Please take a look at this recent article posted by the New York times on the benefits of owning in the DR and the north cost area of the island.
They specifically reference or local real estate agency Select Caribbean Properties and Sabine Mertes. A big trend that they note in the article about a slow market uptrend with direct reference to cost of living and lifestyle on the north coast of the DR. Worth you time to read this article.
www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/realestate/house-hunting-in-the-dominican-republic.html