7 Top Countries to Invest in Real Estate Right Now
The living is easy, and houses are relatively cheap.
![Video player poster image preview for 10 Most Underrated European Cities to Visit Right Now](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/beautiful-aerial-view-of-the-los-sue-c3-b1os-marina-full-royalty-free-image-1719605661.jpg?crop=1xw:0.37482xh;center,top&resize=1200:*)
Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
If you’re toying with the idea of buying real estate in a foreign country—for instance, a one-euro home in Italy—you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by Coldwell Banker and reported in Global Luxury 2024, nearly 40 percent of wealthy American respondents said they plan to buy a home in a foreign country within the next year.
Why Americans Are Investing Abroad
The uptick in overseas investment owes to several factors. First, the euro is lower than it has been in many years, and interest rates are lower in Europe than they are in the U.S. “As of June 6, 2024, the European Central Bank cut its main lending rate from 4 percent to 3.75 percent,” Samira Easton, a certified international property specialist at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, says. (This is a small but significant change when you’re borrowing a large sum.) Easton also points out that anxiety surrounding the upcoming presidential election is causing people to consider moving abroad. Then, of course, there’s the fact that the U.S. is still experiencing a housing shortage and the homes that do wind up on the market here tend to be prohibitively expensive.
The Benefits of Buying in a Foreign Country
Not only is it potentially cheaper to buy real estate abroad than here in the U.S., it can actually bring in additional income and help protect your existing assets. “Investing in emerging markets can offer rapid economic returns and increasing property values,” Easton explains. (In other words, the beach house you buy in Portugal now might be worth double what you paid for it in a couple of years.) And houses located in popular tourist destinations can bring in a steady stream of rental income.
Owning properties in different countries also can diversify your portfolio, making you less vulnerable to crazy economic fluctuations in any one country—and “real estate investments in different currencies can protect against currency devaluations in your home country,” Easton says.
From a lifestyle standpoint, owning a home overseas offers access to new cultures and climates (exotic food, sunny weather!) and gives families a special place to gather for holidays and summer breaks. Who doesn’t want to spend Christmas in Paris or August in Tuscany?
But it’s not just European destinations that are attracting expats. There are several countries around the globe that have cities bursting with cultural opportunities and recreational activities, beach towns with miles of sandy shoreline, and plenty of affordable homes for you to buy right now. Here are seven hot spots that belong on your list.
For more expert real estate advice:
- 5 Places in Italy Where You Can Buy a Home for $1
- In These 10 Areas, Home Prices Are Doubling
- The Best Time to Sell Your House for Maximum Profit
![house house](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/karyn-millet-km-5007r-65f310659c070.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.671xh;0,0.0652xh&resize=360:*)
Why You Should Give Your Home a Name
![a man standing on a cliff overlooking a town a man standing on a cliff overlooking a town](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/kim-k-real-estate-66903444ea69f.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*)
Inside Kim Kardashian's Real Estate Portfolio
![a house surrounded by trees a house surrounded by trees](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/a01-237-private-residence-napa-by-mrbarceloedit-66900580d0218.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.151xw,0&resize=360:*)
Inside Ryan Seacrest's $22 Million Napa Home
![Costa Nova, Aveiro, Porto, Portugal costa nova, aveiro, porto, portugal](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/costa-nova-aveiro-porto-portugal-royalty-free-image-1719952099.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.167xw,0&resize=360:*)
7 Countries Where It's a Cinch to Buy a House