Photo: Rdc / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)La Altagracia · Dominican Republic
Higüey Real Estate
Higüey is the inland capital of La Altagracia province and home to the Basílica de la Altagracia, the country's main Catholic pilgrimage site, a working Dominican city about 40 minutes from Punta Cana airport and the eastern resort coast.
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Quick facts · Higüey
- Province
- La Altagracia
- Region
- East (Punta Cana coast)
- Setting
- Inland provincial capital
- Nearest airport
- Punta Cana (PUJ), ~40 min
- Santo Domingo (SDQ)
- ~2 hr via Autovía del Coral
- Character
- Working city, pilgrimage hub
- Foreign ownership
- Full (Law 16-95)
- CONFOTUR
- On certified new builds
About Higüey
Higüey, officially Salvaleón de Higüey, is the capital of La Altagracia province and one of the largest cities in the east, with about 415,000 residents at the 2022 census. It is an inland service and commercial centre rather than a beach town: the seat of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the Dominican Republic, and a hub for the workforce that staffs the Punta Cana and Bávaro hotels a short drive east.
For buyers, Higüey is the affordable, year-round-economy counterpart to the resort coast next door. Prices sit well below Punta Cana, and demand is driven by local residents and a fast-growing population rather than tourism. The nearest airport is Punta Cana International (PUJ), about 40 minutes east via the Autovía del Coral; Santo Domingo's Las Américas (SDQ) is roughly two hours west.
History of Higüey
Higüey takes its name from a Taíno chiefdom that held Hispaniola's eastern end when the Spanish arrived; Juan de Esquivel founded the town as Salvaleón de Higüey around 1505. Its early importance came from the cult of the Virgin of La Altagracia, whose image, brought by Spanish missionaries, has been venerated here since at least the 1600s. The 16th-century church of San Dionisio and, later, the modern Basílica made the city a national religious centre.
For most of its history Higüey was a poor inland farming and cattle town. That changed from the 1980s and 1990s, when the rise of Punta Cana and Bávaro tourism a few kilometres east turned the city into a service and labour hub, driving rapid population and commercial growth.
Why investors buy in Higüey
Provincial capital with a permanent, year-round local economy, not a seasonal resort market.
Prices well below the Punta Cana resort coast 40 minutes east, with a documented housing shortage.
La Altagracia has been among the fastest-growing provinces in the country, fed by tourism-sector jobs.
Full foreign-ownership rights; CONFOTUR incentives apply to qualifying certified projects.
Market & growth
Figures are approximate and informational only. Verify before transacting.
Prices & rental market
| City apartments | value tier |
|---|---|
| New residential projects | mid |
| Punta Cana resort coast (nearby) | premium |
Higüey trades far below the Punta Cana resort coast and is driven by local, year-round demand. Developers and builders describe a housing deficit in the city of over 40 percent, with hundreds of new arrivals each month, which is the core of the residential investment case here rather than tourist rentals. Confirm project quality and titles independently.
Figures are approximate and informational only. Verify before transacting.
Neighborhoods & zones
City centre / Basílica
The commercial core around the cathedral, services and apartments.
La Otra Banda
An established residential district on the city's edge.
Toward Verón / PUJ
Growth corridor along the road east toward Punta Cana and the airport.
Lifestyle & who it's for
Higüey is a working Dominican city, not a tourist town: traffic, markets, schools, hospitals and the steady flow of pilgrims to the Basílica. It suits buyers who want a permanent local economy and everyday services, with the beaches and resorts of Punta Cana and Bávaro reachable in well under an hour for weekends.
Things to do & attractions
Basílica de la Altagracia
The 1971 modernist basilica, the country's main Marian pilgrimage site.
Iglesia de San Dionisio
The 16th-century church that first housed the venerated Altagracia image.
Feast of La Altagracia (Jan 21)
The annual pilgrimage drawing tens of thousands of visitors each January.
Punta Cana / Bávaro beaches
The eastern resort coast about 40 minutes away via the Autovía del Coral.
Parque Nacional del Este
The protected coast and islands south toward Bayahíbe and Boca de Yuma.
Recent developments
- Jan 2026
Country hit a record 11.6 million visitors in 2025
National arrivals reached about 11.6 million in 2025, sustaining the eastern tourism economy that employs much of Higüey.
- Dec 2025
Punta Cana airport set its busiest year ever
PUJ, about 40 minutes east, closed 2025 with record passengers and flights, reinforcing the regional job base around Higüey.
Buying costs & process
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transfer taxOf the DGII appraised value (may exceed the sale price). | 3% |
| Legal / attorney feesTitle search, due diligence and closing. | ~1–1.5% |
| Notary & registryDocument notarization and title transfer recording. | up to ~1% |
| CONFOTUR exemptionFirst buyer of a certified project is exempt from transfer tax and the annual IPI property tax for 15 years. | −3% + 15-yr IPI |
| Annual property tax (IPI)On value above the exemption threshold; CONFOTUR units exempt for 15 years. | 1% |
≈4–9% of price all-in (commonly 5.5–7.5%). No additional tax for foreign buyers, who hold equal ownership rights under Law 16-95.
Source: DGII / DR property-law guidance (aggregated) · early 2026
Risks & considerations
Not a tourist market
Demand is local and residential; this is not a short-term holiday-rental play like the coast.
Inland, no beach
Higüey is a city without its own coastline; beach access means a drive east.
Developer quality varies
Rapid building means uneven construction; vet the developer's track record carefully.
Title & CONFOTUR diligence
Confirm a clean Certificado de Título and any CONFOTUR status with an independent attorney.
10-year outlook
Informational, not adviceHigüey's case rests on being a growing provincial capital with a permanent economy and a real housing shortage, next door to the country's busiest tourism region but priced as a working city. It is a residential and rental play tied to local demand rather than a resort appreciation story. Informational only, not investment advice.
Explore other markets in Dominican Republic
Investing in Higüey
Can foreigners buy property in Higüey?+
Yes. Foreign buyers have nearly the same rights as citizens under Law 16-95 — no local partner or residency required. You'll need a passport and a Dominican tax ID (RNC), which your attorney can obtain.
What are the closing costs in Higüey?+
Typically 4–9% of the price (commonly 5.5–7.5%), led by the 3% transfer tax on the appraised value, plus legal fees (~1–1.5%) and notary and registry costs.
What is CONFOTUR?+
A tourism-incentive law that can exempt the 3% transfer tax and the annual property tax (IPI) for up to 15 years on qualifying developments. The benefit goes to the first buyer of a certified unit.
Can I buy in Higüey without traveling to the country?+
Yes. Buying remotely is common: you grant power of attorney to an independent Dominican lawyer who runs due diligence, signs on your behalf and registers the title. We still recommend visiting before you buy.
What annual property tax applies (IPI)?+
IPI is 1% per year on value above an inflation-adjusted exemption threshold (around US$160,000). Units with CONFOTUR status are exempt from IPI for 15 years.
Can foreigners get a mortgage in the Dominican Republic?+
Yes — some banks lend to non-residents, usually at 60–70% loan-to-value and higher rates than in the U.S. or Europe. Many buyers pay cash or use developer financing on new construction.
How long does the buying process take in Higüey?+
Usually 30–60 days: reservation, title search and due diligence, a promise-of-sale contract, the notarized deed (acto de venta), and recording at the Title Registry, which issues a new Certificado de Título in your name.
Can I earn rental income, and how is it taxed?+
Yes. Many owners rent short- or long-term through property managers. Dominican-source income is taxable; a local accountant can advise on ITBIS and income tax.
Do I need residency to own property?+
No. Ownership requires neither residency nor citizenship. Buying can actually support an investor-residency application, but it isn't a requirement to hold title.
Sources & last updated
Last updated June 4, 2026