Introducing the Real Estate Secrecy Index

June 23, 2026 - 04:59

A new tool aims to shine a light on the shadowy corners of global property ownership. Researchers have launched the Real Estate Secrecy Index, a ranking system designed to measure how easy it is to hide money and identities within national housing markets.

The project draws inspiration from the Tax Justice Network, which has published the Financial Secrecy Index since 2009. That original index ranks jurisdictions based on financial transparency and international cooperation. It combines a secrecy score with a global scale weight to show each country's share of worldwide financial secrecy.

The new real estate index applies a similar method to property. It evaluates countries on factors like the availability of public land registries, the use of shell companies to buy homes, and the transparency of beneficial ownership. The goal is to identify nations where corrupt officials, tax evaders, or criminals can park illicit funds in real estate with little oversight.

Early findings suggest that several major economies score poorly due to weak disclosure rules and the widespread use of anonymous trusts. The index does not name specific properties or individuals. Instead, it provides a comparative framework for policymakers and journalists. By making the data public, the creators hope to pressure governments to close loopholes that allow dirty money to flow into housing markets, driving up prices for ordinary buyers.