About Turkey

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Turkey is the only country in the world to straddle two continents. Located on the border of Europe and Asia, it’s largest city, Istanbul, forms an elegant and graceful bridge over the Bosphorous.

In total, Turkey covers an area of over 800.000 sq. kilometres and is surrounded by four seas; the Mediterranean to the South, the Aegean Sea to the West, the Marmara Sea to the North West, and the Black Sea to the North. It’s picturesque seashores stretch for over 8000 kilometres.

Turkish nature offers variety with palm beaches and snowy mountains, rivers, lakes, dams and steppe, mountains and plains.

History on Turkish soil begins before millennia.  The land has been the birthplace of many cultures, which still boats their presence there today.  Two of the Seven Wonders of the World are in Turkey: the Artemis Temple in Efes and the Halikarnassos Mausoleum in Bodrum.  In Alanya, you can swim in the same waters as Cleopatra swam and have your rest on the same beach as her.  Mount Ararat, where Noah’s Arc stopped according to legend, is in eastern Turkey and again legend has it that St. Nicholas lived in Demre.

Turkey offers modern hotels and first class restaurants, and nightclubs that are open almost throughout the night.  Delicious cuisine, friendly people, numerous activities, good service and reasonable prices make holidays in Turkey just perfect.

Turkey is not any further than other popular Mediterranean destinations, only 3.5 hours flight from London.

• Population 70 million
• Area 814.578sq. km
• President Abdullah Gul
• Capital Ankara
• Other cities Istanbul,Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Adana, Antalya
• Religions Islam (99%)
• Languages Turkish
• Population growth 15.0 (1000 inhabitants)
• Average lifeexpectation 69.1 (1999)
• GDP/capita 2.878 USD (1999)
• GDP/industry Services 61.7%,industry 23.2%, and agriculture 15.0% (1999)
• Time +2 hrs(GMT)
• Currency Turkish Lira

Here are some reasons to make Turkey the hottest investment spot.

1. Property prices are still lower than equivalent European destinations
2. Cost of living is 1/3rd of that in the UK
3. The Aegean coast offers an all round season (350 sunny days a year )for good holiday rental opportunities.
4. Excellent property investment growth is predicted with holiday operators and airlines increasing capacity.
5. Low property acquisition and ongoing taxes
6. Fastest going economies attracting large corporate investments
7. Rich in cultural history and ancient historical ruins
8. Excellent road and air networks providing good infrastructure around the country
9. Turkey has some of Europe’s attractive and stunning beaches making it a very popular holiday destination
10. Voted 3rd in the A Place in the Sun television programme to buy property (2005) and 4th most popular as a destination by the A Place in the Sun reader (2006) Turkey 2nd most popular country to buy property in the next three years –
11. NatWest survey of mortgage lenders, February 2008
12. Arrival of low coast Airlines Easy Jet, Sun Express , British Airways,Onur Air serving all year round services.

Living in Turkey

Sunshine, friendly people and a low cost of living make Turkey a hugely desirable place in which to buy a property…

Turkey may border the volatile Middle East, yet it is a stable, secular and democratic country. Its geopolitical position, close to the USSR, made it a key Western ally during the Cold War, and it became a member of NATO in 1952.

The country has continued to be an important friend of the West, although the war in Iraq has put this relationship under strain, particularly as there is widespread popular discontent at events there. Many Turks also feel let down by what they see as European foot – dragging over their country’s application to join the EU. Despite this, the political establishment and military remain pro – Western.

The country is currently run by the Ak Partisi, which enjoys a large majority in parliament – a rare thing in the usually fragmented world of Turkish politics.

Turkey’s population is 99% is Muslim, but most Turks are far more moderate in their beliefs than their neighbours in Middle East. The west of the country and the main cities such as the capital Ankara, plus Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bursa, are the most developed areas, where industry and commercial activity are concentrated. This is also where the tourists industry and foreign property market are currently concentrated.

The crime rate in Turkey is very low compared to Britain and other Western European countries. Violent crime is particularly very rare, Burglary and car crime also less common and almost entirely confined to the larger cities and towns