What nationalities are permitted to purchase a property?
Turkey has a reciprocal agreement fort he purchase of land and properties with the following countries; Nederland, Denmark, Germany, England, Ireland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Australia, France and some other African and South American states.
Will the property be freehold?
Yes, all properties we sell are we refer to as freehold.
Do I need a resident’s visa to buy a property?
No. This is only required if you want to stay longer than three months, or wish to have a phone or buy a car. Only for Danish people 6-th month permit is obligatory.
Are there any restrictions for foreigners purchasing property in Turkey?
Only in rural areas and military zones. There should be no restrictions imposed on the properties on our Hjempage.
What documents are required?
Your passport(s) which will be copied and translated into Turkish and passport sized photographs. The notary public office which work in conjunction with the title deeds office and the Military. All the translated documents will be checked by the army to ensure there is no record of criminal intent or activity against Turkey and that any property being purchased by a foreigner is not within the proximity to or intended to be used for military purposes.
How to buy? Firstly you have to apply to the local land registry office who will carry the necessary Søges and checks after which they will transfer the Title deed to the new owner.
A solicitor or notary is not required in Turkey as the land registry office performs these duties.
Buyer and seller must both go to the land registry office and sign in person. It is possible for a third party to buy the property by power of attorney which must be notarized. The land registry office then issues a Tapu (Title deed) as proof of ownership to the buyer.
During the purchasing works we can provide local assistance and do all official works on your behalf.
Before making a payment
For a property in Turkey we can provide local assistance in resolving the following points.
We check that there are no existing debts on the property.
We make sure ıf the property belongs to the seller.
We search and make sure that the property does not have any outstanding mortgage or any long term rental contract.
We will give you full information about the type and location of the property and will make sure that it is not located within the official boundaries of municipalty.
What is the time scale to complete the purchase of property in Turkey?
It does not normally take more than 2-3 months. You do not have to be there, if you issue your chosen solicitor with the Power of Attorney. By Turkish law you or your representative (solicitor with a power of Attorney) would have to be present at the Registry on exchange of the title deeds.
After I have received the necessary permission to purchase, what happens next?
Your lawyer should carry out the pre-completion checks. Following this, you (or your Power of Attorney) will sign a deed of transfer in front of an officer at the Land Registry Office, who then records you as the official owner of the property. The property tax is paid at this stage.
What additional costs are there in relation to the purchase?
You will pay stamp duty, legal fees, wealth tax and purchase tax.
Is there any good range of banks and are they English speaking?
There are many banks where English is widely spoken. It is easy to open a bank account and you can have both Turkish and other currency accounts.
Can I work there?
Yes, you can but you must obtain a work permit first.
Furnishing a property in Turkey?
Furniture is generally cheap, and can be custom made by local craftsmen if required. It is possible to buy in most towns at very competitive rates, with a wide range of goods. Electrical items are less expensive than in England. Towels and linen are cheaper than Europe, however, household goods are extremely cheap and can be purchased at the local markets.
What is the weather like?
Turkey has seasons with almost 300 sunny days on the Mediterranean Coast. In winter, you will find the temperatures by the south coast ranging from 5-15 degrees Celsius, in spring it warms up to 25. The summer is usually dry and hot from May to September peaking up to 37 degrees, cooling again towards Autumn back down to 25-15 degrees.
What should I expect to pay as community fees?
This can vary from one property to another. Your lawyer should look into this for you.
What about paying for energy and water supplies if my main Hjem is not in Turkey?
The easiest way to pay for your electricity is by direct debits via a bank in Turkey, which we help you in advance by obtaining a tax number and setting up a bank account on your name. All water bills however, are paid directly to Town Hall.
Can I rent out my property?
Yes.The main season is from April to October but you will still be able to rent it out over the winter season at lower rates.At the high summer season you can expect more than a reasonable return.
Is it necessary to learn the language?
No, but as it is everywhere in the world, it brings advantage.
What about the healthcare in terms of the standards and costs?
The standards are generally very good. All foreigners have to pay for medical treatment and there are reciprocal private health plans available and aceptable in the private hospitals.You can purchase a health insurance plan in Turkey up to the age of 55.
How does the general cost of living compare to Europe?
Fresh produce is great value for money. You will find most items up to 50 % cheaper than in Europe with elctrical items being the most expensive.
What is the government system in the country?
It is democratically elected as in Europe. Turkey is also one of the 5 permanent members of NATO.
What is the cost of living in Turkey? The cost of living in Turkey is at least 50% cheaper compared to other countries in Mediterranean region, including the Northern Cyprus.
The annual community fees would be approximately 0.3% for land and 0.1% for property, depending upon the location of your property in Turkey. It is significantly higher in inner city areas.
Western Mediterranean coast of Turkey is famous for its restaurants to every taste and pocket, including English, Italian and Indian restaurants. An average restaurant bill with drinks per person is £ 10-15.
The cost of living in Turkey is significantly cheaper compared to UK.
What flights are available to Turkey? You can reach Western Mediterranean cost by flying two airports -Dalaman (the closest one to Fethiye), Bodrum and Antalya. The flights to Antalya are all year round. Several airlines are flying to Mediterranean Turkey, such as Turkish Airlines, Cyprus Turkish Airlines and TWI flights (low cost airlines). You can always fly to Istanbul and catch an internal flight to Dalaman or Bodrum.
During the summer time a wide range of chartered flights to Turkey from different UK and European airports are in place. Due to the increasing demand of British people to spend holidays or time in their Hjems in Turkey, there are direct flights to the South of Turkey and talks are on the way to establish all year round trips. Without a doubt it will make this unspoilt part of the world more accessible, therefore Turkish property prices are expected to grow in the foreseeable future.
What is the banking system like in Turkey?
There are many reputable banks in Turkey and English is widely spoken in most of them. You would be able to open the currency accounts (in £) or in Turkish Lira (TL) which offer good interest rates. You would need to open an account in local currency to set up the direct debits for your water, electricity and other community charges, especially if you do not plan to live in Turkey permanently.
How long can a British citizen stay in Turkey?
British and the majority of Western Europeans on arrival would automatically receive a three month visa. If you decide to stay in Turkey for a long period you can get an extension or if you decide to permanently settle there, you would need to get a residency permit, which is obtained from the Turkish Embassy of your country of residence before arriving to Turkey. Different rules apply to US citizens.
Is it possible to bring personal possessions (furniture, pets, etc) into Turkey?
There are no problems bringing your own personal belongings to Turkey as long as you have a residency permit. Otherwise you would not be able to clear your goods through the local Customs. Also bear in mind that you would have to pay import duty tax on electrical goods brought into the country. From our client's experience, it is cheaper to buy everything in Turkey; local goods are of good quality and significantly cheaper.
There are no problems, with bringing pets with you both as long as you obtain a "pet passport" and have the proof of all the vaccinations.
How important is it to learn a Turkish language if you decide to live there?
Not that important as English is widely spoken, however it is always an advantage to speak the native language, especially if you decide to live in Turley permanently.
What is the time difference with UK?
Mediterranean coast of Turkey is two hours ahead of UK GMT time in winter and 3 hours in summer.
Extra costs
Power of attorney:100 €
Translator: 50 €
Yearly payments:
Property tax: 0,1 % of the property value.
Electricity
Electricity meter connection to a new property is 100
Transferring the existing electricity meter is 30 €
Cost per KW/H is 0.10 €
Water
Water-meter connection to a new propety is 60 €
Transferring the existing water meter is 30 €
Price per m3 is approx. 75 cent |
