What Is the Real Estate Process Like in the Dominican Republic?

Penthouse in Dominicus, Dominican Republic

If you’re considering investing in the Dominican Republic, especially in beautiful areas like Bayahibe, understanding the real estate process is essential. While purchasing property here is straightforward—especially compared to many other countries—it's important to know what to expect step by step. Whether you’re looking for a vacation home, a rental income property, or planning a full relocation, here’s a clear breakdown of how the real estate buying process works in the Dominican Republic.

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1. Work with a Licensed and Trustworthy Agent

Your first step should be finding a reliable real estate agent who knows the local market. Ideally, your agent should be bilingual, understand the legal system, and have experience working with foreign investors. At Tropical Realty, we specialize in helping Americans, Canadians, and Europeans invest in Bayahibe and the surrounding areas.

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2. Choose the Right Property

Once you’ve selected an agent, they’ll help you explore available listings that fit your criteria—whether you're looking for beachside condos, villas, gated community homes, or new developments. Bayahibe is a top choice right now because of its growing popularity, safety, tourism infrastructure, and proximity to La Romana International Airport.

You can start browsing online at www.tropicalrealtydr.com, where we have up-to-date listings, a helpful blog, and a FAQ section that answers common questions.

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3. Make an Offer

Once you’ve found a property you love, your agent will help you submit a formal offer. Negotiation is common in the Dominican market, so your agent will advocate for you to get the best deal. Once the offer is accepted, a Promise of Sale (Contrato de Venta) is drafted and signed.

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4. Legal Review and Due Diligence

This is a critical step. A reputable real estate attorney will:

Confirm the property's title is clean and free of liens

Verify the property has proper building permits (if applicable)

Ensure there are no back taxes owed

Confirm the seller has the legal right to sell

Due diligence typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks.

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5. Sign the Final Contract and Transfer Funds

After due diligence, both parties sign the Final Sale Contract (Contrato de Compraventa). If you're a foreign buyer, you can wire funds from abroad—there’s no need to open a Dominican bank account unless you want to.

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6. Register the Property in Your Name

Once the final payment is made, the attorney will submit all paperwork to the Title Registry Office. This step ensures that the property title is officially transferred to you. You’ll receive a new title in your name—this usually takes 30 to 60 days.

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7. Welcome Home or Start Renting

After registration, you’re free to move in, furnish your new home, or work with a local property management company to begin renting it out—whether long-term or on Airbnb. Bayahibe is a hot market for short-term rentals, making it an ideal location for investors.

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Bonus: No Residency Required

Foreigners do not need to be residents to buy property in the Dominican Republic. However, if you plan to spend a significant amount of time here or want access to the Dominican health system or local financial benefits, you can explore temporary or permanent residency options.

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Stay Connected with the Market

Want a real-time look at the Dominican real estate scene, lifestyle videos, and market updates? Follow us on Instagram at @tropicalrealtydr for new listings, project walkthroughs, construction updates, and local insights. You can also subscribe to Megan's YouTube Channel for in-depth video tours of units currently for sale in Bayahibe and Dominicus.

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Final Thoughts

The real estate buying process in the Dominican Republic is remarkably foreigner-friendly, especially with an experienced team behind you. Bayahibe offers a laid-back beach lifestyle, strong rental potential, and one of the easiest investment environments in the Caribbean.

Looking to get started? Contact us today or browse properties on our website. You might be closer than you think to living your island dream.