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If you're about to make your first DR property purchase, here's the punch list we walk every client through. Cover all 12 before you sign anything.

Before you make an offer

1. Define your purpose. Vacation home, rental investment, retirement base, or all three? The right property looks different for each.

2. Set a real budget. Purchase price + 5% closing costs + furniture (if not included) + first 6 months of HOA + maintenance reserve.

3. Decide on residency. If you want the Fast-Track Visa, confirm $200K+ qualifying purchase before you make an offer.

4. Pick your team. DR-licensed real estate attorney (separate from your broker), tax advisor in your home country, and a broker who has closed at least 20 foreign-buyer transactions.

During the offer

5. Get the title package. Demand a copy of the Constancia Anotada, recent IPI receipts, and HOA standing letter before signing the Promesa.

6. Confirm rental rules. If you plan to rent, read the condo reglamento. Some buildings ban short-term rentals.

7. Lock in escrow. Deposit should go to your attorney's escrow account, never the seller's personal account.

8. Negotiate the timeline. 30 days is fast. 60 days is normal. 90 days lets you do thorough due diligence.

Before closing

9. Order a survey if needed. Land and some titled properties require a fresh Mensura Catastral.

10. Apostille your documents. Passport, criminal background check, birth certificate. 4-6 weeks for some U.S. states.

11. Open a DR bank account (optional). Useful for HOA payments and utilities. Not required for the closing itself.

12. Plan your wire. USD to U.S. account is the default. Confirm wire instructions in writing 48 hours before sending. Never wire to instructions sent via email without a callback verification.

At closing

Verify the Certificate of Title transferred to your name within 45 days. If you don't see the new Constancia, escalate immediately to your attorney.

What we send every client

A one-page settlement estimate, the full diligence packet from the seller, a wire-verification checklist, and a list of post-closing tasks (utilities, HOA, insurance). Ask for it on the first call.