Closing Costs When Buying Property in the Dominican Republic

Before you sign anything on a Dominican property, you need one number your asking price never tells you: the closing costs. These are the one-time fees and taxes that sit on top of the purchase price — and on a typical transaction they add up to roughly 3.5% to 5% of what you pay.

This guide breaks every line down, shows a worked example, explains who pays what, and shows how a valid CONFOTUR certification can cut the total roughly in half.

What Are Closing Costs in the Dominican Republic?

Closing costs are the taxes and professional fees required to legally transfer a property into your name and register the new title. In the DR the buyer carries most of them, and the largest by far is the government transfer tax.

For a standard purchase, total buyer closing costs land at roughly 3.5% to 5% of the purchase price. A valid CONFOTUR exemption — which waives the 3% transfer tax — brings that down to about 1.5% to 2%.

Key Takeaway: Budget about 5% of the purchase price for closing costs on a standard DR property, or about 1.5–2% if it carries a valid CONFOTUR certification.

The Transfer Tax (3%) — Your Biggest Single Cost

The Impuesto de Transferencia Inmobiliaria is 3% of the government-assessed value, paid by the buyer at closing. It is the single largest closing cost and usually the difference-maker in the total.

Two things to understand:

• It is charged on the assessed (cadastral) value, set by the tax authority — which is typically lower than the price you actually pay. So your real transfer tax is often a bit below 3% of the purchase price.
• It is fully waived on properties with a valid CONFOTUR certification. On a $300,000 property that is roughly $9,000 saved at closing. See our CONFOTUR guide for who qualifies and how to verify a resolution.

The Other Closing Costs, Line by Line

Beyond the transfer tax, a standard transaction includes:

Cost	Typical amount	Who pays
Transfer tax (Impuesto de Transferencia)	3% of assessed value	Buyer
Attorney / legal fees	~1% of price	Buyer
Notary fees	~0.5% of price	Buyer
Title registration (Registro de Títulos)	~0.2% of price	Buyer
Title search / certification	~$350 flat	Buyer
Deslinde (boundary survey, if needed)	~$500 flat	Buyer
Real estate agent commission	3–5% of price	Seller (typically)

The deslinde survey applies to land, villas, and townhouses where the boundary demarcation is not already complete — not usually to condos in registered buildings.

Pro Tip: Always get a written closing-cost estimate from your attorney before you sign the Promesa de Venta. A good attorney itemizes every line so there are no surprises at the notary.

Worked Example: Closing Costs on a $300,000 Property

Assuming the assessed value equals the purchase price (in practice it is often lower, so treat this as a ceiling):

Line	Amount
Transfer tax (3%)	$9,000
Attorney (1%)	$3,000
Notary (0.5%)	$1,500
Title registration (0.2%)	$600
Title search	$350
Deslinde survey	$500
Total	~$14,950 (≈5%)

With a valid CONFOTUR exemption, you drop the $9,000 transfer tax entirely — total closing costs fall to about $5,950, or roughly 2%.

To run this for your own price point and toggle CONFOTUR on or off, use our Transaction Cost Calculator.

Stat: ~$9,000 — The transfer tax alone on a $300,000 property, and exactly what a valid CONFOTUR certification waives.

Who Pays What — Buyer vs Seller

The split is fairly consistent across the DR:

• The buyer pays the transfer tax, attorney, notary, registration, title search, and any deslinde — the bulk of closing costs.
• The seller typically pays the real estate agent commission (3–5%) and is responsible for any capital gains tax on their profit.

These are conventions, not laws — everything is negotiable and should be spelled out in the Promesa de Venta.

Closing Costs Are Not Your Only Cost

Closing costs are one-time. Two other cost categories matter when you budget:

• Annual property tax (IPI) — 1% per year on assessed value above ~$182,000, waived under CONFOTUR. See our Dominican Republic property tax guide.
• Ongoing ownership costs — HOA fees, insurance, utilities, and maintenance.

For the full picture of where closing costs fall in the purchase process — and what your attorney should be doing at each stage — see our step-by-step guide to buying property in the Dominican Republic.

Do Foreigners Pay Higher Closing Costs?

No. The Dominican Republic grants foreign nationals the same property rights and tax treatment as citizens. The transfer tax, legal, notary, and registration costs are identical regardless of nationality. The only practical difference is financing: Dominican residents may find it easier to obtain local mortgages with lower down payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are closing costs when buying property in the Dominican Republic?

Roughly 3.5% to 5% of the purchase price for a standard transaction. A valid CONFOTUR certification, which waives the 3% transfer tax, reduces the total to about 1.5% to 2%.

Who pays closing costs in the Dominican Republic?

The buyer pays most of them — the transfer tax, attorney, notary, registration, and title costs. The seller typically pays the real estate agent commission of 3–5%.

What is the biggest closing cost in the DR?

The 3% transfer tax (Impuesto de Transferencia). On a $300,000 property that is about $9,000, and it is fully waived on CONFOTUR-certified properties.

Is the transfer tax based on purchase price or assessed value?

On the government-assessed (cadastral) value, which is usually lower than the price you pay — so your actual transfer tax is often slightly below 3% of the purchase price.

Do foreigners pay higher closing costs in the Dominican Republic?

No. Closing costs are identical for foreign buyers and Dominican citizens. There is no surcharge for foreign ownership.

Can I reduce my closing costs?

The main lever is CONFOTUR: buying a certified property waives the 3% transfer tax, which is the largest single cost. The professional fees (attorney, notary, registration) apply either way.