THE CARIBBEAN: A GUIDE TO INVESTMENT DESTINATIONS

		Dominican Republic

Christopher Columbus discovered this paradise during his first voyage to America in 1492. The Dominican Republic (Dom. Rep) boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and has everything to offer for the lifestyle of the discerning investor, from world-class championship golf courses, lush, sprawling nature reserves to international polo matches. There is something for everyone on this Caribbean island paradise. The atmosphere is relaxing and charming and steeped with history. The capital Santo Domingo is one of the oldest settlements in the Western Hemisphere.

The Dominican Republic is divided into 31 provinces and it has three major mountain ranges: the Central Mountains (Cordillera Central), which originate in Haiti and span the central part of the island, ending in the south. This mountain range boasts the highest peak in the Antilles, Pico Duarte (3,087 m / 10,128 ft above sea level) The Dominican Republic is also known for merengue music, which has been popular since the mid-to-late 1900s. The beat is of Latin origin with percussion, brass instruments, bass and piano or keyboard.

The island has seen tremendous growth in tourism with extensive investment in this sector. The property market in Dom. Rep is booming and it is extremely easy to buy property. The complete transaction cost, including all the proceedings for location, registry and emission of title, is estimated at US$1.000 for legal fees plus 4.3% for the Property Transfer Tax based on the property appraisal value.