General Facts about Turkey
Turkey is located between Asia and Europe (where a small percentage of its territory lies). The Asian part (where 97% of its property lies) is called Anatolia and the European side is known as Thrace. The Anatolian peninsula, situated on the Mediterranean, forms the heart of the country. It borders the Black Sea on the north, Greece and Bulgaria on the west and the Mediterranean to the south.

Turkey’s population is of 72.6 million and its size is about the size of England and France combined. Its government consists of a secular democratic republic constitutionally established in 1923. Although the large majority of the country is Muslim, complete freedom of religion is granted those who aren’t. The country is a member state of the United Nations, NATO, the Council of Europe, and other political/economic organizations in Europe.

Because of its strategic position between Europe and Asia, Turkey has historically been a crossroads between the cultures and civilizations of East and West. The rich cultural and historical heritage of Turkey spans 13 civilizations and 10,000 years.

The country is rich in geographic diversity: from snowy peaks to sunny coasts, a lush green north and dry hot south, Turkey truly has much to offer for people of all preferences. Its impressive stretch of pristine coast graced by pine forests, quaint fishing villages, market towns and ancient ruins makes it one of the most beautiful locations for property seekers available.

Besides a mild winter that lasts from November to March, the rest of the year promises an excellent climate ideal for relaxing on the beach or in the placid mountains.

The Property market
The popularity of the Turkish property has grown enormously in recent years. Its excellent climate with over 300 days of sun per year, hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline, good potential for returns on investment, relaxed pace of life and low cost of living are some of the reasons why buyers have been attracted to this real estate market more and more in recent years.

One of the strong points of the property market in Turkey from a buyer’s point of view is its relatively simple, streamlined buying process.

Property rates currently remain low but are steadily on the rise, appreciating by up to 50% within the last few years in areas such as the southern coast. Last year, prices rose by 30% overall, offering excellent investment opportunities for the mid to long term.

The average price for a two-room apartment ranges between 70,000€ and 85,000€, while a three-room villa can cost 145,000€ and upwards.

Turkey has a decidedly exotic appeal balanced with good infrastructure (in terms of roads and number of airports) and a very reasonable cost of living – around 40% cheaper than in the UK. The typical cost for a meal in a restaurant is around 8€.

A considerable number of foreigners are buying homes in Turkey for retirement or vacation purposes. British buyers constitute the largest group of foreign homeowners in Turkey; last year, nearly 6000 British citizens bought a home there between January and April.

Turkey is also a good candidate for investment-minded buyers. Prices remain relatively low in most parts of the country, and current homeowners there have benefited from good returns as prices increase.

Pending accession to the EU (which experts predict could happen by 2015) will result in a definite rise in property prices. For this reason, the investment potential for Turkey is excellent and promises much to those who buy into the market early.

If you are serious about buying property in turkey you can find further useful information in this Turkey Property guide (see below) and we also recommend getting in contact with both a good solicitor and a good estate agent (see this section for more information about Real Estate Turkey ) from the beginning as they can help answering many of the questions you might have.

- Where and What Property to Buy in Turkey - with information about the most popular areas in Turkey to buy Property.
- Financial Issues - this is a short introduction to the financial elements of buying a property in Turkey including what to be aware of, initial and annual costs and information about how to finance the purchase.
- Legal Matters - an introduction to the most important legal things to be aware of before you sign any contract.