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Top 20 Places in the World for Real Estate Investment

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

If you're looking to expand your real estate portfolio to include properties abroad -- either because you want to live or retire there, or because you are looking for an investment property -- you should look for places that offer an ideal lifestyle, high investment returns or both.

Next: 5 Affordable Up-and-Coming US Locations To Buy Vacation Property in 2023
Read: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Ronan McMahon's Real Estate Trend Alert identified the top 20 best places in the world based on their transformational real estate investment and lifestyle benefits.

"Our list of the top 20 destinations with the strongest potential for profit and lifestyle benefits through real estate in the next 12 to 18 months is the culmination of a year-long research and travel project," McMahon said in a press release. "Real estate fortunes, large and small, are made during moments of big transformations. That means when you look everywhere, you'll always find opportunity somewhere."

Here's a look at the top 20 places identified in the trend report.

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Algarve, Portugal

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 1 for short-term rental income and No. 3 for capital gains

Good To Know: 6 Vacation Splurges You'll Almost Always Regret
More: 10 All-Inclusive Resort Hacks That Can Help You Save Big

JohnnyWalker61 / Getty Images/iStockphoto
JohnnyWalker61 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Silver Coast, Portugal

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle

Take Our Poll: Are You Planning To Buy or Sell a House This Year?

©Glamping Hub
©Glamping Hub

Costa del Sol, Spain

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle, capital gains, rental income

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Los Cabos, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Capital gains, rental income, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 2 for short-term rental income and No. 1 for capital gains

Sherry Smith / Getty Images
Sherry Smith / Getty Images

Baja California, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle

tommasolizzul / Getty Images/iStockphoto
tommasolizzul / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Riviera Maya, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 5 for short-term rental income and No. 2 for capital gains

Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast for 2023: When Will Rates Go Down?

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Llifestyle

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

Dominik "Dome" / Flickr.com
Dominik "Dome" / Flickr.com

Merida, Mexico

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle, capital gains

Simon Dannhauer / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Simon Dannhauer / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Placencia, Belize

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle, rental income, capital gains

  • Of note: Ranked No. 6 for short-term rental income

benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto
benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Panama City, Panama

  • Why it made the list: Long-term rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 1 for long-term rental income

I'm a Real Estate Agent: Here Are the 6 Cities Where You Should Avoid Buying a Home This Summer

Rafael Castellanos / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Rafael Castellanos / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Pacific Riviera, Panama

  • Why it made the list: Long-term rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 3 for long-term rental income

sunsinger / Shutterstock.com
sunsinger / Shutterstock.com

Medellin, Colombia

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, lifestyle

Artush / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Artush / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Southern Zone, Costa Rica

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, capital gains, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 3 for short-term rental income

alexeys / Getty Images/iStockphoto
alexeys / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Arenal, Costa Rica

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle

Florida's Retirees Are Fleeing: Here's Where They're Going Instead

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Northwestern Costa Rica

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, lifestyle, capital gains

neirfy / Getty Images/iStockphoto
neirfy / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy

  • Why it made the list: Rental income, lifestyle

  • Of note: Ranked No. 4 for short-term rental income

Global_Pics / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Global_Pics / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Uruguay's Farmland

  • Why it made the list: Long-term rental income, capital gains

  • Of note: Ranked No. 2 for long-term rental income and No. 4 for capital gains

LuckyViks / Getty Images/iStockphoto
LuckyViks / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Atlantic Coast, Uruguay

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle

©Shutterstock.com
©Shutterstock.com

Montenegro

  • Why it made the list: Lifestyle

More From GOBankingRates

Data is sourced from Ronan McMahon and is accurate as of April 20, 2023.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Top 20 Places in the World for Real Estate Investment