I have been to the DR 3 times. Love Samana and Sosua area. I will be going again at the end of this year. Exploring the posibilities of moving there.
Have some questions.
Rentals ?
The Dominican Republic is a renters paradise. Decide in advance how you want to live and how much you want to pay.
Plenty of it everywhere you go. Keep your wits about you and your head on a swivel. You have a target on your back always. Remember that and it will serve you well.
It is a much or as little as you wish to make it. Lower if you live Dominican style. More expensive if you wish to life the life of the rich, famous or privileged.
Are gun permits allowed ?
For visitors, NO.
No importation of guns or ammunition basically either to anyone.
Permits only to permanent residents and citizens and they are very difficult to get now.
What this guy said.
Do not pay any attention to what people here on DR1 write about different places.
They are WAY too opinionated and biased to base a major decision like where YOU wish to live on anything they have to day.
Schedule a house hunting trip.
But your "collective boots on the ground".
Split your time between both places.
And figure it out for yourselves.
The best advice I have ever received on DR1 was to go (insert inappropriate language of your choice here) when I asked for information on specific questions.
You know what that forced me to do.
Figure it out for myself.
And now I am way better off...