JoshInvesting in international real estate can be one of the best financial decisions you ever make, but only if you pick the right country and market to invest in. With so many destinations to choose from, there are many countries that will offer you substantial return on your investment, and an equal number that, sadly, will not.
To help you choose which country to invest in, here is our list of the best international real estate options with the most potential for property investors in 2017/18.
- Grenadian real estate is growing rapidly
Grenada’s housing market has been growing rapidly in the past few years, which means now is the perfect time to invest. According to an annual report from C21 Grenada Grenadines Real Estate, the market began surging in 2013 and has boomed ever since. Since 2015, the market has grown to record levels, with more than US$50m of real estate transactions in 2016.
The upward trend indicates a very high possibility of return on investment, but this isn’t the only reason to buy Grenadan property. The growth of this market has been partly driven by the Caribbean country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, incidentally, also introduced in 2013. The Programme grants applicants Grenadian citizenship provided they significantly invest in the country’s economy.
Valid investments include both a one-time contribution to Grenada’s National Transformation Fund (NTF), and the purchase of Government-approved real estate. The projects chosen by the Government include a resort complex in St George’s, and a development project in St Andrew’s. Investing in these properties doesn’t just give you the chance to make money; it will also grant you the right to live and work in a flourishing, quintessential Caribbean paradise.
- Portugal is a burgeoning European market
Another ideal summer spot, this time in Europe, is Portugal. Portugal’s property market has proven itself as a surefire way to ensure return on investment, with rising house prices year-on-year.
House prices in all of Portugal’s urban areas rose considerably in the past 12 months, and demand for property in the country is also rising fast. Thankfully for investors, buying costs are still moderate, even in the most in-demand areas.
The Algarve, in particular, is becoming one of the most popular beach vacation destinations in the world, meaning surrounding property is bound to increase in value as travellers flock there from all over the world.
- Colombia’s real estate market is ready to boom
Colombia may not be the obvious choice for stable real estate investment for those familiar with the country’s chequered past, but in the past decade, Colombia has been transformed. Today, the conditions are ideal for those looking for a return on their international property investment.
A 2015 report predicted that Colombia’s tourist sector will grow 4% over the next decade as millions of people take notice of the country’s newly attractive developments. The cities of Cartagena and Bogota in particular are looking great for investors as they begin to play host to the nation’s fledgling tech scene. Fees and commissions are low in Colombia, and there is no limit on how much property a foreign resident can buy.
- Lebanon is a long term investment with real prospects
Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, has been hailed as “the next global property hotspot” by the Telegraph in an article which sings the praises of the “unlikely, once war torn, post-disaster city.”
Due to a recent lack of demand, property prices in Lebanon are low, but rising. Researchers at Savills predict that Beirut in particular has huge investment potential, as its popularity is growing more rapidly than its property prices.
The city has been compared to Berlin for its potential to bounce back from conflict and regenerate into a major global city. We will have to wait and see if this comes to pass, but if it does, those who take the plunge and invest in Lebanese property now are sure to reap the rewards.