Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the Dominican Republic's capital, the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the Americas (founded 1496), and the financial and political heart of the Caribbean's largest economy by population. The city blends UNESCO-listed colonial architecture (Zona Colonial) with modern high-rise districts (Piantini, Naco) and a growing professional services economy. Residential prices in prime districts range from USD 1,800-3,500 per square metre, with gross yields of 6.5-9.5% -- among the best in the Caribbean for long-let. Foreign buyers face no restrictions on property ownership in DR, and the country offers a very accessible residency-by-investment programme (USD 200,000 qualifying investment). For international buyers, Santo Domingo offers some of the Caribbean's best yields, open foreign ownership, an accessible residency programme, and growing professional services and tourism economies. The catch: Dominican peso (DOP) volatility, slower legal/transaction processes than Panama or Costa Rica, and infrastructure quality varies sharply by district.