Buying real estate in a foreign country can be an excellent and enjoyable investment. In addition to providing numerous financial advantages, owning property abroad can mean possessing a vacation or retirement home at a fraction of the cost of a home in the U.S. However, before you leap right into a foreign market, you should know that buying property abroad requires some careful planning and research. Beginners should start by closely studying real estate activity in the target area in order to make the best possible investment decisions.