Farmland Adventure in Las Terrenas
I never imagined that at age 45 I’d be trading suburban life and a steady corporate job for a patch of farmland in the Dominican Republic – but here we are, and I’ve never been happier. My wife and I both grew up in farming communities (albeit in the much colder climate of Canada), and for years we talked about returning to that simpler, soil-driven life. We wanted our two kids to grow up with open space to run, to learn the value of nature and hard work, and to have fruit trees instead of skyscrapers in their backyard. The Dominican Republic caught our attention with its fertile land, warm weather, and welcoming culture. Still, the idea of buying rural agricultural land in a foreign country was intimidating, to say the least. We knew we needed help, and that’s when Yeison from Atlantique Sud came into the picture, ready to guide us on the journey of a lifetime.
From our very first call, I could tell Yeison was different from other agents we’d spoken to. I half-expected a sceptical reaction when I described our dream of a sustainable farm near Las Terrenas – after all, it’s not your everyday real estate request. Instead, Yeison’s response was pure enthusiasm. He said, “I love this vision, let’s make it happen,” and I could hear the genuine excitement in his voice. He asked thoughtful questions that even we hadn’t fully considered yet: What kind of crops or animals did we envision? Were we planning to live on the farm full-time or keep it as an investment for a while? How important was proximity to town or a school for the kids? With each answer we gave, he painted an even clearer picture of the perfect land for us. In those early conversations, he wasn’t just an agent gathering specs – he was like a collaborator, helping us refine our dream. It put us completely at ease and built a sense of trust from the start.
When Yeison came back to us with a selection of properties, we were blown away by how well he “got” what we were looking for. He had found a handful of parcels of land, each with its charm. One was a rolling piece of pasture a short drive from a village (it even had a small river along one border). Another was a former cacao and coconut plantation further inland, complete with some old fruit trees and a rundown farmhouse. A third was higher up in the hills – gorgeous views and rich soil, though more remote. Instead of just sending us the listings, Yeison walked us through each option over a video chat, almost as if he were giving a personalised tour. He talked about soil quality, availability of water sources (critical for farming), and even the community aspect – for instance, one property had friendly farming neighbours ready to welcome new folks, whereas another, while beautiful, was quite isolated and maybe less ideal for our family with kids. This kind of insight was gold for us. We realised he wasn’t just checking boxes; he was considering our life on that land in the future.
We decided to fly down to see the top two properties in person. By then, we already felt like we were visiting a friend who happened to be an expert in Dominican real estate. Yeison met us with a big grin and immediately won over our kids by pointing out where wild limes and avocados were growing on one property. He had prepared so thoroughly for our visit. On the first farm we toured, he had arranged for a local agronomist to join us and answer my (many) questions about the land’s agricultural potential. I peppered them with questions about rainfall, drainage, whether the soil could support vegetables or if it was better suited for fruit trees, and both Yeison and the agronomist answered in depth. I was floored by the level of detail and care; who else would think to involve an agronomist on a land showing? It showed me that Yeison was not just trying to sell us land – he genuinely wanted us to succeed in our farming venture long after the purchase.
At the second property, which was the old cacao plantation, Yeison introduced us to the family who owned a neighbouring farm. They greeted us with fresh coconuts and huge smiles, clearly already friends with Yeison. Despite our rudimentary Spanish, we managed to communicate our farming plans (with Yeison happily translating and adding in his friendly commentary). The neighbours shared their experiences of farming in the area, even inviting us to tour their land. We got a real sense of the community we might be joining. Driving back, my wife turned to me and said, “This feels right, doesn’t it?” She was glowing with that mix of hope and certainty. I knew exactly what she meant.
In the end, we found our dream farmland: about 8 acres of gently rolling terrain, bordered by a little creek and shaded by mature mango and palm trees. It came with a sturdy old barn and a modest farmhouse in need of TLC, which to us was perfect, because we wanted to renovate in our style. Standing in the middle of that land, we could already picture rows of vegetables, a chicken coop, maybe a goat or two, and our kids chasing each other under the tropical sun. It was everything we’d imagined and more. But even in that moment of “this is it,” I remember the cautious part of my brain whispering: Don’t get too excited until it’s truly yours. There was a lot to tackle – from negotiating a fair price to wading through legal papers – and that can be especially complex with agricultural land.
Thankfully, Yeison was a rock of reliability through the entire closing process. First, he helped us negotiate with the seller (who was a group of siblings who’d inherited the farm). He ensured we got to meet them and build a friendly rapport, which set a positive tone for the deal. When it came to price and terms, Yeison handled the delicate back-and-forth like the seasoned pro he is – he never pressured us to overshoot our budget, and he respectfully presented our offers in a way that led to a win-win agreement. I was so impressed at how he could be both our advocate and keep the sellers comfortable and receptive; that takes skill and integrity.
Then came the paperwork. Dominican real estate bureaucracy, especially for rural land, can be intricate. Titles, surveys, agricultural permits – it was a lot. But Yeison managed every detail. He coordinated a thorough title search and confirmed that the property had a clear title and proper boundaries (a process known as deslinde, he explained). At one point, a minor issue cropped up: an old fence line on the north side of the property didn’t match the official survey plan, which could have led to confusion about the exact property limits. I panicked a little, but Yeison didn’t miss a beat. He promptly brought in a licensed surveyor to verify and mark the correct boundaries. Within two days, the discrepancy was resolved, and new markers were in place. I remember Yeison calling me to say, “All taken care of – now you know exactly what you’re getting, down to the last meter.” His thoroughness gave us such peace of mind.
Throughout this time, we weren’t in the Dominican full-time, so a lot of communication was by phone and email. Yeison was unbelievably responsive. If I sent a late-night email with a list of questions or jitters that had popped into my head, I’d wake up to a thoughtful reply addressing every point. One Sunday, I recall, I messaged him about how to handle maintaining the property until we could move there permanently, and by Monday morning, he had contacted a local caretaker and lined up a potential solution for us. It was like having a knowledgeable friend on the ground who never sleeps. We always felt like a priority.
Finally, on closing day, Yeison joined us at the notary’s office in Santo Domingo. This was it – the big moment where we’d sign the deed and officially become farm owners. I was excited but also nervous, the kind of nerves that come with making one of the biggest decisions of your life. Having Yeison there was incredibly comforting. He walked us calmly through each document, translating the legal Spanish and explaining in plain English before we signed anything. The notary even commented (with a smile) that we were in good hands with him. When the last signature was done, it hit me – we did it! We owned a farm in the Dominican Republic! My wife and I must have had the biggest grins on our faces. Yeison shook my hand, then gave my wife a little celebratory hug, and handed us the keys to the old farmhouse. And as a final sweet touch, he presented us with a small potted cacao seedling, wrapped in a bow. “A little something to start your farm,” he said. I was so touched that I was nearly speechless. That seedling now sits in our kitchen windowsill, waiting to be planted in its new home.
Looking back on this journey, I am struck by how personal and meaningful it all became. What could have simply been a real estate transaction turned into an emotional, fulfilling adventure for our whole family. Yeison understood the stakes for us – that we weren’t just buying land, we were embracing a whole new way of life – and he treated that dream with incredible care and professionalism. He celebrated with us, sweated the details for us, and made us feel like we were his only clients in the world.
As I write this, we’re packing up our life in Canada and preparing to move to Las Terrenas to begin our farming chapter. It’s a mix of excitement and nerves, but one thing we’re completely sure about is the land and community we’re headed to, and we have Yeison to thank for that. My kids are already talking about the fruit stand they want to set up by the road, and my wife is sketching renovation ideas for the farmhouse. And me? I’m daydreaming of the day I can sip my morning coffee while overlooking fields that we planted ourselves.
We can’t thank Yeison and Atlantique Sud enough. If you’re considering taking a big leap like we did – whether it’s a house, a condo, or a piece of land to call your own – you’ll want someone like Yeison by your side. His knowledge, honesty, and heartfelt commitment turned a complex process into something genuinely enjoyable. Our family’s future has been forever changed for the better, and we’re so grateful that Atlantique Sud was there to guide us home.
— Kevin & Laura M., Calgary, Canada
