The Hidden Projects That Will Explode DR Real Estate

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In this edition of the Grubernation Weekly Newsletter:

• 3 Hidden Projects That Will Explode DR Real Estate

• I’m FINALLY Buying A House in DR

• US & China Trade Deal is HUGE for Dominican Republic

I’m REALLY excited about the launch of my DR Inner Circle community.

I get questions about specific projects, requests for advice or more interactions with me over moving to DR or buying here and now I have a space to provide them.

Plus SO many other perks for anyone investing in, moving to, vacationing in or interested in DR. I mean the Inner Circle is truly that - an insider’s perspective on the country with some really cool discount perks too .. all for $9/month cancel anytime.

Join now, check your inbox in a few minutes and click the link to join our private Facebook group and let’s engage!!

3 Hidden Projects That Will EXPLODE DR Real Estate

Everyone talks about the beach. Or the Airbnb revenue. Or whether the pool is shared or private.

But if you’re trying to build real wealth in Punta Cana real estate — not just grab a cute unit and hope for 5-star reviews — then you’ve got to look deeper. Because right now, there are three under-the-radar projects quietly under construction that I believe will cause a massive jump in property values, especially in areas surrounding them.

And no — this isn’t hype. These are real economic anchors that historically raise land value anywhere they show up. And I’ll prove it to you!

1. Raineri Cultural Center (Think: Punta Cana’s Lincoln Center… but nicer)

Grupo Punta Cana is building a massive cultural and performing arts hub right in Punta Cana Village and JUST outside Punta Cana Resorts. This is not some generic event space. We’re talking:

• Fine art displays

• Dominican culture and history exhibits

• Community events and classes

• Restaurants, retail, and event spaces

This is what I can share PUBLICLY!

I shared additional insights that I can’t sahre publicly with my DR Inner Circle in our private Facebook group.

Consider joining for insights, live Q&A, monthly expert interviews on real estate, moving and life in DR, exclusive content and other perks as well (all for the cost of one large Starbucks frappe!)

👉 You can join the movement RIGHT HERE! 

The idea that Punta Cana has all tourism and no culture is about to change — and I LOVE it.

Here’s why this matters:

When a city adds cultural infrastructure like this, real estate prices in surrounding areas go up — fast.

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Examples:

• In Dallas, the AT&T Performing Arts Center helped raise nearby condo values by 40% over five years.

• Indianapolis built a Cultural Trail — a network of public art, bike paths, and performing arts — and saw adjacent neighborhoods rise 148% in property value from 2008 to 2019.

• Medellín’s Orquideorama and public art parks spiked demand for once-overlooked real estate.

When you build places that make people want to linger, you drive value. Whether it’s perceived prestige, a gathering center for the community - it all helps.

And why those case studies above are relevant is the surrounding communities mirrored Punta Cana most.

This will create immediate value for Punta Cana Village and Resort, some value for Cap Cana which is further away, and overall provide a bump in values for the entire area.

2. Punta Cana’s Coral Reef Restoration Project (Been to Playa Blanca Recently?)

This one sounds like it belongs in a marine biology journal… but it might be one of the most important real estate stories in Punta Cana right now.

A public–private partnership is building what I believe to be the largest coral reef restoration project in the Dominican Republic, right in the parking lot of the Playa Blanca restaurant.

Why should you care?

Because coral reefs are natural property insurance:

• They reduce beach erosion

• They calm wave activity

• They attract tourism through snorkeling and diving

• And they make beach areas look cleaner, clearer, and more luxurious

Case studies:

• Lisbon, Portugal invested in urban river and coastline restoration tied to tourism and saw real estate prices rise 20–35% faster in surrounding zones.

• In Belize, when their coral preservation efforts kicked off, Ambergris Caye property values outpaced the rest of the country by over 35% over the next decade.

Better water = better beaches = better demand. It’s a simple formula that works every time.

3. The New Zona Franca (Free Trade Zone) in Punta Cana

This one is really interesting…

A brand-new zona franca (free trade zone) is under development in Punta Cana right behind the airport. This thing is expected to bring in 10,000+ jobs across light manufacturing, logistics, and technology.

These are $600–$1200/month jobs — which is middle-class income in DR. And they’ll draw Dominicans from across the country to relocate here. Yes - Dominicans. The documentation requirements for these types of roles are stringent.

I talked to a couple of trusted leaders in the manufacturing space that have confirmed the above. The overwhelming majority of their labor is Dominican.

More jobs = more families = more long-term renters = more services needed = higher housing demand.

Be clear - the first two raise luxury prices. This one creates opportunites for ownership to be a landlord for middle income Dominicans in Veron and adjacent communities.

Case study:

• In La Vega, a similar zona franca caused real estate within a few kilometers to rise 28% in just three years.
  And that was without an international airport, coral beaches, and a thriving tourism market attached to it.

This is what long-term economic foundations look like.

Final Thought: Don’t Just Buy What’s Built — Buy What’s Coming

Everyone’s focused on the granite countertops. I’m focused on the blueprint.

If you want upside, buy where the future is being built — not where the past has already peaked.

The Raineri Cultural Center, Coral Reef Project, and Zona Franca are three reasons why I believe Punta Cana real estate is still undervalued — especially if you're looking at the long game.

I’m FINALLY Buying A House in DR

We’ve been here nearly 3 years - and we’ve rented the whole time.

Part of that was probably disbelief to be honest.

• Could this area really demand that high a price tag?

• Is this market going to crash?

• Isn’t it too risky to own in a ‘third world country’?

Well, that disbelief cost me at least $200,000 in my three years.

Essentially, the home I’m buying is similar to a neighbor who moved here at the SAME TIME we did .. but bought right away.

And he paid $200,000+ LESS than what I’m paying.

Crazy.

That said, I feel blessed to still be somewhat early in this particular market considering all of the factors above.

Look - there are issues in DR.

Plenty of people have their doubts about the future of this country in large part because of it’s past.

I consider myself relatively unemotional with real estate and investing.

Sure, I say I don’t want to live in Santiago for no other reason than ‘feel’ - but I can simultaneously share that I see the growth, development, infrastructure improvements and movement of manufacturing to that city.

It’s a BOOM town that will go BOOM BOOM if and when the Ambar Highway is completed.

But it’s just not for me. There’s my emotion .. sue me! Haha

All that said - here are a few initial lessons I’m learning:

• The biggest obstacle will be financing - banks are a PAIN IN THE A$$

• Cost of an attorney is about 1% of the price of the home

• The 3% asset tax due at the time of sale can be rolled into the mortgage

• The funds for the deposit are in an ‘escrow’ account with the broker

Here’s the key on that last one - there’s really no such thing as an ‘escrow’ account here. Not like what we’re used to in the US.

That said, I’m certainly not going to drop a 5 figure deposit into the seller’s bank account when we have contingencies to clear still.

This takes me back to why you want to have an EXCELLENT realtor and attorney

• Use my realtors - they work with HIGHLY reputable firms

• Use my attorney - nothing but VERY positive feedback about him

Just respond to their WhatsApp message and you’re off and running!

I’ll share more as we go through the process.

For the most in depth shares on our home buying experience .. you guessed it .. the DR Inner Circle 😉 

US & China Trade Deal is HUGE for Dominican Republic

The US Treasury Secretary said some VERY interesting things in a 30 minute long (boring) press coference ..

And many parts were relevant to the Dominican Republic and Latin America in general.

This video (releases at 6pm EST on Thursday May 15) sums up the press conference including a few key clips and how they create MASSIVE upside for the Dominican Republic economy.

Would love your thoughts in the comments of the video!