Real estate & CONFOTUR in the Dominican Republic
From a Punta Cana condo or Las Terrenas villa to a beachfront development site — we verify the title, structure the purchase and close it, so the only surprises are good ones.
In Dominican real estate, the title is the deal
Property rights in the DR are governed by Law 108-05 on the Real Estate Registry, built around the Torrens system: what the Registro de Títulos says, rules. Foreigners can buy with the same rights as Dominicans — the risk is never nationality, it is buying on unverified title, undisclosed liens or unresolved boundaries. Our job is to make sure none of those words ever apply to your purchase.
Due diligence we run before you sign
- Certificate of title status — ownership, liens, mortgages and annotations, verified at the registry.
- Seller verification — authority to sell, marital consents, corporate approvals.
- Survey check (deslinde) — confirming the parcel is individualized and the boundaries match reality.
- Tax & condo standing — IPI property-tax status and condominium fees and rules where relevant.
- Developer review — for pre-construction: project titles, permits, trust or guarantee structure.
From offer to keys
- Promise of sale — a binding contract that protects your deposit and conditions closing on clean diligence.
- Escrow & payments — funds released against milestones, not promises.
- Closing — definitive deed of sale signed and notarized.
- Transfer & registration — 3% transfer tax handled and the new certificate of title issued in your name or your Dominican company.
CONFOTUR: the incentive worth asking about
Tourism-classified projects under Law 158-01 (CONFOTUR) can carry powerful benefits for buyers — commonly exemption from the 3% transfer tax and from IPI property tax for up to 15 years. Whether a specific unit qualifies depends on the project’s approval; we confirm it in writing before you rely on it, and we prepare CONFOTUR applications for developers.
Engagement scope — Title diligence & closing
Who it’s for
Foreign buyers of Dominican homes, land or investment property who want the title verified before money moves.
What’s included
- Certificate-of-title verification at the Registro de Títulos
- Liens, encumbrances and seller-standing checks
- IPI (property-tax) status review
- Purchase contract drafted or reviewed, bilingually
- Notarized closing and funds-flow coordination
- Transfer filing and issuance of your new certificate of title
You’ll need
- Copy of the seller’s title and survey (deslinde) if available
- IDs of buyer and seller
- The agreed commercial terms
Main stages
- Due diligence
- Promise / purchase contract
- Closing
- Registration of the new title
Government and third-party fees are billed at cost, separately. A written professional-fee scope is provided after the initial matter review.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners legally own beachfront property in the DR?
Yes — foreign individuals and companies own Dominican property with the same constitutional protections as locals, including in coastal areas, subject to the public-domain strip along the shoreline that applies to everyone.
What taxes and costs should a buyer budget for?
The headline cost is the 3% transfer tax on the registered value, plus legal fees and minor registry charges. Ongoing, IPI property tax applies above an exempt threshold — unless the property enjoys a CONFOTUR exemption.
Is buying pre-construction safe?
It can be, with the right protections: verified project title, permits in place, a serious developer, and a contract that ties your payments to progress and guarantees. We negotiate those protections into the deal before you wire anything.
Let’s get your real estate & confotur matter moving
Free consultation, plain-English answers, and a written fixed-fee quote for most matters within one business day.
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