The Dominican Republic has its own rules, taxes, and timeline.
Know what to expect before you buy, and protect your investment from day one.
One of the first things we tell every buyer is this, don’t assume it works like back home. It doesn’t. And that’s not a bad thing, it’s just different. Once you understand how it works here, the process is actually straightforward. Here’s what you need to know.
Not at all. Foreigners buy and own property here under the exact same rights as locals. No residency, no special permits, no restrictions. This is one of the most buyer-friendly markets in the Caribbean for foreign ownership.
Yes, and this is one of the most common concerns we hear, especially from first-time foreign buyers. Property ownership in the Dominican Republic is fully protected by law. Foreigners have the same legal rights as local citizens. The key is doing it correctly, with proper due diligence, a verified title, and the right people guiding you. Buyers who run into problems here almost always skipped one of those steps. We make sure none of them get skipped.
Before we ever present a property to our buyers, we’ve already done the background work, checking the legal status, ownership history, and developer track record. You won’t be walking into something blindly. That’s part of what we do before a listing even reaches you.
Yes, but not from day one. You’ll need a licensed Dominican real estate attorney when it’s time to transfer the title into your name. That’s the stage where legal representation is required. Everything before that, the search, the verification, the due diligence, we handle. When the time comes, we connect you with trusted attorneys who work with foreign buyers regularly.
This one surprises a lot of North American buyers. Here, a Notary Public is not just someone who stamps a document. They are a legally empowered professional who oversees the signing of purchase contracts. Both buyer and seller need to be present, or represented through a Power of Attorney if you’re not in the country. We help you set this up.
The seller pays the commission, not the buyer. This surprises a lot of foreigner buyers who are used to different structures. As a buyer working with us, you receive full representation, local expertise, and end-to-end support at no cost to you.
Due diligence: 2 to 4 weeks
Title transfer: 2 to 3 months after closing
It’s not instant, but it’s predictable when handled correctly.
This is where Punta Cana actually works in your favor. Many properties here qualify for CONFOTUR, a government incentive that removes the 3% transfer tax and the annual property tax for up to 15 years. On a qualifying property, your entry costs drop significantly. Without CONFOTUR, budget around 4% of the purchase price to cover the transfer tax and legal fees. We always check CONFOTUR status before recommending any property.
The annual property tax (IPI) is 1% on the value above approximately $171,000 USD. If your property is below that threshold, you pay nothing annually.
Not automatically, but it can help. Owning property in the Dominican Republic does not grant residency on its own. However, a property purchase can support a residency or investor visa application. If residency is part of your goal, let us know from the start so we can factor that into the strategy.
You can, but most of our buyers don’t go that route. Local bank financing for foreigners comes with higher interest rates and more paperwork than most are used to. Cash purchases and developer payment plans are far more common here, especially for new developments where staged payments make it easier to plan.
Yes, and Punta Cana is one of the strongest short-term rental markets in the Caribbean. Tourism here runs year-round, which means consistent demand for vacation rentals. Many of our buyers purchase specifically for this reason. We factor rental potential into every property recommendation we make, so you’re not guessing at returns after you’ve already bought.
Closing is when you sign, but your title takes another 2 to 3 months to come through officially. Your attorney handles that process. We stay in touch throughout and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Every situation is different and we’d rather you go in informed than guessing.
Complete the buyer form below. It helps us understand your goals, budget, and timeline, so we know from where to start and in which stage you are to help you the best way possible. We will personally review your submission and get back to you shortly.
