Hi Squat! I left LT after 2 years to move to the Capital because it was too dangerous and I was really bored out of my mind! As another poster said - if you have children, the issue of where to live is very different. But if you live in Playa Bonita, I am guessing that you don't since that is well beyond the center of LT where there are some decent schools. For me - Gazcue was the ONLY place to live in the Capital. It has the charm of old tree lined streets, and lovely architecture.. Ok - yes - there are holes in the sidewalks that could hold a goat - but somehow the Dominicans walk around in high heels.
It took me some time to decide on the area - after renting a room in the Aparthotel Esmeralda (I think?) for a couple of months. I just kept walking around the area until I saw a sign in the window "Se Alquila". Dealing with real estate agents in SD is hopeless. They will only show you the apartments that they have listings for. I finally found my place (at Residential Claudina - right across from the PLD) - but -
I rented two different apartments there - one with a landlady from Hell - and another with the Very Best Landlady Ever. However - BOTH of them decided that they wanted to sell their places after they had had a "gringa" rent from them. I was paying in dollars - most llkely My Biggest Mistake.
You will (might) need a Dominican Guarantor - someone who owns something - like a Colmado, preferably - or a doctor or the like - to co-sign a lease. And - of course - first - last +deposit.
I have a couple of friends who are still there in Gazcue and pay decent rents if you want to PM me - they can perhaps show you around and maybe even find you something? (It will help if you are on FB so that they could chat with you? I am pretty sure that you are an OK guy but I don't actually know you and thus can not really vouch for your credentials as a gentleman and they are single women)
Plus - I think BienAmor lives in that area right between Gazcue and the Zona - so he might be able to help.
The NOISE - situation - is going to be tricky - since - well - Dominicans are simply noisy. And the Capital is noisy. You can go to a section like Casigascue - if you have about US2k to spend - but you will have to face traffic to even get out to dinner. The Zona will be completely noisy..
If you have furniture, (or even if you don't!) you might be better off renting an unfurnished apartment. That means that you will have to buy ALL the appliances - stove, fridge, light fixtures... but - you might also have a better chance of not having to pay "Gringo" prices.
The other thing about Gazcue is the trash - unless things have REALLY changed - (and I doubt honestly that they have! although it has been 4 years since I left) - while the streets of Nacho and Piantini are kept immaculate - the streets of Gazcue can often get piled up with trash. This was something that I simply had to get used to - it improved somewhat - at first I made the assumption that Dominicans themselves were "dirty" - until I got inside some of their homes and discovered how immaculate their houses were - It was simply that the STATE didn't do a good job at trash pick-up. We even saw them pick up the trash cans from in front of our building and Take Them Away!
If you can find yourself a good place with some good middle-class Dominicans, you will be very happy. They will look out for you.
Go sit at Villar Hermanos on Independencial and Pasteur and start your search from there. Yes, it is a red light district. But an elegant one.
indominicana.com
apartamento.mercadolibre.com.do
