Dominican Republic real estate: buying from Florida with someone who knows both shores

Where to buy according to what you want

Punta Cana for vacation rental, direct flights and new villas; Samaná for nature, a marina and a quieter life by the sea; Puerto Plata for the North Coast with lower entry prices and an international community in Sosúa and Cabarete; Casa de Campo for the country’s highest-end private resort community; and within Samaná, Las Terrenas for the international beach town with condos and villas steps from the sand. Each area has its buyer and its return.

How buying from the United States works

• A foreigner can buy in their own name, with no residency or corporation required.
• A local attorney verifies the certificate of title, the absence of liens and the contract with the developer.
• The property transfer tax is paid when the property is registered in your name.
• Some projects approved under CONFOTUR offer temporary tax exemptions; it is verified project by project.

What I check before you sign

Individual, clean title; a developer with delivered projects; a contract with clear deadlines and penalties; and rental management with a contract, not verbal promises. The images on this site are lifestyle renderings; to decide, always real photos and a visit, in person or on video.

The same guidance on both shores

Many clients sell their home in South Florida and buy in the Caribbean. I coordinate both transactions, their timelines and their professionals so that one never puts the other at risk.

The purchase, step by step

• Area and property selection according to goal and budget, with an in-person or video visit.
• Offer and promise or purchase agreement, reviewed by a Dominican attorney you trust.
• Verification of the certificate of title at the Real Estate Registry and of the absence of liens, mortgages or litigation.
• Payment on the agreed schedule, through verified accounts, never in cash without a notarized receipt.
• Payment of the transfer tax and registration of the property in your name.
• Handover, utilities and, if applicable, a rental management contract.

Purchase costs in the Dominican Republic

The main one is the real estate transfer tax, a percentage of the property value paid at registration; add attorney fees, notary and registry costs and, in new projects, initial community contributions. Some projects approved under CONFOTUR offer temporary exemptions from that tax and from the annual property tax; it is verified project by project with the attorney before counting on them.

Residency and stays

You do not need Dominican residency to buy. For long stays there are residency programs, including those designed for retirees and investors, that an immigration attorney can process. I guide you on which fits your plan without replacing that advice.

Vacation rent: how it is really managed

Rent in the Caribbean works when there is serious local management: guest reception, cleaning, pool and garden maintenance and seasonal pricing. I work with trusted local operators and review their contract with you: commission, reporting, maintenance and guaranteed owner use.

Frequently asked questions