The DR Has No MLS.
No Licensed Realtors. No Buyer Protections.
90+ developments are underway in Punta Cana alone. Billions of dollars flow into preconstruction projects every year. But there’s no centralized system to verify developers, track prices, or protect your investment.
39
billion in DR Construction Market
90+
Active Projects in Punta Cana
0
Licensing Requirements for Realtors
3-7
years for average Legal Dispute Resolution
Sources: Mordor Intelligence, Keller Williams DR, TheLatinvestor, Dominican Attorney General's Office
The Risk is Real
This is Not Like Buying Property in the U.S.
The Dominican Republic is experiencing a historic real estate boom. Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, and Santiago are seeing unprecedented development. Foreign investment is pouring in. Prices are rising 7-12% annually.
But the market operates without the safeguards buyers expect:
- No MLS system to verify listings or compare prices
- No licensing requirements for real estate agents — anyone can sell property
- No mandatory ethics standards or certifying body for realtors
- Limited title insurance availability
- Court disputes take 3-7 years to resolve, with uncertain outcomes for foreign plaintiffs
This creates a landscape where verification isn’t optional — it’s essential.
The Pattern
Reported Patterns from Buyer Experiences
In January 2024, Dominican prosecutors dismantled a fraud network that sold over 300 apartments — many to the same buyers multiple times — without construction permits or land ownership.
In April 2024, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning Dominican-Americans about real estate scams targeting their community, after nearly 150 individuals lost thousands to fraudulent property listings.
These are not isolated incidents. Reported patterns include:
- Developers collecting payments over 12-24 months, then ceasing communication
- Properties sold to multiple buyers simultaneously
- Projects delayed indefinitely or abandoned entirely
- “Guaranteed” rental income claims that never materialize
- Contracts that provide no delivery date protections or refund mechanisms
Sources: NY Attorney General's Office, Dominican Public Ministry, Diario Libre
“
We sent payments for 24 months. We received photos of construction progress. Then one day, all communication stopped. Our emails bounced. Our calls went unanswered. The project we paid for was never delivered.
— Buyer, Paradise Village Residencs
Why Verification Matters for DR Property Buyers
Every year, buyers from the United States, Canada, and Europe invest in Dominican Republic real estate — particularly preconstruction villas in Punta Cana. Many transactions proceed smoothly. Others do not.
The Problem with Preconstruction Purchases.
Preconstruction purchases require buyers to send significant funds — often via international wire transfer — months or years before a property is completed. When developers fail to deliver, buyers face limited recourse. Legal action across international borders is slow, expensive, and often unsuccessful.
This resource exists to help buyers verify developers, projects, and contractual terms before sending funds. We aggregate reported buyer experiences to identify patterns and provide the information needed to make informed decisions.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Verify before you send a single dollar.
The best protection is prevention. Before signing a contract or wiring funds for any Dominican Republic property purchase, take time to verify the developer, research the project, and understand your legal protections.
This site provides verification checklists, reported buyer experiences, and educational resources to help you make informed decisions.
Verification Checklists.
Step-by-step guides for verifying developers, projects, contracts, and payment structures before you commit.
Reported Buyer Experiences
Anonymized, aggregated reports documenting patterns from buyer-submitted experiences with specific developers and projects.
Have You Purchased DR Property?
If you’ve had an experience — positive or negative — with a Dominican Republic property developer, your information helps other buyers make informed decisions.