Hi All,
Some questions for you:
1) What fair and actual cost of a furnished 2 and a 3 bedroom Condo or House in a gated community, both with ocean views? I need to know what to expect for utilities, tv, internet and also cleaning/maid help.
2) Most of what I have read leads me to believe that coming and staying for 6 - 12 months is advised and apply for residency when down there so that I can ship belongings (so I don;t get hit with the tax) when I move into something more permanent...do you concur? Or do I have to do residency from the USA first?
3) I may or may not have health insurance as I have yet to decide if I should stay with my current company or cut ties entirely, how much is insurance for the 2 of us and do you carry America insurance as well?. As for prescriptions, how would I find out what my blood pressure meds would cost down there and would it be easy to get them or does a doctor need to prescribe? Not old, I'm 48 and my wife is 38 but BP is hereditary.
4) If I purchased a car, what is true cost and can I do so as a visitor? I ride motorcyle here in the US and have rented over there a few times, if I purchased over there can I do so as a visitor?
5) Banking - Most we have spoken with have said they did not open a bank account down there they just use their American bank. IS this really the case and how would do you advise?
6) Travel back and forth - I am assuming there is not much scrutiny except for paying a fee if I stay to long but when asked do I say I live in the DR or that I just like to visit?
When I am there in November is it too far in advance to look into rentals as the general feel I get is that prices will be different when I am there rather than the realtors I have contacted via email.
Hope that's all not to much to ask and I am sure there will be a few more questions.
What I'm really trying to ascertain is how much will I need to live for one full year even without my wife's income and I want to plan accordingly so there are no surprises. I know there will be something I miss but there more I find out now the better.
We have stayed at Agualina, Velero and most recently the Millennium.
Cheers