How we score a country
Every country gets the same six scores from 1 to 5. Figures are in US dollars over five years, from public sources. Each country review carries a date and a source, and we re-date it whenever the evidence changes.
Six things we look at
- Must pass
Ownership security
Can a foreign buyer hold clear title, and is it enforced in practice?
- Must pass
Tax and money movement
Purchase taxes, rental and gains tax, treaties with where you live, and how easily money moves in and out.
- Must pass
Liquidity and exit
How long and how costly it is to sell, and whether the proceeds can leave.
Gross yield
Annual rent as a share of the purchase price, before costs and tax. We use gross yield so figures compare across countries.
Growth and resilience
Five-year price growth, the latest 12 months and the largest fall from peak. The latest 12 months flags momentum. It does not pass or fail a country.
Residency and access
What buying gives you: residency, visas or travel access, and what it costs to keep.
The gate
A country is covered only if the three must-pass scores are each 3 or more. If a rule change pushes any of them below 3, the country leaves the list until it is re-scored.
Two kinds of covered country
Investment grade
Passes the gate and also scores well on return and access. You could buy mainly for the return.
- Gross yield 6% or more
- Growth score 4 or more
- Tax score 4 or more
- Residency score 4 or more
Read: UAE (Dubai), Georgia
We do not promote individual projects. We may earn a referral fee from partner brokerages or lenders, and it never changes a score.
See where you fit.
Join a webinar, or tell us where you live and we will help you work out how the rules apply to you.