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Where in Turkey should you consider buying a property?

Updated: 16 March 2024 Created: 26 June 2019

Foreign buyers are often overwhelmed by the real estate market in Turkey. With millions of residential properties for sale nationwide, Turkey's diverse landscape means there is no end to beautiful or fascinating places to live, work and invest. However, that can make deciding where to live or invest in Turkey difficult.

Turkey is famous now, easily matching European countries' living standards and attracting foreign investors with commercial properties and programs like Turkish citizenship by real estate investment. If you're wondering what the best part of Turkey is or if I should move to Turkey, take some time to discover the best regions for expats living in Turkey. As a real estate agent with thousands of sales, we know where foreigners head for property purchases, from the capital city to smaller towns and villages. First, we will give a summary of the five best places, and then discuss each one more in detail.

Istanbul


Where to Invest in Property in Turkey

Vibrant Istanbul: Turkey's most important city, Istanbul, offers purchase prices for all budgets and family sizes. The town is famous for Turkey's citizenship by investment programs and real estate investors looking for prime opportunities, and most foreign property investors head to outskirt European districts and significant lifestyle developments.

Stylish Bodrum: For glitz and glamour, this peninsula attracts real estate buyers seeking luxury family life. Expect to pay higher real estate prices, though. Property searches will turn up many districts with potential, and as a wealthy tourist destination, expect the best, including a mild climate.

Beautiful Fethiye: Favoured amongst British expats and retirees, Fethiye offers superb value for money and a wide range of property types. Fethiye City is exceptionally valuable on the Turkish property market and maintains a cosmopolitan ambience thanks to multi-cultural communities.

Cosmopolitan Antalya: A working city all year round, the real estate sector is highly sought after. As an attractive destination, foreign tourists and summer homeowners often head here for delightful beaches. Thanks to limitless natural beauty, Antalya is often a top destination for property sales.

Luxury Kalkan: For stunning views and a laid-back lifestyle, Kalkan is suitable for families looking for high-level investment property in Turkey. Property owners enjoy stunning sea views, infinity pools, and modern architectural design, as well as upscale restaurants and living.


1: Foreign Investment in Istanbul – Turkey's Largest City

Property investors seeking high rental yields have targeted Istanbul, an exciting, ever-shifting urban centre. In fact, Istanbul is the top destination for foreign purchases, with many foreigners attracted by the lucrative exchange rates of the Turkish lira. Straddling two continents, dynamic Istanbul has always been an important economic and trading centre and destination for foreign investment.

The diverse industrial economies, from automobiles to olive oil, make the region, an economic and financial hub, with large companies basing their headquarters here. With young and dynamic populations, progressive Istanbul sees a high demand for property, and historic mosques and Ottoman palaces exist next to new developments with onsite amenities.

Istanbul property prices range from modest entry-level prices for outer city apartments to expensive luxury developments in the inner city. With quickly growing populations of young professionals, rentals are in high demand, and investors earn between 3-6% in some districts. You can easily find your ideal home in Istanbul since the market covers 39 districts.


Where to Buy Property in Istanbul?

Foreign buyers like central and hip Maslak, on Istanbul's European side. They're also looking for premium seafront homes, which are still possible in places like Zeytinburnu. Investors looking for lower prices concentrate on suburbs like Bahcesehir, a leafy, family-friendly area with many leisure activities, property types and short commutes. (More about investing in Istanbul – Turkey.)

Istanbul


2: Buying Real Estate in Fethiye

Sunny, friendly Fethiye, a prosperous Mediterranean town, is famous for property ownership. Beautiful beaches, excellent daily amenities, historical sites, incredible mountain scenery: it's one of Turkey's best places for an ideal property. Despite the focus on tourism, popular Fethiye is built on agriculture and industry. This keeps the town authentically Turkish and ensures regional solid economies.

With land slightly cheaper than other tourist centres like Bodrum, Fethiye property for sale tends to be more significant, like family villas with private pools and landscaped gardens. As well as decent mid-range villa developments, Fethiye is home to solid resale markets and potential for anyone wishing to construct their own house to spec. As a working centre, coastal Fethiye is also home to a year-round Turkish population and foreign expats who have bought property ownership.


Where to Buy Property in Fethiye?

Fethiye City Centre: Famous for Lycian rock tombs, the apartments and duplexes are central to markets, shops and daily amenities of Fethiye city centre. International buyers love the central bus station that offers frequent travel all over Turkey, and the harbour and marina are focal points of daily life. For countless shopping trips and vibrant nightlife, Fethiye is key.

Calis Beach: Sitting next to Fethiye city centre, old and new villas and comfortable apartment developments attract many summer homeowners. Foreign ownership in Calis is widespread, and the local council has invested heavily in the front seaside promenade. Calis Beach is famous for water sports, fantastic sunset views, and the regular water taxi that heads to Fethiye's town centre.

Hisaronu and Ovacik: Located on the hill above Oludeniz Beach, these districts feature many detached villas with swimming pools. Sitting a short ride from Oludeniz, one of Turkey's best blue flag beaches, both neighbourhoods are popular with expats. While quiet in winter, they also become popular holiday resorts during summer.

Rural Uzumlu: Villas in this beautiful valley are priced lower than coastal spots because of the inland location. It is one of Fethiye's lesser-known districts, and people often buy land and build their dream villas. The gorgeous landscapes are an added bonus. Sitting around 45 minutes' drive from Fethiye town centre, many expats like to live here for a quiet location.

Fethiye villa


3: Foreign Buyers Love the Bodrum Peninsula

The stylish Bodrum peninsula has evolved from Turkey's original tourist destination into an upmarket hub for luxury property and international brands. But at its heart, Bodrum is still authentically Turkish. Once a small fishing village, Bodrum is now bolstered by the tourist market and fantastic climate. Luxury hotels, daily amenities, shops and tours thrum with activity each summer, and the peninsula's marinas are also income drivers. The influx of wealthy city dwellers each summer has helped push the peninsula into prosperity and ensured lively cultural and artistic societies where shabby bohemians rub shoulders with glitzy celebrities.

Bodrum has gained a solid reputation for upmarket, designer homes. Big-name architects made their mark with luxury developments in hills above Yalikavak and other locations. There are also healthy resale markets for older villas and apartments. Bodrum's elevated nature means most homes enjoy sea views over the Aegean, and holiday rentals in Bodrum are sought after and command high prices.


Where to Buy Property in Bodrum?

Rustic Charm in Gumusluk: This charming fishing village is famous for peace and quiet, modern villas, and fresh seafood. This ideal destination seems stuck in time and oozes old-world charm. The seaside restaurants are famous during summer and host visitors from all over the peninsula, with their menus featuring the catch of the day.

Luxury in Yalikavak: Home to the upmarket marina, Yalikavak homes are luxurious, with sweeping views. Many famous architects have designed homes in this town that often hosts mega yachts with billionaires sailing in. Despite the high-profile status, buyers can still find affordable apartments for sale, and traces of bygone eras can be found in the old town section.

Bodrum Town: With castle views and rolling hillside landscapes, Bodrum's town centre is where it all began. Many old houses sit on narrow cobbled streets reflecting the town's cultural heritage. Still, in some places, there are modern, luxury villas. Bodrum town is one of Turkey's most expensive places to buy property. Still, home buyers are tapping into an exclusive lifestyle.

Upmarket Turkbuku: As an outskirt district, celebrities love glitzy Turkbuku as a stylish social spot. The New York Times called it the "Saint Tropez of Turkey", and millionaire homes line the shores. Although the beach scene lacks somewhat, Turkbuku more than makes up for it with stylish jetties and beach clubs.

Bodrum villa


4: Architectural Quality of Houses in Mediterranean Antalya

As one of Turkey's more significant regions, the historical, bustling Mediterranean Antalya is an economic powerhouse and gateway to fascinating and beautiful lifestyles. With culture, the Mediterranean climate, history and beaches at every turn, Antalya has excellent average house prices. The young population mean modern, forward-thinking communities are everywhere. Spreading out along the coastline are more expat-heavy, seasonal tourist areas like Side, Kemer and Belek. Property in Antalya consists of mid-range to luxury apartments, popular with young professionals looking for rentals, but along the coastline, Side, Belek and Kemer cater more for families and tourists for lifestyle and rental.


Where to Buy Antalya Property?

Historical Side: As an outskirt district, this sunny seaside town is ideal for families and great for an apartment or villa in the sunshine. The side, built around the historical old city, has a unique ambience, and the coastline Apollo temple stands near good old-fashioned seafood restaurants.

Beachy Kemer: Green Kemer, a quiet seaside resort with luxury hotels and villa developments, sees the social life focused around the beachfront districts. Kemer is more known for large, all-inclusive hotels and water sports but still maintains an excellent position to explore the region.

Antalya City Centre: Despite being the most expensive district, the city is best for investment and rental, and many districts consist of high-rise buildings and apartments. Two neighbourhoods stand out as prime destinations, Konyaalti and Lara, and they are also home to two of Turkey's best beaches. The city centre is also close to Antalya airport and the central bus station for easy domestic and international travel.

Golfing Belek: Turkey's centre for golfing consists of upmarket, luxurious golfing villas and apartments - often with golf membership included. Some people also buy land and build their own dream homes. Belek town has attracted many ex-pats and holiday homeowners, who enjoy the smaller scale of living but easy access to the main city centre for more choice and amenities.

Beach in Antalya


5: Luxury Mediterranean Living in Kalkan

The pretty Mediterranean town of Kalkan has bougainvillea-draped whitewashed homes spilling down into its ancient harbour. Quiet, genteel Kalkan is perfect for escaping crowds and enjoying privacy, modern amenities, good food, and sunshine, and once a fishing village, Kalkan's economy now relies on tourism. Although it's expanded, due to its distance (around 1.5 hours) from the nearest airport, Kalkan has avoided the intense tourism development that many other Turkish Mediterranean centres have.

Summer sees an influx of tourists and holiday homeowners from Europe. With an emphasis on style and comfort, Kalkan's beach clubs are the place to go during the day, then the sun goes down, people dine at the old harbour and lovely rooftop restaurants. During winter, this pretty town is quiet, and expats like it that way.

Kalkan, an ideal rental destination despite living costs, emphasises large, private, luxury villas, and there's plenty of scope here for high-end rental properties. The town's elevated position means every home has beautiful sea views. Sought-after millionaire properties are near the shoreline, and sales prices get cheaper further up the hill. Kalkan separates into six ideal districts to choose from. (More about the districts in Kalkan – Turkey.)

Villa in Kalkan


Also, About Turkey and Property Investment

Residency Permits: Foreign buyers need a residence permit for modern living or business opportunities in Turkey. This exciting opportunity grants the right to live in this vast country all year round. Many expats live on residency permits, and application processes are quick and easy. If you are under 65, get health insurance to get a residency permit. The other eligibility criteria is proof of income.

Turkish Citizenship: Foreign citizens with clean criminal records can permanently experience the beautiful landscapes of Turkey and gain a Turkish passport by participating in the Turkish citizenship by investment scheme. Giving the same rights to live, work, and study as a Turkish citizen with a valid passport, the citizenship by investment program also allows applicants to keep dual citizenship with their home foreign country. This article talks more about the investment opportunity and what to expect.


Use Our Estate Agent Services

We are proud to offer our property agent services in this vast country to help you buy and settle into becoming a proud homeowner. This vast country has many delightful regions with gorgeous landscapes, and our experienced local agents are full of knowledge to help you with your exciting opportunity to build your dream home.

Our assistance can help in all aspects, from the purchase to foreign ownership, including notary offices, affordable prices, bank accounts, tax numbers, land registry offices, and other legal systems. Call us today and discuss the purchase terms and property transactions with the agent. Alternatively, start your search by browsing our apartments and villas for sale in many parts of Turkey. Property transfers can be quick and accessible regardless of where you invest in Turkey.

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