You Signed. Now You Want Out.
You signed a Promise of Sale for a property in the Dominican Republic. Now you want out. Maybe the developer hasn't delivered. Maybe you found legal issues. Maybe your circumstances changed. Whatever the reason, you're stuck with one question: Can I walk away, and how much can I recover?
The Problem With Trying to Exit on Your Own
Most foreign buyers who want to cancel a real estate contract in the Dominican Republic face the same wall: they don't know what the contract actually allows, they don't understand their rights under Dominican law, and the developer's attorney is not going to help them leave.
They send emails, make calls, wait. The developer says no, points to a penalty clause, or simply goes quiet. The buyer doesn't know if that clause is enforceable, doesn't know what leverage they actually have, and doesn't know what options exist beyond asking nicely.
Some buyers hire the same type of attorney who helped set up the deal in the first place. The problem? That attorney may have existing relationships with the developer. Their advice may be filtered through that relationship, even if they don't intend it to be.
You need someone who has no financial interest in whether the deal stays alive or falls apart. Someone who gets paid the same either way.
A foreign buyer signed a Promise of Sale for a pre-construction unit. The developer promised delivery in 18 to 24 months. Nearly three years later, the unit still wasn't delivered.
The buyer contacted the developer asking for a refund. The developer stopped responding.
When we reviewed the contract, we found legal grounds that justified a reimbursement. We served a formal default notice through a bailiff and negotiated the refund of the buyer's payments. The case resolved without going to court.
That buyer spent months trying to resolve it on their own before reaching out. Most buyers in this situation do.
What the Exit Strategy Review Does
Clarity on where you stand legally, a written roadmap with your options, and direct negotiation with the developer on your behalf.
Contract & documentation review
We analyze your Promise of Sale Agreement and all related documents. We identify abusive clauses, irregularities, developer non-compliance, and any legal grounds for rescission under Dominican law. We assess what you've paid, what's recoverable, and what each option would realistically cost.
Written strategic report
Regardless of whether your case is strong or weak, you receive a professional written report. If you have a solid case, the report lays out your options with estimated costs and probabilities. If you don't, it tells you exactly why and what alternatives exist. You pay for the truth about your situation — not for what you want to hear.
Negotiation on your behalf
If the case supports it, we contact the developer directly, in their language, through proper legal channels. We negotiate for a rescission agreement and recovery of your advance payments. If they refuse, we document everything and prepare you for the next step.
Defined timeline: The evaluation takes 5 to 7 business days. The negotiation phase, if it proceeds, has a 30-day cap from the first formal contact with the developer.
What's Included
Full Contract Review
Complete review of your Promise of Sale Agreement and related documentation, identifying abusive clauses, irregularities, or developer breach.
Legal Grounds Assessment
Evaluation of legal grounds for contract rescission under Dominican law, including recoverable amounts — deposits, advance payments, and penalties.
Written Strategic Report
Professional written report with your options, estimated costs, probabilities, and recommendation — regardless of whether the outcome is favorable or not.
Developer Communication
Formal communication with the developer on your behalf — in their language, through proper legal channels.
Exit Negotiation
Direct negotiation for withdrawal and reimbursement of advance payments, with drafting of rescission agreement or formal default notice if required.
Full Case Support
All meetings, calls, and correspondence related to your case are included. No hidden charges for additional communications.
Not included: Court representation (available as a separate engagement if negotiation doesn't resolve the matter), property inspection, translation services, courier services, apostille of documents, and taxes of any kind.
Why This Works Better With an Independent Attorney
Every professional involved in the original transaction — the agent, the developer's attorney, the notary — earned their fee when you signed. Their incentive, conscious or not, is for the deal to stay in place.
CanaLaw has no relationship with your developer, your agent, or any party on the other side of this transaction. We earn a flat fee for evaluating your situation and negotiating on your behalf. We earn the same whether you stay in the deal or walk away.
Gonzalo Sánchez handles each Exit Strategy Review personally. He reviews the contract, writes the strategy, conducts the negotiation. You speak directly with the attorney making the decisions.
No referral agreements with developers, agents, or notaries. The advice isn't filtered through any existing business relationship.
Gonzalo is a Dominican attorney who speaks fluent English. He understands both the Dominican legal system and the expectations you bring as a foreign buyer.
What Happens if the Developer Won't Negotiate?
Not every case resolves through negotiation. If the developer refuses to cooperate, you have options.
CanaLaw has litigation attorneys who handle court proceedings under Gonzalo's direct supervision. If your case needs to go to court, Gonzalo remains your primary point of contact throughout the process. You're never left without clear communication in your language.
The Exit Strategy Review is designed to resolve your situation before it reaches a courtroom. But if it does, we're prepared to take it there. Litigation fees are formalized through a separate agreement, and you'll know the exact cost before committing to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on what your contract says and whether the developer has met their obligations. Dominican law provides grounds for rescission in cases of breach, abusive clauses, or non-compliance with construction permits and timelines. An independent legal review of your specific contract is the only way to know where you stand.
Possibly. The recoverability of deposits and advance payments depends on the contract terms, the developer's conduct, and the legal basis for rescission. Some contracts include penalty clauses that limit what you can recover. Others have provisions that are legally unenforceable. The Exit Strategy Review evaluates exactly what's recoverable in your case.
That's common, and it's one of the reasons having legal representation matters. A formal communication from an attorney carries more weight than an email from a buyer. If the developer doesn't respond to negotiation, we can escalate through formal legal channels, including a default notice served through a bailiff.
Two things. First, CanaLaw has no relationship with your developer or any party involved in the transaction. The advice isn't filtered through any existing business relationship. Second, you work directly with the lead attorney, Gonzalo Sánchez — not with a paralegal or junior associate. Every communication, every strategy decision, every negotiation call goes through the person responsible for your case.
You still receive a complete written report explaining why, what the weaknesses are, and what alternatives exist. The report is the deliverable, regardless of outcome. We don't tell you what you want to hear. We tell you what's actually there.
Let's Talk About Your Situation
Every case is different. The strength of your position depends on what your contract says, what the developer has or hasn't done, and what Dominican law allows in your specific circumstances. The first step is a conversation.
Or, if you prefer to talk first:
Tell us what happened. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
A 15-minute conversation to assess your situation — from an attorney whose fee is the same whether you stay in the deal or walk away.
Schedule a Discovery Call Free 15-minute call. No obligation. We'll tell you if your case makes sense before you spend a dollar. Haven't signed yet? Get the Pre-Purchase Property Check™ →