La Romana · Dominican Republic
La Romana Real Estate
La Romana is a southeastern provincial capital and port city, home to the Casa de Campo resort, the gateway to Catalina and Saona islands, with its own international airport and an economy built on sugar, free zones and tourism.
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Quick facts · La Romana
- Province
- La Romana
- Region
- Southeast (Coast)
- Setting
- Port city, sugar economy
- Nearest airport
- La Romana (LRM), ~10 min
- Santo Domingo (SDQ)
- ~1.5 hr via Autovía del Coral
- Character
- Working city + luxury resort
- Foreign ownership
- Full (Law 16-95)
- CONFOTUR
- On certified new builds
About La Romana
La Romana is the capital of La Romana province on the southeast coast, a working port and sugar city of national importance that is best known internationally for the adjacent Casa de Campo resort, with its Teeth of the Dog golf course, marina and Altos de Chavón village. The city is the jumping-off point for day trips to Catalina and Saona islands in the Parque Nacional del Este, and its economy rests on sugar, free-zone manufacturing, the cruise port and tourism.
For buyers, La Romana pairs a real, year-round city with one of the Caribbean's best-known luxury resorts next door. The city has its own airport, La Romana International (LRM), about 10 minutes from Casa de Campo with direct flights to Miami, New York and San Juan; Santo Domingo's Las Américas (SDQ) is roughly 1.5 hours west via the Autovía del Coral and Autovía del Este.
History of La Romana
La Romana grew around its harbour and, from 1917, the Central Romana sugar mill, which became the largest in the country and remains the area's dominant employer. The city took shape as a company sugar town, later adding free-zone manufacturing and a deep-water port that handles sugar, molasses and other exports.
In the 1970s the mill's owner developed Casa de Campo on 7,000 acres of its land, adding the Teeth of the Dog golf course, a marina and the Altos de Chavón artisans' village. That resort, plus the cruise port and the Catalina and Saona island trips, turned La Romana into a tourism centre alongside its industrial base.
Why investors buy in La Romana
Provincial capital with a diversified economy in sugar, free zones, cruise tourism and resorts.
Casa de Campo, one of the Caribbean's best-known luxury resorts, sits directly adjacent.
Its own international airport (LRM) with direct US and Caribbean routes serves the area.
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 homes / condos | value tier |
|---|---|
| Bayahíbe-area condos | mid to high |
| Casa de Campo villas | luxury |
La Romana spans a wide range: an affordable working-city market, mid-market resort condos toward Bayahíbe and Dominicus, and the separate ultra-luxury tier inside Casa de Campo, where listing portals show villas running into the millions. The province has been growing on cruise traffic and resort investment; verify project-level pricing and titles independently.
Figures are approximate and informational only. Verify before transacting.
Neighborhoods & zones
City centre
The commercial core and riverfront, local homes and services.
Casa de Campo
The gated luxury resort of villas, golf and marina, its own price tier.
Toward Bayahíbe / Dominicus
Coastal resort and condo area east toward the island-trip harbours.
Lifestyle & who it's for
La Romana is a working city with a riverfront, markets and services, paired with the resort world of Casa de Campo and the island boat trips next door. It suits buyers who want a working Dominican city and air access rather than a hotel-zone bubble, with luxury amenities and beaches close at hand.
Things to do & attractions
Casa de Campo
The adjacent luxury resort with golf, a marina and beaches.
Altos de Chavón
A re-created Mediterranean village above the Chavón river, with an amphitheatre.
Isla Catalina
A reef-fringed island offshore, a popular dive and beach day trip.
Isla Saona
The large island in the Parque Nacional del Este, reached via Bayahíbe.
La Romana cruise port
A two-berth terminal bringing cruise visitors to the city.
Recent developments
- Sep 2025
La Romana-Bayahíbe declared first accessible destination
The Tourism Ministry and local hotel association declared La Romana-Bayahíbe the country's first accessible and inclusive tourist destination.
- Dec 2024
New daily Miami–La Romana flight begins
American Airlines launched a daily Miami to La Romana service in December 2024, improving the area's direct US access.
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
Two-speed market
City and resort prices differ sharply; do not assume Casa de Campo values apply to the wider city.
Industrial, working port
Parts of the city are industrial sugar-and-port areas, not resort settings.
Seasonality
Tourism and cruise demand are seasonal; model conservative annual rental income.
Title & CONFOTUR diligence
Confirm a clean Certificado de Título and CONFOTUR status with an independent attorney.
10-year outlook
Informational, not adviceLa Romana combines a diversified working-city economy, its own international airport and the pull of Casa de Campo and the island trips, giving it more breadth than a single-resort town. Demand ranges from local housing to mid-market resort condos and ultra-luxury villas, supported by cruise and tourism growth. Informational only, not investment advice.
Explore other markets in Dominican Republic
Investing in La Romana
Can foreigners buy property in La Romana?+
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 La Romana?+
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 La Romana 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 La Romana?+
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
- Wikipedia: La Romana— 2026
- Dominican Today: accessible destination— Sep 2025
- Casa de Campo Living: 2024 progress— Dec 2024