Buying from abroad

    If you are buying from outside the Dominican Republic, here is how a purchase actually closes, step by step, with the numbers as they stand in 2026.

    01

    Who can own.

    Foreigners can own titled property in the Dominican Republic on exactly the same terms as Dominicans. Article 25 of the Constitution gives foreign nationals the same rights as nationals, and there is no restriction on foreign individuals or companies owning real estate. The word "titled" matters: you are buying a registered certificate of title, not a handshake, and you must always confirm the title and the deslinde (the survey that fixes the parcel's exact boundaries and rules out overlapping claims).

    02

    The title and deslinde check.

    Before anything else, your lawyer confirms the certificate of title at the Registry of Title — the only document that proves ownership — and an independent surveyor confirms the deslinde matches the parcel with no overlapping surveys. This is the step that stops a bad deal before money moves.

    03

    Promise of sale, then the deposit.

    The parties sign a promise of sale that fixes the price, the deposit and the conditions, and the deposit is held by a notary or lawyer. The Dominican Republic does not have a US-style title-escrow industry, so the notary or attorney is the trusted holder.

    04

    Closing at a notary.

    The deed of sale is authenticated by a Dominican notary, then registered at the Registry of Title. From that registration, the title is in your name.

    05

    Transfer tax.

    A one-time 3% transfer tax (Impuesto a la Transferencia Inmobiliaria) is paid by the buyer on the higher of the government-appraised value or the sale price, before the transfer is registered. It applies to foreign and local buyers alike.

    06

    Annual property tax (IPI).

    The Dominican Republic charges 1% per year on the value of your property above an inflation-indexed exemption. For 2026 the exempt amount is RD$10,695,494 — roughly US$182,000 at recent exchange rates — so a home under that threshold pays no IPI at all, and above it you pay 1% only on the excess. It is payable in two instalments, in March and September.

    07

    Financing reality.

    Local bank financing for non-resident foreign buyers is limited; most foreign buyers close in cash or use a developer payment plan. Do not plan a purchase around a Dominican mortgage you have not already secured in writing.

    08

    CONFOTUR — ask, don't assume.

    Some tourism projects qualify for tax incentives under Law 158-01 (CONFOTUR), which can include transfer-tax and property-tax relief for buyers. Whether a specific project holds it is a per-project fact. Ask, and get it in writing, rather than assuming.

    Questions to ask any developer here.

    1. Is the certificate of title clean, and can you show me the deslinde?
    2. Who holds the deposit between signature and closing — and is it held in the buyer's interest?
    3. What is the exact total at closing, including the 3% transfer tax plus notary and registration fees?
    4. Does this project hold CONFOTUR (Law 158-01), and what does that change for my taxes?
    5. What is the delivery date, in writing, and what happens if it slips?
    6. If I need financing, what is actually available to me as a non-resident — and from whom?

    Guzman Ariza — Real Estate 2020, Chambers Global Practice Guide (drlawyer.com) · DGII — property transfer tax & IPI (dgii.gov.do) · El Inmobiliario — "DGII sets new amount for IPI payment in 2026" (inmobiliario.do) · DominicanLegalHub — transfer tax calculator (dominicanlegalhub.com).

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