All Turkish banks are bad... some are worse in one area due to location. Garanti in marmaris is bad but it might be better in Bodrum. Maybe Altinkum is different again... but generally be prepared to wait a long time.

All I can say is if its good in Bodrum they arent employing the trolls they have in Antalya

they employ numpties in Marmaris..... I'm not sure if they are worse than trolls!!!!
Does anyone like this ticket taking malarky.... I feel like asking for a pound of cheese when I finally get to the counter!!!

Our bank falls over backwards to help us in Marmaris, and the lady we deal with even sends me greetings via e-mail at Xmas and New Year.
I haven't worked out the ticket system, just take the one from the top and hope for the best.
What sort of cheese do you like ChelseaBoy?
Penny

Chelseabob,

a good bank in altinkum/didim is called the ishe bank, this is on the main road in didim. you take a ticket and go upstairs where you'll be seen by an english speaking bank clerk. we opened an account in sterling and one in turkish lira. we also use their hole in the wall with a nationwide credit card. at the time it was the lowest exchange charges on a credit card. we opened the bank account when we decided to buy. then, when the monies were due for the completion we sent it over by the halifax bldg soc. to our account and paid up when we got to altinkum. this saved taking a bankers draft, cash etc. and we were able to track the money over the three days it took to get there. some friends who bought this year sent banker's drafts with us but boy, were they a problem, especially the HSBC one, and HSBC have a bank in kusadasi.

You don't actually NEED a bank account in Turkey to buy a house - everything can be done via your existing UK account. You will have to pay whatever your UK bank charges for international bank transfers - average £30 when you transfer - so factor that in to your costs!

Having a bank account can be useful if you are planning to visit frequently - you can keep money in it and withdraw it when you come, and take advantage of the high interest rates (which are only payable on Lira accounts, by the way).

There are a very large number of estate agencies in Altinkum and it can be difficult to choose one. If you know anyone who has already bought here, go by recommendation - nothing beats personal experience!

Our agency website has an FAQs page which gives some good tips for people thinking of buying here - costs, inheritance laws, what documentation you will need, whether your property is freehold or leasehold, insurance requirements - essentially all the questions our customers have ever asked us when buying a property: http://www.tropicalbeachhomes.com/Content2.asp?m1=1&m2=21#soru6

We specialise in property in Altinkum but most of the information applies everywhere in Turkey.

A good agent will explain the whole process to you so you should feel clear about what you're getting into, but it is really pretty straightforward. If you are unsure and want an outside opinion, I recommend forums like this one - you are 99% sure to find someone who has asked the same question as you! Alternately I will be happy to answer any questions about buying in Turkey.

Laura

Hi

I hope some of you can give me some advice.
I am thinking of buying a property in Turkey mainly for investment (Personal pension policies not being what they were !!!).

With so many companies to choose from can any of you recommend a reliable company.

I have seen a couple of companies that look ok.Does anyone have any experience of
1.MacAnthony Realty 2.Churchills Turkish Investment Property.

MacAnthony seem very professional however the prices seem a bit high and Churchills site seems very good but less professional :

Additionally I am unsure which area to invest in but I am leaning towards the Bodrum Peninsula.What do you all think.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Brad

Hı Brad,

If you are buying a property just for investment then your first criteria has to be it's Letting potential. Any of the major resorts, including Bodrum, should provide you with a steady income throughout the summer. However, there is a lot of competion and some areas are saturated with properties to let.

If you intend to live there yourself, maybe once you've retired, then obviously that will be a deciding factor in the type of property you buy. Holiday-style homes are lovely in the summer but some people don't feel they're suitable for the winter.

Really, there are so many things to consider. You'd be best to travel out to Turkey and visit the various resorts before deciding on where to buy. Even though you are only buying as an ınvestment, you may find you want to live in the house yourself so it's important you buy in a resort/area that you feel at home in.

I had been in Turkey for almost a year before I bought my place and I would advise anyone else to take their time too before buying. One other thing, property prices have shot up in the last year at an amazing rate and if they continue to rise at the same level you would be wise to buy sooner rather than later. Turkey is also changing its Property Laws in October and this may affect foreigners wanting to purchase.

You may find something about it on the ex-pats forum.

Hope it all goes well for you,

zambuca

Try go through the historical posts in the ex pats forum - lots of good advice already there

LA

Hi

I hope some of you can give me some advice.
I am thinking of buying a property in Turkey mainly for investment (Personal pension policies not being what they were !!!).

With so many companies to choose from can any of you recommend a reliable company.

I have seen a couple of companies that look ok.Does anyone have any experience of
1.MacAnthony Realty 2.Churchills Turkish Investment Property.

MacAnthony seem very professional however the prices seem a bit high and Churchills site seems very good but less professional :

Additionally I am unsure which area to invest in but I am leaning towards the Bodrum Peninsula.What do you all think.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Brad

at the monent sales to foreigners have been suspended since 27th july. Although many agents are not informing people properly.contracts made before that date are ok.
parliament reconvenes on 1st oct when the new laws will be ironed out.
its unlikely that there will be a stop on selling ..only on the amount of land a foreigner can buy.
Having said that you have to do your homework..re areas..re investment and also think about the best place for resales should you want to sell later. there are loads of brits buying on agean side as well as marmaris and fethiye. Another thing you have to think about is winter lets and winter flights.
i live in alanya (for many years) its large modern town with a large cosmopolitan expat community and also lots of turks who are buying to retire and also to invest. So the market for re selling is large and also for rentals. Property prices here have shot up in the last three years and set to go higher. The nearest airport is Antalya international which is open all through the year..with flights from all over europe.
Take advice but be careful ,have a look at ex pat forums turkey ..there are a few good ones.. where you will learn a lot of the ins and outs. ..and enjoy yourself.

hi there ..i have just replied to your post on the Turkey forum. Take a look carefully at the areas where people are buying. ..there are many places where just brits are buying that theyre in danger of becoming expat enclaves..and like ghost towns in the winter. you ahve to take into consideration nearest airports..year round living etc. have a look at turkish living forum on the net..there are loads of people on the forum in the same postition as yourself. see you over there maybe
And as i already said..be careful.dont commit yourself until the new laws have been sorted.

Hi Brad,I think Macanthony are now selling Nokta houses,I bought a house direct from Nokta,not one of my better decissions,buying a Nokta house. Couch Potato.

Brad
what shirley says is true İ would add research,research,research to it and enjoy looking. İf you have any questions come back to the forum you will always get answers.

Hello,

I to am interested in buying in Turkey also and have just put an offer in on a house in Dalyan (near Dalaman). Personally I think Turkey is a sound long term investment area but am no expert. I am putting a deposit down to secure the house awaiting for the law to change, hopefully in the next few weeks.

Steve

Do not worry about the law this is an agreement between both countries (UK & Turkey) that both nationalities can buy in each others land and with negotiations started on turkeys entry to the EU it seems that prices will shot up again in the very near future. (Only area that the law will look to change is the amount of land that foreigners can buy)

We have bought in the peninsular and at the moment winter flight do not go into Bodrum but you can get there by other means if required. I.e. Istanbul cost approx £100 return flight.

It is best to buy in an area where there are large numbers of Turkish people as monthly cost will be lower than place built recently in complexes or buy outside complexes to avoid expensive charges.

If you intend to rent your place this is hard work and you may not get a return but if you are looking for a place where the value of your house will rise then there is still good buys to be had.

This web site gives you the current laws and other info you may need

http://www.turkisheconomy.org.uk

Brad I am going to put a few things down here.

1. Look where the storms were last weekend bodrum area and Calıs/fethıye area why? well Bodrum ıs on west coast so gets more raın as that where the prevaılıng wınd comes from and thıs applıes all the way along the south coast untıl you get to the Taurus mountains, so up to Fethıye you get more rainfall per year and a shorter season and colder nıghts ın the wınter. So if you are looking for longer season for rental potential go East of the Taurus mountains.

2. Airport proximity Research shows 25% of punters will not travel more than one hour from the airport to resort and 75% wont travel 1.5 hours so for rental potential keep inside one hour transfer time.

3. Out of season activity/ crowd pullers Look for somwhere that has more than a beach to attract the clıents, and or extend your rental season. There is only one real big draw here at the moment that being winter golf which is starting to become competitively priced (although pricey now) as more courses are beıng built.

So my reccomend would be Belek and then İ would say not some villa in a small complex just of the road with a small pool, there are other things available and coming up that will be very attractive in tha area.

During the summer that wind is a god send and youi can always put a jacket on

another point which is important is the market for resale.
An international community such as you will find in Antalya, Belek Side , Konakli, Alanya, Oba,Tosmur,Kestel and on down past Mahmutlar has a bigger pool of potential for resale/rentals.
This is the area too where many Turks from istanbul came to settle after the big earthquake in '99...