Compare luxury developments Cap or Punta Cana, Casa de Campo and Sea Horse Ranch.

Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, Sea Horse Ranch, how do they compare?
We've discussed some of the aspects of, mainly the community fees at Sea Horse Ranch (North Coast).
So let's discuss how the other luxury developments compare, if you will.

... J-D.

Thanks Hillbilly.

I've driven thru Casa de Campo several times. There are indeed some super luxurious sub sections. Other parts are real nice but not all that ostentatious. The development is huge... then La Romana is not. Incidentally, some homes in general seem to be offered at a slighly lower price than the average found within Sea Horse Ranch. On the other hand, there are some homes into the 7 figures at Casa de Campo.

I've passed by Punta Cana once, but did not enter.
I will some day.

Do any have ideas about the community fees for a villa within these developments?

Thanks! ... J-D.

ddoran said:

Hi HB,

just back from seeing SHR with jennifer and liked it very much but lacks a real golf course and beautiful beach hacienda el choco and panorama were also very nice

saw cap cana for second time in novemeber and it is still a beautiful ghost town..almost lifeless for now as it is a vacation resort area, not sure if it will ever have real life to it

while staying at tortuga bay hotel, visited several of the palaces inside the punta cana resort development..very big and not any life...trophy mansions

took family to see casa de campo 2 years ago but kids thought the million dollar plus homes were worth much less due to poor construction

will return to east coast in november to look again at casa de c which i like since it is nearer the capitol and has a real city next door with a basebal stadium where i can see the aguilas first visited casa de campo in 1979..yikes getting pretty old now

so i am totaly confused as tho where to buy..not just as investment but a place to enjoy for 3 to 4 monthd of the year

I still prefer moncion but need a beach

any better opinion would be appreciated

Click to expand...

I think the proximity of some city is essential to a development if it is not to become a "Trophy town" (to paraphrase you a little).
Really the lack of that, is what would have me worried with both Punta Cana and Cap Cana. Unless ones goal only is to dump some money into an off shore beach location.

SHR, is somewhat close to Puerto Plata. However it's proximity to Sosua, which public wise is mostly in sharp contrast to the people one would expect in that development does not flatter that location, IHMO. Maybe one more reason, they prefer to seem themselves as part of Cabarete.

Also SHR, lacks some life. There are apparently only few permanent residents and total occupance seems to average around 25%.

I seem to understand that there are far more people actually LIVING in Casa de Campo, locals too (?). But then numbers can distort the image as CDC is quite large... so, percentages my not be so different? I don't know (yet).

Thanks for the contributions so far!

Any input on maintenance fees?

... J-D.

That sure does look real pretty, Aross.
The issue is, that this island had and still offers so many dream locations which seemingly easily could be turned into an appealing development for dream homes.
Sadly, when we look around we find many awful reminders which tell us that dream locations here, much more easily tend to turn into failures, mostly because of lack of organization, vision and a realistic financial and "urbanistic" plan or a combination of these and other shortfalls.

In other words, we have to rely on historical evidence of solidity and continuity in order to be able to judge and place our bets.

Now, this is in no way meant to discredit newer developments like I believe Sea Tree Estates is. And I am always interested to get to know other and new ones.

Anyway, in order to come clean about this subject, let me disclose this. I have visited Casa de Campo, which currently is somewhat plagued with crime issues, and also Sea Horse Ranch. I am not a golfer, so I don't mind the "missing" golf at SHR. However my interest is not directly as a buyer or builder. I still own a luxury property abroad and am actively looking into exchanging it, property for property with a home of equal standing here in the DR. Selling properties like these has become tough on both side of the ocean. But I need to find something within a location which historically can promise continuity so that I still have something of value when markets pick up again in a few years.

... J-D.