Why own a vacation home in the Dominican Republic

What you'll learn on this page

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    What's great about a D.R. vacation home

    Escape miserable winters + TRULY recharge throughout the year + Fund your vacations with rental income

    1. Escape miserable winters

    Winters kind of suck right?

    Not in the Dominican Republic!…

    With a vacation home in the D.R, trade the cold and damp for endless summer.

    For a few weeks—or a few months—EVERY year!

    The D.R. is on a tropical island, which means:

    • All year round, the weather is beautiful.
    • 300+ days of sunshine a year.
    • Average temperature during the day hovers around 77°F (25°C).

    So…

    Instead of shovelling snow you’re wearing flip flops and barbecuing on the patio — even in January!

    D.R. vacation–cold winters or endless summer?
    D.R. vacation home-stressed or relaxed?

    2. TRULY recharge throughout the year

    Ever come back from a vacation tired and stressed out? Like you didn’t have enough time to relax?

    Consider the alternative:

    With your own home-away-from home in the D.R. you can truly relax and recharge.

    Instead of having to book a new destination every time you want to get away, you’ve got a familiar place to return to.

    That’s convenience.

    You never need to worry if your accommodations will be up to par.

    You don’t need to navigate new surroundings.

    You know exactly what to expect before you leave.

    That limits your stress.

    And from the moment you arrive in your own vacation home, you’re actually on vacation. No more “needing a vacation from your vacation” when you get back.

    That’s relaxing!

    3. Use your vacation home as an income property—to fund your vacations

    Wouldn’t it be great if your vacations paid for themselves?

    It’s possible. Many of our past clients use their vacation homes as income properties.

    You can too.

    [Link to Why Invest? Page]

    Rent your home out when you’re not here. And use a portion of the rental income to fund your visits to the D.R.

    It can be as turnkey as you want:

    • Property management is available. So you don’t have to worry about maintenance, cleaning or even renting your place out.
    • Set up a corporation in the D.R. (we can help you with that). Then buy your home through the corporation.
    • Your vacation home becomes your business: you can take advantage of tax incentives and business write-offs.

    Vacation home + income property = an affordable dream lifestyle in paradise!

    D.R. vacation–work to pay for vacation or paid through rental income?

    Moutain Village: stunning views near golf and beach

    Nine modern homes in a gated community in the heart of the D.R’s North Coast.

    From $219,000

    Visit the Mountain Village page

    Mountain Village: stunning views near golf & beach

    LOGO-mountain-vilage-web (3)

    Nine modern homes in a gated community in the heart of the D.R’s North Coast.

    From $219,000

    Visit the Mountain Village page

    Okay...but what’s so special about the D.R?

    Low cost of quality homes + Endless adventure + Get here quick + Everything you need for daily living

    Low cost of quality homes

    Prices for homes in most sunshine destinations in the Caribbean and Central America have skyrocketed.

    Yet in the D.R. real estate is still reasonably priced — and that includes ocean view properties.

    • Get two or three times the home for your buck.
    • Or spend a third of what you’d spend back home—for the same amount of house!
    • And compared to other sunshine destinations? It’s more affordable here too.

    What’s the cost of a typical vacation home?

    Imagine an ocean view condo for $150K. Or a 3 bedroom villa—with a pool!—in a gated community, for $250,000.

    There are so many great options. Something for every budget.

    The team at Dreaming D.R. will help you figure out the right type of home for your needs.

    It’s your dream and we’re here to make it a reality!

    Activities in D.R. include water sports, outdoor adventure, nightlife

    Endless adventure on a big island

    Wondering what you’d do for fun and excitement?

    There’s plenty to do. You’ll never get bored in the D.R.

    You may not realize:

    The D.R. is a big country! There’s so much to do.

    Consider what it’d be like on a small island. Once you’ve toured the quaint little town and climbed the hill that locals call a mountain, well, that’s pretty much it…

    However, in the D.R…

    You’ll never run out of new things to try and interesting places to explore:

    • Enjoy vibrant cities, beautiful beaches and national parks
    • Try kitesurfing, mountain hiking, scuba diving—so many outdoor activities to choose
    • Take in exciting nightlife and taste cuisines from all over the world
    • Visit places like this [link to page]

    No matter how often you come you’ll never get bored in the D.R!

    Get here quick

    The less time you spend on a plane, the more time you have for your vacation.

    Which is why the D.R. is a great choice. It’s so close.

    If you’re coming from the US or Canada, you could be at your D.R. vacation home in 3 or 4 hours.

    Leave in the morning—and be on sitting by the pool by mid-afternoon!

    • In your home country, there are lots of direct flights—with airlines adding more every month.
    • And here in the D.R. fly into and depart from modern international airports.
    • No time zone changes either, at least for anyone on Eastern Time. And only an hour or two for everyone else. So no jet lag to deal with.

    Also, eventually you could retire full time to your D.R. home. Learn more about relocating to the Dominican Republic here.

    Quality hospitals, home decor from IKEA, modern super markets

    Everything you need for daily living

    You’ll have no trouble getting all the essentials for daily living:

    • Groceries
    • Medications
    • Home decor
    • Healthcare
    • Transportation

    Modern grocery chains like Nacional and Super Pola are stocked with many of the products you use at home.

    And at big box stores like Jumbo and Ferreteria, the D.R’s version of Walmart and Home Depot, you need for your home.

    Plus, you can tap into a community of welcoming foreigners, which can help ease your transition into your new lifestyle.

    Kite Beach Villas 2: A vacation home steps from the beach

    View from side of Kite Beach Villa at Cabarete

    Fourteen smartly designed villas steps from world famous Kite Beach.

    From $405,999

    Visit the Kite Beach Villas page

    Kite Beach Villas 2: A vacation home steps from the beach

    LOGO-Kite-Beach-Villas-300x258

    Fourteen smartly designed villas steps from world famous Kite Beach.

    From $405,999

    Visit the Kite Beach Villas page

    Wait—can foreigners own D.R. property?

    It’s a good question:

    Can you—as a foreigner in the D.R.—actually own property there?

    Yep, you sure can!

    • The Dominican Republic has a legal framework that encourages foreign investment in real estate, so it’s a great option for international buyers.
    • No matter where you’re from, you have the EXACT SAME property rights as a Dominican citizen.
    • The real estate market is just like in the US or Canada. You can hold title to property directly in your name or through a corporation.

    Which means you can develop your property however you like. You can sell it, or pass it on to your children.

    It’s your private property.

    Meaning, the government can’t take your property away from you. In fact, foreigners’ property rights are enshrined in the country’s constitution!

    Which is why thousands of Americans, Canadians and Europeans own property here now.

    American couple arrive in D.R. on vacation and buy a property

    How does a foreigner actually buy property in the D.R?

    Buying property in the Dominican Republic is a lot easier than you might think.

    If you really wanted, you could come to the D.R, find a home and make an offer, then make a down payment—all on the same trip!

    (All transactions are in US dollars. If you need financing, that can be arranged too.)

    Of course, like any property transaction, there are the usual legal matters—which is where we come in:

    We can connect you with a lawyer (who can work with your lawyer back home) and guide you through the paperwork.

    The team at Dreaming D.R. has helped hundreds of people purchase homes here. We know the process. We’ll make it easy for you too.

    Incentives for foreign buyers

    The D.R. wants to encourage foreign investment, including real estate.

    So you can take advantage of tax exemptions and other incentives for property buyers and retirees.

    [Link to Financial Incentives page]

    You can be exempt from:

    • Taxes on pensions or income received from abroad.
    • Taxes on dividends and interest generated within the Dominican Republic.
    • Property transfer taxes for the first property purchased.
    • Taxes on household and personal items brought into the country.
    • Import taxes for a vehicle, which can be sold or transferred tax-free after five years.

    And as well, you can fast-track residency.

    So get your Dominican resident status more quickly and easily compared to the usual process.

    When you qualify for residency you’re eligible for many perks, benefits, and tax breaks.

    And in the DR, it couldn’t be simpler to qualify for residency.

    (Don’t worry, you still keep your citizenship in your home country.)

    Some of the things you’d be eligible for as resident:

    • local home financing
    • importing household goods and a car tax-free
    • qualify for citizenship (and thus a second passport)
    • pay for higher education in pesos instead of dollars. 
    Foreigners in D.R. welcomed with tax and other financial incentives

    Sea Glass Cabarete: a vacation home on the ocean​

    Seven luxury villas in a gated community right on the ocean.

    From $573,999

    Visit the Sea Glass page

    Sea Glass Cabarete: a vacation home on the ocean

    Sea Glass Cabarete logo

    Seven luxury villas in a gated community right on the ocean.

    From $573,999

    Visit the Sea Glass page

    Answers to your frequently asked questions (FAQs)

    Does the D.R. have a modern real estate market?

    Yes, the Dominican real estate market is just like in North America.

    A couple decades ago, the government modernized the real estate market. Land registration became more efficient and transparent.

    This included digitized property titles, which clearly defined ownership, making it much easier to buy and sell property.

    Other ways the D.R. real estate market is similar to North America’s:

    • A wide range of financing options to purchase real estate
    • Online platforms for property listings to connect buyers and sellers
    • Reputable real estate agencies, property management companies, and legal services specializing in real estate transactions
    • The government enforces all laws and regulations to protect property owners

    Is the D.R. a stable country?

    Yes!

    The Dominican Republic has a long history of stable, democratic government.

    The country has regular, fair elections. People are protected under the law. The government can’t intrude into the private lives of its citizens.

    And foreigners enjoy the same property rights as nationals—it’s even in the country’s constitution!

    And the economy is stable too:

    The Dominican Republic has experienced consistent economic growth, driven by sectors like tourism, manufacturing, and services.

    So when you buy a home in the D.R. you know your home and investment is secure.

    Can you access quality healthcare?

    Definitely!

    The D.R. has modern healthcare facilities. Whatever care you might need, either routine or emergency care, you can get it here.

    Clinics and hospitals are staffed by many American-trained, English speaking professionals.

    The medical expertise is so high in the D.R. that the country has become a destination for medical tourism.

    Some private healthcare facilities in major cities offer various specialized treatments tailored to the needs of international patients.

    Is the country safe?

    Yes, the D.R. is a safe country for foreigners.

    Which is why a record-breaking 10 million people visited in 2023.

    Like any country, there are areas to avoid. But wherever you’d want to go, you’ll feel at ease.

    There are many police officers in popular tourist areas to improve security. This includes patrols at beaches, hotels, and other tourist attractions.

    As well, the country has dedicated tourism police specifically trained to assist and protect foreigners. These officers often speak multiple languages and are stationed in tourist areas.

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