Friends have been buying in Salvador. They are buying fruit farms.

Mexico you can't own you can only lease for 100 years. Tahiti you can't own land only if you marry a native. Fiji you can still purchase and own "Freehold land" is the term you are looking for.

You must also consider if said country allows US citizens to become citizens of that country. Then if you want to give up your citizenship for another.

Dual citizenships are not easy to get.

Another thing you must explore. Do you need a visa/ a green card? What about taxes? What about tariffs? What about special incentives to encourage foreign investors. Then there is the matter of supply and demand. Is there a market for rentals in the area you decide to set up business.

This is not a easy question to answer, with just spitting out a country name. There are far more complex matters to consider before you jump on a plane with your piggy bank. With pie in the sky dreams.

I've known about this websie for over a decade. This will answer many of your questions.

www.escapeartist.com

Costa Rica is my dream. Been twice and love it. Would love to operate a smal B&B.

Yes, I feel the same way. DH and I have been taking little side trips the past few years to find a hide-away not too far from home. We love the town of Merida and 1/2 hr away the town of Progresso on the beach (facing TX). Problem is the only way to get there is to first fly all the way down to Mexico City, then up to Merida on an internal flight. We also like Costa Rica both San Juan and the coast. Even longer, to get there and back to US.

N(GA) is exactly right--you are not allowed to WORK, but you can invest and manage your investment. The owner of the hotel we stayed at in San Juan was a former Brit who who bought a bed/breakfast hotel and retired in Costa Rica.

Puerto Rico has a lot of the same problems the US has--just on a smaller scale. Gangs, black market, car theft, B&E, muggings, etc, you will find out about if you stay there longer than just for vacation. Consider other US territories like Virgin Islands. That is the next place DH and I are going to check out.

There was a fantastic novel about a guy who moved to a Caribbean island and bought a hotel -- anyone remember the name and author? It will help open the OP's eyes to some of the problems!

Problems with water, power, sewage and other utilities. Problems with labor and the work ethic (the "manana" attitude and "no problem, mon" attitude). Racial problems. Poverty problems.

Who is your target group? Ex-pat Americans? Short-term snow-birds? Or do you envision buying up some apt blocks inhabited by locals?

Belize is courting retired Americans. The last time I checked you need to have at lease 100K in a Belizian bank. They apparently want tax PAYERS not spenders.