DrNorm,
This may sound rude but it is not meant as such. If you do't know the cosst of borrowing money (30% pa MINIMUM) in the DR & don't yet know how the banking system opperates down here, then you are NOT ready to even CONSIDER buying property down here. PLEASE, come down, RENT for 12 months at least, get to know the people & the way things work here BEFORE you try to buy property. It will save you US $ thousands in the long run by just waiting a year or two.
PLEASE do check the archives on this subject - there are some excellent articles/posts written by experienced people plus long time sufferers who have fallen foul of unscrupulous "Professionals"!!
Just as a point of interest, how often have you visited the DR north coast? Knowing someone who knows someone is the main way of getting things done here - you WILL find a way of doing things if you are here "Networking" yourself into a good group of businessmen (or women). E-mail or PM me if you need more info AFTER reading the archives! - Grahame.