In should be like the US, if you want to see who has title, you go to the local hall of records and find out.
When I first came to the North coast, way, way, way, way, back , , the hall of record was on the north side of the Puerto Plata central plaza, granted it was not much, but it at least existed.
My vote is, the whole system is broken. Kind of like what I have been told of parts of India, if you are not occupying the property 24/7, you will find you do not own it any more.
The fact that some one can walk on to your land and "squat" and can pour money into the system for years with no results says something. and after 20 year legal struggle, whos to say you won't go through it again with another squatter.
... parcel. Empty for years. Someone came along [a neighbor] and built a block house on the property, and his son moved in.... they were squatters. Time passes, and late last year the owner shows up out of nowhere, and is furious about the squatting, it gets nasty, owner [older man] is attacked, and a blow to the kidney/liver [can't remember which] ends up killing him.
Although I think that the owner was Dominican in this case, this may serve as a warning especially to 'gringos'.
It's "Use it or lose it."
There are a lot of criminals who do not respect other people's property and with the help of shady lawyers, surveyors, corrupt judges or just 'fellow squatters' and 'functionarios' steal land.
We know of several cases.. it is not rare.
donP
Rent a bulldozer and rAze the house. Pay some watchies to run him off with those 12 guage shotgunsBehind our property in DR is a 24 tareas parcel. Empty for years. Someone came along [a neighbor] and built a block house on the property, and his son moved in. Apparently son had lots of party/noise, father got mad and had the aluzinc roof removed. Remember, this is not their property, they were squatters. Time passes, and late last year the owner shows up out of nowhere, and is furious about the squatting, it gets nasty, owner [older man] is attacked, and a blow to the kidney/liver [can't remember which] ends up killing him.
Fast forward. Now the land is for sale, by the wife and the son of the man who died. They are afraid to step foot anywhere near, so they have a lawyer representing them. We were interested in the section that backs up to our property, about 5-6 tareas, but it includes the house - and the guy who built it [illegally!!] wants to be compensated for it directly, in addition to paying the seller. Only in DR.
We walked away, not worth the hassle. It will be 100 years before that mess is cleared up.
Rent a bulldozer and rAze the house. Pay some watchies to run him off with those 12 guage shotguns
Very effective method. :laugh:
Dominican inspired, too. :classic:
Instead of watchmen, I'd use police, however..... :smoke:
donP
Behind our property in DR is a 24 tareas parcel. Empty for years. Someone came along [a neighbor] and built a block house on the property, and his son moved in. Apparently son had lots of party/noise, father got mad and had the aluzinc roof removed. Remember, this is not their property, they were squatters. Time passes, and late last year the owner shows up out of nowhere, and is furious about the squatting, it gets nasty, owner [older man] is attacked, and a blow to the kidney/liver [can't remember which] ends up killing him.
Fast forward. Now the land is for sale, by the wife and the son of the man who died. They are afraid to step foot anywhere near, so they have a lawyer representing them. We were interested in the section that backs up to our property, about 5-6 tareas, but it includes the house - and the guy who built it [illegally!!] wants to be compensated for it directly, in addition to paying the seller. Only in DR.
We walked away, not worth the hassle. It will be 100 years before that mess is cleared up.
Behind our property in DR is a 24 tareas parcel. Empty for years. Someone came along [a neighbor] and built a block house on the property, and his son moved in. Apparently son had lots of party/noise, father got mad and had the aluzinc roof removed. Remember, this is not their property, they were squatters. Time passes, and late last year the owner shows up out of nowhere, and is furious about the squatting, it gets nasty, owner [older man] is attacked, and a blow to the kidney/liver [can't remember which] ends up killing him.
Fast forward. Now the land is for sale, by the wife and the son of the man who died. They are afraid to step foot anywhere near, so they have a lawyer representing them. We were interested in the section that backs up to our property, about 5-6 tareas, but it includes the house - and the guy who built it [illegally!!] wants to be compensated for it directly, in addition to paying the seller. Only in DR.
We walked away, not worth the hassle. It will be 100 years before that mess is cleared up.