The Sosua/Cabarete area would be a good place to start your search. It is a very pleasant area in which to live, good services are close at hand, and there is much less risk of hurricanes on the North Coast than on South Coast.
A surprising number of Americans have been buying homes here recently. For now they will be vacation homes, but in time very possibly retirement homes.
If you are interested, I can highly recommend Dean Brown, the Century 21 representative for the North Coast. He is a straight shooter. You can contact him at
wandabrown@codetel.net.do
Both condos and houses have their advantages. Especially if you are not going to be living full time in your purchase, I would recommend you consider a condo, an apartment or a house in a development/complex where security and maintenance services are provided.
My wife and I have been living in the DR for 17 years. We would not have been here so long if we were uncomfortable about living here.