The statue of Columbus in Parque Colón, in front of the Catedral Primada The carved stone facade of the Convento de los Dominicos in late afternoon light The Catedral Primada de América seen from above, with the old city around it The Torre del Homenaje of the Fortaleza Ozama in late afternoon light Aerial view over the Ciudad Colonial and Santo Domingo The stone arch of the Puerta de la Misericordia The Fortaleza Ozama and the Ozama river from above Parque Colón on a sunny day, with café tables under the trees Palms and a bronze statue in the garden of the Museo de las Casas Reales Calle Las Damas in the Ciudad Colonial Café tables along Calle El Conde
Zona ColonialReal Estate · Santo Domingo
Columbus in Parque Colón, with the Catedral Primada behind

Houses, apartments and whole buildings for sale in Santo Domingo's Ciudad Colonial.

We're Brendan Murray and Leina Jiménez. Brendan finds the property and looks after buyers from abroad. Leina is a lawyer, and she checks the title before anyone signs anything. We also sell in Gazcue, Piantini, Naco and along the Malecón.

Brendan, international and WhatsApp
+353 87 388 4623
Leina, local and WhatsApp
+1 809 721 1616

Why there are two of us

If you're buying from Dublin or New York, the house is the easy part to judge. You can see it, walk through it, have it surveyed. What you can't see from abroad is the paperwork: whether the seller is the only heir, whether an old mortgage is still on the title, whether the second floor someone added ever had a permit.

In the Ciudad Colonial that last one matters more than anywhere else in the country. The whole district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and anything you change on the outside of a building needs approval from the heritage office. Nobody can tell you how long that approval will take. Not us, not your architect, and not the seller who says it'll be quick.

So we work as a pair. Brendan shows you what's for sale and tells you what he'd pay for it. Leina pulls the certificate of title, reads it, and tells you what she found. You hear from both of us before you put down a deposit.

Brendan Murray and Leina Jiménez

For sale now

All properties

We're putting our current properties back online. In the meantime, send us a message with what you're after (area, size, budget) and we'll reply with what's available, including from owners who'd rather not advertise.

What's happening here

For twenty years the Dominican Republic has grown faster than the Latin American average. Here's where it stands now, and what's being spent on the old city.

The country

  • 4.5%Economic growth in the first half of 2026, more than double the same period of 2025.Banco Central, July 2026
  • 4.7%The World Bank's growth forecast for 2026. It says the country has "significantly outpaced the regional average" for two decades.World Bank, October 2026
  • US$5.03bnForeign investment in 2025, a record for the fourth year running. 15.7% of it went into real estate.Banco Central, 2025 figures

Visitors

The Ciudad Colonial

  • US$90mThe current Inter-American Development Bank programme for the old city: streets, lighting, museums and homes. By the end of 2025, 3,649 of 4,608 metres of priority streets had been rebuilt.IDB / inmobiliario.do, October 2026
  • US$130mA second, larger revitalisation loan for the Ciudad Colonial, included in the government's 2027 budget proposal.2027 budget proposal, October 2026

Where we sell

Ciudad Colonial
Inside the old walls. Courtyard houses, restored buildings split into apartments, and a few that still need everything. Las Damas, Arzobispo Meriño, Isabel la Católica, Padre Billini, Hostos.
Gazcue
Just west of the Ciudad Colonial. Quiet streets of older houses, within walking distance of both the old city and the sea.
Piantini and Naco
The newer business district. Apartments in towers, with parking, generators and a doorman.
The Malecón
Avenida George Washington, along the Caribbean. Sea-view apartments a short drive from the old city.
Aerial view of the Ciudad Colonial, with Parque Colón and the cathedral
The Ciudad Colonial from above: Parque Colón and the cathedral. Open the map.
Café tables along Calle El Conde
Calle El Conde, the pedestrian street through the old city.
The stone arch of the Puerta de la Misericordia in the old city wall
The Puerta de la Misericordia, in the 16th-century city wall.
Palms and a bronze statue in the garden patio of the Museo de las Casas Reales
The garden of the Casas Reales, Calle Las Damas.

What buyers usually ask us

Can I buy if I'm not Dominican?

Yes. Foreigners can own property in the Dominican Republic outright, with the same title rights as Dominicans. You don't need residency to buy.

Do I have to be in Santo Domingo to close?

No. You can sign the closing through a power of attorney. Leina will tell you how it needs to be notarised and apostilled in your country.

What does buying cost on top of the price?

The government transfer tax is 3% of the value, paid when the title moves into your name. Then there are notary and legal fees. Ask us for a written estimate for the specific property before you make an offer.

Can I renovate a colonial house?

Yes, with approval. Changes to the facade, height, windows and roof need a permit from the heritage office, and some interiors are protected too. It's slower than building anywhere else in the city. We'll tell you what we know about a building's status before you buy, and what we don't.

Can I rent it out to visitors?

Many owners in the Ciudad Colonial do. If it's an apartment, check the building's rules first, because some condominiums restrict short stays. We read those rules with you before the promise of sale.

How does the process go?

Viewings, then Leina's title check, then a promise of sale (promesa de venta) with a deposit and a closing date, then the final contract and the transfer at the title registry. Every document comes in English and Spanish.

The ribbed stone vaults over the nave of the Catedral Primada de América
The vaults of the Catedral Primada de América, the oldest cathedral in the Americas, begun in 1512.

Brendan and Leina

Photo of Brendan

Brendan Murray

Agent

Brendan looks after buyers from abroad, from the first shortlist to handing over the keys.

Photo of Leina

Leina Jiménez

Agent and lawyer

Leina handles title searches, contracts and closings, and explains each one in plain language.

Tell us what you're looking for

This sends your message to Brendan on WhatsApp. If you'd rather talk, call either of us.

Brendan +353 87 388 4623
Leina +1 809 721 1616