Talking Turkey - How AIPP members Chris and Jean Button became Agents of the Aegean

Turkey is a vast nation, straddling Europe and Asia, full of beauty and rich in heritage. The country also has welcoming people, fabulous cuisine, great beaches – and low prices especially at the moment with Sterling so high against the Lira in total contrast to its position against the Euro.

In 2003 we decided to visit Turkey to buy a property (never having visited it –  not really the best plan and one we wouldn’t advise!) for our own use and to rent out.   We loved the area and the prices were good so we ended up buying not one but two properties!   We had many ups and downs over the next couple of years getting the property looked after so we can empathise with anyone buying and the issues they may have or concerns they have.  All our problems led to us starting our own management company in a place called Altinkum on the Aegean Coast.

 

 

 

Our business grew and we opened a second office in Akbuk that our company built.  Our aim was always to provide all the services and support anyone with a second home in another country required.

Initially we had no plan to offer an estate agency service but our customers trusted us and asked if we would sell for them so in more recent years we have started offering and developing this service. We are now one of only two AIPP member companies whose offices are registered in the area.

 

 

Turkey has had a bad press in recent years and tourist numbers have dropped due to worries about the threat of terrorism.   However the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not changed its stance on Turkey, and the vast majority of the country remains safe in the eyes of the British government, including the popular coastal resorts where the majority of tourists go on holiday.

The Didim region (including Altinkum and Akbuk)  is on Western Turkey’s Aegean coast with long, warm summers and short, mild winters and some of the most beautiful landscapes in Turkey. Whether you like popular holiday resorts, secluded beaches, idyllic fishing harbours or the remains of ancient civilizations, it offers something for everyone.  The area is over 1000km (12 hours) from the Syrian border which is a similar distance of London from Berlin.

DIDIM  has something for everyone and  is an ideal holiday resort for those who love aquatics, fishing, diving, sailing, trekking, hunting, history and nature. The area is an idea base for visiting lots of cultural and heritage sites.  Just a few of the possible places would be:

  • Ephesus 1hr 30min
  • Miletus 30 min
  • Temple of Apollo 10 min
  • Prienne 1 hour
  • Bafa Lake (Caves with ancient murals) 30 min
  • Heiraklia Port 1hr
  • Bodrum 1hr 15 min

The two mains town in the area have a very different feel to them and help the area offer something for everyone.

Altinkum is the large,  busier resort and life centres on its promenade, with its myriad of shops, pavement cafes, restaurants and bars. There are 3 golden sandy beaches all offering the stunning rich blue hues of the Aegean Sea.  There is also a marina and yacht club.

Akbuk is a self- contained relaxed and tranquil resort just 20 minutes from the popular resort of Altinkum. Set on a large bay with stunning blue and calm waters and backed by mountains. It is the perfect location for a relaxed holiday.

Property in this area still offers excellent value for money compared to the nearby resorts of Bodrum and Kusadasi.  The area is served by the airports of Bodrum and Izmir and there will be more flights to both in 2018. You can fly to Izmir direct all year round on Pegasus from Stansted.

We love this area – it has so many activities to offer and whatever pace holiday you are looking for, you can get. We’ve owned in the area for more than 10 years and there are still places we have not been to and things we want to see!

 

5 Top Tips When Buying Property in Turkey

 

 

 

 

  • Use an AIPP Member Agent – Lets Group signed up early on when offering their Estate Agency service as they wanted to show their commitment to AIPP Code of Conduct and principles. Plenty of people have set up as agents in Turkey without any training or commitment to a tradesbody which means you have no recourse if things go wrong

  • If it looks too good to be true – it probably is! There are properties on the market that lack the proper paperwork and unscrupulous sellers take advantage of foreign buyers who don’t speak the language or understand the law

  • Use an independent lawyer – its not compulsory but it could be the best money you’ll ever spend – Search for an AIPP Legal Member here or look on the consulate website for a list of accredited solicitors

  • Buying off Plan is where many horror stories started but most developers are perfectly safe as long as you take the steps above – if in doubt take out a bank guarantee which means the developer has to reimburse you if anything goes wrong

  • Fix your currency rate once you have found the property you want to buy with a reputable Foreign Exchange company. Even quite small market fluctuations can mean you may be tens of thousands of pounds out when you actually come to pay for your dream home

For more about the area Jean suggests you visit:  https://www.didimgezgini.com/en/

For more information about Lets Group visit their page on the AIPP Member Directory

Our thanks to Jean and Chris Button of Let’s Group for this article

Do you own a property in Didim? We’d love to hear about it and your experience of owning – join The Alliance today and get involved in our community!