Know exactly what you're buying before you commit a single dollar.
In 5 business days, you'll know whether this property is safe to buy, needs conditions, or should be avoided entirely. Independent legal due diligence — reviewed and signed by a Dominican attorney.
Why independent due diligence isn't optional in the Dominican Republic.
In your home country, you probably have title insurance, a licensed real estate agent, a regulated escrow process, and a legal system you understand. In the Dominican Republic, none of those protections exist for foreign buyers.
There is no title insurance. There is no mandatory agent licensing. There is no regulated escrow. The attorney who drafted the contract you're about to sign works for the developer — not for you.
That doesn't mean buying in the DR is dangerous. It means buying without independent verification is a risk that's entirely avoidable.
You need at least one person in the transaction whose only job is to tell you the truth — even when the truth is "don't sign this."
CanaLaw earns a flat fee for a legal opinion. The same fee whether you buy or walk away. We don't earn commissions, referral fees, or closing bonuses. That structural independence is what allows us to give you the truth about your investment.
What the Property Check™ reviews.
Six areas of independent legal investigation. Every finding documented. Every risk identified. One clear recommendation.
Title Verification
Is the seller the legal owner? We verify the Certificado de Título, confirm registration with the corresponding Registry of Titles, and trace the chain of ownership to identify gaps or irregularities.
- Ownership title verification
- Registry of Titles confirmation
- Chain of title analysis
Encumbrance Search
Are there liens, mortgages, or claims on the property? We check for recorded encumbrances, judicial seizures, and administrative restrictions that could affect your ownership rights.
- Liens and mortgage records
- Judicial claims and seizures
- Administrative restrictions
Cadastral Cross-Check
Do the legal boundaries match the physical property? We cross-reference the title with cadastral records to identify discrepancies between what you're told you're buying and what the records actually show.
- Boundary verification
- Cadastral record cross-reference
- Physical vs. legal discrepancies
Permit Compliance
Does the project have legal authorization to build and sell? We verify construction permits, land use certifications, environmental approvals, and CONFOTUR tax exemption status where applicable.
- Construction permit verification
- Environmental permit review
- CONFOTUR status confirmation
Developer Background
Who is behind this project? We review the developer's corporate structure, legal representation, capitalization, and publicly available records of disputes or litigation.
- Corporate structure and RNC verification
- Legal representative confirmation
- Litigation and dispute records
Contract Analysis
What are you actually signing? We analyze the purchase agreement across key checkpoints — penalty clauses, delivery terms, payment structure, force majeure provisions, refund conditions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Penalty and forfeiture clauses
- Delivery date and force majeure terms
- Payment structure and refund conditions
One clear recommendation. No ambiguity.
Every Property Check™ ends with a formal written recommendation so you know exactly where you stand.
GO
The property checks out. Title is clean, permits are in order, the developer is legitimate, and the contract terms are reasonable. Proceed with confidence.
GO WITH CONDITIONS
There are issues — but they're negotiable. You'll receive specific clause amendments to request and conditions to address before signing.
NO-GO
The risks cannot be adequately mitigated. We recommend walking away. This recommendation has saved clients from six-figure losses.
How the Property Check™ works.
Three steps. From first conversation to written legal opinion.
Schedule a consultation
Speak directly with Gonzalo about your situation — the property, the region, the developer, the stage of the transaction. No obligation. No sales pitch. We confirm what documents are needed and discuss pricing for your specific case.
We run the Property Check™
In 5 business days, receive a documented legal opinion covering the title, encumbrances, permits, developer background, and contract. Everything in writing. Everything in English. Reviewed and signed by Gonzalo — not delegated to a junior associate.
Decide with information
With a clear GO, GO WITH CONDITIONS, or NO-GO recommendation, you make the call. If the answer is to proceed, you move forward with confidence. If the answer is to negotiate, you know exactly what to ask for. If the answer is to walk away, you just saved your investment.
Gonzalo Sánchez
Every Property Check™ is personally reviewed and signed by Gonzalo. You're not handed off to a paralegal or a junior associate. The attorney who signs the report is the same attorney who answers your questions throughout the process.
As a Dominican attorney who works primarily with international clients, Gonzalo bridges the gap between local legal realities and the transparency standards that foreign buyers expect. He understands your concerns because he's answered them hundreds of times — and he knows where the real risks are because he reviews these transactions every day.
- Licensed Dominican attorney since 2015
- 1,000+ foreign clients served
- $18M+ in transactions reviewed
- 19+ countries represented
- Offices in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo
- Fluent in English and Spanish
Frequently asked questions.
If we identify issues, your report will include a detailed explanation of the problem, an assessment of how serious it is, and — where applicable — specific recommendations for how to address it. Many issues are negotiable. In those cases, you'll receive the exact clause amendments or conditions to request from the developer before signing. If the issues are too severe to mitigate, you'll receive a NO-GO recommendation with the reasons documented in writing.
Yes — and many clients do. When the report identifies problematic clauses (excessive penalties, one-sided force majeure provisions, or unfavorable payment structures), it gives you documented, attorney-reviewed leverage to request specific changes. Developers take these conversations more seriously when the buyer has an independent legal analysis backing their position.
The developer's attorney drafted the contract to protect the developer. Their job is done — and it was done well. The Property Check™ is an independent review on your side. We don't represent the developer, the agent, or the seller. We earn a flat fee regardless of whether you buy. That independence is what allows us to flag issues that the developer's attorney has no incentive to disclose.
Yes. We have direct presence in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, with regional contacts in Puerto Plata, Las Terrenas, Samaná, Cabarete, and Cap Cana. Each region has a different risk profile — pre-construction dominance in Punta Cana, boundary disputes in Las Terrenas, complex title chains in Cap Cana — and the Property Check is calibrated to the specific risks of the area where your property is located.
We can still review the transaction. While the ideal time is before you sign, a post-signature review can identify risks that may affect your position going forward — and in some cases, there are legal remedies available under Dominican consumer protection law (Ley 358-05). Schedule a consultation and we'll assess your specific situation honestly.
The Property Check is a flat fee — the same whether we find nothing or everything. The fee doesn't depend on the purchase price, and it doesn't change based on the outcome. We discuss pricing during the free consultation because the exact scope can vary depending on the complexity of the transaction. What we can tell you now: it's a fixed amount, not a percentage of the purchase price. That's the only way to keep our opinion truly independent.
At minimum, we need the purchase agreement or contract you've been given. If you have additional materials — developer brochures, payment schedules, property plans, or marketing documents — those are helpful but not required to begin. During the consultation, we'll confirm exactly what we need and guide you through the document submission process.
Before you sign, talk to Gonzalo.
A 15-minute conversation about your property, your questions, and your concerns. No obligation. No pressure. Just an honest assessment of your situation from an attorney who doesn't earn more if you buy.
Or tell us about your property now
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