There’s a particular moment in every Michigan winter when the fantasy becomes practical.
It’s not just I want sun. It’s I want a place.
A place to return to each year, to share with family, to grow as a real asset. Something that can work for you even while you’re not there.
For Troy-area buyers who have looked at Florida or Arizona and recoiled at the new reality — climate, insurance, HOA costs — there’s a different option rising fast: the Dominican Republic.
And it comes with something most international purchases don’t: a trusted local bridge.
Allison Gorman, owner of Gorman Real Estate Collective (allisongorman.com), is a luxury realtor serving Troy and the Woodward Corridor, who’s built her business on high-touch service, strong negotiation and a reputation for integrity. “This is my craft,” she says. “I take it personally.”
Gorman’s first trip to Punta Cana was in 2021. She went with curiosity, a business lens and a healthy amount of skepticism — the kind you’d want from someone advising investors. What she found surprised her: sophisticated gated communities, a strong sense of security, a lifestyle that felt both elevated and effortless.
First, she purchased a property herself. Then, she began exploring how to create opportunities for clients back in Michigan.
On one of those early trips, she stepped into a real-estate office and met Gustavo Garcia, a Dominican luxury real-estate broker who specializes in Cap Cana, one of the island’s most exclusive gated communities. Their connection began not with business cards, but with a spontaneous invitation.
“Sunset yoga,” Garcia says. “We had just met and I said, ‘You should come.’”
Two strangers. One ocean breeze. And the beginning of a partnership that now connects Troy and Punta Cana.
Cap Cana is not the Dominican Republic most Americans picture. It’s a 30,000-acre community with a marina, private beaches, resort-level dining and two golf courses, including one ranked among the best in the world, with ocean-view holes that feel like something out of a travel film.
The real surprise, though, is the value.
In Cap Cana, luxury condominiums can start in the low $200,000s, with golf-course residences beginning around $300,000 and waterfront options — yes, on the ocean — around $500,000.
And for those thinking like investors, the rental market is strong year-round. Property-management companies typically earn a percentage only when the home produces income, an incentive that keeps bookings top of mind.
“Some clients only need to rent a few nights per month to cover expenses,” Garcia says, while others rent seasonally and reserve longer stays for themselves.
Gorman says what she’s seeing now isn’t just about profit. It’s lifestyle strategy: a home that can be used, enjoyed and still positioned as an appreciating asset.
“It’s not just a vacation home,” Gorman says. “It can be a vessel for wealth. A lifestyle investment.”
For Troy-area clients interested in exploring Cap Cana — whether as a second home, a retirement plan or a strategic investment — Gorman and Garcia offer a guided process that begins locally, with someone you already trust.
Because luxury isn’t always about spending more. Sometimes, it’s about knowing where to look next.