Moving to DR... advice please

Curious11 · #1 03-13-2006, 10:25 AM

So my parents are looking to retire to the DR within the next year (we currently live in Rhode Island). They just returned a few days ago on vacation and loved it. They met up with a realtor who moved down there from Ohio a year and a half ago and she was alot of help. My parents want myself and my son to move there with them. And I have a few questions about education and health care. My son is 3 years old. My parents believe it would be beneficial for him to grow up in the DR for a few reasons: 1) they think American life is too faced paced and that we all need to take a step back. and 2) he would get the chance to become bilingual in the DR school system. I think these are two very big assests, but I worry about his future if he were to return to the US to live as an adult. My parents were told that the schooling is very good in the DR, and I read that certain schools are accredited based on where you want to further your education (Europe, US, etc). Any advice or info on this matter would be greatly appreciated. My 2nd concern is healthcare. Again my parents were told that it is as good, if not better, than the US. Is this true? I am not sure of any more questions I have at the moment... but any information you guys can share would be wonderful! Thank you so much

Chris · #2 03-13-2006, 10:27 AM

Which part of the DR are you looking to move to? For schools, Santo Domingo is perhaps your best bet, with Santiago a good second. Sosua/Puerto Plata also has some options.

Tamborista · #3 03-13-2006, 10:29 AM

Good Healthcare and education are going to cost you.
Do one of you have a job or source of income?

rellosk · #4 03-13-2006, 10:35 AM

Curious11, welcome to DR1.

My advice to your parents are that they should take it slow. No one should move to a foreign country based on the advice of a Realtor that they met on their first time visiting a country.

DR1 is a wonder source of information. Use the search button to begin your research. There are many things one should know before moving to the DR.

Your question regarding education and health-care are good ones. If you want an education equivalent to a non-urban US public school education, then you must pay for a private school. There was a thread on the cost of the various private schools, some of which can be expensive.

Private medical care in the DR, while adequate and much less expensive than in the US, may not be on par with medical care in the US. For everyday needs, ex-patriots have said they are comfortable with the care they have received. For life threatening conditions, most have expressed they would rather be treated in the US. There are many threads discussing this.

macocael · #5 03-13-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious11

So my parents are looking to retire to the DR within the next year (we currently live in Rhode Island). They just returned a few days ago on vacation and loved it. They met up with a realtor who moved down there from Ohio a year and a half ago and she was alot of help. My parents want myself and my son to move there with them. And I have a few questions about education and health care. My son is 3 years old. My parents believe it would be beneficial for him to grow up in the DR for a few reasons: 1) they think American life is too faced paced and that we all need to take a step back. and 2) he would get the chance to become bilingual in the DR school system. I think these are two very big assests, but I worry about his future if he were to return to the US to live as an adult. My parents were told that the schooling is very good in the DR, and I read that certain schools are accredited based on where you want to further your education (Europe, US, etc). Any advice or info on this matter would be greatly appreciated. My 2nd concern is healthcare. Again my parents were told that it is as good, if not better, than the US. Is this true? I am not sure of any more questions I have at the moment... but any information you guys can share would be wonderful! Thank you so much

I would say that you need to take these comments with a grain of salt. Good health care is not terribly expensive here, compared with the States, but medications are, and are sometimes hard to find. The latter is not covered under insurance unless you have a plan from work. Schooling is a tough thing. Good education is private education; the Dominican public system is not an option. You can pay upwards of 10,000 US at the top school (not necessarily the best school, but rated tops), but somewhere around half that is probably what you will end up paying.

But the emotional and moral consequences are more important: will your kids be happy here? This is a developing nation; it is not the States. Even many Dominican Yorks cannot cut it back here on their "native" soil. Now I am raising my family here, and I think it is just great for some of the very reasons you mention and many others. But my daughter was born here. Your children on the other hand will have to make a huge transition, and they may not like it. The mores are very very different here.

I will get back to you on this with more detailed comments,but I have to run. The other posters gave some good advice. Take it slow, come on down have a look around, contact some of us on the board to help you get oriented. Dont make any hasty decisions.

Curious11 · #6 03-13-2006, 11:22 AM

My parents have done research for years on the DR and always said they wanted to move there. After their visit last week, and looking into real estate etc, it confirmed those thoughts. As far as schooling... I just enrolled my son in a private preschool and it will cost about $2,500 a year for 3 days a week. As far as income... we will have some. Along with the fact that my parents will be selling out $500,000 house here and apparently banking in the DR is quite good and we can live off the interest. The house they want to buy is located in Maimon.

Another thing about healthcare... I will still be covered by my health insurance in the US and plan on returning periodically for doctors appts. etc for myself and my son.

rellosk · #7 03-13-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious11

...apparently banking in the DR is quite good and we can live off the interest.

Once again, do more homework. Banking in the DR can be perilous. Major banks have gone under (I'm not sure if depositors lost principal) and the currency has fluctuated wildly. Interest rates are high because the risks are high. I would keep my money in a US FDIC insured account, especially with rising interest rates in the US.

carina · #8 03-13-2006, 06:01 PM

Go easy.
Banking in Dr. As Rellosk stated, it is not that simple.
Many scams are around.
A move cost money, settle in cost money.
Rent first, learn culture and society. Learn about costs, medical care, schools.
Then buy, invest or whatever you chose.

In what bank will you invest in DR, be safe and live off interests?

Conchman · #9 03-13-2006, 06:09 PM

living off interest is a dangerous move, since anything paying more than 10% is probably risky in terms of exchange rate or bank failure.

Curious11 · #10 03-13-2006, 06:33 PM

"US Dollar Bank time deposits (CD's) pay up to 10% at the moment, and if you are going to live in the country, then deposits paying up to 22% in Dominican Pesos might be worthwhile as well."

I found this online and it is similar to the information my parents recieved while in the DR.