Yes do as the other lemmings do- buy expencive.
I bought my small apartment in the hellish Puerto Chiquito for a very very resonable price thanks to the nervous reputation this place have. Im still alive, and had no breakins after several years. I think we paid 15000 for a runned down apartment, we fixed it, and now we have our own place, and no dept.
If you use your brain there is no problems living in Puerto Chiquito, it is a economical place to live and economical smart place to start. So if you dont like to live in the RD, well then you do not loose so much money as if you bought a much more expencive house or condo in another place.
But my only advice must be: Please please- Rent a apartment in this place first, then if you still like to live there after some months. Then you can decide if it is a evil place- or a nice place you want to live.
Contact the managment in the place, ask for someone with a apartment to rent, so you can try to live before you buy.