@mountainannie - yes i have a cedula, and, probably just as important, a job with a regular income. The last apartment i bougbt was with a down payment of 26%. I wanted to put more, but they argued that i had to borrow the same amount that the italian i bought it from still owed to the same bank. I guess they thought he may have done a runner if i had given him the cash direct. I reduced the loan before the first payment anyway.
@wishing - yes, OPM, for the most part. Maybe a bit more difficult to do in other countries. Regarding rates, I know i get the same rates as everyone else (never thought i was getting a foreigner's rate).
There are mortgage calculators on the local dominican banking sites if you wish to use them.
Also remember, there are other additional expenses that should be factored in when considering a mortgage. Especially the transfer of title 3% tax and the IPI tax. Nobody said it was cheap here.