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Baja California is at the start of a 30-year growth phase, while lesser-known areas of central and northern Portugal are on the brink of a real estate boom. High-end properties in walkable beach cities in France, Spain, and Mexico are in soaring demand. These trends are highlighted in Real Estate Trend Alert’s (RETA) first International Real Estate Index. Fifteen years ago, I founded RETA to help like-minded investors pool their buying power and profit from the best real estate deals worldwide. Over the past decade and a half, my team and I have explored world-class destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Portugal’s Algarve region, Spain’s Costa del Sol, and the south of France, identifying prime markets and opportunities. We’re always on the lookout for emerging hotspots. In the past year alone, we’ve scouted Portugal’s Azores islands, Montenegro, the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, and Spain’s “green zones.” Our aim is to stay ahead of market trends, providing our members with invaluable insights and opportunities.

Introducing the RETA International Real Estate Index

Most year-end lists and rankings are put together by writers who lack firsthand market experience, often focusing on major economic centers like San Francisco, London, or Singapore, which have high entry and holding costs and low rental yields. Our approach is different. The RETA index considers destinations that excel in value for money, growth potential, rental appeal, and quality of life. We ranked destinations based on ten categories to create our top 20 list. Each market has been personally investigated by my team or me, and we’ve accurately predicted their rise in many cases.

Top Five Real Estate Markets for 2024

1. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: Cabo excels in every category, from climate and quality of life to international appeal. It offers luxury resorts, high-end restaurants, world-class marinas, championship golf courses, and a booming real estate market. Luxury condos in Cabo rent for $3,500 per month or more, with strong potential for capital appreciation. 2. Caminha, Portugal: This charming, lesser-known town on Portugal’s northern border with Spain offers exceptional value. With beautiful beaches and verdant countryside, Caminha is poised for growth as wealthier visitors discover its appeal. Properties are still affordable, making it an excellent investment opportunity. 3. Riviera Maya, Mexico: This Caribbean coastline is experiencing a massive economic boom, attracting high-end tourists and remote workers. Playa del Carmen and Tulum are particularly popular, with prices rising due to limited developable land and increasing demand. 4. Estepona, Spain: Estepona is the next hotspot on Spain’s Costa del Sol, benefiting from the region’s amazing climate, stunning beaches, and rich cultural heritage. Prices are rising, but there are still opportunities to buy ahead of the Path of Progress. 5. Rocha, Uruguay: Known for its unspoiled nature and modern infrastructure, Rocha is becoming a sought-after destination. With 110 miles of pristine beaches and recent infrastructure improvements, this market is in the early stages of a multi-decade growth phase.

Key Factors in the RETA Index

Destinations were judged across ten categories, each contributing to the overall ranking. These categories include:

• Relative Value: Exceptional value compared to major US and Canadian markets.
• Climate: Warm, sunny climates with minimal humidity.
• International Appeal: Popularity among tourists, expats, and digital nomads.
• Path of Progress Indicator: Infrastructure developments that enhance accessibility and desirability.
• Income Potential: Rental income relative to investment.
• Quality of Life: Availability of amenities, natural attractions, and overall environment.
• Ease and Cost of Transaction: Ease and cost of purchasing property for foreign buyers.
• Stability: Political, economic, and social stability.
• Availability of Bank Finance: Access to mortgages for foreign buyers.
• Holding Costs: Costs associated with owning property, such as taxes and insurance.

Conclusion

RETA’s first International Real Estate Index offers a comprehensive guide to the best real estate markets for 2024. By considering value, growth potential, rental appeal, and quality of life, we provide investors with unparalleled insights into the top global destinations. Whether you’re looking to invest in Baja California, Portugal, Mexico, Spain, or Uruguay, our index highlights the markets with the most promising opportunities for growth and return on investment

The right to free movement, living, studying, and retiring in the European Union attracts many foreign nationals to apply for EU citizenship. One of the simplest ways to obtain EU citizenship and a passport is through descent, with Italy, Greece, and Spain offering the highest number of citizenships via this method. To acquire EU citizenship by descent, applicants generally need to have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents from specific EU countries. However, the specific rules for obtaining citizenship by descent vary across the EU, and applicants should thoroughly research the requirements. Currently, the following EU and EEA countries offer citizenship by descent to grandchildren or further descendants of their nationals:

Austria

Austria offers citizenship by descent primarily to the first generation. According to the Austrian Government’s Official Information Website, children automatically become Austrian citizens at birth if their mother is an Austrian citizen, or if their father is Austrian and the parents are married. If the parents are unmarried, the child can acquire citizenship if the Austrian father acknowledges paternity within eight weeks or it is established by a court.

Belgium

Belgium provides citizenship by descent to the first generation. Children born in Belgium to at least one Belgian parent, including adopted children, are eligible. Key eligibility categories include those born before January 1, 1967, with married parents or a Belgian father who acknowledged them, and those born after January 1, 1985, to a Belgian parent, among other specific conditions.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation. Following the Citizenship Act amendments in March 2021, the process has become faster and more transparent. Applicants can apply if they have Bulgarian parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents, with decisions usually made within 24 months.

Croatia

Croatia grants citizenship by descent if applicants have a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent with Croatian citizenship, unless the ancestor left before October 8, 1991, to another former Yugoslav country.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers citizenship by descent to the first generation. Applicants must be over 18 and born in Cyprus after August 16, 1960, to Cypriot parents, among other specific criteria.

Czechia

The Czech Republic allows citizenship by descent up to the second generation. If only the father was a Czech citizen and the parents were not married, proof of paternity must be submitted.

Denmark

Denmark permits citizenship by descent only for the first generation, meaning children born to Danish parents can become citizens, with specific rules depending on which parent is Danish and the child’s place of birth.

Estonia

Estonia offers citizenship by descent to the first generation. If parents revoked their child’s citizenship before the child turned 18, the child must reapply.

Finland

Finland provides citizenship by descent to the first generation, typically if the mother is Finnish, the parents are married, and the father is Finnish.

France

France allows citizenship by descent if at least one parent was a French citizen at the applicant’s birth, provided there were ties to France in the past 50 years.

Germany

Germany grants citizenship by descent to the first generation, extending up to the third generation for descendants of Nazi victims.

Greece

Greece allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation, with different rules based on the applicant’s birthdate and parents’ nationality.

Hungary

Hungary offers citizenship by descent without generational limits if the applicant speaks Hungarian and has a Hungarian ancestor.

Iceland

Iceland grants citizenship by descent if the applicant’s mother or father is Icelandic, with additional conditions for those born between 1964 and 1982.

Ireland

Ireland permits citizenship by descent up to the third generation, including those born outside Ireland to Irish parents or grandparents.  

Italy

Italy allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation, tracing lineage back to 1861. Maternal citizenship was not recognized until 1948.

Latvia

Latvia offers citizenship by descent if an applicant has a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Latvian citizen before June 17, 1940, or was forced to leave between 1940 and 1990.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein has stringent naturalization laws, typically requiring 30 years of residency. Citizenship by descent is only available for children born to Swiss nationals.

Lithuania

Lithuania allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation if an ancestor was a citizen before June 15, 1940, or left due to persecution before March 11, 1990.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg grants citizenship by descent through three pathways: citizenship reclaim, having a Luxembourgish ancestor, or by option, with recent changes making the process more accessible.

Malta

Malta allows citizenship by descent if the applicant has a Maltese parent or grandparent, with proof required for registration.

Netherlands

The Netherlands offers citizenship by descent primarily paternally before 1985, and maternally post-1985, with an option procedure available.

Norway

Norway’s citizenship rules depend on the birth date, granting citizenship if born after September 1, 2006, to Norwegian parents, with different rules for those born earlier.

Poland

Poland offers citizenship by descent if the applicant has an ancestor born in Poland and residing there post-1920, or earlier with valid proof of Polish registration.

Portugal

Portugal grants citizenship by descent to those born in Portugal to Portuguese parents or born abroad to Portuguese parents on official state business, with provisions for grandparents’ citizenship as well.

Romania

Romania offers citizenship by descent up to the third generation if the applicant has a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Romanian citizen before 1940.

Slovakia

Slovakia allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation following recent amendments to the nationality law.

Slovenia

Slovenia offers citizenship by descent if the applicant has a parent or grandparent who is or was a Slovenian citizen, with applications required before the applicant turns 36.

Spain

Spain offers citizenship by descent to those with a Spanish parent, a grandparent whose citizenship was revoked, or Latin American citizens with a Spanish grandparent.

Sweden

Sweden’s citizenship by descent rules is stringent, generally requiring the mother to be a Swedish citizen, with specific provisions for naturalization through notification for citizens of neighbouring countries.

Switzerland

Switzerland grants citizenship by descent to children of Swiss nationals, with specific rules for children born to unmarried Swiss parents. In some countries, like Greece, Portugal, and Malta, parents must first hold citizenship before their descendants can apply. In others, like Croatia, this is not a requirement. Applicants should verify specific requirements for the country they are interested in.