Noval client, I can tell you first hand. First, I own a unit at Oceana and have family that purchased with them at Reserva Real at Cocotal and regretfully in The Reef. Oceana and Reserva Real in Cocotal are ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@tammynucci you want the contract to be both in spanish and english (This is very easy for the developer to do). we used a very good attorney located in Bavaro area JOHAN CONFIDENTEAbogado / AttorneyE-MAIL - info@occlawyers.comTELEPHONE - +1 ... Read More
Does anyone have a Reputable realtors in Punta Cana by Danruffennach
We are visiting Punta Cana towards the end of April 2024. We are interested in talking to someone to see what is available and housing prices are like
@Danruffennach send me a PM and I can forward the name of our realtor. He is very helpful with advice and what to look out for. Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
@pcd2777 Noval is very good about updating unit availability. If you look on the website for your development there will be a link for "Prices". The spreadsheet in that link shows you exactly what is sold (Payment received), reserved (Deposit ... Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
@marcia.rosario We purchased in the Oceana development in Bavaro. We bought when it was first announced so it was a few years ago. The original completion date was supposed to be spring of this year. The development is in various states of progress ... Read More
DR Real Estate by mlnyconsulting
Hello all, im a new member and was hoping to get some information, im looking to retire in 2-3 years and want to purchase a retirement condo for myself, 1 bedroom close to the beach, I would like to stay between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana area, ...
one of the big decision factors is will you be buying a car. if yes you are more flexible in areas to relocate to. if not, then you want to be more central (Bavaro area in Punta Cana would be a good choice) as there are plenty of markets, ... Read More
Macao Hills Phase 2 by mills2912
Anyone here purchasing in Macao Hills? My Husband and I just made our downpayment. Excited to get to know our neighbors and to have resources of knowledge throughout the process of development.
@rayc1234 for a new construction the payments should be tied to construction milestones. this keeps everyone honest. the buyer does not have to lay out money for work that has not been completed and the builder is obligated to do the work in order ... Read More
Bayahibe new condo project by Carpediem0615
Hi everyone, new here. How do we check the validity of an advertised condo project? Is there city hall we can contact or a land registry we can search? we are from Canada interested in purchasing a condo in a project that hasn鈥檛 broken ground ...
@Carpediem0615 make sure your contract includes payments due as milestones and include a statement that the builder must submit pics or videos of progress to get a payment. for example:x% as a depositx% percentage when foundation is completex% ... Read More
Buying a home in DR by m1key125
Hello all, first time posting 鈥y wife and i want to retire in DR. We travel there occasionally and my wife was born in Santiago. We were thinking of searching in Punta Cana. Can anyone recommend good areas in Punta Cana? We would like a home ...
area selection would depend greatly if you plan to have a car or not. if do not plan to have a car then you would want to be closer to an area that has amenities like supermarkets, pharmacy, restaurants, etc. nearby (Within walking distance or a ... Read More
Can I ship my a 2014 Jaguar Ftype it's older than 5 years of age by ddmcneill
I have a 2014 Jaguar Ftype , I'm moving to Dominican Republic and I do not want to leave my car in the states , is there any way possible I can ship my car to DR. I was told that a use car cannot be older than 5 years old.
@ddmcneill i used to have a 2016 F-Type (V8 convertible). Sold it not long ago as we downsized our US home to a condo and have no good place to keep it charged during the winter as it did not get driven in poor weather. Read More
Projects in Play in Punta Cana by Yessir Punta Cana
Does anyone know how many projects are under construction in Punta Cana and the Developer heading up the projects?
Noval is one of the biggest developmers in that area. They have been around for about 20 years.novalproperties Read More
buying a house in DR by Dou08
I'm from Canada. Did anyone know when you buy a house in DR the process to be protected?
we have done several wire transfers to our developer during construction and found that it works very well. the only hiccup we had was our first try at it with our local US bank branch because they were not familiar with the process. but once they ... Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
@Dave1967we purchased a condo from Noval that is being built now (Should be done in 2024). Our contract had an initial deposit (20%) and then the remaining payments are based on construction milestones. They have been on track with the schedule and ... Read More
Pre-construction V. Resale by FatCarib
Greetings all,i am new to this forum & am very pleased that such a resource is available. My wife and I (from US) plan on purchasing a villa in CL within the next 9 months that could be mainly used as Airbnb for the a few years until we move ...
some of the newer developments do have a tax program called CONFOTUR. this program is applicable to some new developments (The developer must apply for the program). this saves you the 3% transfer tax and the regular property taxes. the program ... Read More
Vista Cana vs Cana Rock by karedcycling
Hey everyone! Found this forum and am excited to learn more about the area to help me with my decision. I am planning on buying a property in Punta Cana, both for pleasure and for investment/Airbnb throughout the year. I have some friends that just ...
@acableI was just looking at the website and says "Two signature restaurants and bars". Are those in the Hard rock or not built? Are there regular restaurants besides the inclusivs in the vicinity? I do not remember seeing much in the area but could ... Read More
Vista Cana vs Cana Rock by karedcycling
Hey everyone! Found this forum and am excited to learn more about the area to help me with my decision. I am planning on buying a property in Punta Cana, both for pleasure and for investment/Airbnb throughout the year. I have some friends that just ...
@DRVisitor we are having a condo built in the Bavaro area (About a 275 condo development) and so far the builder in on track to complete our unit at the scheduled time (2Q2024). granted our building is the most completed to date out of the 15 or so ... Read More
The Reef Project in Playa Bonita by Yebel3
Does anyone know what is creating delays in the residential projects in playa bonita. Is it iack of permissions/ red tape/etc.? I was told that the Reef by Noval sold out over a year and 1/2 ago yet construction has not started. I am interested ...
we are in the process of having a Noval condo built in Bavaro and that project is progressing on time. But that project is right where their offices / headquarters are. I see they have started branching out into other areas like yours and Santo ... Read More
Pre Construction In Vista Cana, Punta Cana by sweetapplecee
Hello All! My name is Renee. I visited Cap Cana last year and fell in love. I started looking into possible investing in a pre construction for rental and would be our vacation home a couple months out of the year and was told the new area of Vista ...
@rcadet1 we are moving to Bavaro next year and having a condo built now. the developer (Noval Properties) has a number of projects in the Punta Cana聽/ Bavaro areas.OceanaRiver islandAtlantidaOcean Bay Read More
New members of the Dominican Republic forum, introduce yourselves here - 2023 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Dominican Republic forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more ...
@andrieawashington not sure where you are moving to. we bought a condo in the Oceana complex in Bavaro. Living in NJ now and can't wait for the condo to be done. Read More
New members of the Dominican Republic forum, introduce yourselves here - 2023 by Julien
Hi all, Newbie on the Dominican Republic forum? Don't know how to start? This thread is for you ;) We invite you to introduce yourself on this topic, to share with us your expat story if you are already living in the country, or to tell us more ...
my wife and i looked all around the Caribbean for retirement condos. We settled on DR and are building a new condo in the Punta Cana / Bavaro area. Construction should be done sometime in 2024. Can't wait to move there. I have started reading ... Read More