Closing costs in the Dominican Republic
Closing costs sit on top of the sticker price and are usually the buyer's responsibility. The dominant item is the property transfer tax, generally 3% of the government-assessed value, followed by your own legal fees (commonly quoted around 1–1.5% of the price, sometimes a flat fee), plus notary, registry and document costs. As orientation, budget in the region of 4–5% of the purchase price for a standard resale, and confirm every line with your lawyer before signing. On a project holding a valid CONFOTUR resolution, the transfer tax can be exempt — which changes the total materially, and must be verified in writing.
Check the official sources
Compare ownership costs and purchase cash budgets
Enter your own property-specific amounts in USD. Separate one-time purchase costs from annual ownership costs and money kept in reserve. No market prices, tax exemptions or financing terms are prefilled.
Compare the same period and responsibility in both columns. Check whether building HOA already includes district charges, insurance or utilities before adding them again.
A reserve is money set aside, not proof of an expense already paid. The initial cash reserve is shown separately from acquisition cost. Annual replacement contributions are included in the monthly budget, separately from routine ownership costs.
The purchase cash budget assumes a full cash purchase: price, closing costs, initial setup and the separate cash reserve you enter. It does not add a year of operating costs. The monthly budget is an annual average, not a payment schedule. Financing, income taxes, rental-management costs and selling costs are excluded. Enter applicable property tax yourself; no exemption is assumed.
The line items
Transfer tax — generally 3% of the value assessed by the tax authority, not necessarily your contract price
Legal fees — your independent lawyer, commonly around 1–1.5% or a flat fee for straightforward transactions
Notary and document costs — signature legalisation and the deed of sale
Registry costs — recording the transfer and issuing the new certificate of title
Situational costs — survey or deslinde work, corporate structuring if you buy through a company, translation
CONFOTUR changes the total, per project
Where a project holds a valid CONFOTUR resolution under Law 158-01, the transfer tax on the first sale can be exempt and annual property tax can be paused for the incentive period. That is a project-level benefit granted by resolution — never a zone-level one and never automatic because a salesperson says the area is 'CONFOTUR'. Ask for the resolution number, confirm your unit is inside its scope, and have your lawyer verify it before you model the saving.
What we will not publish
We do not publish a fixed invoice total for your deal. Assessed values, legal fee structures and project status differ, and a number presented as certain would be wrong more often than right. The figures above are 2026 orientation for planning your budget; your lawyer's written quote is the number to act on.
Closing costs — FAQs
- How much are closing costs in Punta Cana?
- As orientation, plan for roughly 4–5% of the purchase price on a standard resale: about 3% transfer tax plus legal, notary and registry costs. On a project with a valid CONFOTUR resolution the transfer tax can be exempt, which lowers the total substantially. Confirm the exact figures with your own lawyer.
- Who pays closing costs, buyer or seller?
- The buyer customarily pays transfer tax, registry and their own legal fees. The seller typically settles outstanding property tax, HOA and any commissions owed. Whatever the custom, put the allocation in the purchase contract.
- Is transfer tax calculated on my purchase price?
- It is calculated on the value assessed by the tax authority, which may differ from your contract price. Your lawyer can request the assessment before closing so the figure is not a surprise.
- Do I need a Dominican bank account or company to buy?
- Neither is required to hold title as an individual. Some buyers use a company for estate or liability reasons; that is a tax and legal decision to take with an advisor, not a purchase requirement.
2026 orientation, not guarantees and not legal advice. No guaranteed ROI, no invented occupancy.