Insights
Buying property in the Dominican Republic
Practical guides for U.S. and foreign buyers covering title verification, the best areas to invest, and how the process actually works on the east coast.
July 31, 2026
The Vista Cabarete Realty playbook: how we work
How a Punta Cana-based brokerage approaches foreign buyers differently. Our process, our network, and what working with us looks like.
July 30, 2026
Best beaches in DR by region for foreign buyers
Beach quality varies dramatically across DR. The standouts in each foreign-buyer market and which properties give you actual beach access.
July 29, 2026
Hurricane risk in DR by region
The honest assessment of hurricane exposure across DR's foreign-buyer markets, insurance implications, and what buildings actually withstand storms.
July 28, 2026
Marketing your DR property to foreign buyers
How foreign buyers actually find DR property, the channels worth listing on, and what photos and descriptions get viewings.
July 27, 2026
When to sell your DR property
The signals that indicate it's time to sell, the timing factors that affect price, and how to prepare a DR property for an efficient sale.
July 24, 2026
Buying DR property with a Dominican spouse or partner
How DR property ownership works when one partner is Dominican and one is foreign. Matrimonial regimes, title structures, and the implications you need to understand.
July 23, 2026
Title insurance in DR: when it's worth buying
DR doesn't require title insurance. When you should buy it anyway, what it actually covers, and the specific properties where skipping it is risky.
July 22, 2026
Renovation budgets in DR: realistic numbers
What renovations actually cost in DR, common timeline traps, and the rule-of-thumb numbers we share with clients planning to upgrade older properties.
July 21, 2026
Buying land in DR: what to verify
Land purchases in DR have more risk and more reward than condos. The verification checklist that protects foreign buyers from common traps.
July 20, 2026
Pre-construction contract clauses to demand in DR
The seven contract clauses that protect pre-construction buyers in DR. What to negotiate before you wire the first deposit.
July 17, 2026
Punta Cana vs Las Terrenas: two DR coasts compared
Both Caribbean. Both popular with foreign buyers. Wildly different experiences. The honest comparison for buyers choosing between DR's east coast and Samaná.
July 16, 2026
DR vs Bahamas for retirees
The Bahamas offers no income tax and proximity to Florida. DR offers a fraction of the cost. The honest comparison for retiring foreign buyers.
July 15, 2026
DR vs Panama for foreign real estate buyers
Panama uses the U.S. dollar and has Latin America's strongest banking. DR is closer, cheaper, and warmer year-round. The honest comparison.
July 14, 2026
DR vs Mexico for foreign real estate buyers
Mexico is the largest foreign-buyer market in Latin America. How DR compares on price, residency, yield, safety, and lifestyle.
July 13, 2026
DR vs Costa Rica for foreign real estate buyers
Side-by-side comparison of the two top Central American/Caribbean property markets for foreign buyers. Price, taxes, residency, lifestyle.
July 10, 2026
The 30-day tourist test: try DR before you buy
The cheapest insurance for a $300K purchase is a $5K test trip. Why 30 days in your target market reveals what no broker tour can show you.
July 9, 2026
How much Spanish you actually need in DR
Honest assessment of language requirements by market, role, and lifestyle. The minimums for property buyers, full-time residents, and remote workers.
July 8, 2026
Bringing your pet to the Dominican Republic
Importing dogs and cats to DR: documentation, timeline, airlines that accept pets, and the realities of veterinary care once they arrive.
July 7, 2026
Remote work from DR and the Digital Nomad Visa
DR's Digital Nomad Visa (Migrant Code Article 31), the income thresholds, and the practical realities of running a remote business from the Caribbean.
July 6, 2026
Retiring in DR: a framework for foreign buyers
The financial, lifestyle, and logistical considerations for foreigners choosing DR as a retirement base. Cost of living, healthcare, residency, and social factors.
July 3, 2026
When you need a new survey (Mensura Catastral) in DR
Surveys cost money and time but are non-negotiable for some properties. The cases that always need one, the ones that don't, and what a good survey covers.
July 2, 2026
How to read a Constancia Anotada (DR title document)
The modern DR title format introduced by Law 108-05. What's on it, what each section means, and what you check yourself.
July 1, 2026
Buying DR property sight unseen: when it works, when it backfires
Closing on a DR property without ever setting foot in it is possible but risky. The safeguards that make it work and the situations it almost always fails.
June 30, 2026
Red flags in a DR property listing
The signs that tell you to slow down on a property before you visit, let alone make an offer. Twelve specific patterns to watch for.
June 29, 2026
Common DR real estate scams and how to spot them
The seven scams foreign buyers encounter most in the Dominican Republic, with real examples and how each is caught.
June 26, 2026
Importing furniture and personal goods to DR
The DR customs landscape for household imports: what's duty-free, what's not, and how to ship a container without losing money.
June 25, 2026
Schools for expat families in DR
Bilingual schools, international schools, and homeschooling realities for foreign families relocating to the Dominican Republic.
June 24, 2026
Healthcare in DR: what expats actually use
Quality of private healthcare in major DR markets, the insurance options for foreigners, and when to fly home for care.
June 23, 2026
Driving and getting a license in the Dominican Republic
How long you can drive on a foreign license, how to convert, insurance options, and the realities of DR roads.
June 22, 2026
Setting up utilities in your new DR home
Electricity, water, internet, gas. The DR utility landscape, the providers worth using, and the steps that catch first-time foreign owners.
June 19, 2026
Building a 3-property portfolio in DR: the staged approach
Most multi-property foreign owners follow a similar 4-7 year arc. Here's the playbook for scaling from one DR property to three without overextension.
June 18, 2026
Hotel-condos and fractional ownership in DR: when they fit
Hotel-condos and fractional shares promise managed luxury without the headaches. The trade-offs, the small print, and when they actually win.
June 17, 2026
How to vet a DR property management company
Property managers can make or break a rental investment. The eight questions that surface a great manager and the four that surface a bad one.
June 16, 2026
Long-term rentals in DR: the investor strategy nobody talks about
Everyone optimizes for Airbnb yield. Long-term leases offer 50% less revenue but eliminate seasonality, management overhead, and 80% of tax complexity.
June 15, 2026
Pre-construction vs resale in DR: which actually wins
Pre-construction promises 20-30% upside. Resale promises certainty. The honest comparison and the decision framework we use with clients.
June 12, 2026
Cabrera and Costambar: the under-the-radar north coast
Between Cabarete and Samaná lies a stretch of quiet coast that most foreign buyers miss. Here's what Cabrera and Costambar actually offer.
June 11, 2026
Samaná peninsula: the next frontier for DR real estate
Whale watching capital. Coconut forests. Some of the cheapest beachfront in the Caribbean. Why Samaná is still under-developed and what's coming.
June 10, 2026
Las Terrenas: the French expat capital of DR
On the northern Samaná peninsula, Las Terrenas has become DR's most European-feeling beach town. Why French and Italian buyers concentrate here.
June 9, 2026
Santo Domingo Colonial Zone: investing in heritage
The first European settlement in the Americas has become an unexpected real estate play. Restored colonials, boutique hotels, and short-term rental yields.
June 8, 2026
Casa de Campo La Romana: the original luxury enclave
DR's oldest gated resort community has matured into a deeply established luxury market. Prices, amenities, and who actually buys here.
June 5, 2026
Cross-border tax planning for U.S. buyers in DR
How to coordinate U.S. and DR tax obligations on Dominican property, avoid double taxation, and use the treaty correctly.
June 4, 2026
Inheritance planning for your DR property
How DR inheritance law treats foreign-owned property, the forced heirship rules, and the three structures that protect your estate.
June 3, 2026
ITBIS on rental income: a host's tax filing guide for DR
Short-term rental income in DR is taxed at 18% ITBIS plus income tax. The simplified regime, how to register, and what to file monthly.
June 2, 2026
IPI property tax in DR: when it applies, how it works
The Dominican Republic charges 1% property tax above a threshold. The threshold, the exemptions, the appeal process, and how to never overpay.
June 1, 2026
CONFOTUR explained: the 15-year tax exemption that changes your DR investment
How CONFOTUR works, who qualifies, what it actually saves you, and the buildings worth seeking out specifically because they carry it.
May 29, 2026
How to repatriate sale proceeds out of the Dominican Republic
Moving the money out after you sell. The bank holds, the BCRD rules, and how to avoid a 3-month wait on your own funds.
May 28, 2026
Capital gains tax when selling your DR property
The DR capital gains rate, what counts as basis, how to legally minimize the bill, and what happens to non-residents.
May 27, 2026
Can foreign buyers get a mortgage in the Dominican Republic
DR mortgages for non-residents exist but are restrictive. Who qualifies, what rates look like, and when it actually makes sense.
May 26, 2026
Wiring money to the Dominican Republic safely
How to move purchase funds and closing costs to DR without losing money to spreads, fraud, or stuck wires.
May 25, 2026
Opening a Dominican Republic bank account as a foreigner
You don't need a DR bank account to buy property, but you'll want one once you own one. The setup, banks to consider, and documents you need.
May 22, 2026
First-time foreign buyer checklist for Dominican Republic real estate
Twelve things every first-time foreign buyer should have squared away before signing a Promesa de Venta in DR.
May 21, 2026
How to vet a Dominican Republic real estate developer before you buy
Pre-construction in DR can be a great deal or a disaster. Here is the diligence checklist we run on every developer before recommending their project.
May 20, 2026
Power of Attorney for a remote DR property closing
How a power of attorney lets you close on Dominican Republic property without flying down. The setup, the limits, and what to watch for.
May 19, 2026
New 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Bávaro, Punta Cana — Unit 4
Pre-construction villa for sale in Bávaro. 240 m², 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool, 2 indoor parking spaces. Unit 4 of 4 identical homes in the same development.
May 19, 2026
New 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Bávaro, Punta Cana — Unit 3
Pre-construction villa for sale in Bávaro. 240 m², 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool, 2 indoor parking spaces. Unit 3 of 4 identical homes in the same development.
May 19, 2026
New 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Bávaro, Punta Cana — Unit 2
Pre-construction villa for sale in Bávaro. 240 m², 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool, 2 indoor parking spaces. Unit 2 of 4 identical homes in the same development.
May 19, 2026
New 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Bávaro, Punta Cana — Unit 1
Pre-construction villa for sale in Bávaro. 240 m², 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private pool, 2 indoor parking spaces. Unit 1 of 4 identical homes in the same development.
May 19, 2026
Promesa de Venta vs Contrato de Venta: which contract do you need
The two contract types you'll meet during a DR real estate purchase, what each commits you to, and when they're used.
May 18, 2026
Buying DR property as an LLC vs in your own name
When does a Dominican SRL make sense for foreign buyers, and when does individual ownership win? Costs, taxes, and decision rules.
May 15, 2026
Punta Cana vs Cabarete: which fits your investment goals
A side-by-side comparison of the two most-asked-about DR destinations: market dynamics, price points, rental profiles, and lifestyle.
May 14, 2026
Renting your DR property on Airbnb: what investors need to know
Real yields, ITBIS tax, condo rules, and operational realities for short-term rental investors in Punta Cana, Bávaro, and beyond.
May 13, 2026
The Fast-Track Visa: residency through real estate investment in DR
Buy property worth $200K+ in the Dominican Republic and qualify for fast-tracked residency. Here's exactly how the process works, from offer to ID card.
May 12, 2026
Closing costs in the Dominican Republic, what you will actually pay
Transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, registry. A breakdown of what foreign buyers actually pay at closing on a Dominican Republic property purchase.
May 11, 2026
Punta Cana neighborhood guide for foreign buyers
A practical breakdown of Punta Cana's main neighborhoods: Cap Cana for ultra-luxury, Bávaro for rental yield, Punta Cana Village for full-time living, Cocotal for golf.
May 7, 2026
Title verification in the DR, what your attorney should actually check
Title fraud is the single biggest risk in Dominican real estate transactions. Here's exactly what due diligence should cover before you wire a deposit.
May 5, 2026
Best areas to buy in Cabarete, a 2026 neighborhood guide
Kite Beach, Encuentro, Pro-Cab, Sosúa Bay, Costambar, what each area is actually like to live in, and the kind of property each one rewards.
May 3, 2026
How to buy property in the Dominican Republic, a U.S. buyer's guide
A step-by-step walk-through of buying real estate in the DR as a foreign national: from finding a property to closing at the title office.