May 2026 · 5 min read
The tasación fee is one of the smaller line items in a DR property transaction, but it comes early — before loan approval and before you know whether the deal will close. Understanding what a reasonable fee looks like, when it is paid, and whether it is refundable helps you budget accurately from the start.
Typical Fee Ranges (Early 2026)
Fees are paid directly to the tasador. They are not collected by the bank. The ranges below reflect market rates for residential properties — commercial and agricultural properties may carry higher fees.
Small apartment / studio (under 80m²)
Most straightforward; urban condos in Santo Domingo or Punta Cana
RD$8,000–12,000
~USD 135–200
Standard apartment or house (80–200m²)
Most common residential category
RD$12,000–18,000
~USD 200–300
Large house or villa (200–500m²)
More complex comparable analysis; premium finishes add complexity
RD$18,000–25,000
~USD 300–420
Luxury property / estate (500m²+)
Specialist appraisers; bespoke methodology
RD$25,000–45,000+
~USD 420–750+
Off-plan / under construction
Based on developer plans and comparable completed units
RD$10,000–20,000
~USD 165–335
Rural land
Thin comparable data; may require agricultural specialist
RD$15,000–30,000+
~USD 250–500+
What the Fee Includes
- ✓Physical on-site inspection
- ✓Professional photographs of condition and features
- ✓Comparable sales analysis (min. 3 transactions)
- ✓Certified tasación report in SB-required format
- ✓Tasador's professional liability for the valuation
- ✓Electronic and physical copies of the completed report
When Is the Fee Paid?
Most tasadores require payment before or at the time of the site inspection — not after report delivery. This is standard practice and should not be a cause for concern with certified appraisers on bank-approved panels.
The fee is non-refundable once the inspection has taken place, regardless of the valuation outcome. If the tasación comes in lower than the purchase price and the deal falls through, the fee is lost.
For this reason, some buyers choose to negotiate a purchase price agreement that is contingent on the tasación reaching a minimum value — before commissioning the appraisal. This is a negotiable point in the purchase agreement.
The Tasación Fee in Context of Total Closing Costs
For a USD 250,000 property purchase in the DR, total closing costs for a non-resident foreign buyer typically run 40–45% of the purchase price (including the down payment). The tasación fee represents less than 0.2% of that total — it is one of the smallest line items.
Down payment (30% for non-resident)
USD 75,000
30%
Transfer tax (3% of purchase price)
USD 7,500
3%
Notary / legal fees (1–1.5%)
USD 2,500–3,750
1–1.5%
Bank origination fee (1–2% of loan)
USD 1,750–3,500
0.7–1.4%
Tasación fee
← This is the tasación
USD 200–420
<0.2%
Title registration (varies)
USD 300–600
<0.25%