The 5 countries where foreigners can actually own freehold property (and the ones that will trap you)
Most "buy property abroad" content is written by people who've never done it.
Here's what it actually looks like on the ground:
Mexico — foreigners can't own coastal land directly. You need a fideicomiso (bank trust), ~$500-700/yr. Workable, but most buyers find out after falling in love with a Tulum condo.
Thailand — foreigners cannot own land. Full stop. You can own a condo unit (up to 49% of the building can be foreign-owned). Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.
Portugal — Golden Visa still exists, but residential property in Lisbon and Porto no longer qualifies. The NHR tax regime has been replaced. Do your homework before you book that scouting trip.
Montenegro — one of the last places in Europe where the math still makes sense. EU candidate country, low property taxes, full foreign ownership. Nobody's writing about it yet.
Panama — the most foreigner-friendly legal framework in Latin America. Full freehold ownership, strong property rights, dollar-denominated economy. Pensionado visa is one of the best retirement visas in the world.
The pattern: every country has a workaround or a window. The window opens and closes. By the time it's in a mainstream article, you've missed it.
That's what we cover at The Traveling Tycoon — the intel before it goes mainstream. Free to join below.