Turkey is a vast country, over three times the size of the UK and some 25% larger than France. Straddling between Europe and Asia, with almost 7,000 kilometres of Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea, Turkey is home to a unique mosaic of cultures, diverse landscape and dynamic social make up. If you are looking for property overseas, wish to buy a holiday home in the sun, a place to retire or purely real estate investment in an upwardly mobile country, then no search is complete without having a good look at Turkish real estate for sale.
Where to buy a holiday home in Turkey?
With so many lovely resorts and towns to choose from, it is a task in itself to decide where to buy that special villa in Turkey or that sea view apartment, which will be your new home in Turkey and double up for some rental income. According to statistics published by the Turkish real estate agents association, Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum and Side are the most popular holiday home destinations in Turkey. Properties in Antalya enjoy the proximity of a bustling seaside city with lovely beaches and excellent golf courses of Belek, whereas Kalkan properties provide some of the most dramatic sea views experienced in the entire Mediterranean, not to mention Kalkan's elegant setting and fine dining. Side holiday homes for sale are ideal for families with children, where shallow waters gently touch sandy shores. Real estate in Bodrum on the other hand is your key to Turkey's most sophisticated resort with plenty of sailing and seafront homes in lovely Yalikavak, Turkbuku or Gumusluk. Then we have sun-soaked Fethiye with most affordable villas and flats for sale in Turkey near the most pictured Oludeniz beach.
Looking to retire overseas - where should you buy your retirement home in Turkey?
When considering a permanent move abroad and buying a property for year round living, there are some important factors to take into account. Proximity of amenities, hospitals, schools and a stable local community are some of the elements one would naturally look at. In our dealings with over 10,000 people from all over the world looking at Turkish real estate with a view to permanent living in Turkey, we find that properties in Fethiye, Bodrum and Antalya (including Side and Kemer) are natural favourites for year round living. They all have excellent climates with over 300 days of sunshine, mild winters and the right level of facilities to sustain year round living.
Where to invest in Turkish real estate?
With an average annual GDP growth in excess of 8% for 2010 - 2012 period, Turkey has posted exceptional economic performance compared to the EU zone and indeed to BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China). In 2011 and 2012 Turkey's economic expansion was only second to China. IMF estimates that Turkey will yet again outperform most BRICs countries and certainly the entire Euro zone in 2013 - 2017 period with an average annual expansion of 5%+ projected. Turkish real estate industry is currently one of the major growth sectors within Turkey. With a youth population of over 60% of entire 76 million and increasing wealth in the country, domestic demand for the Turkish real estate industry is fast climbing. Turkish real estate agents association estimates that by year 2015 there will be a shortage of around 2 million quality housing in Turkey just to accommodate domestic demand, this is not even counting the booming tourism sector, 6th most visited country in the world in 2011, which also puts a heavy demand on coastal hotel, villa and apartment projects. In 2011, property market in Turkey grew by some 18% compared to year before. Considering that at the same period Greece, Spain and Portugal came close to announcing bankruptcy underlines the viability of owning property in Turkey.
Prime location Istanbul or better to look at prospering Antalya?
From a purely investment viewpoint property for sale in Istanbul deserves a close look, however, one needs to be very selective. There are many offers on the market and not all are viable. We recommend real estate in Istanbul prime locations as opposed to heavily marketed bargain apartments on the outskirts of the city. Naturally, prime locations of Istanbul are expensive, therefore we suggest investors should have a good look at Antalya property market as a viable and exceptional alternative to prime location real estate of Istanbul.
How about rental returns and capital growth?
On the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey, your holiday home in Antalya, Fethiye, Kalkan and Bodrum could easily deliver in excess of 6% rental returns after all expenses paid. Considering that the average rental yield in the UK is 4.8%, this is quite a strong return. Coupled with steep capital growth in several years, you could build your very own nest egg in Turkish real estate. Another interesting profile to underline is the beachfront Turkey property segment.
Can you suggest a niche segment of Turkish real estate to keep an eye on?
Keen investors and of course keen sailors alike should keep a solid eye on waterfront properties in Turkey. This is an incredibly lucrative segment of the Turkish real estate market. Compared to France, Spain and Italy, beachfront properties in Turkey come at one third the price tag for comparable villas and apartments. Luxury villas for sale at the seafront in Bodrum, Kalkan, Kas and Fethiye could be purchased from as little as Euro 400,000, whereas a comparable villa in Spain or France would cost no less than Euro 1.3m. This is a huge price gap and we suggest that it is an artificial one. We do not expect prices of beach front properties in France to come down for these are highly desirable homes, however, as more and more people discover the stunning coastline of Turkey, we expect waterfront homes in Turkey to appreciate quite significantly over the next 3-5 years. The number of foreign registered boats and yachts entering Turkish waters have tripled since 2005, clearly indicating that Turkey is becoming a desirable boating destination. Considering the breathtaking beauty of the bays and coves in the Aegean and Mediterranean waters of Turkey, this is not surprising at all.
Enjoying an unobstructed view of the sea from a private infinity swimming pool, this fully furnished villa is for sale within the beautiful area of Faralya and has been constructed to luxury standards throughout.
With tremendous views of the sea and Bodrum Castle, this fully furnished villa is centrally located and perfect for families moving to Turkey – just a few minutes away from daily amenities and transportation.
Very spacious 5 bedroom apartment found on the top floor of a modern complex in Antalya with the best views of the region right at your fingertips. Take in a life of luxury by the sea in one of the region's most prestigious areas and a great investment potential to be had here.
Surrounded by unspoilt nature and sea views, this beautiful home offers a completely private life in the peninsula of Kas due to its huge plot of land and has everything in place for buyers wanting to move to Turkey permanently.
Built to exceptional standards, these Dosemealti villas have their own private landscaped gardens and large swimming pools outside – all just a few minutes away from amenities and public transportation options.
Right next to the sea with access to a private beach and social facilities, these tremendous villas are nestled between Yalikavak and Gumusluk in Bodrum and are perfect for families and those relocating to Turkey.
Available today at an exceptional price not to miss, this stunning villa is located in a peaceful area of Gocek in Turkey and is perfect for those who love sailing, with the nearest harbour accessible within a matter of minutes.
Built to exceptional standards throughout, these mansion-style villas are located in an elite area of Yalikavak with panoramic sea views stretching endlessly – these are some of the most impressive that you will find in Bodrum.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to own a highly exclusive home on the paradise that is known as Sovalye Island in Fethiye. With private beach access, a swimming pool, and stunning interior and external design - this is one of the best properties on the entire island.
An opportunity not to miss out on, this project offers luxury-designed U Houses in Istanbul within the sought after area of Zekeriyakoy and has glass facades bringing the swimming pools and gardens directly inside.
Designed to elite standards and surrounded by nature at every corner, these completely private villas are located in Arnavutkoy and are just 30 minutes away from the city centre of Istanbul for commuting and raising a family in Turkey.
Offering a modern yet authentic design, these villas have been designed by a famous Turkish architect and there are only 5 in total available in Gumusluk, Bodrum. Overlooking the bay, the location is one to be desired, while the design is one to be admired.