SANTO DOMINGO.– Before acquiring a property, you should consult the Cadastral Parcel Register, one of the tools available to access information about the land and parcels of a given area, in accordance with the provisions of the Real Estate Registry of the Dominican Republic.
According to the institution, this service allows users to view cadastral information for the area of interest and consult data on existing parcels in the selected environment at the time of the search.
The consultation aims to facilitate access to cadastral information and help citizens have more information before carrying out a real estate transaction.
What is the Cadastral Parcel?
It is a tool of the Real Estate Registry of the Dominican Republic that allows you to consult and view cadastral information about the parcels and land located in a certain area.
The Cadastral system functions as a map that allows you to identify existing parcels in a selected area and access the cadastral data available at the time of the query.
Why consult it before buying a property?
This allows the buyer to obtain prior information about the land they are interested in acquiring and to have more information before finalizing a real estate transaction.
Although the Cadastral Parcel Register is an important reference tool, it does not replace legal research on the property. Before buying, it is also advisable to verify the title, liens and encumbrances, boundaries, and other official information about the property.
The RI (Regional Registry) offers an online tool that allows users to view cadastral parcels in a specific area and access the information available in its mapping system. This service is for consultation purposes and is available free of charge.
Steps for the Cadastral consultation
1. Access the Cadastral Parcel Consultation service
Access the official Cadastral Parcel Consultation service of the Property Registry.
Cadastral Parcel Consultation of the Property Registry
Likewise, users can access it from the institutional portal, by going to “Our services” → “Online services” → “Cadastral parcel consultation”, according to the official instructions.
2. Locate the land you want to consult
The platform allows you to locate the area of interest using different location data, including coordinates, position or positional designation, and also allows you to view the plots directly on the map.
3. Review the parcel information
Once the area is located, the system allows users to view available plots in the surrounding area. The service includes, among other options, approved, historical, cancelled, and resulting plots prior to 2017.
The information can help you determine if the land you are being offered matches, at least from a cadastral point of view, the plot that appears in the system.
4. Compare the data with the seller's documents
This is one of the most important steps. Compare the information found in the land registry with the documents provided by the owner or seller.
Pay special attention to:
The cadastral designation.
The location of the plot.
The boundaries and shape of the land.
The surface.
The correspondence between the plot and the documents presented.
The General Directorate of the National Cadastre explains that the cadastral designation serves to identify each parcel and link the title certificate with its corresponding survey plan.
5. Do not confuse a land parcel consultation with a legal certification
This point is fundamental: finding a plot in the Cadastral Parcel Register does not, in itself, mean that the property is legally free to be purchased.
The Registry itself warns that the data available in its consultation services are for informational purposes and that, in order to confirm the legal status of a property or to prove certain information, the corresponding certificates must be requested.
What should you check before handing over money?
In addition to consulting the Cadastral Parcel Register, before buying it is advisable to formally verify:
That the seller is actually the holder of the right to the property.
The corresponding title certificate.
The legal status of the property.
The existence of charges, encumbrances or other restrictions.
That the location, surface area and boundaries match the documentation.
Make sure the documents and plans correspond to the plot you are buying.
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