Frequently Asked Questions

There are many aspects of the property-buying process in Turkey that are, well, different from buying in the UK and Europe. For a start your sale is unlikely to be held up because the other party's solicitor in on a month-long holiday in the Seychelles and can't be contacted to review the sales contract.

The buying process here is actually a lot simpler, but it is still different, and so we have compiled a list of useful answers to basic and not-so-basic questions that our customers have asked us. Take a look on our Turquoise Homes website for some of the answers: Turquoise Homes Frequently Asked Questions

Making the rental difference

Many people ask me about rental potential of properties in Altinkum – how many rooms is ideal to get maximum rentals, in particular. I can honestly say... it doesn’t matter. Once again (and you’ll notice it’s a theme), it’s location that counts. And this time, not which country you’re in, or even which resort because we can take it as a given that you’ve already chosen Altinkum!

No, in this case location is about convenience. Think about what you look for when you’re going on holiday – you want to be able to stroll down to the beach in your sandals, without having to plan it as a major expedition. You want to be in a nice peaceful area where you know you can get a good night’s sleep, but only a short walk to the nearest nice bar and shops – ideally to the town centre itself. Quiet enough to be safe, but not quiet enough to be, you know, too quiet. Basically you want it all!

And that’s exactly what you sbould look for when buying a property in Altinkum for holiday lets. Once you’ve got that you will definitely find a market. Couples will want a one bedroom property, a small family will want a two bedroom, larger groups will want more rooms – but they will all want a good location. Yes, you will get higher rental for a larger property – but you will have to pay more for it in the first place. Maybe instead of one large property, think about two smaller ones – the rental income could be slightly more if you charge a minimum per property plus a certain amount per person.

The other two essential things to ensure good rental income? A swimming pool, and good marketing! The swimming pool is self-explanatory and the bigger the better. The marketing... well, we have customers with two apartments in Altinkum who make over £10,000 a year in rentals. They do this by spreading the net wide. They use our free service and advertise their property for rent on our website. They advertise in their local newspaper. They tell their friends. They tell their family. They tell their work colleagues. They put adverts in the newsagents round the corner. They use professional rental sites like www.glo-con.com and www.holiday-rentals.uk.com. The wider the net, the more fish you will catch and the expense is minimal. And if you have a good property, your guests will return year after year, and tell all their friends as well.

The golden touch – How to make the most of your second home

Let’s get this straight – most people who buy a second home in another country would really like to know that some time in the future, it will be more than a just a great place to spend their holidays. After all, you can find a nice hotel in your chosen location and visit it for years and years before even coming close to laying out enough money to buy a property.

So why buy? Because putting money in bricks and mortar has always been one of the most certain ways to ensure a return on your investment. A well-built, spacious property in a good location has intrinsic value in its own right and its value will grow organically. As the cost of goods generally goes up year by year, so does the value of bricks and mortar. As long as you don’t buy in a bubble – when prices are so inflated that they are way beyond the actual value of what’s being sold – you can be sure when you buy property that you’ve chosen a good bank.

Of course, there are ways to maximise the amount of interest your money will earn in your property “bank” and it’s all about location, and on several different scales. Look for high growth potential. Sure, Marbella is a great place and property there has gone up in value a huge amount in the last 20 years. It has everything going for it – a marina where the millionaires hang out on their yachts, designer stores, immaculate beach front, posh restaurants, expensive hotels - you name it. Yes, I wish I’d bought property in Marbella 20 years ago too! Can’t afford it now... And that’s exactly the point. Look for the potential.

A lot of our customers did buy property in Spain 20 years ago, and now they’re coming to Turkey with the money they’ve made, wanting to make some more! They’ve seen the signs – a young market (foreigners have only been able to own property in their own names in Turkey since 2002), lots of new properties being built, increasing publicity in the press and on TV, and marked improvements in the public infrastructure – and want to repeat their success.

We also have a lot of customers who didn’t buy property in Spain 20 years ago. They’ve seen the signs too and this time they don’t want to miss out.

And these are the people that are choosing to buy property in Altinkum. What do they see in Altinkum? Potential. It’s an established resort, but a relatively new one. It’s got a tourist industry that’s getting stronger and stronger, particularly among families, who like the friendliness of the people, the beautiful sandy beaches and clean, shallow sea, the family-friendly restaurants and the nearby water park. Couples are flocking to Altinkum too – the relaxed atmosphere, the romantic seafront restaurants and the many historical attractions within a short distance all add to the appeal.

There’s been lots of investment in Altinkum recently too. New roads have been laid, traffic lights installed, the beachfront promenade has been paved, planted with palm trees, lights and these clever gadgets that flash up the time and the temperature so you can boast to your friends at home how how it is. And there’s more to come. There’s already a harbour but the Turkish government has given planning permission and a grant for – yes – a marina. Here come the yachts now, I can see them on the horizon... And there’s that golf course too. It hasn’t been built yet. We don’t even know where it will be exactly – but it’s coming.

And geographically there’s more potential here than some of the other popular resorts in Turkey. Most of them are hemmed in by mountains and so they have already reached capacity. The big money’s been made, you’re too late. Why? Well imagine a skyscraper for a moment, a big tall one, 100 floors, made of money.This could be your money. Each floor between you and the top of the skyscraper is money you can make when you buy your property. Do you want to start on floor 99 and make one floor’s worth of money, putting 99 floors in yourself? Or would you rather start on the first floor and make 99 floors’ worth of money?

So do your research and look for the clues – recent government investment in an area, popularity with tourists, and of course, a dead giveaway, number of estate agencies marketing property in the area! And once you’ve done your research, move quickly to get the maximum benefit from your investment.