Find to find real estate opportunities in under 15 Minutes

Investing in real estate can be one of the smartest financial decisions you make, but how do you ensure that the property you choose will increase in value over time? The secret lies in a systematic approach—analyzing markets, comparing prices, and calculating growth potential.

This guide will walk you through a simple, step-by-step process to evaluate any property in the world. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, you’ll learn how to identify prosperous investment opportunities with high growth potential, calculate returns, and make data-driven decisions to minimise your risks and maximise your return potential.

Global or Regional Market Overview

If you are not limited by geographical region for your investments you could start by analysing global markets to identify which countries have a favourable economic and regulatory environment for Real estate growth. Simply searching in Google or using AI to help you get an overview is the simplest way to get information about trending regions. If you prefer to get a more detailed overview you could use the prompt below to leverage AI to help you identify good opportunities. By using this prompt you could expect the results to be Presented in a concise table format that could be used to analyse the figures in Excel later on.

Note: Please make sure to type the region you are interested in the [Region] space in the first line of the prompt to get region-accurate results. In order to get a better overview these are the AIs recommended to get the most accurate data for your research Chat GPT 4o, Claude, Google Gemini and DeepSeek. It is recommended to use 2-3 AIs and to compare the results for better accuracy.

Prompt:


You are an expert in global real estate market analysis. Your task is to identify the most promising countries in [Region] for real estate investment over the next 5 years. Focus on economic, demographic, and market-specific metrics to determine which countries are likely to offer strong growth, stability, and high returns on investment. Use the following structured framework for your analysis:
Framework for Identifying Promising Countries:

1. Economic Stability and Growth

  • Evaluate GDP growth rates over the past 5 years and projected growth for the next 5 years.
  • Analyze inflation rates and their stability.
  • Assess interest rates and their impact on real estate financing.
  • Identify countries with favorable tax policies for real estate investments (e.g., property taxes, capital gains taxes).
  • Evaluate GDP growth rates over the past 5 years and projected growth for the next 5 years.
  • Analyze inflation rates and their stability.
  • Assess interest rates and their impact on real estate financing.
  • Identify countries with favorable tax policies for real estate investments (e.g., property taxes, capital gains taxes).


2. Demographics and Population Dynamics:

  • Highlight countries with population growth rates exceeding the region average.
  • Assess urbanization rates and the demand for housing in major cities.
  • Look for countries with a strong inflow of migration (domestic and international), particularly those attracting young         professionals.
  • Examine household formation trends, including increasing single-person or family households.

3. Real Estate Market Dynamics

  • Evaluate property price appreciation trends and identify markets with sustainable growth.
  • Analyze rental yields to determine income potential for investors.
  • Assess the supply-demand balance in housing markets, focusing on areas with housing shortages or growing demand.
  • Identify countries with high foreign investment activity in real estate.

4. Infrastructure and Development

  • Look for countries with major infrastructure projects (e.g., transportation, energy, and urban development) that enhance real estate value.
  • Assess the availability of public transportation, connectivity, and regional development initiatives.

5. Political and Legal Environment

  • Identify countries with stable political climates and investor-friendly regulations.
  • Evaluate the ease of doing business, including property registration and transaction transparency.
  • Highlight countries offering residency or citizenship programs linked to real estate investment (e.g., Golden Visa programs).

6. Emerging Trends and Opportunities

  • Analyze the impact of remote work trends, identifying countries benefiting from professionals relocating to affordable or lifestyle-friendly areas.
  • Look for green and sustainable development initiatives that attract environmentally conscious investors.
  • Assess the growth of short-term rental markets driven by tourism and digital nomads.

Required Output:

  1. Provide a ranked list of the top 5-10 Regional countries for real estate investment over the next 5 years.
  2. Include figures and key metrics for each country, such as:
    • GDP growth (%)
    • Population growth (%)
    • Property price appreciation (% over the last 5 years)
    • Average rental yield (%)
    • Tax advantages or incentives
  3. Assign a rating or score for each country (e.g., out of 10), summarizing its overall investment appeal.
  4. Optionally, highlight specific regions or cities within the top-ranked countries for further consideration.

Instructions for AI Analysis:

  1. Use the most up-to-date data from reliable sources, such as:
    • Eurostat for economic and demographic data.
    • Global property platforms like Knight Frank, JLL, or Savills for market insights.
    • Transparency International for political and legal stability.
    • Local government and infrastructure project reports.
  2. Focus on a 5-year investment horizon, balancing growth potential with risk factors.
  3. Present findings in a tabular format for clarity, followed by a brief summary of insights.

Example Output Format:

CountryGDP Growth (%)Population Growth (%)Rental Yield (%)Price Appreciation (%)Tax IncentivesRating (1-10)
Country A3.51.26.030%Golden Visa Program9.5
Country B3.00.95.525%Low Property Taxes9.0
Country C4.01.57.020%Digital Nomad Visa8.8
Country D2.50.54.015%Tax Depreciation8.5

Summary of Findings:

  • Country A: Offers high rental yields, steady price appreciation, and significant incentives like the Golden Visa program, making it the top choice for investors.
  • Country B: A strong performer with consistent growth in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, boosted by tourism and infrastructure projects.
  • Country C: A growing market for digital nomads and remote workers, with high rental yields and favorable tax policies.
  • Country D: Stable market with consistent demand in cities like Berlin and Munich, though growth may be slower compared to emerging markets.

As an example, we have used Europe as a region in the prompt. Based on the result these were the top-rated countries in the region based on the Prompt. The top position from different models is Portugal making it a clear favourite in terms of advantageous countries with the most favorable environment for real estate investment in Europe. It shows population growth and high price appreciation potentially due to tax and migration incentives. Considering this the next step is to identify a city that benefits the most from the country’s favorable environment.

1. ChatGPT:

CountryGDP Growth (%)Population Growth (%)Rental Yield (%)Price Appreciation (% last 5 yrs)Tax IncentivesRating (1-10)
Portugal2.80.196.035%Golden Visa, low property tax9.5
Poland4.00.37.025%Low tax on rental income9.0
Spain2.50.15.530%Golden Visa, capital gains benefits8.8
Hungary3.50.28.020%Low transaction costs8.7
Ireland3.21.24.540%Tax reliefs for energy-efficient homes8.5

2. DeepSeek

CountryGDP Growth (%)Population Growth Rental Yield (%)Price Appreciation (%)Tax IncentivesRating (1-10)
Portugal2.80.75.5–6.535% (last 5 years)Golden Visa, NHR Tax Regime9.5
Spain2.50.54.5–5.525% (last 5 years)Golden Visa, Low Property Taxes9.0
Poland3.50.26.0–7.040% (last 5 years)EU Funding, Affordable Housing Market8.8
Germany1.80.33.5–4.520% (last 5 years)Stable Market, High Transparency8.5
Ireland3.01.04.0–5.030% (last 5 years)Low Capital Gains Tax, Tech Hub Growth8.3

3. Claude:

CountryGDP GrowthPopulation GrowthRental YieldPrice AppreciationKey IncentivesOverall Rating
Portugal2.8%0.3%5.7%32%Golden Visa9.5
Spain2.5%0.1%5.2%28%Digital Nomad Visa9.2
Greece3.2%-0.4%6.5%35%Residency by Investment8.9
Italy1.6%-0.2%4.8%22%Tax Breaks for Renovations8.5
Cyprus3.5%1.2%6.2%30%EU Citizenship Program8.7

Identify prosperous cities

The first step in making a great real estate investment is choosing the right city. When looking into prosperous cities for real estate there are always good statistics to pay close attention to both on macro and micro levels. Here we are going to provide you with a short list of some of the figures you could analyse during your initial analysis:

  1. Employment Metrics
  2. Population Dynamics
  3. Demand Metrics
  4. Transportation
  5. Community Development
  6. Economic Incentives

At first, it might appear that there are a lot of factors to research, however, there is a lot of information that is available in a concise form on open source websites that already summarize these Matrics for you in a concise report manner, these websites include:
-U.S. Census Bureau (census.gov)
-Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
-Local land registry websites
-HUD databases
-Zillow Research
-Redfin Data Center
-CoreLogic
-REIS Reports
-Local MLS data

However, once again by leveraging AI and LLMs we could shorten the whole process of narrowing down the city with a simple prompt:

Prompt:


You are an expert in analyzing urban prosperity using economic, demographic, and real estate metrics. Your task is to identify cities in [specific country or countries] that offer the best environment for real estate growth over the next 5-10 years. Use the following framework to evaluate cities based on key economic, demographic, and real estate factors that drive property value and investment potential.

1. Economic Growth and Stability

  • Identify cities with high GDP growth rates relative to the national average.
  • Assess job growth rates exceeding 2% annually and the presence of major industries, employers, or corporate relocations.
  • Evaluate average household income growth and purchasing power in each city.
  • Highlight cities with favorable tax policies for real estate development and investment.

2. Population and Demographic Dynamics

  • Focus on cities with population growth rates above 1% annually.
  • Assess migration patterns, identifying cities attracting domestic and international talent or families.
  • Evaluate age demographics, prioritizing cities with a young, growing workforce or strong family appeal.
  • Examine household formation rates, particularly increases in single-person or family households.

3. Real Estate Market Dynamics

  • Identify cities with consistent property price appreciation over the last 5-10 years.
  • Analyze rental yields, focusing on cities with strong income potential for property investors.
  • Assess the supply-demand balance, prioritizing cities with housing shortages or high absorption rates.
  • Examine cities with low vacancy rates and short average days on market (DOM) for properties.

4. Infrastructure and Connectivity

  • Highlight cities with strong public transportation systems, major highways, or airports.
  • Focus on areas with planned infrastructure projects, such as transit expansions, road developments, or urban redevelopment initiatives.
  • Assess overall walkability and bikeability as indicators of urban livability.

5. Community and Lifestyle Appeal

  • Identify cities with high school ratings, low crime rates, and access to healthcare facilities.
  • Evaluate the presence of vibrant retail, entertainment, and cultural amenities.
  • Highlight access to green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities that enhance quality of life.
  • Examine tourism potential, which may drive short-term rental demand.

6. Policy and Investment Incentives

  • Analyze government policies, such as tax incentives, residency or citizenship programs, and development grants.
  • Focus on cities with enterprise zones or opportunity zones designed to attract investors.
  • Highlight areas with low regulatory hurdles for property purchases or new developments.

7. Emerging Trends

  • Identify cities benefiting from remote work trends or attracting digital nomads.
  • Highlight growth in sustainable development or eco-friendly initiatives.
  • Examine cities with increasing demand for short-term rentals driven by tourism or business travelers.

Required Output:

  1. A ranked list of the top 5-10 growing cities in the user-specified country that offer the best environment for real estate growth.
  2. Provide figures and key metrics for each city, such as:
    • GDP and job growth rates.
    • Population growth and migration trends.
    • Rental yields and property price appreciation rates.
    • Infrastructure and lifestyle rankings.
  3. Assign a rating or score for each city (e.g., out of 10) summarizing its overall real estate growth potential.
  4. Optionally, identify emerging cities that may not yet rank as high but show strong potential due to infrastructure or policy changes.

Instructions for AI Analysis:

  1. Use the most reliable and up-to-date data from:
    • Government and census reports for economic and population data.
    • Real estate platforms (e.g., Zillow, Idealista, or JLL) for market insights.
    • Urban planning and infrastructure project documents for future growth indicators.
    • Lifestyle indexes, crime reports, and local business data for livability.
  2. Focus on actionable insights, balancing growth potential with risks like oversupply or affordability issues.
  3. Present findings in a tabular format for clarity, followed by a brief summary of insights.

Example Output Format:

CityGDP Growth (%)Population Growth (%)Rental Yield (%)Price Appreciation (%)Infrastructure ProjectsRating (1-10)
City A4.01.56.030%Metro Line Expansion9.5
City B3.51.25.525%New Airport Development9.0
City C3.01.05.020%Road and Housing Upgrades8.5

Summary of Findings:

  • City A: Strong economic and population growth, combined with major infrastructure projects, make it the top choice for real estate investment.
  • City B: Excellent rental yields and a major airport expansion position it for mid-term growth.
  • City C: Steady growth and planned urban upgrades make it ideal for long-term investors seeking stability.

Following a market overview on search engines and by entering the prompt into AI language models here are the top 

1. Cluade

CityGDP GrowthPopulation GrowthRental YieldPrice AppreciationKey DriversRating
Lisbon3.2%0.8%5.7%35%Tech hub, tourism9.5
Porto2.9%0.6%5.4%32%Industrial growth9.2
Braga3.5%1.2%5.9%28%University town8.8
Coimbra2.7%0.4%5.2%25%Education sector8.5
Cascais3.0%0.9%6.1%33%High-end market8.7

2. DeepSeek

CityGDP Growth (%)Population Growth (%)Rental Yield (%)Price Appreciation (%)Infrastructure ProjectsRating (1-10)
Lisbon3.51.25.0–6.040% (last 5 years)Metro expansion, urban redevelopment9.5
Porto3.21.05.5–6.535% (last 5 years)New airport terminal, housing upgrades9.0
Braga3.01.56.0–7.030% (last 5 years)Tech hub development, improved transit links8.8
Faro2.81.84.5–5.525% (last 5 years)Tourism infrastructure, airport expansion8.5
Aveiro2.51.35.0–6.020% (last 5 years)Eco-friendly urban projects, new housing zones8.0

3. Gimini

CityGDP GrowthPopulation GrowthRental YieldPrice AppreciationKey DriversRating
Lisbon3.2%0.8%5.7%35%Tourism Hub, Tech Growth, Golden Visa, Metro Expansion9.2
Porto2.9%0.6%5.4%32%Cultural Hub, Tech Growth, Tourism, Riverfront Development8.8
Cascais3.5%1.2%5.9%28%Coastal Lifestyle, Expat Hub, High-End Tourism8.5
Braga2.7%0.4%5.2%25%University City, Tech Growth, Affordable Prices 8.2
Coimbra3.0%0.9%6.1%33%University City, Historic Charm, Tourism 8.0

Simply running the prompt through different AIs provides an overview of the best possible locations in the country where the growth and rental yields are considered to be the highest. Allowing in 2 simple steps to identify prosperous cities with high return on investment. Following the quick analysis we could now focus on deeper city analysis to find specific districts in these cities with the highest growth potential. 


Identifying a prosperous neighbourhood/area in the city

Any of the top 3 cities from the previous step could have some great investment opportunities however in the example here lets focus on the top performing city Lisbon. The following step is to identify areas of the selected city which could benefit from positive real estate growth dynamics the most. The goal is to find growing areas, with a lot of infrastructure in close proximity and to identify Microeconomic factors that could suggest that the area could have some good investment opportunities. During this step, it’s suggested to take more of a hands-on approach and to try to dig deeper into city and project dynamics. During this step, it’s important to look at the infrastructure, demand for real estate, and the price dynamics of certain areas.

Identifying High-Value Investment Districts

Starting with demand there are a few factors that influence real estate demand. Job prospects and the infrastructure carry a priority in most cases. Therefore a good place to start is to check which areas of Lisbon have a lot of job opportunities. Lisbon boasts a job growth rate exceeding 2% annually, with unemployment consistently lower than the national average. This could be simply checked on sites like Linkedin, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Where trends in job postings and corporate relocations are evident. The purpose is to see how many job postings are in a specific city within the past month. 1000+ new jobs per month is a very great indicator that the economy is growing 500+ is considered stable interest, less than 100 is very low and slow.  

Demand Dynamics
One simple factor that could be used to check demand dynamics could be to check with a simple Google search the migration dynamics where Lisbon records around population  0.43%. Considering the 545’000 city population we can expect there to be 2300 new migrants move to Lisbon every year. To put it in global perspective some of the cities in the Philippines, China and Malaysia, have 30-40% annual growth with 100k+ migrants every year. However, for the developed world if the city’s annual growth is within 0.3-2% per year it’s considered relatively high. As an example, London has 1.1% per year. This could provide a benchmark for possible demand for housing.

To estimate the supply one could simply run a quick search on local real estate listing websites. As an example, on sites like “Idelista” we can see that there are over 10’000 assets for sale and 4000 assets available for rent at any given moment, this includes 1500 new postings per month.. Therefore we can assume that the supply market is relatively diverse in terms of offering which means that Lisbon has higher demand than supply when we base it on migration statistics. This could be an important factor point of the analysis for the future decision of the property.

However, simply checking the listings and the migration statics doesnt provide the full picture. When looking at leading real estate funds and investors they normally use data, such as price-to-rent ratios and average days on market (DOM) that is sometimes available on real estate websites, but not all cities provide detailed insight for free therefore we suggest leveraging AI and the Large data Language models to help to identify these areas. Please try the prompt that works the best for us when analysing city-specific data below:

Prompt:


You are an expert in real estate analytics. Your task is to analyze real estate demand metrics in the city provided by the user and output a list of districts or neighborhoods ranked by the highest demand. Use the following criteria to assess demand and provide clear figures for each metric, along with a rating for the top areas:

Real Estate Demand Metrics to Analyze:

  1. Price-to-Rent Ratios: Identify neighborhoods with favorable ratios, balancing affordability and potential rental yields.
  2. Average Days on Market (DOM): Highlight districts with low DOM, indicating high demand for properties.
  3. Absorption Rates: Measure how quickly new properties are sold or rented in different neighborhoods.
  4. Sales Volume Trends: Analyze recent property sales trends to identify areas with consistent or growing transaction activity.
  5. Historical Price Appreciation: Evaluate neighborhoods with a strong track record of price increases over the last 5-10 years.

Required Output:

  1. A ranked list of districts or neighborhoods with the highest demand, based on the metrics.
  2. Figures for each metric (e.g., price-to-rent ratio, DOM in days, absorption rates as percentages, sales volume growth in % or absolute figures, historical price appreciation in %).
  3. A rating or score for each district (e.g., out of 10), summarizing its overall demand strength.
  4. Optional: Identify any emerging areas with increasing demand that may not yet rank as high but show strong potential.

Instructions for AI Analysis:

  • Use publicly available or real estate platform data to generate accurate figures.
  • If a specific metric’s data is unavailable, provide the best alternative indicator and explain its relevance.
  • Focus solely on real estate demand metrics without considering other factors like infrastructure or population dynamics.
  • Ensure clarity in the output by presenting the data in a tabular format, followed by a brief summary.

Example Output Format:

DistrictPrice-to-Rent RatioDOM (Days)Absorption Rate (%)Sales Volume Growth (%)Historical Price Appreciation (%)Rating (1-10)
District A153085%10%25%9.5
District B124570%8%20%8.5
District C106060%5%15%7.0

Summary:

  • District A has the strongest demand, driven by low DOM and high absorption rates, making it ideal for immediate investment.
  • District B shows stable growth, with moderate DOM and consistent appreciation.
  • District C is an emerging area, with growing sales volume but higher DOM, suggesting future potential.”

1. Chat GPT 4o 

NeighbourhoodPrice-to-RentDOM (Days)Absorption RateSales Volume GrowthPrice AppreciationRating (1-10)
Parque das Nações18.53585%12%28%9.5
Marvila16.84278%15%32%9.2
Alcântara19.24575%10%25%8.8
Benfica17.55272%8%22%8.5
Arroios20.15868%7%20%8.2

2. Claude

NeighbourhoodPrice-to-RentDOM (Days)Absorption RateSales Volume GrowthPrice AppreciationRating (1-10)
Chiado182590%12%50%9.8
Avenidas Novas203085%10%45%9.5
Alfama223580%8%40%9.0
Belém254075%7%35%8.5
Parque das Nações284570%6%30%8.0

3. Gemini

NeighbourhoodPrice-to-RentDOM (Days)Absorption RateSales Volume GrowthPrice AppreciationRating (1-10)
Chiado20x3090% 8%35%9.5
Principle Real 22x4585%7%30%9.0
Alfama18x6075%5%28%8.5
Santos16x4072%6%25%8.2
Alvalande14x8065%2%18%7.0

When leveraging AI for these more area-specific statistics we can quickly see that the answers provided differ quite a bit. Nevertheless, it could still provide a good insight into the prosperous areas in the city and allow you to familiarise yourself with the city layout. By mapping the district on a custom Google map one could see in which areas it could make sense to focus when looking for properties. After mapping the areas it’s recommended to dive deeper and review the infrastructure and layout of the districts. This will allow to further understand the areas and to select the most desirable district. 

Transportation and infrastructure play a vital role in identifying growth areas. When analysing any specific district you could open Google Maps and simply check specific district proximity to the airport, Bus stations, Highways, Shopping malls, grocery stores, Pharmacies, City centres, Schools and hospitals. You could also use AI for this but we suggest taking the time to review the preferred area yourself. What is highly recommended is to consider Google Streetview and the view in the area as well. 

Final area analysis

DistrictJob GrowthPopulation GrowthPrice-to-Rent RatioDOM (Days)Absorption RatePrice AppreciationInfrastructure ScoreOverall Rating (1-10)
Chiado(900+ jobs)1.2%182590%50%9.59.8
Parque das Nações(1,200+ jobs)1.0%18.53585%28%9.09.5
Marvila(800+ jobs)1.5%16.84278%32%8.59.2
Avenidas Novas(1,000+ jobs)0.8%203085%45%9.09.5
Alfama(700+ jobs)0.5%223580%40%8.09.0

1. To identify the most attractive areas for real estate investment in Lisbon, we began by analyzing demand dynamics, focusing on job growth and migration trends.
2. Next, we evaluated supply dynamics by examining real estate listings on platforms like Idealista, calculating price-to-rent ratios, and analyzing absorption rates and days on the market (DOM). This helped us identify areas with high demand relative to supply, such as Chiado (90% absorption rate) and Marvila (78% absorption rate).
3. We then assessed infrastructure and accessibility using Google Maps, looking for proximity to public transportation, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. Districts like Avenidas Novas and Parque das Nações scored highly due to their excellent connectivity and planned infrastructure projects.
4. Finally, we analyzed microeconomic factors, including historical price appreciation and rental yields, to identify areas with strong investment potential, such as Chiado (50% price appreciation) and Marvila (32% price appreciation). 

From a quick research, we could see that Lisbon offers several promising districts for real estate investment, each with unique strengths. Chiado stands out as the top choice due to its high demand, strong price appreciation, and excellent infrastructure. Parque das Nações is ideal for investors seeking high rental yields and proximity to business hubs, while Marvila represents an emerging market with rapid growth and redevelopment potential. By following this structured approach—analyzing job growth, supply-demand dynamics, infrastructure, and microeconomic factors—you can confidently identify the most attractive areas for real estate investment in any city. This method ensures a data-driven, informed decision-making process, maximizing your potential for strong returns.


Conclusion

Investing in real estate that grows in value requires a systematic, data-driven approach. By following the steps outlined in this guide—starting with a global or regional market overview, narrowing down to prosperous cities, and finally identifying high-demand neighbourhoods—you can make informed decisions that minimize risks and maximize returns. The key lies in analyzing economic stability, demographic trends, real estate market dynamics, and infrastructure development to identify areas with strong growth potential.

Using tools like AI models (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) and real estate platforms (e.g., Idealista, Zillow) allows you to quickly gather and analyze critical metrics such as price-to-rent ratios, days on market (DOM), absorption rates, and price appreciation. Additionally, leveraging Google Maps and local job platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed) helps you assess infrastructure, job growth, and livability factors that drive demand.

In the case of Lisbon, Chiado, Parque das Nações, and Marvila emerged as top investment districts due to their strong job growth, high demand, and excellent infrastructure. However, this framework can be applied to any city or region worldwide. By combining macro-level analysis (e.g., country and city selection) with micro-level insights (e.g., neighborhood-specific metrics), you can confidently identify real estate opportunities that align with your investment goals.

Ultimately, the success of your real estate investment depends on thorough research, strategic planning, and staying informed about emerging trends. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, this guide equips you with the tools and knowledge to make data-driven decisions and achieve long-term financial growth.