Why I Started Jarabacoa Journey

Here's what no one tells you: building the house was the easy part.

Finding the right lawyer, understanding bank requirements, locating quality furniture that wouldn't take six months to arrive, knowing which contractor would actually show up, figuring out how to get propane delivered, learning the unwritten rules about tipping and greetings and business hours—that took years.

Years of trial and error. Years of overpaying for things because I didn't know better. Years of cultural misunderstandings that could have been avoided with a single conversation. Years of wishing someone had just handed me a roadmap.

Today, we rent our home on Airbnb and visit as often as possible. When we're there, we live like locals—not like tourists. We run errands at the local colmado, we meet friends for coffee at our favorite spots, we handle repairs and improvements ourselves. We're part of the fabric of this town now, with relationships we've built over years and resources we've carefully vetted.

I've done the hard work. You don't have to.

What Makes Me Different

I'm not a lawyer, translator, or real estate agent trying to upsell you. I'm simply someone who's been exactly where you are—excited, overwhelmed, and desperately Googling "how to open a bank account in the DR” at 2am.

I know:

• Which real estate agents will actually listen to what you want (and which ones will waste your time)

• Where to buy quality furniture without getting fleeced

• What documents you actually need for the bank (not what the website says—what they really want when you show up)

• The cultural nuances that will make you a respected neighbor instead of "another gringo"

• Who to call when your water stops working, your power goes out, or you need a reliable handyman

• Where locals shop, eat, and gather—the places you'd never find in a guidebook

More importantly, I know what questions you don't even know to ask yet—and I answer them before they become expensive mistakes.

Your Move Doesn't Have to Be Hard

Moving to a new country should be exciting, not exhausting. You shouldn't spend your first year making costly mistakes and feeling like an outsider. You shouldn't wonder if you're getting ripped off every time you hire someone. And you definitely shouldn't feel alone in this process.

That's where I come in.

I've built the community, made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and established the connections so you can skip straight to the good part: actually enjoying your new life in paradise.

Whether you're still researching, actively house-hunting, or already have keys in hand and no idea what to do next—I've got you. Think of me as the local friend you wish you had from day one.

Welcome to Jarabacoa. Let's get your journey started.