When Paul and Paula Owens from Liverpool decided they wanted a holiday home abroad, the first place they decided to look was A Place in the Sun Live in Manchester.
“At that stage we didn’t know where we wanted, we just had a list of possible countries,” says Paula, 56. “We narrowed it down to Spain, Portugal and Turkey.”
The couple booked trips out to the Canary Islands and also the Algarve. “We realised we could only get a one-bedroom flat for around €300,000 in Portugal, so that ruled it out, and we didn’t fancy the Canaries.”
With two children and five grandchildren, they wanted space for the family to enjoy trips together, and they began to look more closely at Turkey.
Best areas to buy property in Turkey
They had actually lived in the Turkish capital of Ankara during the pandemic, when Paul, an engineer, was seconded there. But living in an apartment block was not what they were after in a holiday home. “But we felt comfortable that we were familiar with Turkey and what to expect of life there,” says Paul, 60.
“We used to explore some of the inland tourist spots for holidays.”
They took a trip to Belek, an area of the south-west coast popular for its golf courses, but didn’t like it and knew there were lots of other potential options across Turkey’s vast Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines.
So, they headed again to the Manchester exhibition, with finding a location in Turkey very much in mind. It gave them a chance to meet Turkish Home Office, an Anglo-Turkish estate agent with a stand there. “Meeting them face to face made a real difference rather than just finding someone on the internet,” says Paula.
They discussed what they might buy with Deniz Polat of the company and were soon heading out to Turkey again – to the Altinkum/Didim area. “We preferred the Aegean coastline, which is a bit more temperate – further east, towards Antalya, Belek and Alanya, it can get really hot.”
What is Altinkum like for property buyers?
They met Deniz there and he took them around some locations and properties, even arranging a pick-up at Bodrum airport for them. “We had never been to the Aegean side but liked the fact that Altinkum was always reviewed as a good family-friendly location,” says Paula. “Suitability for the grandchildren became a priority.”
During a week in which they were put up in an apartment there, the couple toured villas and apartments. “We fell in love with the show home on a development as soon as we walked in,” says Paula. “It was the show home, and we wanted to buy it ‘as seen’ – it was perfectly located right by the swimming pool.”
The property has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a utility room opening onto a balcony and a garden. It cost £250,000.
Can buying property in Turkey give you residency?
This sum of money also allows them to apply for Turkish residency – a minimum investment of $200,000 (£150k) was required at the time, but now it is $100,000 (£75k). They are able to get a one/two-year renewable permit.
This should not be confused with a ‘golden visa’ (which offers Turkish citizenship), which is available with a minimum investment of $400,000 (£300k).
How easy is it to buy property in Turkey?
Turkish Home Office made the purchase process very seamless, say Paul and Paula, who returned a third time to Manchester to show Deniz their title deeds (pictured above).
“They helped us with all the paperwork, recommended an independent lawyer, took us around and did everything we needed to make the purchase. We didn’t have to worry about a single thing,” says Paula, who adds that they hope to retire out there.
Thinking about buying in Turkey?
From family-friendly resorts to great-value villas, Turkey offers fantastic opportunities for overseas buyers.
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