FAQs

Yes. Foreign nationals have the same property ownership rights as Dominican citizens. There are no restrictions on purchasing residential or commercial property.

A 3% transfer tax applies at the point of sale. Annual property tax is 1% of values above RD$8M. Many new builds qualify for Confotur exemptions on both.

Off-plan means purchasing before or during construction. Payment is typically staged — a deposit to secure the unit, instalments during construction, and the balance on handover.

Yes. US citizens have the same ownership rights as Dominican nationals, can hold freehold title directly in their own name, and don't need residency to buy. There's no foreign-buyer surcharge. You'll need a valid passport, an independent local attorney for due diligence, and funds transferred through proper banking channels. See our full guide to buying property in the Dominican Republic.

Yes, on the same terms as any other foreign buyer: full freehold ownership, no residency requirement, no surcharge. The main practical differences for Canadian buyers are currency (most new-build is priced in US dollars, so there's a CAD/USD conversion to plan around) and tax reporting at home. Our currency and financing guide covers the money side.

Yes, and an independent one, not the seller's or developer's. Your attorney verifies title, runs due diligence, checks for liens, confirms the property has a clean surveyed title (the deslinde), and handles the closing. It's the single most important safeguard in the process. Read our legal and due diligence guide.

Budget roughly 4% to 5% of the price on a standard purchase (3% transfer tax, around 1% to 1.5% legal fees, plus notary and registration). On a CONFOTUR-approved new development the 3% transfer tax is waived, cutting costs substantially. See our closing-costs guide.

Only above a threshold. The annual IPI tax is 1% on value above roughly RD$10.7 million (about US$182,000) for 2026, with property below that untaxed. The allowance is cumulative across everything you own personally. CONFOTUR-approved developments are exempt from IPI for up to 15 years. Foreign owners pay the same rate as nationals.

CONFOTUR is a tourism incentive that exempts qualifying new developments from the 3% transfer tax and the 1% annual property tax for up to 15 years, and sometimes rental-income tax too. On a US$400,000 purchase, the transfer-tax waiver alone saves US$12,000 at closing, before the annual savings. Eligibility is per development. Full detail in our CONFOTUR guide.

Capital gains on the sale of property are generally taxable in the Dominican Republic, calculated on the inflation-adjusted gain. The specifics depend on how you hold the property and your circumstances, and any gain may also be reportable at home in the US or Canada. Take professional tax advice before selling. This is one to plan for at purchase, not discover at sale.

Yes, Dominican banks lend to foreign buyers, but typically with larger deposits, higher rates and a document-heavy process. Many foreign buyers instead pay cash or use a developer payment plan on off-plan stock. See our currency and financing guide.

Most new-build is priced in US dollars, and the peso has held a managed float against the dollar for over a decade. US buyers carry no exchange risk; Canadians have a single conversion to plan around.

Coastal new-builds in managed developments have supported gross yields commonly cited in the 6% to 9% range, though net returns are lower after management, service charges and vacancy. CONFOTUR tax relief helps more of the gross reach net. See our rental yields guide.

Not automatically. There's an investor residency route (from around US$200,000, usually requiring the real estate to be held through a registered company), plus pensionado and rentista routes based on income. The Dominican Republic offers residency and later naturalisation, not a direct citizenship-by-investment scheme. See our residency by investment guide.

A North American income generally stretches much further, day-to-day costs run well below an equivalent US or Canadian lifestyle outside the premium enclaves, and much of the market carries no annual property tax. There's a dedicated retiree residency route too. See our guide to living in the Dominican Republic.