DAILY POSTCARD | MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026 |
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Dear International Living reader, Few things shape our quality of life more than climate. It changes how you move through the day. How often you get outside. How much energy you have when you wake up in the morning. For many of us, the dream is to live somewhere with long, warm summers and short, mild, winters. Somewhere filled with bright, sunny days year-round. And this dream is achievable…when you know where to look. Recently, our real estate expert Ronan McMahon revealed his 2026 RETA Index—his definitive ranking of the 25 best places in the world to buy real estate this year. Within that Index, destinations were scored across 10 categories, including climate. Below, Ronan walks through three perfect-weather destinations from his Index—and explains why climate is one of the smartest filters you can use when deciding where to live and buy overseas. Read on… | |
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Three Perfect-Weather Havens to Know in 2026 |
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| Weather is very important to me… I never want to be in a place where I have to worry about heating or air conditioning. I don't like humidity, either. I'm like Goldilocks, except instead of porridge, I want my weather "just right" all the time. That's why I spend the year moving between my bases—winter in Cabo and Guadalajara…spring in Portugal…summer in Ireland… |
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Every year, my team and I scout the globe looking for places with amazing weather for all or most of the year. When my team and I put together the 2026 RETA Index—my ranking of the 25 best places in the world to buy real estate—we scored each destination across 10 different categories, including Climate. Last month, we revealed The 2026 RETA Index in a live event. Now, you can watch the reveal on-demand and get the 181-Page 2026 RETA Index Report and an extended 60-day trial of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group for just $7. (Details here.) Today, I wanted to share a brief look at three top locations on The 2026 RETA Index for Climate, starting with an iconic beach town in Costa Rica… |
The Costa Rican beach town pictured here is one of the top scorers on the 2026 RETA Index in the Climate category. To get instant access to the full Index for just $7, go here. |
Warm Pacific Air and Predictable Seasons in Costa Rica |
Three destinations are tied for third in the Climate category, with incredible scores of 9 out of 10. Today, I'm going to shine a spotlight on one of them—a beach town that lies along Costa Rica's northwestern Pacific coast. This town is in the sunniest part of Costa Rica. Its climate is defined by two predicable seasons—a long, sun‑soaked dry season from December to April and a warm, humid season from May to November. This is a place where the skies are bright and the temperatures warm year‑round. This incredible climate is one of the factors that in recent decades turned this town from an off-the-radar surf spot into an international expat haven. When I first came to this town more than a decade ago, it was little more than a sleepy surf village—gravel roads, rustic restaurants, and a long, sweeping beach that caught perfect Pacific waves rolling in from the open ocean. Today, it's a thriving international community. Walk its sandy streets and you'll find juice bars and yoga studios next to high-end boutique stores, trendy restaurants, co-working spaces, and beachfront cafés. The skyline is low-rise, the vibe laidback, but beneath that relaxed surface this town is buzzing with entrepreneurial energy and investment momentum. Crucially, it's still small-scale and supply-constrained. The town is surrounded by protected land and oceanfront zones where development is heavily restricted. That scarcity is gold dust for investors because it protects and strengthens the value of your investment. This is why this destination ranks fourth overall on the 2026 RETA Index. I share a detailed analysis on this town in the full RETA Index report. (Learn how to get access here.) |
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| Towns like this on Costa Rica's Gold Coast—the northwestern stretch of the Pacific coastline in Guanacaste Province—are noted for their striking sunsets. It's not uncommon for folks to gather on the beach and watch as the sun slips below the horizon. Learn about this destination when you get instant access to the 2026 RETA Index for $7 here. |
Year-Round Warmth on a Glorious Coastline in Baja California |
Two destinations tied for top spot in the Index in the Climate category. The first is one of the world's most beautiful and desirable places. This is one of the world's real Rivieras—with all the ingredients of luxury, natural beauty and ease of access that entails. It's where the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Montage, Four Seasons, and Zadún set the bar. And it's where Hollywood's elite relax...an easy hop from California. It's not just the elites who come. Folks flock here from around the world for the perfect climate and outstanding natural beauty… Here you can enjoy nine months of perfect dry, warm weather, with 320 days of sunshine, cool sea air, and luminous blue skies… You also have the natural grandeur of the desert and mountains meeting the sea in dramatic fashion…stunning golden-sand beaches and glistening waters where whales breach steps from the shore…and every amenity and activity you could possibly want, from sports fishing, snorkeling, surfing, and whale-watching to world-class golf, gourmet dining, shopping, nightlife… With its perfect weather, glorious coastline, outstanding connectivity, cultural richness, and virtually every amenity you could imagine, the lifestyle here is unmatched. This is why this destination scores a huge 9.5 for Climate, and also scores perfect 10s in three other categories, including Quality of Life and Income Potential. I reveal the name of this perfect-weather destination in the full RETA Index here. |
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| This town is a true Riviera where homes sell for many millions, nightly hotel rates soar into the thousands, and the Michelin guide regularly awards stars. But you can also own incredible affordable real estate here when you know where to look and how to buy. |
"The City of Eternal Spring" |
And finally my number one… This is a city I first scouted back in 2011. Straight away, I was struck by its charm—tree-lined avenues, open-air gyms, and cafés filled with youthful energy. Plus, the weather is exceptional. It's nicknamed "The City of Eternal Spring" for a reason. Perched 4,900 feet up, it has year-round spring-like temperatures that hover around 72 F. On the Index, this city scores a 9.5 for Climate—and arguably it should be 10. It's as close to perfect as you'll find anywhere. Back when I first scouted it, only a handful of expats, oil workers, and English teachers had discovered this place. Fast forward to today and this city has completed one of the most remarkable transformations of any city in the world. It's a model of urban renewal and social innovation. Cable cars climb the hillsides. Parks, libraries, and public art fill neighborhoods. A modern metro system glides cleanly and efficiently through the valley. It's vibrant, prosperous, and forward-looking—a city on a long, upward curve that's become a haven for expats and second home owners around the world. To read more on this perfect-weather city: get instant access to the 2026 RETA Index for $7 here. |
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The skyline of this city as seen from a hillside cable-car station. Learn about why expats are flocking here when you get the full Index Reveal event replay and the complete 181-page Index report, now available on demand for just $7. Get instant access here. |
Find Your Ideal Climate Overseas |
Over the years, I've noticed something interesting. When buyers regret an overseas purchase, it's rarely because the home wasn't big enough, or the finishes weren't perfect. More often, it's because daily life didn't feel as good as they imagined. Too hot. Too humid. Too cold in winter. Or simply uncomfortable enough that they didn't use the property as much as they planned. That's why Climate is a key category on the Index. And it's why the 2026 RETA Index is designed as more than a list. Inside the Index, you can compare all 25 destinations side by side and adjust the rankings based on what matters most to you. If climate is a priority, you can weight it accordingly and see which places rise to the top. If income, lifestyle, or long-term stability matter more, the picture changes again. When you act before midnight tomorrow, you can get on-demand access to the complete 2026 RETA Index for just $7. When you do, you'll get: |
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- The 2026 Index Reveal event replay
- The 181-Page 2026 RETA Index Report
- Full RETA access for 60 days, with unrestricted access to all my research, scouting intel, trusted contacts, and member-only deals
- Your Personal Index Tool with sortable data for all 25 index destinations
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