Moving to that coveted place in the sun is a world away from a week-long sojourn in your favourite beach destination. We've listed the pros and cons of moving to Turkey, so you can weigh everything up and make your decision with confidence. Discover the good, the bad and the ugly about moving to Turkey.
Thousands of expats and repeat holidaymakers to Turkey would like to learn the national language. Being fluent in Turkish bridges the social and cultural gaps but for expats or people in mixed cultural relationships, it also makes daily life much easier when you speak the native tongue. Some people have learned the language without difficulties, but most of our expat customers say it is hard, and they would love to find easy ways to learn Turkish - find out easy ways to learn Turkish here.
In a bid to increase numbers of property sales to foreigners, the Turkish government is set to pass a law that will grant overseas buyers citizenship when they purchase a property valued at more than 250,000 USD. The offer will appeal to buyers from the Middle East and Europe seeking not only excellent return on their investment, but access to a large regional hub with favourable tax laws.
For the most part, expats in Turkey enjoy splendid lifestyles. Attracted by hot summer days, cool evenings and a cheap rate of living, we go about our daily business with ease. Occasionally, though, some situations and interactions with native Turks leave us speechless. Mainly arising from a difference in culture and traditions as well as a language barrier, when they happen, we are quite uncertain of how to respond. Here are some examples of awkward scenarios that most expats in Turkey have encountered at least once.
Moving abroad can be challenging enough without having to adapt to your partner’s culture - not to mention their extended family. There's a language barrier, bureaucracy to navigate and friends to make. And that's just the first year. We speak to two people who have been there and done that: get the lowdown on moving to Turkey for love.
With around 30 million tourists heading to Turkey each year, it is no surprise that more and more tourists are turning into expats, adding to the ranks of foreigners who have purchased real estate in Turkey. With the standard of living increasing on a yearly basis and the infrastructure and development of the country providing a rapid rise in quality of life, the questions would-be expats are asking is: where to live? With 770,000 square miles to choose from, the abundance of choice can prove to be a difficult one to make: in this blog we provide you the most popular and best areas for expats to live in Turkey.
There are two types of people who move to Turkey: the planners, who spend time researching their new country and all their new lives will bring, and the impulsive, who dive in headfirst, making it up as they go along. Which group you belong to can greatly impact your chances in a new country. However, as much as you plan for the concrete there will always be a few things you hadn’t anticipated. We look at some of the most common mistakes people make when they move to Turkey - and how you can combat them.
It's rare to find the expat in Turkey who hasn't been afflicted at some point by homesickness. Whether it's a longing for your home, the loved ones you left behind - or even just your favourite food - homesickness is something every newcomer to Turkey will deal with at some point. Read our guide to the symptoms of homesickness, and how to combat its effects.
Moving to a new country isn’t easy. It’s not just sandy beaches and sparkling seas - navigating a new culture can be interesting at best, and utterly infuriating at its worst. From driving to queuing, discover the nine Turkish habits sure to drive a new expat round the ben. But don’t worry - we also give you a few ideas of how to manage them without blowing a gasket.
"I have many female friends who live and travel around Turkey as solo foreign women. Most are from the UK and a few from countries like Germany or Switzerland. Strangely enough, they all have a common bond in that they feel safer in Turkey than they ever did in their home countries." Natalie Sayin provides us with an interview on travelling and living in Turkey as a solo woman, giving lots of tips and advice to anyone thinking of heading to Turkish shores alone in the near future.
Life in Turkey is certainly a lot cheaper than life in the UK, both in terms of property prices, and just general living costs - in this blog we dive into exactly how much it would cost you to live in Turkey permanently, what your outgoings would be, and compare those to that of life in the UK. You might be surprised at just how much of a saving you could make with your new Turkish life.
With the introduction of an online system, applying for a Turkish Residence Permit has never been easier. The electronic system is the latest in a long line of measures designed to ease the way for foreigners to gain residency in Turkey - including the introduction of an automatic year-long residence permit for anyone who buys a property in Turkey, and the easing of the military clearance requirement.
Our first article on Turkey’s unspoken rules generated much discussion and debate. Based on the original article we’ve compiled a few follow-up rules. Have you encountered any of these during a trip to Turkey or among your Turkish friends? Read on and learn about some of the nuances that many people miss when they visit Turkey.
Researchers from a Turkish university have just completed a study exploring why the populations of certain villages have a life expectancy way beyond the norm. Turkey’s life expectancy has increased a great deal in the last couple of decades thanks to economic prosperity - but this is more than that. Whether it’s the Mediterranean diet or the high number of sunny days allowing people outside to exercise, We explore why life expectancy in Turkey is growing - and how it can impact anyone looking for a new life.
As Turkey becomes one of the top destinations in the world for expats and foreigners purchasing real estate, more people are asking: Do you need to learn Turkish in order to live in Turkey? In this blog we take a look at the language barrier you might experience if you move to Turkey, including some helpful tips for getting around it, and some helpful phrases to get you started on your way to learning some Turkish language skills.
There are thousands of expats living in Turkey - from the charming beach resorts in Bodrum, to the busy city life in Istanbul, to the sweeping town of Kalkan, it seems as though those who move to Turkey just can't get enough - some going so far as to write down their thoughts on life in the country in the form of blogs that have became credible sources of information for those thinking of joining the trend by moving to Turkey. We bring you the top 10 Turkish blogs by expats.
Drifting around Europe in the 70's travelling from place to place, read up on how Peter and Linda had the most extraordinary adventures before settling down in Faralya, Fethiye, where they have lived for the past two years and never looked back since. See what it is about Fethiye that made these two plucky adventurers from Down Under finally decide to settle in one place - Turkey. Have you moved to Turkey? Got a fascinating story to tell? Contact us and see yourselves featured in our very own travel and property blog just like Peter and Linda. We want to hear your stories about what makes Turkey tick for you.
Moving abroad is not a step you take lightly, it is a huge decision for anyone. From around the world people uproot and move on a daily basis, whether to a new city, a new country, or new continent. Those who make the decision to go for a life abroad probably face the hardest questions of all - it is not a lifestyle cut out for the faint-hearted. Once you have decided to buy a home in Turkey, what decisions are you going to face? What is the difference between life in Turkey and life at home? We answer the tough questions for you and try to make your move a smooth and easy process along the way.
There are many things to consider when planning to move overseas. Cultural fit and religion are certainly right there on top of most European's check lists. Should we buy a home in a Muslim country such as Turkey? Shall we fit in? Will it be safe and liberal? These are natural questions that would be overseas property buyers have on their compatibility check-lists. Our blog cuts straight to the chase and looks at the essence of life and religion in Turkey. Is Turkey really the 'Islamic' country we thought it was or is it something that is even superior to what we have in our home countries?
Those of us who have animals, know that an animal is certainly for life. Falling in love with your pet is easy, but what happens when you also fall in love for a region abroad? How easy is it to take animals abroad and back home? Karen tells her story about how she fell in love with Fethiye but was reluctant to move to Turkey at first for fear of leaving her beloved cat, Bungle, back home in the UK. It turns out, bringing a pet to and from Turkey isn't as hard as Karen first thought. Read how you can do the same, here with this blog and guide to all you need to know about pets and life abroad.