““We saw the villa three times without leaving home: morning, afternoon and in the rain. By the time we flew in to sign, we already knew it.” — Sophie and Marc (example)”
Sophie and Marc live in Montreal and had spent years vacationing in Las Terrenas. When they decided to buy, one question worried them: how do you choose a house 4,000 km away (example data) without getting it wrong?
What worried them most
- That photos would hide the reality: noise, damp or the state of the road.
- Not understanding Dominican property documents.
- That vacation rentals wouldn't cover the costs.
How they did it from Montreal
Their agent, Laura, did three video calls at the villa they liked most, at different times of day, and sent the Certificate of Title and the Certificate of Legal Status before any talk of price. They hired an independent lawyer who confirmed the survey and reviewed the contract.
Using real occupancy figures from similar villas, they estimated a gross yield of about 7% (example data), without pretending high season lasts all year.
The result
They flew in once to sign before a notary. Today they spend January and February at the villa, and a local manager rents it out the rest of the year.
Before buying from abroad, read our guide to verifying a property title.
Fictitious story created as an example.
Who helped them
