International Property Investment Markets
Property Investment International is active in numerous countries worldwide, particulary in Central & Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania.
We take a sensible and long term view of world markets and don't get caught up in hype and spurious information:
1. we spend a lot of time researching international property markets;
2. we then choose the best markets in which to invest;
3. and subsequently source the best property investments possible, in those markets
Below you will find a snap shot view of how we view a number of countries around the world from a residential buy-to-let point of view. We can provide much more detailed views and analysis on request.
Download our free report where we review more than 50 of the worlds property investment markets and give our view on where we think are the best places to invest.
Property Investment Ratings
We have given each market a property investment rating (& traffic light coded it) based on a buy-to-let investment strategy.| Europe | ||
| Rating | Country | Comments |
| 3 ↑ | Albania | The Albanian property market has a lot of potential, prices are low and economic and structural reforms are making good progress. Some mortgage finance is available. High risk but high reward market. Risk of oversupply. Albania property blogs. |
| 2 ↔ | Bosnia | Still has political and economic problems. Potential for the future but avoid for the moment. |
| 3 ↔ | Bulgaria | Avoid the coasts and ski resorts. Major cities have good potential. Finance is available. Low cost buying opportunities abound for cash buyers. |
| 3 ↔ | Croatia | Not in the EU - yet. Finance for foreigners is poor. Economic still has a way to go and property prices are already high. Croatia property blogs. |
| 3 ↓ | Cyprus | Perhaps one of the better sunshine destination markets (with good city investments also). Good finance, now in the Euro. Restricted supply and high demand. Market has become oversupplied and prices are falling. |
| 4 ↔ | Czech Republic | Probably the best property investment market in Europe right now. Market has fallen but expected to grow strongly again, rents have fallen but could be worse, best finance in CEE, low buying costs, low risk and strong economic fundamentals. Czech property blogs. |
| 2 ↔ | Germany | Low prices but poor growth due to poor economy and lack of confidence. Buying costs are high and mortgage finance is poor. Germany property blogs. |
| 2.5 ↔ ↑ | Hungary | Economic and political instability. Low growth rates, market oversupplied, poor finance for foreigners. |
| 2 ↔ ↓ | Ireland | What has been a great investment market has now hit a peak and prices are falling. Little scope for growth in the short term especially with the economy in trouble. |
| 2.5 ↓ | Latvia | Large economic risks. Market overheated, prices now falling heavily. Poor rental market. Finance conditions toughening. Low prices could offer a great buying opportunity in the future. |
| 3 ↔ | Montenegro | A small and risky market with potential if economic improvements continue. |
| 3 ↔ | Poland | From 2004 - 2007 Poland was probably the best performing property market in Europe. 2008-2009 growth has slowed and gone into reverse.. We believe the medium term fundamentals are still strong and there may be buying opportunities in 2010. Poland property blogs. |
| 2.5 ↔ ↑ | Romania | Large potential but still many risks (economic and property market speculation). The market is a mess. No mortgage finance. Huge price falls. Potential for the future but too early. Romania property blogs. |
| 1.5 ↔ | Russia | Too high risk for most. No finance for foreigners. Huge natural resources and potential for the future. |
| 2 ↔ | Serbia | Too many political and economic problems, high risk. Prices quite high. No finance for foreigners. |
| 2 ↓ | Spain | Huge boom over the last 20 years has come to an end with high prices and oversupply. Not a positive future outlook. |
| 3 ↔ | Slovakia | A couple of years behind the Czech Republic. Prices fall from 2007 to 2009. 2010 could be a year when the market picks up again. Mortgage finance has improved and the economy will boom again quickly. Slovakia property blogs. |
| 2.5 ↔ | Slovenia | Small but strong economy, high taxes and regulation. No mortgages for foreigners. Prices have come down a lot in 2008-2009. Will take time to come back. |
| 3 ↔ ↑ | UK | Prices flat, lots of uncertainity in the market. Offplan BTL market in trouble. Large government debt and rising unemployment. Buying opportunities in selected areas (eg in London). |
| 2 ↔ | Ukraine | Huge potential, but prices can be quite high and have fell a lot. Market not so transparent. Finance not great for foreigners. Land could be a good bet. |
| Americas | ||
| Rating | Country | Comments |
| 3.5 ↑ | Canada | Strong economy, particular opportunities in Alberta province. Prices have fallen, but medium term potential is very strong. Canada property blogs. |
| 3 ↔ ↑ | USA | Huge fallout from the credit crunch. Market falling in many areas. Weak dollar and low interest rates. Look out for buying opportunities throughout 2010. |
| 3.5 ↔ | Panama | Strong economy, tax haven, large investment, good mortgages, high growth. The market has been knocked by the fallout in the US but it is still best investment location in the region. |
| 3 ↑ | Brazil | May have potential in the cities, still risky. Avoid coastal developments. Mortgages for foreigners expected in 2010. Massive medium term potential. |
| 2 ↑ | Argentina | Still risky and prices not low enough to compensate. Mortgages for foreigners difficult. Property market outlook uncertain, but economically has potential to do well. |
| Asia & Australasia | ||
| Rating | Country | Comments |
| 2.5 ↑ | India | Has huge potential if you know what you're doing. Great demographics and economic growth. But lack of finance, regulation changes makes it quite high risk. |
| 2.5 ↑ | China | Booming economy but not a free market, very high risk. Prices fell heavily in 2008 & 2009. Massive future potential. |
| 1.5 ↔ ↑ | Japan | Still has economic problems. Prices have fallen a lot of the last 10 years, though risks still abound. |
| 2 ↑ | Mongolia | Huge natural resources, but lack of skills. Low property taxes. Large potential and high rental yields. |
| 2 ↑ | Vietnam | Has potential but still quite risky. Economy improving rapidly. Good demographics. |
| 2 ↑ | Cambodia | A true emerging market. Economy is growing rapidly but still development is in its infancy. Phnom Penh will look completely different in 5 years time. Increased regulation will protect investors. New laws expected to allow property ownership directly. Higher risk but could have high returns. Cambodia property blogs. |
| 2.5 ↔ | Thailand | A popular tourist destination which has also attracted is fair share of FDI. Current political and economic uncertainty. Heavy restrictions for foreign investors. |
| 3 ↑ | Singapore | High prices led to rapid price falls. Risky for foreigners if not living in the region. Expect prices to come back strongly. |
| 2.5 ↔ | Hong Kong | Classic boom and bust market in Asia. Market hit a peak in 2008, followed by price falls. Expect strong future growth. |
| 2.5 ↑ | Malaysia | Relatively low prices, booming economy, not without its risks for foreign investors. |
| 3 ↑ | Philippines | Large growing population, economic development and relatively low prices. |
| 3 ↑ | Australia | Strong economy, prices have risen substantially over recent years. Some market has stabilised and prices are likely to continue to grow as confidence returns to the market. |
| 2.5 ↔ | New Zealand | One of the most overvalued property markets in the world. No room for further growth in the short term. |
| Africa & Middle East | ||
| Rating | Country | Comments |
| 2 ↔ | Morocco | Risky. Economy needs to improve and middle classes grow to support a true market. |
| 3 ↑ | Turkey | Large potential but a lot of risks (both political, social and economic). Poor mortgage finance is improving. Great demographics and potential, watch this space. |
| 1.5 ↑ | Egypt | High risk, political unstable region. No mortgage finance. That said one of the better countries in the region if you can handle the higher risk. |
| 1.5 ↔ | United Arab Emirates | Huge building boom, fundamentals hard to determine. Not a free market, controlled by the state. Investor driven market. In a state of collapse. Dubai property blogs. |
| 2.5 ↔ | South Africa | Over recent years there has been huge growth. There are still many risks and prices now are quite high. Finance for foreigners is not great. |
That said, in many markets, particularly mature ones like the US & UK, buying opportunities will always exist for the professional investor who know their home town well.
Other markets may take more time to change, but when they do they can boom quickly.