Buying off-plan: what to review before signing

Buying off-plan can give you a better price and a brand-new property, but you are paying for something that does not yet exist. Therefore, what is checked before signing is worth more than any rendering. Here is my checklist.

• Who is building. Ask what projects the developer has delivered and visit them. A completed and inhabited project speaks louder than any brochure.
• The construction license. Request a copy of the project's current license and have your attorney verify it.
• The land. Confirm in whose name the land title is registered and whether it has mortgages or other liens. The Real Estate Registry issues a certification of the legal status of the property that any interested party may request.
• If there is a trust. When the project is structured under Law 189-11, the assets form an autonomous patrimony, separate from that of the construction company and the fiduciary (article 7). Furthermore, those assets are exempt from the claims of the fiduciary's creditors (article 9). Ask which fiduciary manages the project and request the contract.
• The contract. It must specify precisely what you are purchasing (unit, square footage, finishes), the delivery date, and what happens if there is a delay or if the project is not completed, including the refund of your money.
• How square footage is measured. Clarify whether it includes balconies, terraces, or common areas. Two "120 m²" apartments can be very different on the inside.
• The payment plan. Ideally, payments should progress along with the construction. Always pay into the account indicated in the contract, never in cash or to third parties.
• The costs that follow. Upon receiving the unit, you will pay the transfer tax, which is 3% of the value according to the DGII, in addition to legal fees and the maintenance fee.
• If the project is touristic (CONFOTUR). Request the project's classification resolution. According to the DGII tourism sector booklet, Law 158-01 provides exemptions from transfer tax and IPI for 15 years from the completion of works for classified and authorized projects. DGII Guide 17 confirms that first-time buyers are exempt from the IPI. Ask your attorney to confirm which exemptions apply to your particular purchase.
• Delivery. Inspect the unit calmly before taking possession and leave any pending details in writing.

My advice: in an off-plan purchase, the developer is as important as the property. Choose who to trust first, and then which apartment to buy.

Informational content; consult your attorney or accountant before deciding. Data verified on October 25, 2026.