DJ Khaled Showed Where to Buy in DR

Welcome to the Grubernation Weekly Newsletter!

I share information, tactics and tips for moving abroad, living your dream and EVERYTHING in between.

In this week’s edition:

• What I Learned from DJ Khaled’s Visit to DR

• Buying Real Estate in ‘Punta Cana’? Do This First

• This is the WORST Place to Invest

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What I Learned from DJ Khaled’s Visit to DR

In case you missed it, DJ Khaled was all over DR and shared tons of love for his visit on Instagram. 

For those living under rocks, DJ Khaled is one of the biggest entertainers in the world currently and he has a MASSIVE fan following. His song  ‘All I Do is Win’ is one of the most known in history!!

Khaled seemed to genuinely enjoy the culture, beauty, food, people and everything else he saw and experienced while in DR. 

He’s not alone.

Vin Diesel, Mark Wahlberg, Marc Anthony and many more have become ambassadors to this amazing country.

What I found interesting about DJ Khaled’s visit was where his travels took him.

Adding in some tea leaf reading on my part and cross referencing a few other data points, and I feel like I’m ready to make a bold statement about 3 locations in Dominican Republic that investors should at least consider. 

Plus one spot that I feel validated for being a bit sour on based on his and others actions while in the country.

WHERE DID HE VISIT?

From what I can tell and see, and I’m glad to be wrong – his trip this time took him to some regular spots.

He hit Punta Cana and played golf, he explored Santo Domingo.

But then he made a trip north and played golf near Playa Grande.

 If you’ve never been, Playa Grande is in a small and beautiful town about an hour east of Cabarete called Rio San Juan.

Before I elaborate, let me give you my three spots.

#1: Rio San Juan

I’ve had the opportunity to spend time here. The beaches are gorgeous, the town is tiny and the people are amazing.

With many other spots to visit, it’s interesting to me that he decided this was the spot to go.

Add to that a little story I’ll share…

I met a Dominican American gentleman from the northeast at an airport recently. He’s originally from Santiago and after watching some content I put out, he visited Rio San Juan for the first time,

He fell in love.

He bought a property there.

When there, I had the sense that it would one day be a high dollar location. I think the DJ Khaled video and my story of the Dominican Amercian gentleman (along with my sense) make this a place to watch for investment.

#2: Cabrera

Not far up the road from Rio San Juan is the incredible town of Cabrera. 

While DJ Khaled didn’t visit, many other stars have including Michael Jordan and others.

Mark Wahlberg visited while filiming a movie and left with a mega mansion that he purchased in Cabrera.

He’s a guy that could choose anywhere but he chose there.

Again, Cabrera is beautiful beaches and it has the eye of the influencer class. Add in that it’s close to Rio San Juan and these first two spots will probably support the likely increase in value investors will see over the next 10-20 years.

#3: Punta Rucia

I wanted to give a wild card to investors. And that’s Punta Rucia. 

If you’ve never been, it’s a very quiet beautiful little spot on the north shore not too far from Monte Cristi.

No celebrities have visited, so this doesn’t hit my list for that reason.

But I’ve visited – like I have Rio San Juan – and if I’m willing to say my internal sense while in Rio San Juan is that there’s future value there, then my sense in Punta Rucia was the same times 2!!

Punta Rucia is very interesting to me and has a ton of potential and I believe it’s a matter of time before this hidden gem is discovered.

BEFORE YOU SAY IT..

Someone is forming an email response to me right now. Let me save you time.

• I understand that these are hidden gems right now.

• I understand that someone like me saying they’re interesting brings attention.

• I understand that you may feel these areas should be left alone 

I’m fine with all of that – but I’m also a realist.

My bald head can see a few truths..

1. The Government is promoting tourism big time

2. Every beach front area from Samana to Pedernales has development happening right now

3. Beach vacations in the Dominican Republic will always be popular

4. The development of these areas is inevitable regardless of me saying so

In fact, I’ll say this – if you truly believe it’s best for these areas to remain ‘untouched’ and ‘pure’ (which I question given the opportunities it can provide locals), then take the advice I’m about to give.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE AREAS?

If I had a blank check book and could invest in these three areas, here’s how I’d do it.

First – I’d buy land since it will never be cheaper. And I’d do it with money I don’t need for a while. 

Second – I’d sit and wait for 10-20 years before I did anything.

There’s a chance the areas could develop in the next 5 years, but I’d consider these long term buy and hold plays one day perhaps to be sold to a resort or larger development.

Look, social media is still a very new marketing tool and when someone like DJ Khaled shares his experience in a certain area, it can mean the area gets attention quicker than ever before in history. The time from experience to millions of people knowing it is literally seconds.

I think it’s important to see where the attention is going and let your dollars follow. 

Of course do your own due diligence, never invest more than you can afford to lose, and make sure it fits your strategy to invest the way I’m talking about above.

But for those of you interested in ‘where next’, these are my best bets. I’m no expert, and again, follow your own process – but I hope this is food for thought.

WHERE THEY’RE NOT GOING 

For the 15 years I’ve been around the Dominican Republic, every big name would visit the one spot that most consider to be the most opulent part of the country.

This spot for me, has felt tired and dated in the last 5-7 years.

I do question myself on that of course, and I do think it’s still an amazing place and will be forever great – but it’s not the future. Not even close!

It’ s a place called Casa De Campo. 

Here’s a few things I don’t like: 

1. The beaches aren’t that nice there

2. It’s yesterday’s hot spot

3. The location is less than ideal.

Those in Casa De Campo need to either go to Punta Cana or Santo Domingo for most of what they need. When you look at Cap Cana or Punta Cana Resorts, for instance, you can get high end living while still being in the middle of it and close to amenities.

Add on Cabrera taking market share, what’s happening in Miches with the Four Seasons and W Hotel, Punta Bergantin in Puerto Plata, etc etc – and Casa De Campo becomes more and more an afterthought.

Just my take – put the pitch forks down.

 But hopefully this week’s article gives you some sense of the future! (At least from one Gringo’s perspective).

Buying Real Estate in ‘Punta Cana’? Do This First

I love interating with people via Instagram DM.

One of the most common questions I get is ‘Jamie I’m looking at this project in Punta Cana, what do you think?’

First a disclaimer - I’ll NEVER give a firm opinion on a project good or bad unless I’m investing in it or they’re proven to be frauds. 

That said, the first thing I look at is price.

In this example, the purchase price was $85,000 and the reel I was sent and the info after showed this gorgeous one bedroom condo in ‘Punta Cana’.

Here’s the deal - Punta Cana gets used far away from the actual Punta Cana.

It’s like those hotels that use the city you’re going to in the title, but it’s actually 20 minutes outside (The Hilton Boston is actually in Woburn MA!!)

When I see $85,000 in Punta Cana I immediately do this.

GOOGLE IT!!

What is the location of this ‘Punta Cana’ residence?

At that price point, it’s possible it’s a true pre-construction downtown legit project trying to get off the ground.

But more than likely, it’s in Veron or Friusa or very close.

Both are fine! But many people are sending these projects to me as investors who want to Airbnb.

In fact, the video I was sent that marketed this project even had the new owner say ‘I’m gonna Airbnb this and I’m excited’.

I truly hope it works out.

But with this project being much more like having a property in Higuey than Punta Cana, I hope this owner bought in a way that Aibnb isn’t required for them to afford it.

I hope they purchased it as a great place to visit and maybe live one day.

When you get your great deal in Punta Cana sent to you, just Google it.

And if the location type is what you want, go all in!!

If you need help with finding a GREAT realtor, just fill out this form and I’m happy to make a connection to someone I trust. (FYI - they will pay me a percentage if you close with them)

This is the WORST Place to Invest

Because you asked, I delivered haha.

This video gives a deep dive on Airbnb investing in DR and where to invest and where not to (or at least where to be mindful of) based on data from multiple sources.

I hope you enjoy!!

We’re closing in on the end of 2024 and I have lots coming for you! I hope this issue was helpful.