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@Cheryl  girl that's a book that I have to Publish about Dominican Republic and moving there that's a long a** story. It's a twist and turn story and that's a great story either and maybe some were not so great. Just put it this way. I rather live in my own American country that I love and it aint gonna stop me.

Well this topic brings together a number of other threads and topics we have covered many times!

I moved here  almost 20 years ago so some of my experience will not be relevant, some will. We did not have the same social media platforms nor access like now. We did not have Air BnB!

What is the same is  "boots on the ground" still the best  way to find a rental.  But now I would recommend booking your air BnB and then boots on the ground to find the longer term rental.

I found my first rental accidentally. I found my second on purpose, because I learned the ropes.

Consider so many things here you would not in many other countries:

1. Electrical grid and service
2. Back up electricity
3. Water storage and delivery schedule (not all place get street water daily)
4. Internet / cable options - just because the companies service the area does not always mean they have availability and capacity
5. Cell service and signal in your new place.
6. Furnished or unfurnished
7. Schools shopping churches etc if needed
8. NOISE this is a big one, check the location  many times for noise,  quiet on tuesday does not equal  quiet on weekends!

NOW legal contracts:

Be very aware of what you sign and  what it actually means. Yes you will pay a deposit normally of  2 months.  That can be very hard to get back.

In some areas you will also need a "fiador" which means guarantor. That is NORMAL in many cities but not as normal in touristy areas!   If you cannot find one you can offer  several extra months rent UP FRONT, that is not a deposit it is pre payment.

Be aware of what you will be responsible for in the rental.  Break a tap, you may be replacing it!  Check everything carefully.

ONCE you have a rental then you can  start experiencing your new neighborhood.  That is the JOY of living here for me. 

ADVICE  - be flexible,  Be open minded,  Be willing to learn from your new neighbors.  Leave all your pre conceived notions at HOME.  This is a new culture and new adventure!

Colmados!

I love colmados!!!! So darn convenient.   And interesting place to socialize too.

Love and live, the advice from the planner. Always clear, truthful and down to earth. Always enjoy her posts. My newest issue is with my phone. I am used to a phone, where you pay a monthly fee and everything works. Not so here. Help me, anybody, please. Got a prepaid mobile, that seems to work, but different functions don't work unless you pay extra, and then only for a limited amount of time or if the reception is poor not at all. Any expat with a fully functioning phone, please reply.

First thank you for your very kind words!

Phone - which company are you with?  With cedula or without?  Prepaid I assume so limited options.

Claro, prepaid, under wife's cedula.

Then you can go to Claro and ask for a postpaid with a contract!   That way you can get all the services you are looking for honey!

We had Claro postpaid accounts with my passport before we got our cedulas. It was difficult to get them to understand that was what I wanted, but after about half an hour and recruiting a translator, we were able to get the plans we wanted.

@ddmcghee Well, the problem is they are worried you are going to run up a large phone bill, take off & leave the country without paying it IF you are a tourist.  That is why the only phone option is going to be pre-paid.  Once you become a legal resident with a legal local address (and they know or assume you living in the country full time) that is when you can get a "post paid" phone, meaning a phone service with a monthly bill you pay after the fact each month.

@john-schroder All I'm saying is that it can be done! I've done it, with two phones/lines, using just my passport.

@ddmcghee Not sure about your situation. I have prepaid cellular with Claro and a home phone with their internet package. The internet and home phone is post pay.