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"This is the fairest land under Heaven," Christopher Columbus proclaimed upon sighting the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The explorer landed here and established his first settlement in the New World. For many, that statement still rings true.

The most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic attracts nearly 4 million visitors a year, the majority arriving to indulge in its all-inclusive mega-resorts and magical beaches.

But the sugar, slave and rum port-turned-quintessential island paradise plays many other roles in today's globalized world, including unofficial tax haven, offshore banking center, expatriate haven, party mecca, Major League Baseball recruiting ground, and, most important, second-home hot spot.

The country has been a magnet for sun-and-surf-seeking North American, European and South American retirees for years. Now, growing numbers of vacation home buyers are becoming their part- time neighbors.

One recent arrival is Anthony Werner, a North Jersey resident who planted roots last winter. When house hunting, he decided to bypass the lauded eastern end, known as "The Coconut Coast," despite its wide, long washes of postcard-perfect, bone-white beaches and reputation as a hub of hedonism that routinely draws the international celebrity set.

"I was tempted to buy at Cap Cana (capcana.com)," Werner said, referring to the sprawling luxury resort and residential development just south of Tortuga Bay. "The amenities are unreal and the coastline there is to die for, but I wanted a less touristy and more authentic experience with some local flavor and a bit of history."

So instead he concentrated his search on the North Coast, an area with much more than just the expected up-market resorts and sought- after spreads of sand. Demarcated in the west by the border province of Monte Cristi, a popular base for trips into Haiti, and in the east by the quaint village of Rio San Juan, the region is also known for its adrenaline-pumping water sports, cosmopolitan nightlife, lush coastal hills and sleepy towns unknown to casual vacationers.

He ultimately bought a spacious four-bedroom, three-bath villa with a gourmet kitchen and swimming pool, for $579,000. Located between the windsurfing-friendly enclave of Cabarete and Sosua, a community originally settled by Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Europe, the villa is ideally situated to enjoy the best of both worlds: Cabarete's sophisticated seaside eateries, bars and discos, and Sosua's low-key charm, crescent-shaped beach and dive sites rich with reef-dwelling fish.

Like many foreign homeowners, Werner treats his Dominican home as both a retreat and an investment. He visits with friends and family members a few times a year (mostly in winter), renting out the house to vacationers the rest of the time to help defray expenses. Werner says his villa's rental income actually generates positive cash flow, meaning the property will likely pay for itself in less than 10 years ("just in time for my retirement").

With the tourism boom and property rush, real estate prices in the Dominican Republic have risen exponentially, meaning a slice of the sun, the sand and the serenity no longer comes cheap. But these adjacent towns are, in many cases, exceptions. Although buyers can pay a premium for prime offerings, prices are often gentler. Canada- based RE/MAX agent Sue Coleman (suecolemanrealtor.com) currently lists area apartments and condos for under $100,000 and single- family houses in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.

"Like almost everywhere else, price tags have gone up quite a bit here in the past 10 or 15 years. It's too bad I didn't have the foresight to get in back in the early or mid-'90s," said Werner. "But no matter how much you have to spend, you can find something in the Dominican Republic."

Drawbacks

The very-real threat of hurricane and tropical storm damage. Tourist crowds in popular spots.

The weather

The Dominican Republic has a tropical maritime climate boasting an "endless summer" with little local variations in temperature (averaging 86 degrees year round). Nights in the mountains can be cool. The rainy season on the North Coast is between October and May; on the South Coast from May to October.

The costs

Housing generally starts at $50,000 for small studio apartments and easily reaches into the millions for large oceanfront homes. Except in certain cases, there are no property taxes in the Dominican Republic.

Getting there

United flies into Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperon International Airport, 15 minutes from Cabarete, for $565 and up.

Where to stay

Cabarete Palm Beach Condos ($40-$195; 877-240-5605; cabaretecondos.com) is an oceanfront property with spacious, stylishly-decorated studio and two-bedroom units.

Must see

Ocean World (oceanworld.net), a beachfront theme park, allows patrons to interact with sea life and try their luck at a Vegas- style casino.

For more information

The official website of the Dominican Republic Tourism Ministry (godominicanrepublic.com) is a comprehensive information resource; Century 21 Juan Perdomo (juanperdomo.com/eng/) brokers local property.

(c) 2010 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.  

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