Batich, did you actually live this experience or just making up stuff? Where abouts was this? I have owned a few villas and never had this experience. Curious, tell us the whole story.
Sorry if I did not understand you well!
Of course from experience. Mine and others`.
In last 5-6 years I was approached at least 4 times by people in urgent need to sell and willing to accept 50% of market value.
I knew that I was losing great opportunities but I was not ready to relocate and would never want absentee ownership in DR.
One case was when a person was set-up by his business competitors. A man brought him a car to buy very cheap. He took it for test drive. Next block - he was stopped by police. Car is stolen. No documents. mHad to leave country within several days. Left behind everything.
Another guy got in legal trouble because of drugs. Had to run back to Canada and to sell his house from there for any price at all.
One more person is about to sell his land half-price very soon if does not strighten his legal problems fast.
DR is more a country of opportunity now than US. But be VERY patient and VERY careful.
Live there a year. Let everyone in RE business know that you have cash for a house at bargain price and can close very fast. And wait.
Have a good lawyer to check Title. Someone will try to sell you air.