Good or bad, when it comes to CostAmbar and other developments in the DR in general, you need to look further than just a dreadful access road.
CostAmbar has a very enviable location to start with. It is close to town (yet you'd probably need transportation), closer to the way out to Santiago and sits right on a nice beach. But then, questionable development planing and infrastructure execution paired with other problems like big oil burning electric power station, a polluting port and many other issues have managed to even run ocean front hotels into the ground so badly, they are unoccupied ruins... beach front. Others failed as half finished projects (for the choice of 3rd class locations within the development.
Yes, even
asking prices may seem reasonable in CostAmbar while other apparently not so desirable locations in town can fetch asking prices double that. Some people have indeed found deals which seem out of, well, maybe not this world, but out of what most have painfully gotten used to on these Coasts. But then, you have to ask yourself why.
I have tried to, maybe not specifically answer this or these very question(s) on other related threads but this time I will choose to leave the OP with the option to read in between the lines and add his conclusions to his list of due diligence or to play around with the search feature of this very Forum.
Some people live happily in CostAmbar and for almost decades now... some have gone bankrupt and other have left it swearing never to come back. You will find that in most developments but from the collection of ruins, closed down and other wise vacated or failed project buildings one may come to suspect that the ratios of the above groups may be somewhat alarming.
Short, a bad access road, which has a history of promises of "being fixed" which resembles the one of the this countries electrical supply system, may indeed give a bad first impression yet turn out to be an almost bearable writeoff for a more afordable home in beach proximity. But I think one should not let himself be blinded by it either way so not to see a "good deal" and on the other hand overlook the other, maybe less repairable issues inside the development.
Bottom line, one is usually advised on the Forum to first come and RENT for a good couple of months (at least 6, IMO). A good advice even if you'd set your mind on any location. You will find many rentals in CostAmbar... so come on over and kick the tires.
A final comment on location:
You will again and again hear the quote: "Location, location, location".
I think it is the most wrongly understood quote there is, as most seem to believe that it is just the repeat of ONE word. In my opinion though, NO it sure ain't: There are so many things that make locations up. One may think that a particular breath taking or dramatic (to use terms commonly used in ads and by agents) view means location, or that where the rich and affluent have chosen to settle is THE location and maybe ocean, sea or lake front is the ultimate location... but then, they only make up parts in the puzzle of what builds up every one and each choice or ideal of a place to call home. So, don't fool your self in being blinded and say "beach, beach, beach" and think you just paraphrased "location, location, location"... instead look at ALL the aspects of locations and try to see the bigger picture... and then draw the line... for good or bad.
A few words of my opinions about SHR and comparing it to other developments and locations (since it came up):
Comparing Sea Horse Range and CostAmbar is probably further off reality than comparing chalk with cheese
.
SHR is smaller, it is a residential only development and it has been, in my opinion mostly because of a very well planned development process a success, both financially and as a place of residence. Yet, even with it's enviable ocean front location, one should also not overlook some facts like, while it bears some homes which can resemble some of the ocean front homes of Palm Beach (island), the development has the looks, amenities, finish and qualities of a Florida development about 20 years ago. It's nice, I like it, I am not sure I would want to live there as only about 30% of all homes seem occupied on average thru the year (which can be a bit solitary and lacking the feel of living in a community) and the HOA (well, property management) is generating fees close to paying rent elsewhere, that besides quite high prices, given the amenities and lack thereof once one leaves the immediate development.
All points which will never find much similitude when comparing SHR and CA.
... J-D.