| More Articles | Free Reports | Premium Services By Ronan McMahon, Editor, Real Estate Trend Alert When you look everywhere, you find opportunity somewhere. That’s the beauty of being an international real estate scout. And it’s why my team and I spend more than $1 million a year on travel and research. There’s no magic trick to finding profitable real estate deals. It takes an experienced team… an extensive network of contacts… and lots of boots-on-the-ground research. That’s now more important than ever. In the wake of the pandemic, the world’s most desirable destinations have seen an influx of vacationers, digital nomads, snowbirds, young families, and remote workers. These folks are looking beyond the obvious and hunting for destinations that offer better-value real estate opportunities. As a result, a host of lesser-known towns and cities are on the cusp of exploding into the mainstream. And whether you’re a beginner or an experienced real estate investor, finding the right place to buy is the first step in what could be a life-changing journey. It’s also a chance to re-examine your lifestyle and where you want to spend your time. And as I showed you last week in these pages, it’s also one of the best ways to grow your wealth in an asset class that’s outside of the stock market. I rank the 25 destinations I cover on my beat in my annual Global Real Estate Index for 2025. It’s designed to help you pinpoint your perfect overseas destination. And it features maps, videos, and detailed introductions and analysis on all 25 destinations I cover on my beat. But as a Freeport Navigator reader, I will share with you the highlights from my top ranked destinations. These are “gold star” locations where I consistently find the best deals for profit and pleasure. I’ll start today with my No. 5 ranked destination. Then over the coming weeks, we’ll look at my other top four ranked destinations – including my No. 1 pick. But before we go any further, let me explain how I compile my list and what I mean by the “best” destinations. | Recommended Link | | | | The recent study that showed only 12% of people make a profit on their short-term trades was no surprise to Eric Fry. The Wall Street Legend is a phenomenal trader, but he recommends people avoid short-term trades and instead employ a unique kind of long-term trading vehicle. Eric has used this kind of trade to rack up 29% average gains on every trade recommendation over the last five years, including dozens of 100% and 200% winners. He’s just released a new video that explains why it works, his proprietary strategy, and even how to get his three newest trades. If you’re tired of losing money on short-term trades that don’t go your way, this is a must — watch. Go here now to see this surprising story. |  | | How I Rank the World’s Best Real Estate Opportunities When you Google the best places to buy real estate, you typically get a list of most expensive destinations. New York… Tokyo… Paris… London. These lists are not only lazy, but they’re also downright misleading. Real estate prices in these cities are out of reach for most folks. And that’s before the sky-high property taxes and homeowners’ association fees. And the potential to generate rapid capital appreciation and strong rental yields in these developed markets is limited. That’s why I do things differently. I look for locations that excel in the following 10 categories… -
Relative Value – When you buy real estate overseas you want bang for your buck. I’m looking for exceptional value compared with major markets in the U.S. and Canada. -
Climate – Some of us love four seasons every year. Others prefer warm weather all year. I’m looking for destinations that are warm and sunny, but not humid. I’ve also made allowances for temperate climates, which are growing in popularity. -
International Appeal – I want destinations that are popular with foreign tourists, expats, and the work-from-anywhere crowd. I’m also looking for places with good flight connections and internet connectivity… and little or no visa hassle. -
Path of Progress – That’s my term for anything that makes a place easier to get to (think new roads, airports, or bridges) or more desirable (think a five-star resort where there were previously only cheap hostels). I’m also looking for an influx of people to a destination and its resulting rejuvenation. Buy at the right point in a Path of Progress, and you’ll do well. -
Income Potential – This is the amount you can earn from renting out your property relative to the amount you invest. -
Quality of Life – I also look at dining, shopping, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment options… as well as natural attractions such as beaches and hiking trails. Another factor I look at is whether public spaces and facilities are safe, visually appealing, and well-maintained. -
Ease and Cost of Transaction: How difficult, time-consuming, and expensive is the buying process for foreigners? The easier, the better. -
Stability – This covers political, economic, and social risk. Is the political environment stable and likely to remain so? Is the economy strengthening or weakening? Are crime, corruption, or fraud major issues? -
Availability of Finance – Is it possible for foreign buyers to borrow against their purchase? How difficult is it to access credit and how favorable are the terms? -
Holding Costs – Finally, I consider the cost of owning a property, such as local or national property taxes, insurance, and homeowners’ association fees. By bringing all of these together, I narrow my search to places where you’ll find excellent value, weather, and attractions with rapid capital appreciation, and strong rental income. And No. 5 on my 2025 list ticks all of these boxes. | Recommended Link | | | | On March 18th, an event is taking place that could completely shock the market. Stocks could go ballistic… Businesses could get blindsided… The gold market could get rocked… And one man, millionaire trader Jeff Clark is pounding the table on one single stock before this event. Because this one single stock has shown his readers gains of 85% in 14 days, 120% in under 3 months, and even 222% in just 8 days. While the past is no sure indicator for the future… Those gains could pale in comparison to what’s coming. Click here now to see what’s going on. |  | | Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico For decades, Playa del Carmen was mostly known as the place to catch the ferry to Cozumel. It’s an island 45 minutes offshore that’s popular with scuba divers and snorkelers. The town of Playa del Carmen was little more than a few dusty dirt roads, with rustic accommodations and eateries by the ferry terminal for the few people who decided to stay the night. It was, as one visitor commented, a “one burro (donkey) town.” But Playa del Carmen also has white-sand beaches… azure Pacific waters… and great weather. From November through April, daytime highs are typically between 81°F to 86°F. Then it dips to between about 66°F to 72°F at night. Then it gets slightly hotter and more humid between May and October. But daytime highs don’t typically get above 90°F. And the Caribbean Sea remains warm year-round – ranging from 79°F in the winter months to 84°F during the summer. 
The Caribbean coast beaches in Playa del Carmen are breathtaking As the resort destination of Cancún – about an hour north of Playa del Carmen – became busier, tourists started to look for quieter alternatives on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Services and little businesses began to crop up in Playa del Carmen. A restaurant here… a little tienda (shop) there. Playa del Carmen began to transform. And Mexicans from other parts of the country, as well as expats, from farther afield moved here. The sandy streets gradually got paved. Small boutique hotels opened, as did trendy restaurants, and organic cafés. Development spread quickly along Quinta Avenida. Today, it’s the town’s main drag – a pedestrian street flanked with cafés, stores, restaurants, bars, nightclubs. 
Playa del Carmen is about 40 minutes’ drive south of Cancún on the Riviera Maya In a matter of decades, this sleepy seaside town was transformed into a world-class tourist destination. These days, you can grab an espresso and a freshly baked croissant at a co-working café in the morning… enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood on the beach with your toes in the sand… and go for a gourmet dinner at one of the town’s excellent restaurants at night. 
Playa del Carmen is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city and a popular beach destination Playa del Carmen is hip and chic. And it’s maturing into a sophisticated, upscale destination increasingly drawing a well-heeled clientele with money to spend. It’s a favorite of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, Latin Americans, and Mexicans. And it appeals to vacationing families, couples, groups of friends, snowbirds, expats, and remote workers. Vacation rentals are in demand all year. As my contacts there have told me: “There just doesn’t seem to be a true low season anymore.” In other words, Playa del Carmen is not a second Cancún, which has been ruined by tourism. It’s a true beach town where people want to come and live year-round. Prices will continue to push higher as a result. Find the right real estate at the right price here, and you’ll do very well. Even better, holding costs in Playa del Carmen are exceptionally low. Property tax, for instance, costs $500 a year for a primary residence. That’s a fraction of what you’d pay on equivalent real estate in the United States. That’s why Playa del Carmen is a key destination on my global beat. If you’re looking for somewhere you can earn capital appreciation and/or strong rental yields on the right real estate, it needs to be on your short list. It’s also a great lifestyle play – somewhere a real estate buy can land you an enviable lifestyle of beautiful weather, a warm and inviting ocean, and a hip and chic town to enjoy when you’re not lounging on the soft white-sand beach. Regards,
Ronan McMahon Editor, Real Estate Trend Alert P.S. For years after I began investing in overseas real estate, I searched for a “club” of people who, like me, understand that there’s always opportunity somewhere when you look everywhere. I knew there had to be others who wanted to get in on the world’s best real opportunities. But there was none. So, in 2008, I founded my own and called it Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA). Today, it’s bigger than I ever imagined it would be. And it’s become an overseas real estate deal machine. Using our group’s buying power, I’m able to negotiate exclusive, off-market deals for our members. For a deal to pass muster, I have to see clear potential for members to double their money in five years. I particularly love deals that offer us rapid capital appreciation and enormous income potential if we choose to rent upon delivery. This process starts with my team and I identifying up-and-coming markets such as Playa del Carmen. For months – or even years – before I send members details of a deal, I’ve been putting boots on the ground and meeting high-level contacts in that destination. Once I’m confident a major transformation is underway, I then use our group-buying power to negotiate a deal with a best-in-class developer. For instance, I first scouted Playa del Carmen in 2004. And I’ve brought RETA members a host of killer deals here. In 2021, they had the chance to buy two-bed condos in a community called Singular Dream from $265,304. In 2024, a two-bed condo in Singular Dream was listed for $574,322. That’s an uplift of $309,018. To find out more about joining RETA and get access to exclusive deals like this before anyone else has a chance to act, follow this link. | 
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