Building your own home is one way to make sure you get the property to suit your own needs - and also something completely unique.
What's more with building and land costs contracting since the property downturn in some countries, it can be a great time to make your "Grand Design" actually happen.
Affordable plots in picturesque locations and with access to improving infrastructure are encouraging an increasing number of British people to create their dream home in the Fethiye area of Turkey, says Turkey property specialist Spot Blue International Property.
The villages around Fethiye, a colourful town on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast with a historic harbour and mountainous backdrop, are becoming popular places for British and other foreign buyers to purchase plots, usually with idyllic views, and self-build new homes for their retirement.
Typically, such buyers have owned a holiday home closer to the centre of Fethiye but when looking for a permanent residence are attracted to villages on the edge of the resort, such as Çiftlik, Üzümlü, Hisarönü and Kemer.
"Buyers coming to us in search of a plot often already own a holiday pad in Fethiye, with the Calis Beach area being especially popular," said Spot Blue director Julian Walker.
"For a residential home though, most prefer to be inland or in quieter areas and Fethiye has so much to offer in this respect. The great thing about the resort is how accessible it is from the surrounding communities, while the infrastructure upgrades that the municipality is undergoing are making the whole area even more attractive."
Chris and Sandra McGown from Dorset are typical self-build buyers and have plans to build a home in Çiftlik on a plot they are in the process of purchasing through Spot Blue.
The couple, who are retired and have a son and a daughter, are sellling their two-bedroom holiday apartment in Calis Beach, which they bought nine years ago and have used for numerous family holidays.
"We've paid a deposit on an 840-square-metre plot, which used to be part of a farm in Çiftlik," said Chris McGown.
"We've agreed a price of £51,000 for the property and meanwhile we're selling our apartment in Calis - the proceeds of which we'll put towards our new home.
"Çiftlik is in a lovely spot, slightly elevated and with views of Fethiye Bay and the mountains. It's up and coming - a wealthy Turk has built a huge bungalow on the neighbouring plot to ours and people from Istanbul are buying there."
The McGowns plan to build a detached three-storey villa on their plot, with three or four bedrooms and a private pool. Their intention is to have construction underway by the summer.
Since the 1990s the McGowns have visited a selection of Turkish resorts, but prefer Fethiye to all others.
"Fethiye has a different feel to it, thanks to being an authentic working town as well as a friendly tourist resort, and there is plenty to visit around it, including the stunning lagoon at Ölüdeniz," added Chris.
"In recent years the municipality has spent money hand over fist upgrading the infrastructure - it's improved vastly since we've been going there."
The McGowns' apartment in Calis, Fethiye, is on the market for £66,000 through Spot Blue. Just a 10-minute walk from the beach and five minutes from amenities, it is on a small complex with a communal pool.
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A Place in the Sun Live is a great place to start your journey to owning a home in Turkey. Taking place at Olympia London on 28th-30th March, A Place in the Sun Live is the official exhibition of the hit TV show and features live appearances by the show's TV presenters Amanda Lamb, Jasmine Harman, Jonnie Irwin and Laura Hamilton. Exhibitors selling property in Turkey include Spot Blue.
Tickets to A Place in the Sun Live are on sale now at two for £15. Click here to book.