Punta Cana is CRUSHING Cancun

In this edition of the Grubernation Weekly Newsletter:

• Punta Cana is CRUSHING Cancun

• Status of My Condo in Cortecito

• The Latest on the MIssing Tourist in DR

There’s momentum on the possiblity of buying $20,000 plots of land in Miches! I’m visiting the location on March 25 so stay tuned! Once I finish my due diligence and agree to promote, anyone who filled out this interest form will get a message from the developer. Complete ASAP if truly interested and able to invest.

Punta Cana is CRUSHING Cancun

There’s been A TON of bad press about Dominican Republic recently!

With the disappearance of an Indian American tourist named Sudiksha Konanki making international headlines, for some reason the question of safety in DR became a ‘thing’.

But amongst all that negative noise was a VERY positive article.

Thanks to Joe Loyola for sending this along in an Instagram DM!

The article captures the decline in Cancun and how Punta Cana has become the premier destination of choice!

A few points of interest:

• Cancun International Airport has seen a 9% drop in passenger count

• Complaints of inefficiency at the airport are deterring traffic

• Tulum is taking some, but Punta Cana is taking more!

• South American travelers are staying away due to safety concerns

• Punta Cana has seen a 43% increase in tourism since 2019

When it comes to investing in real estate, vacationing or even moving - Punta Cana and Dominican Republic are in a lane of prosperity that doesn’t show any signs of slowing.

The proximity to the US, the favorable trade relationship with the Americans and the improved infrastructure overall and espcially in Punta Cana make it a premier destination.

And now, Miches is catching that wave!

With an airport in the works there, the Four Seasons building, the Hilton set to open soon and Secrets and Dreams setting up on Playa Esmeralda, Punta Cana/Miches will continue to grow.

Add to that the commitment to funding infrastructure upgrades in Cortecito and Corrales, the growth of Macao just to the north, developments like Playa Palmera in Uvero Alto and the W Hotel in development - it’s getting crazy.

For living here, the Frank Rainieri Cultural Center is building FAST outside Punta Cana Village and the expansion of Las Galerias (shopping, restaurants, etc) is underway.

Listen, I know when I see a place progressing and this place is going CRAZY right now and will for a while.

There also WILL BE a reset or dowturn. That’s inevitable in every market. It’s happened here before and will again.

I’ve determined my role in all of this is to lean into what I love - the DR, Punta Cana, the progress, beauty of the culture and sharing what I’m learning about real estate.

Part of that is also sharing my resources - so giving you forms like the Miches wait list, realtor referrals around the country, referral to the developer I invested with named Boardwalk and real estate attorneys is where I see my brand expanding and adding value to you.

We don’t need Cancun to lose in order for Punta Cana and DR to win - but right now that’s what’s happening!

Status of My Condo in Cortecito

On my YouTube channel, I shared that I acquired a one bedroom condo in Cortecito for $170,000.

This is a pre-construction project with Boardwalk Developments owned by a friend named Cheryl Henderson.

The project and developer checked all my boxes in terms of due diligence and I’m proud to be an owner in the soon to be completed Maple Suites project.

I went over for a monthly check in today and saw the following:

• My condo is fully built out - walls, plumbing, etc are all in place

• This is SIGNIFICANT progress since last month

• The anticipated delivery date of December looks really good

• HOA’s will be $150/mo plus $30/mo for access to a private beach club

• The beach is a 2 minute walk (1 block away)

• 19 of 53 units are left for purchase

• The government recenetly committed to infrastructure improvements in Cortecito making this a ‘path of progress’ investment

• Airbnb occupancy rates are highest in Cortecito/Corrales for all of Punta Cana

In addition, I stopped by a project they’re building near Vista Cana which is less costly but almost sold out as well!

A new YouTube video will be coming. I’m TRULY excited - you’ll see how much in the video haha.

The Latest on the Missing Tourist in DR

If you haven’t heard of the case of Sudiksha Konanki, then maybe you’ve been in hiding for the last 2 weeks.

It’s a sad story because of how preventable it seems like it could have been.

Here’s is my most recent video on the topic which is only 2 days old but still lacks some late breaking info.

That is - the person of interest in the case - Joshua Riibe from Iowa - was able to leave the country and go home to the US.

He was NEVER charged or named a suspect and the parents of Sudiksha were actually convinced he didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance.

Hug you family - you never know when life can change!

Thank you again for following along. Would love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter or topics you’d like to see me cover in the future! Until next week…