Full ownership, without restrictions
Unlike many coastal destinations, the Dominican Republic places no restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate — including beachfront and hillside land. There is no leasehold structure to work around, no local nominee, no government approval to seek. The only practical requirement is a valid passport.
Ownership is recorded under a Torrens-based registry system (Law 108-05): every property carries a Certificate of Title issued by the Registro de Títulos, and the registered title is guaranteed by the State. Once your name is on the certificate, your ownership is as secure as a citizen's — it can be sold, inherited or held indefinitely.
The process, step by step
A typical purchase unfolds in four stages over sixty to ninety days:
- Reservation — a written offer and modest deposit take the property off the market while terms are agreed.
- Promise of sale (promesa de venta) — a binding bilateral contract, usually with a deposit around ten percent, signed while due diligence is completed.
- Deed of sale (contrato de venta) — the definitive contract, signed before a Dominican notary, with the balance paid.
- Registration — the deed is filed, the transfer tax paid, and the Registro de Títulos issues a new Certificate of Title in your name.
For an off-plan villa the rhythm differs: payments follow construction milestones and title transfers on delivery — which makes the reputation and track record of the developer the single most important safeguard.
You do not need to be in the country to buy — a power of attorney allows the entire closing to happen while you are at home.
Due diligence: the safeguards that matter
Every serious purchase rests on an independent Dominican lawyer — never the seller's — whose fee is customarily around one percent of the price. Their checklist is well established:
- A certified copy of the Certificate of Title, matched against the seller's identity.
- A certification of legal status confirming the property is free of liens, mortgages and encumbrances.
- A verified survey (deslinde) confirming boundaries match the registered plans.
- Evidence that the seller's taxes on the property are current.
- For recent construction: building permits and environmental approvals.
Taxes and the cost of closing
The numbers are refreshingly simple. A one-time transfer tax of 3% is paid on the higher of the purchase price or the tax authority's appraisal. Legal fees typically add 1 to 1.5%. There is no surcharge of any kind for foreign buyers.
Annually, the property tax (IPI) is 1% of the appraised value above a threshold of roughly RD$10.7 million — about US$180,000 in 2026 — indexed each year; only the value above the threshold is taxed. Certain tourism-classified developments carry temporary exemptions from some of these taxes — worth asking about on a case-by-case basis.
Currency and practicalities
The premium market operates in US dollars, and payments are made by international wire transfer. Expect standard source-of-funds documentation — the same compliance you would meet in Europe or North America.
Buyers can hold property in their personal name or through a Dominican company; each route has estate-planning and tax implications in both the Dominican Republic and your home country, and deserves proper advice before signing rather than after.
How Bel Horizon accompanies you
We are builders, not brokers — but fifteen years on the peninsula come with relationships. We introduce our clients to vetted independent lawyers and notaries, walk each stage from reservation to registration, and remain present long after the keys: utilities, staff, property care. Every Bel Horizon villa is delivered with a clean, individual Certificate of Title.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Figures such as tax thresholds change periodically; verify current numbers with your own counsel before committing. We are glad to introduce you to trusted, independent advisors in Las Terrenas.