Canada has ranked third in the world for the "most stable and secure real estate investment opportunity" in the 18th annual survey by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE). The 2010 survey polled 200 members who, collectively, own more than $842 billion of real estate globally.

The United States retained its Number 1 ranking as providing the "best opportunity for capital appreciation", with 51 per cent of the vote. The U.K. was ranked second, with 30 per cent, with China placing third, with 10 per cent approval.

When asked which country provided the most stable and secure real estate investments, the U.S. received 44 per cent of the vote, with Germany second with 21 per cent, and Canada capturing third place with 14 per cent.

Canada's relatively stable banking system, strong economy and low vacancies in commercial real estate are cited as reasons for its high ranking.

The survey also revealed that environmental considerations play an increasingly important role in real estate investment decisions, according to the survey by the Washington, D.C.-based AFIRE. Fourteen per cent of respondents said that "green" features significantly influence their decision making when considering a property, compared to 12 per cent in the 2009 survey. Only 17 per cent said green attributes are of no influence on their decision to invest, compared to 28 per cent in the 2009 survey.