Before you buy property in the Dominican Republic, confirm two things: that the person selling it actually owns it, and that the land is exactly what the paperwork says it is. Most of the trouble people run into here starts with skipping that check.
Start with the Certificado de Título
The Certificado de Título is the ownership certificate issued by the Title Registry (Registro de Títulos). It names the owner and identifies the parcel. Ask for a current copy and confirm the name on it matches the seller exactly.
A title in a company name, an inherited title, or a title with several co-owners is common here and not a problem on its own. It just means there are extra steps, and everyone with a share has to agree to the sale.
Check the deslinde (the survey)
Deslinde is the legal survey that fixes the exact boundaries of a parcel and gives it its own registered number. Land without a completed deslinde can still be sold, but the boundaries are less certain and financing is harder.
We match the surveyed plan against what you actually see on the ground. Fences, access roads, and neighbours do not always line up with the paper, and that gap is worth knowing about before you sign anything.
Pull a certification from the registry
A recent certification from the Registro de Títulos shows any liens, mortgages, oppositions, or legal measures attached to the property. This is how you find out whether the land is used as collateral or tied up in a dispute.
We request this ourselves rather than relying on a copy handed to us, so we know it is current on the day you buy.
What we do before you commit
For every purchase we verify the title, review the deslinde, pull a fresh registry certification, confirm property taxes are current, and check that whoever signs has the authority to sell. Only then do we move to the purchase agreement.
Have a question about your own situation? Clarissa can walk you through it directly, in Spanish, English, or French.
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