March 2026 · 7 min read
The down payment is typically the biggest cash outlay in a Dominican Republic property purchase. Understanding exactly how much you need — and why it varies — helps you plan your purchase timeline and choose between banks intelligently.
This article covers the standard requirements for foreign buyers, how property type and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios work, and strategies for buyers who want to minimize their upfront cash.
Down payment requirements in the DR are expressed as a percentage of the appraised property value (not the purchase price — an important distinction).
| Applicant Type | Min. Down Payment | Max LTV |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican national (salaried) | 10–20% | 80–90% |
| Dominican national (self-employed) | 20–30% | 70–80% |
| Resident foreigner | 20–30% | 70–80% |
| Non-resident foreigner | 30–40% | 60–70% |
These are typical ranges across major banks for a primary residence. For non-primary residences (investment properties, vacation homes, or second homes), banks typically cap financing at 70% LTV regardless of applicant type — this is standard market practice across the DR mortgage sector, driven by risk-weighting guidelines under the Reglamento de Evaluación de Activos. Individual bank policies vary. Running a multi-bank simulation shows you the full range of what's available.
Example calculation
In this example, you need $74,000 in cash even though the 'down payment' sounds like it should be 30% of $200,000 ($60,000). The appraisal gap creates an additional $14,000 requirement.
Budget an additional 4–6% of the property value for:
See Your Monthly Payment
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Monthly Payment
$1,523
20-year loan at 13%
Estimate only. Actual payments depend on bank-specific terms, fees, and insurance. Does not include property insurance or closing costs.
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