Thirty-two pages on buying real estate in the Dominican Republic — without getting burned. Written for international buyers by people who live, work, and close here.
Six chapters. One goal: give international buyers the clarity a well-connected local already has.
Buying property abroad is one of the largest financial decisions a family makes — and yet most of what foreign buyers read about the Dominican Republic is either a resort brochure or a translated listing. No one sits them down and says, honestly: this is how it really works here, these are the mistakes we keep seeing, and this is the path that actually leads to a clean title in your name.
So we wrote it. Thirty-two pages, free, no form required to download. If after reading you decide to work with us, wonderful — we'll match you to a licensed local agency at no cost to you. If you decide to buy without us, also wonderful — we'd rather you buy safely than not at all.
A small team based between Santo Domingo and Las Terrenas. We don't sell property. We connect international buyers with pre-vetted, AEI-licensed Dominican agencies — and stay on the line until the deed is signed.
The Canadian couple eyeing retirement in Las Terrenas. The French family calculating rental yield in Punta Cana. The American remote worker in Cabarete. The Belgian investor building a portfolio. Everyone who wants a home — or an income — in the sun, without the usual foreign-buyer pitfalls.
Because an informed buyer is a safer buyer, and a safer buyer closes more often. Agencies pay us only when you successfully close with one of our partners. The more of you we educate, the better the whole ecosystem becomes. Everybody wins.
"Nothing in this book is secret. Any Dominican lawyer or veteran realtor could tell you the same things. The problem is that most foreign buyers never meet the right lawyer or the right realtor at the right time. This brochure is our attempt to fix that — with no password, no email wall, and nothing hidden behind a paywall."
The Dominican Republic has over 1,600 km of coastline and no two kilometers are the same. Punta Cana is resort yield. Las Terrenas is bohemian francophone. Cabarete is kitesurf. Casa de Campo is legacy. Here is the honest comparison, side by side.
Foreigners own property in the Dominican Republic with the same rights as citizens. No residency required. But the steps do matter — and skipping one can cost years. Here is the entire roadmap, from first viewing to signed deed.
A non-binding written offer. Should include price, closing date, conditions, and a 10% deposit held in escrow. Never pay anyone directly at this stage.
Your lawyer verifies the Certificado de Título at the Jurisdicción Inmobiliaria. Checks: liens, mortgages, boundary disputes, matches seller's ID. This is the single most important step.
Signed before a Notario Público. Both parties present. Must be in Spanish — you receive a certified translation. Never sign without your lawyer present.
Buyer pays 3% transfer tax to the DGII (tax authority) plus roughly 1.5% in notary and legal fees. If the property qualifies for CONFOTUR (Ley 158-01), these can be waived.
The Registro de Títulos issues a new Certificado in your name. Usually 30 – 60 days. You own the property when this certificate is in your hand — not before.
Brochure prices hide groceries. Listings don't tell you about the generator fuel. Here are the honest, monthly, category-by-category numbers a family of three from France or Canada would actually see in Las Terrenas.
Numbers verified April 2026 with expat families currently living in Las Terrenas, Cabarete, and Bávaro. Punta Cana and Casa de Campo tend to run 15 – 30% higher on imported groceries and schools.
Composite profiles based on three actual closings we facilitated in 2024 – 2025. Names changed; numbers, timelines, and lessons are real.
Montréal · French-speaking · Retirement + rental
"We toured six properties in four days. Closed on the second one. Two years in, rental income covers the mortgage and then some."
Miami · English-speaking · Pure rental investment
"CONFOTUR-qualified, so no property tax for 15 years. Airbnb runs itself through a local manager. Net positive from month four."
Paris · French-speaking · Portfolio + second home
"Three virtual tours, one weekend on the ground. Notary docs all in French. The contract was actually simpler than what we had in Paris."
This is the exact list we give every client — the one that separates a two-month closing from a two-year lawsuit. Take it with you to every viewing.
Everything in this brochure is free. The next step is too. Tell us what you are looking for — we will match you with a verified Dominican agency in your language, within 48 hours.