News

2013 is the year to invest in Turkey, say experts

Ivan Radford — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:49:00 GMT

Turkey's appeal to property investors has surged since the start of 2013, as the weaker Pound makes the Eurozone unattractive to UK buyers, according to Turkish property experts Spot Blue.

Combined with plans for the world's largest airport getting under way in Istanbul and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluating Turkey's strengthening candidature for hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2013 is the year to invest in Turkey, Spot Blue argues.

Indeed, Istanbul's third "mega airport" is forecast to be operational by 2017, when it will have a capacity of 90 million passengers a year. However, once complete, the new airport's six runways will be capable of handling 150 million passengers a year, more than any existing airport globally. While its creation around 37 miles north-west of the city-centre will strengthen Istanbul's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, for which it is competing against Madrid and Tokyo, the new airport is part of the Turkish Government's longer term 2023 Master Plan - a nationwide programme of infrastructure developments due for completion in time for the centenary of the birth of the Turkish Republic in 2023.

Turkey's largest airport currently is Atatürk in Istanbul, which was Europe's sixth busiest airport in 2012, recording more than 20 per cent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers. Ambitious expansion plans by Turkey's national carrier, Turkish Airways, which by the end of June 2013 will have launched 30 new routes around the world within 12 months, means Atatürk is likely to overtake Madrid into fifth place during 2013. Antalya, gateway to Turkey's popular Mediterranean coast, is Turkey's second busiest airport.

Having never hosted the Olympic Games means winning the bid for the 2020 Games would be a huge boost for Turkey's tourism and property markets, as well as encourage foreign investment and enhance its global standing. The winning country will be announced by the IOC on 7th September in Buenos Aires.

Even without the Olympics, Turkey's popularity as a tourist destination continues to grow each year. Said Julian Walker: "It's comforting for people buying holiday homes in Turkey that in the most recent United Nations World Tourism Organisation report (2012), which ranks countries by the number of international tourist arrivals, Turkey climbed to sixth place from seventh. And in December, the UNWTO ranked the Mediterranean destination of Antalya as one of the five most popular tourist destinations in the world, on a par with Paris, London, New York and Singapore."

Meanwhile, in the 2013 edition of the Post Office's annual holiday price comparison survey, Turkey has made it back into the top 10 most affordable places to have a holiday, ranking it cheaper than other popular destinations such as Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Orlando, Malta, Italy and France.

Julian Walker, director at Turkish property specialist Spot Blue, said: "Given how much is happening, it's hardly surprising global financial institutions continue to highlight the potential of Turkish real estate. Recently, accountancy firm Ernst & Young ranked Turkey the second most attractive market for investors in its 2013 'European Real Estate Trend Indicator' report and PricewaterhouseCoopers ranked Istanbul number one for 'Development Prospects' in its 2013 'Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe' report."

Continued Julian Walker: "That you can still buy a new apartment in an Istanbul suburb for less than £60,000 seems incredible value, given that the city is already a cultural and commercial hub and has so much more potential thanks to the 2023 Master Plan. That Turkey was recently upgraded to investment grade by Fitch Ratings is reassuring too."

Getting a taste for Turkey?

Browse our listings of Turkish real estate:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

5 Turkish property hotspots to tantalise your taste buds

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:38:00 GMT

When it comes to Turkey, the tastier the better. Whether it's warm water or a pristine beach, whatever gets your mouth watering is top of a buyer's wish list. And so TheMoveChannel.com analysed its enquiries over the last 12 months to profile some of the most appealing destinations in the country.

Here are five Turkish property hotspots to tantalise your taste buds:

Mavisehir

Mavisehir was once a quiet, sleepy place, but an increasing number of tourists have turned it into a lively hotspot for visitors. Now, English cuisine complements traditional culture, while new developments offer high quality holiday homes, resulting in an area that attracts holidaymakers in the summer and overseas investors all year round.

View TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Mavisehir

Mersin province

Located in the south of Turkey, the province of Mersin is a coastal area between the province of Antalya and Adana. Home to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul, Mersin's history is more of an attraction than its beaches thanks to the more popular Antalya shoreline next door, but mineral water springs attract visitors all year round.

View TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in the Mersin province

Ortakoy

A village in the Beşiktaş district of Istabul, Ortakoy is a lively destination for tourists and residents, with culture and nightlife mixing in a fun blend of galleries, clubs and cafes. The village is also well known for its beautiful mosque, located right by the Bosphorus, which adds to the area's attractive landscape.

View TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Ortakoy

Uzumlu

A town in the Eastern Anatolia region, Uzumlu is a traditional Turkish village famous for its textiles and food. Located only a short 20 minutes from the resort of Fethiye, Uzumlu still feels a long way from the bustling tourist circuit, with the woodland hills of Lycia providing a quietly jaw-dropping backdrop for a second home.

View TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Uzumlu

Ovacik

Located in the Fethiye district of the Mugla province, Ovacik is a small village that offers quiet getaway from the usual Turkish tourist hotspots. Located at the foot of Babadağ Mountain, its range of hotels, villas and proximity to the beach, not to mention its hot summer and mild winters, make Ovacik one of Turkey's tastiest places to buy property.

View TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Ovacik

Turkish property face-off: Aegean vs Alanya

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:53:00 GMT

Two of the most popular Turkish property regions are Aegean and Alanya. But which area is better? After analysing enquiry rates in 2012, TheMoveChannel.com compares the most sought-after hotspots within each region to determine which should be top of buyers' lists:

Akbuk

Akbuk's population is only a few thousand, but during the summer months that number soars to over 10 times as big. Why? Because this tiny holiday resort in the Aegean Region is close to Bodrum airport and boasts beautiful beaches around its bay: a recipe for holiday home perfection.

For more information on property in Akbuk, click here

Izmir

A large town in the Aegean Region, Izmir is the third most populous metropolis in Turkey and is closely connected to the coastal resorts of Çeşme and Kuşadası , both of which are popular with tourists during the summer.

For more information on property in Izmir, click here

Side

One of the most famous classical sites in Turkey, the coastal town of Side is a resort steeped in ancient city. The ruins, which include a hospital and theatre, add a cultural edge to the second largest white sand beach in the country. Together, they add up to one of the Mediterranean's most charming quiet property gems.

For more information on property in Side, click here

Çeşme

Located near to Izmir, Çeşme is a holiday resort with a wealth of country homes and second houses that appeals to overseas and domestic buyers alike. Hotels, restaurants and flawless coastlines combine to create one of the main hubs of international tourism in Turkey.

For more information on property in Çeşme, click here

Avsallar

Located in the Antalya Province, Avsallar is a coastal town that has grown from a citrus farming centre into a tourist hotspot, complete with hotels, beaches and restaurants. The town is well connected to nearby Alanya and other major Turkish destinations via the state highway, making it easily accessible for overseas tourists and investors.

For more information on property in Avsallar, click here

Brazil and Turkey most attractive emerging property markets, says AFIRE

Ivan Radford — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:07:00 GMT

For the first time since the question was first asked in 2001, four of the five cities selected by the members of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) as the top global cities for their investment dollars are in the U.S.

The top five global cities are: New York, London, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Houston, according to the results of the 21^st annual survey conducted among the members of the association and released today.

The survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2012 among the association's nearly 200 members. AFIRE member firms have an estimated $2 trillion or more in real estate assets under management globally. The survey was conducted by the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, Wisconsin School of Business.

"The strong endorsement of both San Francisco and Houston by our members in this year's survey directly reflects the propensity for real estate investment to follow jobs, in this case, technology and energy, which are thought to be among the top drivers of the next economic wave," said James A. Fetgatter, chief executive, AFIRE. "As other economic drivers emerge, it will not be surprising to see investors seek opportunities beyond the traditional New York and Washington, D.C. markets."

The biggest change internationally is the emergence of Turkey as one of the top four markets for capital appreciation and the third-ranking among the emerging countries selected for respondents' investment dollars.

In this year's survey a strong confidence in U.S. real estate emerged:

The U.S. is overwhelmingly first-ranked in providing opportunities for capital appreciation, receiving 55 percent of the vote. The second-ranked country, Brazil, received 17 percent of the vote.
Thirty-nine percent of survey respondents have a more optimistic perspective than they did a year ago regarding the U.S. real estate market. Most reported that their perspective has not changed from last year and the pessimistic view expressed by 33 percent of respondents in last year's survey has all but disappeared.
Eighty-one percent plan to increase their portfolio size in the U.S. with 31 percent planning a "major net increase." None reported plans to decrease their U.S. portfolios.
Seventy-one percent of respondents also say they agree that improving fundamentals will make secondary markets in the U.S. more desirable in 2013.
With 55 percent of respondents' votes, the U.S. is strongly regarded as providing the most stable and secure real estate investment opportunities. This approximates last year's vote. It is in marked contrast to 2009 when only 43 percent of respondents selected the U.S. as the most stable and secure investment environment. This year, Canada, the second-ranked country, achieved 18 percent of these votes.

"The dominance of U.S. cities among investors' "Top Global" choices, with four of the five being in the U.S., evidences the U.S. as the most transparent, professional, and liquid real estate market in the world," said Christoph A. Kahl, Chairman, JAMESTOWN US-Immobilien GmbH and the newly elected chairman of AFIRE. "Particularly as compared to other countries, population growth in the U.S. will be a major driver for long-term capital appreciation and is one of the reasons why the institutional investment community worldwide favors the U.S. for its real estate allocations."

Global Snapshot

Top Global Cities

1. New York (#1 last year)
2. London (#2 last year)
3. San Francisco (#5 last year)
4. Washington, D.C. (#3 last year)
5. Houston (unranked last year)

The countries providing the most stable and secure real estate investments in 2013 are

1. U.S.A. (#1 last year)
2. Canada (#2 last year)
3. Germany (#3 last year)
4. Australia (#4 last year)
5. United Kingdom (#5 last year) tied with Sweden (unranked last year)

Country Providing the Best Opportunity for Capital Appreciation

1. U.S.A. (#1 last year)
2. Brazil (#2 last year)
3. United Kingdom (#4 last year, tied with Australia)
4. Turkey (#9 last year)

Top Emerging Markets for Real Estate Investment

1. Brazil (#1 last year)
2. China (#2 last year)
3. Turkey (#7 last year)
4. India (#3 last year) and Mexico (#5 last year)

U.S. Snapshot

Top U.S. Cities

1. New York (#1 last year)
2. San Francisco (#3 last year)
3. Washington, D.C. (#2 last year)
4. Houston (#7 last year)
5. Boston (#4 last year)

Preferred Property Types

1. Multi-family (#1 last year)
2. Industrial (#2 last year)
3. Retail (#4 last year)
4. Office (#3 last year)
5. Hotel (#5 last year)

Will Turkey’s new tax deter hungry buyers?

Ivan Radford — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:34:00 GMT

Photo credit: Bryan_T

Demand for Turkey's property has surged in recent years, but new VAT rules announced at the start of 2013 have raised fears that buyer appetites may be curbed.

The new tax, which applies to homes under 150 square metres in size licensed by the end of 2013, will increase costs for investors, say experts, with some expecting sales to fall as a result.

Ömer Faruk Çelik, chief executive officer of Sinpaş REIT, told the Hürriyet Daily News; "Real estate demand was stuck at around 400,000 sales for several years, and the new tax will pull down the sales even lower."

The regulations replace a size-based rule that taxed properties over 150 square metres at 18 per cent and smaller homes at just 1 per cent. Indeed, the complexity of the system may also deter investors, with fees determined by six variables - size, value per square metre, luxury house status, license year, the neighbourhood and the status of the city.

"Overall this is bad news for the sector," Selim Cakir, an analyst at Turk Ekonomi Bankasi told Bloomberg. "New projects will be impacted negatively."

But others take a far more positive stance.

The changes have already sparked a short-term rush from buyers keen to purchase new property licensed before 2013, while agents expect demand for existing homes to increase, with resales presenting better value for money for buyers.

The growing demand for existing homes should also benefit investors who have already bought Turkish real estate, argue experts, with values increasing significantly over recent years. Indeed, one AFIRE survey recently found that Turkey was the fourth best country in the world for real estate price appreciation, flying up the charts from ninth place.

The new tax also follows a major revision to the country's property system last year, which opened it up to investors outside of the EU for the first time.

Demand has since rocketed upwards, with buyers from the Gulf swarming the market. Now, more than 50 per cent of Iranian buyers plan to invest heavily in Turkey and the UAE over the next two years, according to a new survey, with 15 per cent saying Istanbul is their number one destination of choice.

Indeed, as of December 2012, nearly 112,300 foreigners have bought 90,000 properties in Turkey's top 10 cities, according to the Environment and Urban Planning inventory.

Michael & Alison Rowe, Proprietors of Bluewater Homes, expect that demand from overseas to continue: "Inflation in Turkey is low and the Turkish interest rates are higher than in the UK. This, along with the fact that Turkey still has a growing economy, means that it remains a top choice for purchasing property for investment or for your holiday home."

Speaking exclusively to TheMoveChannel.com, they explain that the new tax has had no effect on their sales yet, with the majority of demand focussing on resale properties.

The cost may not even be passed onto buyers, they suggest:

"The larger developers have said to us that they may absorb all or most of this tax to remain competitive. From a buyer's perspective, this new change could be a useful bargaining tool, as all developers and builders will want to remain competitive."

They conclude: "We do not think that these changes will affect what is already a buoyant market."

Still hungry for Turkey?

Browse our listings of Turkish real estate:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Currency Watch: Sterling continues slow start to 2013

Ivan Radford — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:39:00 GMT

Sterling has continued its slow start to 2013 with sentiment on the British pound still low.

Standing against the US Dollar continued to benefit American buyers, with rates threatening to break 1.5900, with the GBP weakened thanks to fears surrounding the UK's recession-hit economy.

"UK manufacturing PMI is due this morning," reports currency broker UK Forex, "and if better than expected might provide the momentum for GBP/USD to make it through. If it does and taking a medium term view this might provide opportunities for investors to buy dollars as the outlook for the UK economy remains bleak, evidenced by the weak GDP data released last week."

"Across the pond yesterday US data came in generally weaker than forecast (this included unemployment claims and personal spending) and it dragged on the greenback," added the broker.

The Euro, meanwhile, is looking strong against the dollar as the ECB announced in January that banks would be repaying 30pc of the LTRO at the end of the month. Even disappointing German retail sale data has not hampered the strengthening of the currency, although the USD is expected to continue to improve.

For more information on currency exchange services with UK Forex, visit our currency channel:

http://currency.themovechannel.com

Turkey economy expected to keep on growing

Ivan Radford — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:23:00 GMT

In the face of a generally gloomy world economy, it seems there is nothing but good news for Turkey. Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek has reported that the economy grew around 3 percent in 2012 and is expected to grow by 4 percent in 2013 with The World Bank adding that it anticipated a further 4.5 percent growth during 2014.

Turkey's economy has been strengthening for years. By 2011 the country was ranked 18th in the world in terms of GDP(World Bank) while its economy was the fastest growing in Europe at 8.5 percent. With inflation falling and healthy growth predictions for the coming years, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is confident in his country's '2023 Vision' of becoming one of the top ten economies in the world.

Overseas investment makes up a significant part of the economy: in the past nine years, Turkey has absorbed $110 billion of overseas investment according to CNBC, while A.T. Kearney's Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index ranked it as the 13th most attractive destination for foreign investment in 2012.

With the number of tourists arriving in Turkey increasing year on year (reaching 31.78 million visitors in 2012), and overseas investment in the Turkish property market predicted to rise from $2.5 billion to $10 billion over the next few years, it is easy to see why award winning developer Akbuk Resort Group has identified Turkey as the ideal place for its stunning new Harmony Bay Resort & Spa.

Scheduled to open in 2014, the resort is attracting a healthy blend of business partnerships and individual investments. Agreements have just been finalised with Wyndham Hotel Group and Sophos Hotels, who manage a large proportion of the Wyndham Ramada resorts, meaning the resort will come under the Ramada brand as 'Ramada Resort Akbuk.'

The resort, which boasts magnificent panoramic views across the beautiful Akbuk Bay and the Aegean Sea beyond, will feature a delightful hotel and a range of luxury suites. Its exclusive spa, fine dining restaurants and extensive leisure and fitness options will add to the attractions of the area's stunning coastline and wealth of historical sites.

Lee Harley, Operations Director of Akbuk Resort Group, explains the development's investment opportunities,

"Harmony Bay Resort & Spa has something to offer every investor. We are excited to be part of Turkey's bright future and are offering a flexible range of investment options, in line with the country's forward-thinking economic outlook. From full purchase to fractional ownership SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) investments, we are enabling our investors to generate lucrative returns by becoming part of one of the world's fastest growing and strongest economies."

Expecting your appetite for Turkey to grow?

Browse our listings of Turkish property:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Jones Lang LaSalle finds global investment capital leans towards real estate

Ivan Radford — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:53:00 GMT

Report shows commercial real estate direct investment volume will more than double to US$1 trillion by 2030; Asia Pacific region leads investment growth since crisis.

DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As business and political leaders discuss global challenges at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) reveals that investors are already responding to shifting economic conditions by funnelling more capital into commercial real estate, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. In fact, the firm estimates that the direct commercial real estate transactional market will exceed US$1 trillion per annum by 2030, compared with 2012 volumes of nearly US$450 billion .

"Capital growth ambitions that dictated many investment decisions before the financial crisis have given way to a global hunt for secure income streams in a low-interest-rate environment," said Colin Dyer, President and CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle. "While real estate asset values have shown no immunity to the financial shocks of recent years, real estate nevertheless is emerging as a preferred option for many investors."

The report, "The Advancement of Real Estate as a Global Asset Class," finds that:

Asia Pacific has outpaced other regions in real estate activity since the global financial crisis, achieving commercial real estate investment volume in 2012 equal to 77 percent of the previous peak reached in 2007. The Americas have only reached 62 percent of that level, while Europe's investment volume is 46 percent of its peak amount.
The impact of the growing pool of capital seeking exposure to real estate can be substantial. A 1.2 percent reallocation to real estate by the 30 largest sovereign wealth funds would increase capital allocation by US$50 billion, equivalent to the entire Sydney CBD office market.

Investors are targeting a limited number of super-prime assets, chiefly office and retail buildings in major gateway cities, that have emerged as the most desired assets for some institutional investors intent on owning the most stable, best-located assets, fully leased to the most desirable tenants. Competitive bidding has driven prices on many of these properties up to and beyond pre-crisis levels.

Investment portfolios shift toward real estate

Across eleven major global markets, spreads between real bond rates and prime-grade office market yields are on average 195 basis points wider now than in the fourth quarter of 2007, JLL found. Those higher returns are convincing many investors to increase exposure to real estate.

"With sovereign bond market yields at multi-decade, and in some cases multi-century, lows, and with the outlook for capital growth subdued, yield becomes a core driver of investment returns," said Dyer. "The spread between real estate and sovereign debt yields remains high, offering generous compensation to investors for the additional risk associated with real estate."

To a lesser extent, increased allocations to real estate also reflect investor efforts to reduce risk by diversifying away from the traditional portfolio mainstays of bonds and equities, JLL's report concludes.

Asia Pacific real estate takes the lead

The Asia Pacific region is emerging as the long-term winner in the global contest for investment capital, boosted by the rise of domestic pension funds and private wealth. Since 2008, strong economic growth that contrasted with recessionary contraction in Europe and North America has fuelled real estate activity.

Operational challenges, low levels of liquidity and in some cases undeveloped capital markets currently constrain institutional investment in the region, which partly explains why most western institutions are underweighted in the Asia Pacific region relative to the size of its real estate markets. Over the long term, however, JLL expects relative portfolio weightings to move in favour of the region as high rates of saving, rapid urbanisation, the inexorable rise of the middle classes and evidence of improving transparency increase investor confidence and interest in the region.

More trends explored

JLL's report identifies several other trends emerging around the globe, including efforts to increase transparency, the rapidly expanding practice of sale-leasebacks in Asia, and the increasing pace of renovations or replacement of aging real estate to better meet the needs of modern commercial tenants.

We want your properties - all of them!!

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:26:00 GMT

Lead Galaxy's network of overseas property portals, including TheMoveChannel.com, attracts 600,00 unique international buyers every month.

This year, Lead Galaxy wants to help its website visitors to have the widest possible choice of listings around the world.

There are already no limits on the number of properties you can list with Lead Galaxy - but for 2013 they're offering discounts to encourage you to add more listings.

The more you list, the more you save!

Visitors to TheMoveChannel.com (and other portals) get more properties to look at; you get more leads AND you pay less per lead. Everybody wins.

As you can see - the more listings you add, the lower the cost per lead you pay:

Package Max Listings Minimum Cost Per Lead

Listing 1 Property £15 per Lead

Multi 5 Properties £14 per Lead

Selection 10 Properties £13 per Lead

Variety 25 Properties £12 per Lead

Collection 50 Properties £11 per Lead

Range 125 Properties £10 per Lead

Portfolio 250 Properties £9 per Lead

Catalogue 500 Properties £8 per Lead

Database 1000 Properties £7 per Lead

How do I add my properties?

You can list your properties manually, or automatically via XML feed.

How much does it cost?

Start listing your properties with as little as £50 and no obligation: that credit stays in your account until you decide to use it.

For regular spenders, Lead Galaxy can offer free featured positions on our portals, email campaigns and other loyalty rewards to help your money go even further.

UK overtakes Brazil in economic league table

Ivan Radford — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:02:00 GMT

The recession may still be hitting Britain, but the UK's economy climbed above Brazil in the World Economic League Table last year.

Brazil's booming economy saw it seize sixth spot from the UK in 2011, but the country's weak currency helped Britain climb back up the ladder, leaving the Latin American nation waiting until 2014 to replace the UK once again. Over the rest of the period to 2022, Brazil will move up another place in the League Table, overtaking Germany and France but being overtaken in turn by India.

Indeed, by 2017, India will overtake the UK as well to become the world's largest Commonwealth economy.

The world's top 3 economies, the US, China and Japan, are forecast to remain in the same relative positions for the next ten years. But by 2022 the Chinese economy, currently 53% of the size of the US economy, is predicted to be 83% of the size of the US economy and catching up fast.

Russia rose from 11th position in the league table in 2010 to 9th in 2011. In 2013, it starts overtaking large Western European economies and is predicted to reach the no 7 position by 2022.

Fast-growing Indonesia is one of this year's shooting stars. Currently (2012) the world's 16th largest economy, it is forecast to rise six places to enter the world's top ten in 2022. Other Asian economies also move up the ranking. Thailand goes up 6 places from No 30 in 2012 to No 24 in 2022; Taiwan from 27th to 20th and Korea from 15th to 12th.

European countries fall back. Germany falls from No 4 in 2012 to No 6 in 2022 and the UK from 6th to 8th. But the biggest fallers in Europe are France, which is forecast to fall from 5th to 9th, and Italy from 8th to 13th. By 2022, the Italian economy will be close to falling behind economically powerful emerging markets like Turkey and Mexico.

Comments Cebr Chief Executive Douglas McWilliams: "The Indians have lost to us at cricket this winter but they are on track to beat us at economics. By 2017 we predict that the Indian economy will be the largest economy in the Commonwealth, overtaking the UK economy.

"We are beating some other countries, though. We are poised to overtake France either in 2013 or 2014 as the economic effects of President Hollande's 75% tax policy and the difficulties of the euro drag France down.

"We have been neck and neck with Brazil for some time. Last year they overtook us; this year we have overtaken them again. From 2014 onwards, however, their more dynamic economy is likely to pull them decisively beyond us.

"Cebr's World Economic League Table (WELT) shows the dramatic changes now taking place in the world's economic geography with slow growing European economies falling back and Asian economies, even though their growth is slowing, catching up."

Where are you looking to invest?

Browse our listings of overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

5 houses to help you survive the end of the world

Ivan Radford — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:42:00 GMT

As the world spends the last few weeks of 2012 debating whether the Mayans were right and that the world will actually end on Friday 21^st December, few people are doing what needs to be done: finding a place to hole up and stay safe.

With this in mind, TheMoveChannel.com scours the global property market to find real estate that might resist the apocalypse.

Here are five houses to help you survive the end of the world:

Secret submarine base, Norway

Photo credit: Geekologie

The Olavsvern Naval Submarine caught the world's eye when it went on sale in June this year. The NATO-funded hideout boasts a 27,000 square foot Alpine resort and several garages, but the property's main survival tool is the giant underground hangar hidden deep inside a bomb-proof mountain. Just the place to store your submarine - and if you're serious about preparing for the apocalypse, you'll definitely need one of those.

Nuclear missile silo, USA

Photo credit: Realtor.com

Trust America to have its own missile silo up for sale. The nuclear base, unused for decades, has been converted into a luxury home for those ready to bunker down and get through the planet's darkest days. The 1,800 square-foot property appears to be a traditional mountain lodge, but underneath the floorboards lies a launch pad for an intercontinental ballistic missile built in the 1950s. Which means that if the aliens are coming: you're ready.

Doomsday bunker, Nebraska

Photo: Terravivos.com (via CNN)

In the wake of Japan's tragic earthquakes, sales of these doomsday bunkers in Nebraska shot up by 1,000%, according to CNN. Reservations for a room in a 200-person property require a minimum deposit of $5,000 with Vivos, but demand for the company's shelter soared. "People are afraid of the earth-changing events and ripple effects of the earthquake, which led to tsunamis, the nuclear meltdown, and which will lead to radiation and health concerns," commented the company's CEO Robert Vicino. "Where it ends, I don't know. Does it lead to economic collapse? A true economic collapse would lead to anarchy, which could lead to 90% of the population being killed off."

Cheerful dinner conversation not included.

Posh doomsday bunkers, Switzerland

Photo: Flavorwire

There are doomsday bunkers and doomsday bunkers. These are the latter. Located in the Swiss hills, these shelters, designed by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Muller, have industrial-themed decor and windows, but the real sign of security comes from the front door, which is hidden deep inside the mountains, through an underground tunnel, the entrance to which is a fake shed. Make sure you leave the pub with enough time to find the front door before the apocalypse begins.

Adult movie bunker, LA

Photo credit: CBSLocal.com

What will the human race do during the cold, lonely months after the end of the world? One LA movie studio has the answer: a post-apocalyptic underground bunker, which will allow "1,200 to 1,500 people" to enter and provide them with bars, a performing stage and a "sophisticated content production studio", just to make sure that the world's supply of adult films outlives the rest of us. The studio's website will also continue to run, promises the company, even if it is only on the bunker's internal local network.

"Our goal is nothing less than to survive the apocalypse to come in comfort and luxury," Pink Visual spokesman Quentin Boyer told CBS Los Angeles, "whether that catastrophe takes the form of fireballs flung earthward by an all-seeing deity, extended torrential rainfall, Biblical rapture, an earthquake-driven mega-tsunami, radioactive flesh-eating zombies, or some combination of the above."

You can't say they're not prepared.

Don't believe the world is going to end?

Browse our listings of overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Expats in Asia and Latin America set for biggest wage rise in 2013

Ivan Radford — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:12:00 GMT

Click here to view the full infographic

Australian workers can expect only modest pay rises next year while high growth markets in nearby Asia will see wages increase by up to three times that of their Western neighbours, according to the latest pay forecast data by global management consultancy, Hay Group.

With varied Australian business performance across sectors especially the decrease of the resources sector, pay forecast rates are becoming more differentiated for individual sectors and specific roles.

In Australia, pay overall will rise by an average of just four per cent in 2013, whereas in growth markets including Vietnam (12.8%), Indonesia (10.6%), India (10.5%), the Philippines (8%) and Malaysia (6.2 %) wages are expected to increase rapidly. While in China, workers can expect wage hikes of 9.5 % as the intensifying ‘war for talent' continues despite slowing economic growth (up 1.1% on last year).

Interestingly, pay rises in the second generation of high growth Asian economies are outstripping those of their colleagues in the region's more developed countries. For example, in Japan, wages will increase by just 2% next year.

Steve Paola, Senior Consultant at Hay Group, said Australian organisations are facing an increased threat from maturing markets in nearby Asia, due to slowing growth rates.

"With strong economic growth in Asia translating into need for talent and rocketing wage hikes, local organisations may struggle to keep their most talented employees in the country as they are increasingly being enticed to work for companies located in buoyant Asian markets.

"As a result, Australian businesses need to ensure they have reward strategies in place that deliver strong incentives for their current and future employees enabling them to retain high performing staff despite modest pay increase forecasts.

"Ensuring local talent is retained through providing growth and development opportunities and an engaging work environment are important non-financial retention strategies."

According to Hay Group's research, salaries in developed Western economies will experience the smallest increases in 2013, as GDP growth remains broadly flat.

Across North America, pay will rise by 2.9% - the lowest of any global region - and in Europe, crisis-weary companies in Greece and Ireland will not raise pay next year, against a subdued regional average of 3.3%. Increases in Germany, the UK (both 3%) and France (2.6%) will also be subdued and across the region the pay rises on offer are lower than in 2012 when the average pay rise was 5.5%.

"It's no secret that employees in developed markets face a tough year ahead with small wage increases however despite the weak outlook there is an upside for Australian workers as it is predicted they will receive higher pay rises than most of their Western counterparts," said Paola.

Latin America will experience the highest overall rise in salaries next year (9% on average), with Venezuelan workers set to see wages jump by a colossal 29% - driven largely by high inflation.

Looking for a profitable life abroad?

Browse our listings of property for sale overseas:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Demand for Turkish property predicted to rise in 2013

Ivan Radford — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:53:00 GMT

Demand for Turkish property is predicted to continue rising in 2013, according to agents.

Leggett Turkey expects demand from investors to rise, with interest in commercial property particularly starting to grow.

Research from GYODER (The association of real estate investment companies) shows that, overall, new home prices grew by just over 12% in 2012.

"Figures like this can always be misleading," warns Leggett, "as Turkey has a series of micro markets dependent upon location and property type. However, it's clear that 2012 has been another excellent year for the property market here.It started with a report issued by PWC and the Urban Land Institute that ranked Istanbul as the top city in the world in terms of investment and development and it is finishing in an upbeat mood as Fitch recently upgraded Turkey to ‘Investment Grade'.

"This is no flash in the pan though," continues the agent. "GYODER research shows sustained growth over the past five years and a Turkey property investment briefing hosted by Aberdeen Asset Management called the Turkish market ‘mature and stable'."

Speaking at the event Herman Kok (international research director at Multi Corporation) said:

"Turkey used to be a hyper-inflationary economy and highly volatile. But since it has left that phase behind in the last ten years. Since 2002 the Government has created a stable platform for the economy". Kok then went on to point out that the Government had also got a grip on both inflation and debt. He added that public sector debt is 40% of GDP compared to 100% previously. This is significantly lower than both Germany and France."

But what does this mean for the day to day market? Bilfer Budak Roche heads up Leggett Turkey and comments:

"Traditionally we have seen international interest in buying coastal villas, flats and apartments in well known resort areas. This demand continues and has been strengthened by the recent revisions to Turkish property law abolishing the "reciprocity" rule and giving access to buyers from new countries including those in the Middle East and Russia.

"We have also seen an increase in demand for more commercial style projects including hotels, developments and investment property. This means that we have been busy extending our property portfolio which now includes some excellent opportunities for developers and investors.

"One area we see as key to good investment in 2013 is the purchase of prime land. Many of the best sites have been snapped up and it's becoming harder to find suitable plots, this is where local knowledge really comes to the fore. The key to buying wisely is to find an agent that combines both local market knowledge and international expertise and to let them guide you through the process."

"We fully expect to see demand from international buyers to continue growing in 2013," concludes Roche. GYODER estimate that overseas investment in the Turkey property market is set to rise from the current $2.5bn a year to around $10bn per annum."

Ready to gobble up Turkey this Christmas?

Get your appetite going:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Europe property downturn “continues to surprise” as US continues to recovery

Ivan Radford — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:17:00 GMT

The world's housing markets posted mixed signals during the full year to Q3 2012, according to the latest survey by Global Property Guide, and Europe is at the eye of the storm.

Indeed, while the US property market continues to recovery, the scale of the European downturn, the sheer size of the downward pressure, "continues to surprise", admits the report.

Of the 44 countries for which quarterly house price figures are available, house prices fell in 23 countries, and rose in 21 countries during the year ending in the third quarter of 2012, again in inflation-adjusted terms.

America is the brightest sport on the real estate map. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally-adjusted purchase-only house price index rose by 2.31% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the highest growth seen since Q2 2006. The nationwide seasonally-adjusted S&P/Case-Shiller home price index also rose by 1.92% during the year to Q3 2012, in sharp contrast with its 7% year-on-year decline seen in Q3 2011.

Dubai, UAE, has also rebounded strongly. The price index for all residential properties surged by 14.43% during the year to end-Q3 2012, as compared to a meagre year-on-year increase of 0.96% seen in the same period last year.

Pacific housing markets are now recovering too. New Zealand's median house price rose by 5.19% during the year to end-Q3 2012, in sharp contrast with the 4.39% year-on-year decline in Q3 2011. Likewise, Australia's housing market is also improving, with house prices in its eight major cities falling by just 1.57% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the lowest decline since Q4 2010.

Meanwhile, there is some positive news for individual European housing markets. House price falls in Ireland may be decelerating. Ireland's residential property price index fell by 13.17% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the lowest decline since Q1 2011. In addition, house prices have risen significantly in Austria, Turkey, Latvia, Germany, Iceland and Finland.

But many European housing markets remain extremely depressed, and continue their rapid spiral downwards. House price falls are accelerating in Greece, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia and Lithuania. Of the 23 European countries included in the survey, 14 countries recorded house price falls while only 9 countries have seen house price increases. The nine weakest housing markets in the global survey are all in Europe.

Other bad news can be found in Asia, where the housing market surge has weakened. Seven of the 10 Asian housing markets included in the Global Property Guide survey performed more poorly this year than the previous year. Nonetheless, Asia's biggest housing market, China, is recovering, judging by the latest quarter's figures.

Where are you planning to invest in 2013?

Browse our listings of overseas real estate:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Reasons to go to the Mediterranean in 2013

Ivan Radford — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:34:00 GMT

LONDON, December 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Mediterranean is world-renowned for its relaxed way of life, deliciously healthy cuisine, exquisite beaches and 300 days of sunshine a year. With these connotations of the Mediterranean firmly embedded into our consciousnesses, it's hardly surprising that the Med remains one of the most popular places to holiday in the world.

Leading travel specialist Thomas Cook offer quality and affordable holidays to the Mediterranean and have generated this fantastic overview of just a few of the reasons why you should consider the Med for your holiday this year:

Greece

Represented in its flag, Greece's national colours are blue and white - white representing its beautiful beaches and buildings and blue the clear seas that surround it. For cheap Greece holidays in 2013 you may want to think about heading to one of Greece's numerous islands, such as Corfu, Crete, Rhodes or Thassos. These popular tourist resorts are competitively priced and have plenty to do and see for all the family.

Turkey

Hot on Greece's tail as a popular Mediterranean holiday destination is Turkey; a land equally rich in history, heritage, culture and life.

Turkey's Mediterranean shoreline, known as the Turquoise Coast, is almost 1,000 kilometres in length and is scattered with beautiful fine-sand beaches set within a backdrop of verdurous pine-clad forests.

Thomas Cook can help you find cheap holidays to Turkey which offer plenty to see and do and cater for a myriad of tastes and requirements.

Tunisia

Being lapped by the notoriously azure waters of the Mediterranean yet possessing the intense heat of North Africa, the wondrous sights, smells and experiences you will find in Tunisia will guarantee you have a holiday with a difference in 2013.

For those seeking a cultural break, a Tunisia holiday <http://www.thomascook.com/lp/1x6-en6uqa/holidays-tunisia> beckons as this wholly unrivalled country is home to many unique ancient sites, incredible museums and archaeological marvels.

For those with dreams of sunbathing and relaxing on the beach, Tunisia is blessed with beautiful coastlines that will suit you perfectly.

Cyprus

If you're looking for an affordable yet quality holiday in 2013, cheap holidays to Cyprus <http://www.thomascook.com/lp/1x6-en6ulb/holidays-cyprus> are a great option.

Cyprus is the third most populous island on the Mediterranean Ocean and is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Europe. With stunning views, quaint towns and villages and a nightlife scene that is virtually unrivalled, it's easy to gauge why this beautiful island is such a popular tourist hotspot.

Brazil property prices soar as Eurozone markets slump

Ivan Radford — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:29:00 GMT

Brazil property prices soared this year, according to Knight Frank's Global House Price Index, as eurozone markets slumped.

Brazil's real estate values jumped by 15.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2012, the highest annual increase in the world. Meanwhile, with the Eurozone now in its second recession in three years, buyers' confidence is at an all-time low, according to Knight Frank: all the bottom 12 rankings are occupied by European countries this quarter.

The Eurozone's 17 member states have on average seen prices fall by 1.8% in the 12 months to September. Other world regions such as South America and Asia Pacific have seen growth of 9.8% and 4.2% respectively.

Greece has now pushed Ireland off the bottom slot - where it has resided for five consecutive quarters - by recording an average price fall of 11.7% in the last year. Ireland, by comparison, has seen its rate of decline improve, up from -14.3% a year ago to -9.6%.

Overall, mainstream global property prices stand just 5.2% above the lows experienced in the wake of the financial crisis in Q2 2009.

Alongside Brazil, five other markets recorded double-digit annual price growth in the year to September; Hong Kong, Turkey, Russia, Colombia and Austria.

Despite positive data from the US - prices are 3.6% higher than in the third quarter of 2011, vacancy rates are at their lowest level since 2005 and housing starts are up 49% year-on-year - the US fiscal cliff casts significant doubt on this recovery.

Asia's policymakers are offering little hope of an Asian-driven recovery. China's new leadership looks set to continue with stringent property cooling measures and new lending restrictions in Hong Kong are likely to limit the availability of credit.

Knight Frank's Prime Global Cities Index, which tracks the value of luxury property in 26 cities across the world, shows that prime property values have climbed by 18.7% over the same period.

Kate Everett-Allen, International Residential Researcher at Knight Frank, said: "Confidence, affordability and debt are constraining Europe. Strict lending and the looming fiscal cliff may dent the early signs of growth in the US while regulatory measures in Asia are keeping housing markets in check. The current period of stagnation looks set to continue well into 2013."

Planning to invest in overseas real estate?

Browse our listings of Brazilian property:

http://brazil.themovechannel.com/property/all

Turkish property prices on the up

Ivan Radford — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:51:00 GMT

Turkish property prices are on the up, according to new figures.

The New Home Price Index from the country's Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (GYODER) shows that the average value of property in Turkey increased by 0.32 per cent in both August and September, marking 13 months of price increases in a row.

Indeed, Turkish property prices have jumped by 10.25 per cent in the last 12 months, reports A Place in the Sun.

One-bedroom apartments have led the way, increasing in price by 0.96 per cent since September, closely followed by three-bedroom homes, the prices of which jumped by 0.82 per cent. Two bed-room and four-bedroom homes saw prices rise by 0.78 and 0.67 per cent respectively.

Got an appetite for Turkey?

Gobble up our listings of apartments, houses and other Turkish real estate:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Top 5 Tips for Visiting Turkey

Ivan Radford — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:42:00 GMT

LONDON, December 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Thomas Cook joins forces with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office to bring you the inside Turkish track

• We reveal the best landmark, resort, beach, city and experiences to help you get the most from your holiday

Whether you are flying into Dalaman or Antalya on your cheap holidays to Turkey you need to ensure that you make the most of your time in this stunning country. We have put together our top five attractions to ensure you don't miss a trick on your Turkish trip.

The top tourist attraction or landmark

Literally translated, Pamukkale means 'cotton castle' and is one of Turkey's most impressive natural wonders. It is made up of a series of vast white travertine terraces cascading down a cliff, resembling snow from a distance. It is easy to book an excursion from the major beach resorts to the ancient ruins here, which contain baths, temples, a well-preserved theatre, and the largest necropolis or graveyard in Anatolia, containing over 1200 tombs. You can also take a dip in the thermal springs, in use since classical times.

The best beach

The posters of Oludeniz Beach do not do it justice. On one end is the great expanse of Belcegiz Beach, enclosed by the brittle silhouette of Babadag and the landing pad for paragliders sporting jet-propulsion packs. The curved beach is a jaw-dropper, with the water in the Blue Lagoon boasting a stunning three shades of turquoise.

Young couples, large families, adventurous types, backpackers, and package-holidaymakers are all known to flock here in huge numbers.

The best resort

The Bodrum region; a small peninsula on the Aegean Coast, is home to some of the hottest tourist resorts in the country. Bodrum town, with its excellent marina in particular is a centre for yachting and boating and the region is made up of a series of 'cove villages', the largest of which is Turgutreis, a popular destination for tourists seeking its extensive beaches, street bars, open-air market and covered bazaars. Gumbet is an upbeat commercial centre while Yalikavak has small, quiet bays and high-class bars and elite restaurants. Quieter resorts, such as Altinkum, Bitez and Torba, are great for family visitors.

The best city

The only city in the world to straddle two continents, recent archaeological excavations has shown Istanbul's history to date back around 8000 years. Visitors are spoilt for incredible sites to visit. There are the many mosques designed by Ottoman master architect Sinan including his masterpiece the Suleymaniye Mosque. Also worth visiting are the classic Blue Mosque with its signature blue ceramic tiles, the monumental Hagia Sophia and the world-famous and bustling Grand Bazaar, thrust into the spotlight in the new James Bond film Skyfall.

Istanbul is arguably best seen from the water and a ferry trip taking you the whole length of the Bosphorus will reward you with views of the Black Sea and a fresh fish lunch.

The best "experience"

Play the part of an Ottoman bather shrouded in a cloud of steam by visiting a Turkish bath or "hammam". There are over 57 still operating in Istanbul alone, including the traditional Cemberlitas and Cagaloglu Baths in Sultanahmet, where you can enjoy the ancient rituals of steam-bathing and massage; or for a more luxurious experience, most high-end hotels have their own Turkish baths within their spa centres. Besides its ancient mystical appeal, hammam-goers cite countless health benefits, including improved circulation and respiration, intense relaxation, weight loss, clear skin, expulsion of toxins and relief of muscle pain and hangovers.

Turkish property market targets $10bn

Ivan Radford — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:57:00 GMT

Photo credit: Victor Radziun

Turkey's real estate industry is targeting $10 billion of investment, it has declared. Earlier this year, the government abolished a law that restricted property purchases from overseas, opening up the market to roughly 180 countries - over triple the number of eligible nationalities before.

And the country expects that increase to pay off in big numbers.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, the Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or Gyoder, stated that they expect investment in Turkish property to soar.

Currently, foreign direct investment in Turkey totals approximately $2.5 billion a year, reports Bloomberg. But Gyoder predicts that will grow to $10 billion annually.

Indeed, interest from the raft of new countries able to invest in Turkish real estate has given the market a serious boost. Gulf and Middle East buyers are flocking into the market, with Istanbul a main target for investors from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

As a result, prices have already risen over 10 per cent from the start of 2012, according to Knight Frank, while the Financial Times reported last month that the "biggest real estate project in Turkey's history" in the middle of Istanbul received $400m in Gulf investment before it had even launched.

Demand for Turkish property is up on TheMoveChannel.com as well. Enquiries for the country's real estate on the site surged by 27 per cent in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the first three months of 2012.

Alex Hamilton, Associate Director of Equity Plus International, who recently launched a thermal spa resort in Pamukkale on the Aegean Coast, commented on the response:

"We have found that the recent easing of regulations governing investment into the Turkish Property market along with tax exemptions has opened the gateway to investors worldwide and particularly from the United Kingdom. Our most recent project, the Cairoplois Thermal Spa Resort, has experienced increased interest from both private and institutional investors targeting substantial capital growth and fixed income in a destination now renowned as an economic powerhouse of Europe, while so geographically close to the Eurozone turmoil."

With $400m in the bank in Istanbul and interest climbing online, perhaps $10 billion is not so far off after all.

Ready to gobble up Turkey?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments and other Turkish property:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Celebrity Property News: J-Lo rumoured to buy flat in Istanbul

Ivan Radford — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:35:00 GMT

Photo credit: Ana Kley

Turkey is fast becoming one of the more popular property destinations after the country changed its laws this year to widen its field of investors. But now, the country's real estate is set for another boost as Jennifer Lopez is rumoured to be buying a flat in Istanbul.

The singer played three consecutive nights in the Turkish city as part of her tour and reportedly fell in love with the place, requesting a catalog for Metropol Istanbul. The exclusive development boasts a couple of thousand residential units, combined with office space and a shopping centre, not to mention the grand tower in the middle, which at 250-metre is one of the tallest in Europe.

Çalık Real Estate General Manager Feyzullah Yetgin told Sabah [translated into English]: "Our project was suggested by someone she knew and so when she came to Istanbul, she invited us to her show and requested a catalog. She was originally just going to leave Turkey after performing here, however, now she will be returning after her concert in Sophia."

Reports suggest that J-Lo will sign a preliminary contract by Monday.

Metropol Istanbul was "in high demand at the Dubai real estate fair in October", adds the outlet. If the rumours are true, they will be in very good company.

Attracted to Turkish property?

Browse our listings of apartments, houses and other property in Istanbul:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/istanbul

Investments Explained: Residential property

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:15:00 GMT

Investments Explained: TheMoveChannel.com breaks down investment opportunities into bite-sized chunks every week.

In an ever-fluctuating global economic, it is important to invest in reliable assets, from financial products or stocks to commercial property and even alternative investments. But sometimes, after all that investing, you just need somewhere to put your head down and rest. The answer? Residential property.

Like all property investment opportunities, residential real estate comes in several shapes and sizes. What's what and how do you pick between them?

Here is TheMoveChannel.com's guide to residential property:

Apartment

Also known as a flat in the UK, Hong Kong and other countries, an apartment is a residential unit that occupies a self-contained space within a larger building. Apartments can contain several bedrooms, or consist of one single room which combines the kitchen, living room and dining room. These are known as studio apartments. Apartments can also span more than one floor within a building. These are called maisonettes.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of apartments for sale by clicking this way

House

A house is a residential building designed to house human residents that spans multiple stories. Designs vary significantly between homes, but unlike studio apartments, rooms are always separated into distinct spaces. A house can be rented or purchased by an investor, while in many countries owning a home is a sign of personal wealth; in the US, for example, buying a house is a key part of the American Dream.

For more information on TheMoveChannel.com's range of houses for sale, click here

Mobile homes

Mobile homes are portable properties that allow owners a greater degree of geographical flexibility. The property may be fixed, as in a park home, and occupy a plot within a wider community, or attached to an engine to form a motor home or caravan. As well as providing a more flexible lifestyle, mobile homes are also often cheaper and made out of a prefabricated materials.

Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of mobile homes

New home

A new home is exactly what it says on the tin. Without factors such as previous owners, possible historical damage or other legal complications, new build properties can be simpler to purchase and cheaper to run thanks to energy efficient appliances and eco-friendly designs. As a result, they are often popular among first time buyers.

Interested in a new home? Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings

Prestige property

For those house hunters after something classier than your average home, a prestige property is the answer. From former castles and royal palaces to expansive country estates, a prestige home is a luxury property that guarantees both comfort and privacy. And in the case of a private island, a unique view as well.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of prestige property by heading this way

Unique property

Ever wanted to live in a windmill? Fancy putting your feet up in a farmhouse? How about owning your very own tower? From the peculiar and rare to the downright weird, unique properties are a wonderful way for house hunters to express their personality or pick up a special piece of history. Whatever your preference, you are guaranteed to own something that is one of a kind.

For more information on TheMoveChannel.com's range of unique property for sale, click here

Watercraft

A watercraft home gives you a taste of life on the open sea, whether it is a houseboat to dock in a local canal or a more extravagant vessel to use as a holiday home. Depending on how you use them, watercraft can incur additional charges, such as docking fees, but who doesn't like the idea of floating away overnight?

Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of watercraft homes

How to create a good property listing

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:49:00 GMT

More advice on selling property online from SellMyProperty.org, the leading international For Sale By Owner advertising service.

This week, Sell My Property turns its attention to the most essential step in selling your house: creating a listing. Once you've signed up with Sell My Property and you log in for the first time, you are automatically taken through to the "Create a Listing" page.

What goes into a good property listing? Which details should you leave out?

Here are seven simple steps to creating a good property listing:

1. Give it a name

We don't mean "Brian" or "Audrey". This is the part that will grab people's attention or turn them away, so include all the important stuff here. How many bedrooms? Is it near the beach? Can investors expect a high rental yield? Combine them into a snappy name, e.g. "2 bed flat on Murcia coast. Refurbished. 7% return", and you're good to go.

2. Add a reference

Don't worry: this one is just for you, so you don't have to come with anything catchy. Designed for sellers with more than one property to advertise, this field helps you tell the difference between your multiple listings when looking at the "Manage My Listings" page.

You cannot use any special symbols here, but any combination of alpha-numerical characters is fine. Perhaps "Brian" or "Audrey".

3. Mark it with an "X"

No one wants to buy a house if they don't know where it is, which is why Sell My Property always includes a map as part of the listing (see a listing on TheMoveChannel.com for an example). Using our location finder is an easy way to pinpoint your property's exact position, or if you prefer, you can use another maps service, for example Google Maps, and copy the coordinates into your listing.

4. Write a brief description

Consider this an expanded version of your property's name, including all the vital statistics and unique selling points in a few sentences. Keep it simple and to-the-point to capture buyers' attentions as quickly as possible.

5. Insert images

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so make sure you make the most of them. With our basic listing package, you can upload up to 10 large images of your property.

Read our detailed tips on how to take a good property listing photo, then pick one of them to be the main listing picture - an exterior shot usually works best. The other photos are then displayed in the order you upload them, so take care to add the best exterior images first before moving on to interior images of rooms and, eventually, any shots of the surrounding area or a floor plan.

6. Add a full description

This is where you can really sell your property, so make sure you read our guide on how to write a listing description first. Once you've got something written, go to the "Further Information" tab to add it to your listing.

7. Tag it with keywords

Keywords are what will help people find your property. Swimming pool, two bedrooms, Murcia, rental income; those are the kind of words you want to be including. But we've saved you the time and hassle or writing them out manually. Simply click on the "Autocomplete" button and we'll generate the keywords using your description - another reason to take extra care when writing it.

And it's as easy as that. Once you've finished all seven steps, hit the "Save" button and congratulations! Your property listing is live - and you are officially selling your home.

Ship or Sell When Moving Abroad?

admin — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:25:00 GMT

One of the most important questions and considerations when you're moving abroad is whether to take your belongings with you. Families can easily have a whole house full of furniture before the move, and it's often difficult to work out whether it's cheaper to sell everything, and buy new items when you get there, or ship everything over.

One of the main points is that, on average, it costs around £3500 to move a house's contents to Australia. The price can vary quite a lot, so this is only a rough guide, but it does give a basis to work on. You can usually work out approximately how much you might make by selling all of your belongings buy looking at online auction sites. Again, using the internet you can find out how much it will cost to buy all of the things you need when you get to the destination. Compare this information to an accurate shipping quote, and you shouldn't have too much trouble deciding which the cheaper option is. Usually, selling the contents of your house, and buying all new stuff saves money, but the choice isn't that straightforward.

The issue is that it's far more work to try to sell and buy everything than it is to use an international removals company. It's very time consuming to list everything you've got online or in a newspaper, and you don't know that you'll be able to sell everything, especially if your house is large. The other problem is arriving in your new home. There are many essentials and items of furniture that you'll have to buy almost immediately, which adds to the stress of moving.

The only real way to decide which option is best is to get a quote for your removal, and then accurately work out prices against the hassle involved. Of course, you may also have large items of sentimental value, which cannot be sold. In these cases, you'll have to use a removals company. Shipit.co.uk specialise in international removals, and have expert packers to make sure that delicate goods are safe and secure.

Removals are usually the easiest option, and offer a much smoother transition from one country to another. Unless you have a small home, and can do without some furniture and appliances temporarily, it's usually best to have your belongings shipped.

Waterfront property causes waves in Istanbul

Ivan Radford — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:28:00 GMT

Waterfront property is causing waves in Istanbul.

Districts such as Bebek offer the greatest potential return for investors out of all the locations in the city, say experts, as tourists continue to pile into Istanbul year-on-year.

"The upscale waterfront districts of Bebek, Emirgan and Yenikoy offer huge potential with properties selling for 20-30 per cent less than before the recession hit," Cindy Uriona, a local property agent working with the Luxurion Real Estate Group, told The Telegraph.

"Fashionable Bebek, for example, has a great selection of traditional villas and remodelled townhouses, including apartments in a converted yali (the original 19th-century mansions that line the banks of the Boshphorus on both the European and Asian sides). "

And the Turkish city's market is only set to keep on growing.

"A growing middle-income population, with over 40 per cent of the current 14 million-plus residents under the age of 35, is forcing a radical overhaul of the city's urban planning grid," said Maureen Madden of Colordarcy. "Demand for new housing is currently running at 250,000 units per year, with available land being ring-fenced for large-scale residential projects."

That demand is driving the city forwards with buy-to-let projects regularly springing up on the outskirts of Istanbul. And with a non-Euro economy and low property prices near the waterfront, Turkey may out-perform the eurozone yet.

"EU accession is something of a hot potato at present," admits one expat who moved there from the UK in 2011. "But if the reformist government can manage to secure European Capital of Culture status for its largest city as it did last year, the green light to come on board might come sooner than expected."

Looking to gobble up Turkey?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments and other property in Istanbul:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/istanbul/

Alternative Investments Explained: Precious Metals

admin — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:01:00 GMT

Alternative Investments Explained: from bamboo to precious metals, AlternativeMarketplace.co.uk breaks down the alternative products vying for your cash and assesses which assets are worth taking the risk.

This week, precious metals go under the microscope.

What makes a metal precious? Several things. Firstly, the chemistry: precious metals are less reactive than most elements. Secondly, their appearance: due to their chemical make-up, precious metals tend to glisten more in the light, making them more attractive to both consumers and investors. Thirdly, their proliferation; while the metals all occur naturally, they are rarer than standard metals, which makes them more precious. All of these combine to create the fourth, and most important factor, their financial value.

Go back hundreds of years and precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum had such high values that they were used as currency, traded in place of coins. Over the years, these naturally occurring metals have become even more valuable - or at least, the perception of their value has increased - to the point where they are never used as currency. Instead, they are hoarded as commodities for industrial or investment purposes.

Gold and silver's colourful properties make them ideal for art and jewellery, sculpted into fashion accessories and luxury items. They are also used as bullion for currency, although the metal's core value makes the coins far more valuable than their denominational worth.

Aluminium used to share the same precious status as gold and silver - not because it was a rarely occurring substance, but because it was difficult to obtain from the Earth and extract from ores. When that issue was solved, aluminium became increasingly common, prompting its value to plummet to that of a normal metal. It is now used to make drink cans and other everyday items.

But gold and silver are precious because of their rarity, which has kept their worth high. Indeed, as a commodity investment, that's what makes precious metals so worthwhile; the long-term perception of their value enables them to resist wider economic trends. Markets may fluctuate, currencies may weaken, but the value of precious metals remains the same.

Try Turkey’s secondary cities, experts advise investors

Ivan Radford — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:07:00 GMT

Photo credit: Bryan_T

When it comes to Turkish property, investors tend to head to the big main three: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. But smart buyers will look outside of the major hotspots, advise experts, who recommend trying Turkey's secondary cities where the market remains relatively untapped.

Speaking the PropertyEU Investment Briefing last week, Arda Tasarkan, Business Development Director at CEFIC Turkey, said: "Turkey is more than just Istanbul. [It] has 81 cities and foreign investors are only active in 55 of these.'

Indeed, TheMoveChannel.com's At a Glance infographic confirmed the narrow focus of overseas investment within Turkey: "The overseas market is extraordinarily centred on a handful of key areas, almost entirely located in the one corner of the country," commented Editor ivan Radford.

The country's recently changed laws, which open up the country to investors from the Gulf and Middle East, who were previously ineligible to buy property, have sparked a new wave of international interest in Turkish real estate. Herman Kok, research director at Multi Corporation, described the current market as "exciting and dynamic".

"Volume and growth - that's what makes Turkey such an interesting market," commented Kokm highlighting the country's popular of 75 million, while GDP continues to grow. "Half of the population are 25 or younger which contributes to the market dynamics...The economics, the demographics, the growth parameters are all positive, especially in an international context."

"Turkey is at a crossroads between the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is not just a bridge to Europe, it is also a hub and it is using the central location that it has...Turkey is the biggest emerging market in the European market space."

Ready to gobble up more Turkey?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments and other Turkish property:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

5 Turkey property destinations no one told you about

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:18:00 GMT

Photo credit: Arjen Stilk lik

So, you're a Turkish property investor, huh? You think you know all the places to go pick up the most succulent pieces of Turkey? Think again.

In ranking the most popular hotspots in the country in order of enquiries from international buyers, TheMoveChannel.com unearthed several hidden gems, the kind of hotspots that go unspoilt for years as holiday home buyers enjoy the dream of their place in the sun for real.

Here are the five property destinations in Turkey no one told you about:

Fethiye

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey, Fethiye welcomes thousands of visitors every year. British holidaymakers are the big players here, drawn by the welcoming locals and natural beauty. In fact, they love it so much that several thousand live there permanently.

Click here for more on property in Fethiye

Ok, so that wasn't exactly a top secret hotspot. But the other four on this list are. I promise.

Aydin province

The Aydin province of Turkey is home to several popular property destinations. Top of the list are the seaside resorts of Didim and Kusadasi. Both boast beautiful beaches that fill up during the summer, while Didim's temple of Apollo attracts history and culture lovers. Combined, they sum up Turkey's appeal to overseas house hunters: Aydin may rely on figs for its traditional economy, but international tourism is even more important.

For more information and listings of property for sale in the Aydin province, head this way

Yes, we admit it. That was one you've heard of before. But try this next one on for size...

Yalikavak

Yalikavak has always been a destination of choice for the more discerning Turkish property buyer. The hills around the coastal town offer stunning views of the Mugla province and the Mediterranean shore, while the blue flag beaches and fishing port drive the local economy. No wonder it has been inhabited since 2 million BC.

Interested in property in Yalikavak? Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings.

Right, yes. You have us again. This one is hardly a secret either. But we bet you don't know this one...

Bodrum

Located in the Mugla province, on the Aegean coast, Bodrum is another of Turkey's biggest tourist hotspots. From the beautiful port (Paradise Bay) to the ancient Mausoleum, ranked one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, the seaside town is as idyllic as it gets.

View listings of TheMoveChannel.com's property for sale in Bodrum

Fooled you. Didn't we? We didn't? Ok, fine. Well, maybe you haven't heard of this one...

Kalkan

Located between Kas and Fethiye, Kalkan is famous for its traditional white=-washed houses, which line the village all the way down to the sea. An important harbour town in years gone by, this romantic Mediterranean hotspot now opens its bay for British tourists every year, with UK property investors dominating the market.

For more on property in Kalkan, click here

Well, there you have it. Five unheard-of destinations that you've heard of. Why? Because Turkish property is so popular among overseas buyers that there's no such thing as hidden real estate gems: the country has attracted so many investors as its economy and tourism industry grows that everyone's talking about it.

Moving house can be good for your health, says research

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:43:00 GMT

It's famous for being one of the most stressful things you can do in life, but moving house can actually be good for your health, according to new research.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index asked 1,000 American residents about their sick days, health problems and other symptoms an found that being unhappy with where you live can be bad for your health. For those satisfied with their home's location, the average physical rating was 78, significantly higher than the 69.1 recorded for those unhappy with where they live.

"Those who are satisfied... are less likely to report having experienced physical pain, having health problems, being obese, having headaches, or having ever been diagnosed with asthma or high cholesterol," explains Gallup. "They are also more likely to report feeling well-rested and having enough energy."

"Additionally, adults who say their city is getting better as a place to live are less likely to report having ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol than those who say their city is getting worse as a place to live. However, residents who are satisfied with their city are no less likely to report these three health issues than those who are dissatisfied."

Income, education and ethnicity are already associated with a person's wellbeing, but Gallup argues that this new research suggests that homeowners' perceptions of their communities is equally important when considering their health.

The question is: when are you planning to move?

Unhappy with where you live?

Find a new life abroad. Browse our listings sunny houses, beachfront apartments and other overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Alternative Investments Explained: Carbon Credits

admin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:29:00 GMT

Alternative Investments Explained: from bamboo to precious metals, we break down the alternative products vying for your cash and assess which assets are worth taking the plunge for.

This week, carbon credits get the cross-examination treatment:

Carbon credits were first introduced as an environmental measure, designed to help companies, individuals and countries to mitigate their increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.

They are defined as: "A certificate showing that a government or company has paid to have a certain amount of carbon dioxide removed from the environment."

As greenhouse gases grow in the atmosphere, global warming is exacerbated, placing the Earth at greater natural risk. But by buying carbon credits, this rise can be offset.

One carbon credit tends to be equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide, with credits then going towards funding carbon reduction schemes around the world, helping to encourage alternative systems that emit fewer gases.

Over time, this has turned from an international scheme into a commodity market. Carbon offsetters can now buy carbon credits from traders and companies that have aggregated credits together. As a a result, investors can now buy and sell credits with firms and individuals, generating returns through the trading process.

As greenhouse gases become more vital for the Earth's future and more companies decide to offset their emissions, the carbon trading market continues to grow exponentially, potentially without limit.

The long-term potential for returns as well as the moral payoff that goes with an ethical investment opportunity make many investors choose to invest in carbon credits, giving them a chance to secure the future of their funds as well as the planet.

5 favourite Turkish property hotspots

admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:22:00 GMT

It's all very well ranking the best Turkish property hotspots in order of the number of enquiries, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at the wider picture: districts rather than towns; provinces instead of cities. And then, of course, there are the other smaller destinations that everyone forgets about.

Not at TheMoveChannel.com. In a continued attempt to provide a detailed breakdown of Turkey's real estate market, here are five favourite property hotspots in the country:

Mugla

Mugla is the centre of Turkey's Mugla Province. The region is located on the popular Aegean Coast, leaving its eponymous city to be overlook in favour of more famous beach resorts. But even away from the sea, Mugla is a popular property destination for investors because of its large university population. Combined with the city's growing tourism industry, it makes Mugla perfect not just for second homes but for buy-to-let investors too.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Mugla

Mugla province

Property in the province of Mugia is a hugely popular choice for overseas investors thanks to its location on the Aegean coast. The region incorporates agricultural areas and marble quarries inland, but the main drive for the economy is its booming tourist industry, including resorts such as Dalaman, Fethiye and Dalyan.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in the province of Mugla

Hisaronu

Located in the Fethiye district, Hisaronu was once a quiet, peaceful village. But, as overseas visitors and investors have discovered Turkish property, Hisaronu has found a new life as one of the Mugla province's larger resorts. The stunning landscape and friendly local residents have made it especially popular with British tourists.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Hisaronu

Antalya province

With over 600km of coastline and enough tourists to rival France, the Turkish Riviera is located on the country's Mediterranean Coast - and at the heart of it is the Antalya province. Responsible for one-third of Turkey's total tourists, the sea resort is home to both the largest city on the South shoreline and a host of ancient cultural landmarks. With tourism and investment thriving, the number of visitors is rising every year. The population is too.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in the Antalya province

Didim

Home to the ruined Temple of Apollo, Didim is a town with a strong sense of history. But it has even more to offer. Located on the country's Aegean coast, the plethora of long sandy beaches, watersport activities and hundreds of hours of sunshine each year draw in hundreds of visitors to Didim's property market. The town is so attractive that many choose to stay.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Didim

"Biggest development in Turkey's history" spurs Gulf interest

Ivan Radford — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:06:00 GMT

The Middle East accounts for just 10 per cent of foreign direct investment in Turkey each year (Source: Turkstat). This may already be about to change as Turkey seeks closer ties with its Middle Eastern neighbours.

Loxley McKenzie, Managing Director of Colordarcy.com comments, "In my experience European investors are not the main target for Turkish developers at the moment, it is the growing influx of investors they are welcoming from the Gulf."

And a new development in the centre of Istanbul's business district may help do just that. The project will include 5,000 apartments in what is claimed to be the biggest real estate project in Turkey's history at nearly £1.5bn.

Analysts at Colordarcy are keen to point out that there are some obvious economic benefits for Turkey in being nestled between Europe and Asia. If one side slows down it can always rely on the other to boost trade. Turkey's economy continues to grow even though most European countries have gone into reverse and its remarkable economic performance in recent years is no accident.

The government has worked hard to boost investment and keep the economy on track even to the point of taking some of the heat out of the economy this year.

As a result, investors from the Gulf states are increasingly eyeing Istanbul property as a good long term bet according to Colordarcy. It has been well documented that Istanbul has seen increasing interest from investors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen - all of whom can invest in Turkish property following the reciprocity law change this year (Source: Gulf Times).

The country is actively encouraging more investment from its near neighbours and their arrival has been part of the reason why the Turkish property boom has managed to sustain itself to the point where average prices have already risen over 10% since January 2012 (Source: Knight Frank).

The new Turkish property law only came into effect in May and already the FT reported this month that Agaoglu, a construction group developing the site in Istanbul has received $400m from Gulf investors before it was even launched.

The development in the centre of Istanbul's business district will include 5,000 apartments in what is claimed to be the biggest real estate project in the Turkey's history at nearly £1.5bn.

For both investors from Arab states and Turkey itself, the benefits of closer ties means that, on the one hand, Gulf investors can feel confident to invest in property in cities such as Istanbul at prices that are still well below those to be found in Western Europe. Meanwhile Turkey's property developers get to tap into the obvious wealth that is accumulating from the trade in energy.

McKenzie added, "People have been calling Istanbul the "new London" for most of the past 12 months and it is likely that many Middle Eastern investors will find Istanbul a more attractive proposition."

So when it comes to catching the next wave of growth in Turkey, investors will need to act fast to beat the influx of investors who are likely to find that Istanbul offers the best property investment opportunity in Europe."

Financial stability is priority for expats

Ivan Radford — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:08:00 GMT

Financial stability when expats consider buying property abroad, according to new research.

A study by TD Global Investor Confidence found that 61 per cent of expats surveyed said having money gave them the most confidence about moving overseas, ranking financial stability about both health (57 per cent) and having friends (48 per cent).

35 per cent of expats also said that their job was an important factor, adds Expat Forum.

"Moving abroad, whether it is for a short period of time or to start a new life, can be an adventure although it is not something to be taken lightly," commented Annemarie Jung, chief executive officer of TD Company's Internaxx Bank.

"So it is understandable that expats would want to ensure they are financially secure and healthy if they are to make such a life changing decision. But even though their current financial status is clearly important they also have an eye on the future. While some expats say they don't worry about having enough money, the majority are keen to see that their financial future is secure, placing most importance on ensuring they have saved enough for their retirement."

Turkey: A high-growth 'safe haven' for investors?

Ivan Radford — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:02:00 GMT

Istanbul property prices increased by 11.87% between August 2011 and August 2012 with smaller properties 51-75 sqm seeing an increase of 13.16% in this period, claims one property company.

According to Colordarcy, Turkey had proved to be resilient in the face of mounting problems in Europe and this bodes well for the long term.

This year's change in the law allowing foreigners from more countries and particularly those in the Gulf has given fresh impetus to the property market in Istanbul. As a result of this, Turkey is expecting $300 billion worth of property to be sold to foreign nationals in the next 10 years.

Colordarcy highlights that Turkish property has been one of the top 10 best performing property markets in the world (Source: Knight Frank) and has already seen prices rise 10.5% overall in the past 12 months.

Add to this an economy that is actually forecast to grow by more than 3% this year in contrast to a 0.4% contraction of the UK economy and it is easy to see where you can find the best property investment Europe.

Loxley McKenzie, Managing Director of Colordarcy said:

"With so much gloom over the prospects for recovery in Europe this year, the answer for those property investors seeking high growth markets has to be Istanbul property right now.

"Turkey property prices are still relatively low by Western European standards - even in Istanbul. So with property investors increasingly looking to emerging markets to earn higher investment returns, Turkey can be a lucrative market in which to invest for high capital growth".

Economic growth, stability, undervalued property, a long holiday season, good accessibility, strong rental yields and a sound exit strategy are proving irresistible to savvy investors seeking a safe haven outside the EU.

5 most popular property destinations in Turkey

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:44:00 GMT

After its recent rundown of the top property destinations, TheMoveChannel.com got a taste for Turkish property. The only way to sate the site's appetite? Gobble up some more Turkey.

And so TheMoveChannel.com analysed its enquiries from investors in the last 12 months, ranked everywhere accordingly and came up with this handy pocket-sized list.

These are the top five most popular property destinations in Turkey:

Antalya

With its sumptuous curving coastline and beautiful Mediterranean beachfront, Antalya is the centre of Turkish tourism. One of the most visited cities in Turkey, let alone the world, the province has everything from World Heritage Sites to heaving resorts - a mix that has seen the population rise as quickly as the number of property investors.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Antalya

Belek

If Antalya is the centre of Turkey's tourism industry, Belek is the centre of the centre. How can you tell? Because its population jumps from 750 to a staggering 10,000 during the peak season. Nestled in the snug Mediterranean province, Belek boasts everything from five star hotels and resorts to new golf developments. Nearby are natural wonders such as the Kursunlu Waterfall and Hellenistic city Perge, adding an ancient history to balance the property market's booming beach life.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Belek

Altinkum

Located on the Aegean Sea, Altinkum is a hugely popular hotspot for overseas visitors thanks to its wide range of sandy beaches and ancient ruins on the doorstep. It is so popular, in fact, that thousands of foreigners now live there all year round. Nearby is the ancient Temple of Apollo containing the head of Medusa: either it turned the house hunters all to stone, or the area is so idyllic that they could stay away. Altinkum's booming tourist numbers suggest the latter.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Altinkum

Alanya

Located on Turkey's South coast, Alanya is home to the typical Turkish range of tourist activities and historical sites, a mix that has seen interest in its property market skyrocket. Now, Alanya is one of the most in-demand property destinations, with foreigners in the city owning over one-tenth of all real estate.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Alanya

Kusadasi

Kusadasi is a resort in the Aydin province that attracts holidaymakers and investors alike with the beautiful Aegean Sea. The population soars in the summer when domestic and overseas tourists flock to the area, creating an ideal climate for fun vacations and profitable real estate investments.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Kusadasi

Most popular property destinations in Turkey

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:33:00 GMT

Planning to invest in Turkish property? Overseas property portal TheMoveChannel.com is here to help, providing a handy breakdown of the most in-demand areas on the site. Based on the number of enquiries made by buyers of real estate in Turkey, these are the most popular property destinations in Turkey.

Izmir

Located in the Anatolia region, Izmir is one of Turkey's most in-demand locations thanks to its position on the Gulf of Izmir on the country's West coast. A pleasant Mediterranean climate attracts tourists every year, while the overall housing market is filled by overseas investors and domestic buyers alike: it is the third most populous city in the Turkey.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Izmir

Dalaman

Home to Dalaman international airport, Dalaman is a gateway for thousands of international visitors every year. Located within the popular Mugla province, the Dalaman district benefits from being close to the seaside resorts of Fethiye and Dalyan, making it popular for holiday homes.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Dalaman

Dalyan

Located in the province of Mugla, Dalyan is a thriving tourist hotspot thanks to the stunning range of beaches along its south coast. The most famous of these is İztuzu Beach, which in 2011 was voted the Best Beach Destination of Europe. As a result, property in Dalyan attracts many second home buyers looking for sun, sand and strong rental returns.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of real estate in Dalyan

Marmaris

One of Turkey's port towns on the Mediterranean coast, Marmaris used to be a sleepy fishing village. Now, the town is a buzzing place full of resorts, property developments and picturesque beaches. With a lively night scene to match, it is no wonder that Marmaris real estate is in such strong demand.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of Marmaris property.

Istanbul

Istanbul is the jewel in Turkey's property crown. A popular destination for tourists, investors, businesses and even students, the city's commercial property market is as active as Istanbul's residential real estate, producing strong returns for international buyers and strong demand from local commuters.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Istanbul.

Turkey – the next logical step for property investors

Ivan Radford — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:14:00 GMT

Photo credit: Arjen Stilk lik

Turkey is the next logical step for property investors, according to Leggett Immobilier.

The international French estate agency announced today that after years of international real estate trading, it is expanding into the Turkish property market. And property investors are expected to follow suit.

The Turkish economy continues to grow quickly (6.6% in 2011) and it has a strong and stable banking sector with mortgage lending increasing by around a quarter for each of the last two years. The combination of affordable prices and low interest rates makes Turkish property particularly attractive to international investors who are currently seeing yields of between 5-8%.

"Leggetts are a growing force in the international property market and we see Turkey as the logical next step in our expansion," commented Chief Executive Trevor Leggett. "It has been widely reported that research from the Central Bank states that foreigners purchased $1.1billion of Turkish property in May alone this year - this is a huge vote of confidence in the Turkish real estate market and when you mix political and economic stability with stunning scenery and a superb climate we believe that we are on a winner."

Leggett Turkey has properties for sale in all of the most popular areas within Turkey and has a head office in Bodrum. The company is run by Bilfer Budak who explains the unique proposition open to clients:

"There are plenty of agents and websites offering a myriad of properties for sale within Turkey. Our agency is different. We only add a property into our portfolio if it offers two things - a prime location and value for money. Our clients know that we have already sifted through thousands of villas, apartments and houses to find the very best that Turkey has to offer. We also endeavour to give as much information about our properties as possible with many of them having "virtual tours" so that you can get a real flavour of the property before flying out. Our goal is to help clients exploit our local knowledge and to offer a friendly and professional service to both buyers and sellers alike."

Currency Watch: GBP/USD rates rise overnight

Ivan Radford — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:51:00 GMT

Photo credit: Images Money

The exchange rate between the pound and dollar has risen overnight, according to Forex.

The currency broker reports that GBP/USD eventually traded to a high of 1.6273 yesterday before dropping off slightly this morning. The UK CPI data is released today, which may affect exchange rates. "Expectations are for inflation to ease to 2.5% although there are some reports circulating this morning that there may be upside risks to this number following the Olympics and the rise in transportation costs," comments Forex. "If the CPI number surprises this morning it could bring in to play a break of the April high of 1.6304."

The exchange rate between the Euro and US Dollar, meanwhile, has consolidated around the 1.3100 figure after pushing through the 1.3160 level yesterday. Spanish yields have ticked slightly higher in the last day or so which is weighing on the single currency this morning as well, adds the broker. German ZEW will be the next focus for traders in EUR/USD and it's particularly important for risk sentiment in the market given the dreadful state of the US Empire State Manufacturing Index released yesterday.

"AUD/USD has been sold off overnight after the release of the RBA Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes. The central bank indicated that they stood ready to cut interest rates amid the deterioration in the global economic outlook, falling commodity prices and an overvalued Aussie dollar," concludes Forex.

The AUD/USD has fallen from 1.0530 to a low of 1.0427 this morning. As a result, GBP/AUD is up and currently trades at 1.5570.

For more on currency exchange services available through selected partners, visit TheMoveChannel.com's dedicated currency channel:

http://currency.themovechannel.com

Turkey appetites still on the up

Ivan Radford — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:38:00 GMT

Photo credit: Arjen Stilk lik

The appetite for property in Turkey is still on the up, according to local agents.

Turkish real estate site Oceanwide Properties has seen a surge in traffic levels this year, with searches from new visitors up by over 66 per cent between May and July compared to the same period in 2011 - and Brits are leading the way.

‘With Brits already accounting for 1 in 3 overseas property owners here, Turkey has firm footing as a destination of choice for UK buyers looking for a lifestyle property overseas," comments Managing Director Suleyman Akbay.

"But we believe our latest figures show how the UK's wettest summer in 100 years, low-yielding property in Europe, and failing pensions have impacted considerably on consumer sentiment, boosting interest in the demonstrably resilient property sector here."

Property in Mugla is the most popular for buyer searches, adds the agent, although interest has grown in both Istanbul and locations near the Turquoise Coast.

"Over the last three months out properties in Istanbul and in village locations like Uzumlu near Fethiye harbour town have proved increasingly popular... Buyers are being more discerning as to the opportunities of investment in less resort-based destinations, and are researching how much further their money will stretch. Proximity to local transport routes and international airports are still, understandably, factoring heavily."

The rising interest has been boosted by the recent change in Turkey property laws, which has opened up the market to investors from a raft of new countries.

"Property searches from within Turkey have also doubled compared to the same period last year, potentially reflecting Turkish people's increasing wealth," commented Akbay. "Also hits from Russia and Saudi Arabia, who were among the new nations to have their buying rights eased, usurped our visits from Germany and Spain. We had only ever received a trickle of traffic from those areas previously because of ownership restrictions in place."

With home and rental values already demonstrating year-on-year double digit growth, five per cent growth has already been achieved so far this year (source: Turkish Central Bank), it should come as no surprise that Turkey is consistently being billed by analysts as among the top performing property markets in the world (source: Knight Frank Global House Price Index), nor that the country is predicting 300 billion dollars worth of property to be sold to foreigners in the next 10 years (source: Hurriyet Daily News).

Suleyman concludes: ‘Despite the global financial slow down, our thoughts are many investors still hold confidence in the returns that property can offer and, with tightened purse strings, people are carefully researching resilient sectors that can demonstrate both value for money and steady returns for their hard worked for earnings. Turkey property is clearly hot to trot on that right now, with starting prices in prime areas of Istanbul from as little as £34,000. '

Turkey hotspots heats up as Alanya enquiries increase

Ivan Radford — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:23:00 GMT

Photo credit: Arjen Stilk lik

The resort of Alanya is one of the most popular locations in Turkey for overseas buyers of property.

And that hotspot is heating up, according to the Hurriyet Daily News, as interest in the area's real estate increases.

"Some 30 foreigners per day are buying property in the seaside town of Alanya in southern Turkey," reports the agency. The boost, attributed to the new Turkish laws, which have increased the number of countries able to invest in the country's property, has seen 600 buyers apply for title deeds since May.

The growth follows news of further house price increases across the country, with average values rising by 2.33 per cent in July from June. Alongside Istanbul, Alanya's province of Antalya is leading the way, with property prices jumping by 12.66 per cent in the last year.

Turkey property prices still on the up

Ivan Radford — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:06:00 GMT

Photo credit: Bryan Tighe

Turkish property prices are still on the up, according to the latest figures.

The average value of homes in Turkey increase by 2.33 per cent in July. On top of previous month's climbs, prices have now grown by 12.31 per cent in the past year - although some areas of the country have seen prices rise even higher.

Indeed, house prices in Izmir have jumped by 16.57 per cent compared to July 2011, adds Property Showrooms, with Istanbul and Antalya property values jumping by 13.72 per cent and 12.66 per cent respectively.

Rental rates have also continued to increase, posting an annual rise of 12.3 per cent, again led by the trio of Izmir, Istanbul and Antalya.

The rising prices follow the introduction of new legislations that have opened up Turkish real estate to buyers from an additional 94 countries, as the country's property market seems to go from strength to strength.

Global property market edges towards recovery

Ivan Radford — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:04:00 GMT

Photo credit: Images_of_Money

The global property market is edging towards recovery, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.

JLL's latest report showed that after a dip in activity in the first quarter of 2012, investment volumes climbed back up to $108 billion in the second quarter - placing capital markets back on track to achieve a volume of approximately $400 billion by the end of the year.

Global economic outlook weakened as euro strains re-emerged, while low growth in developed economies remains a drag on a strong real estate recovery. Corporate occupiers adopted a wait and see approach to expansion, with sale and leaseback activity increasing as corporate looked to release capital.

Leasing activity improved from the first quarter dip, but remains lower than 2011 due to weak jobs growth. As a result, gross leasing volumes across 2012 are expected to be 10 per cent below 2011.

Global office vacancy rates are now 13.3 per cent, the lowest since 2009, while vacancy continues to edge downwards.

The weight of capital continues to compress prime yields in some markets, while as the yield gap widens, more investors are expected to look at secondary markets. Nonetheless, debt will be a constraint, especially in Europe.

In retail sectors, JLL highlights a low development pipeline in both Europe and the US, but retail sales underpin activity in Asia as industrial recovery builds in the US market. Hotels saw a shortfall in investment during the first half of the year, but a strong deals pipeline is predicted to make up for the investment levels in the coming months.

Both sentiment and levels of activity across the world's major real estate markets have seesawed during the first half of the year. Following a slow start to 2012, the second quarter saw a modest rebound in investment and leasing turnover. But, economic uncertainty continues to affect investor sentiment. Deals are taking longer to close and the market remains polarised as investors steer clear of risky assets, focusing instead on prime product in core markets like London, Paris and New York. Yet, in spite of economic uncertainties, real estate as an asset class continues to attract a substantial weight of capital and remains firmly on track for this year's global investment volumes to match the robust levels of 2011.

In the corporate occupier markets, leasing volumes are also up on the subdued levels of the first quarter, but activity is still running 10%-15% lower than in 2011. Expansion demand is relatively weak as corporate occupiers look for further cost savings and smart growth ‘in situ'. Where there is new demand it is typically focused on higher-potential ‘emerging' markets like Mexico City and Jakarta, which are showing healthy levels of corporate activity, or on speciality markets such as the tech-rich areas of San Francisco Bay and the energy and commodities-driven cities like Houston and Perth.

Turkey on the boil as new law heats up demand

Ivan Radford — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:40:00 GMT

Photo credit: Arjen Stilklik

Turkey's property market began to heat up in May, when a new law was announced allowing 52 new countries to buy Turkish real estate. Five months later and a long-awaited cabinet decree has outlined final details on who will be able to freely purchase property - a move that has turned Turkey's property up to boiling point.

Indeed, the Turkish government's plans to allow a total of 129 nationalities to enter its emerging market will see 52 new countries given new rights to purchase real estate.

The latest cabinet decree comes shortly after the Turkish Central Bank revealed an immediate buying boom in the first month following the law's enactment in May. In those four weeks alone, approximately 1.1 billion US dollars' worth of real estate was snapped up by foreign investors - four times the total purchased by non-Turkish nationals in the whole of 2011.

Where is the money coming from? The Arabian Gulf.

Gulf investors are queuing up for a taste of Turkey, according to a recent report from Jones Lang LaSalle. The Turkish presence at the Gulf's major real estate exhibition Cityscape is expected to soar in October, adds the Khaleej Times, as developers target their hunger new customers.

"We are seeing interest in Turkey from a range of investors including sovereign wealth funds, investment funds and private equity funds which have all strongly revived in 2012," said Kivanc Erman, JLL's director of capital markets and advisory for Turkey.

With Turkey's economy set to grow by 4 per cent this year, according to a government report, following 3.2 per cent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2012, it is no surprise that the smell of warm Turkey is more appealing than the whiff of the Eurozone economic crisis.

Indeed, this surge in demand follows an already strong 2012, according to one agent, which saw enquiries increasing even in May, before the new law was defined.

Suleyman Akbay, Managing Director of Ocean Wide Properties, comments: "Turkey is making quite a name for itself on the property scene in lieu of Europe's troubles and the ongoing investments it is making to advance its economy.

"Our clients are constantly amazed at the value for money properties available in prime business and coastal spots - competitive to many ‘distressed' and heavily reduced property sales currently being seen in Spain, for example. But Turkey's upper hand is that its values and rental yields are increasing year-on-year where other markets are contracting. Affordable, good connections, lots of new homes, a burgeoning population and now an increasing market presence - Turkey certainly has a beacon to shine."

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Istanbul: The new investment hotspot

Ivan Radford — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:45:00 GMT

Istanbul is fast becoming the new investment hotspot, according to experts.

The city's rapid construction of commercial property and continuing demand from businesses makes it the star of Turkey's property market, believes Knight Knox, leading the country's surge in popularity among international investors.

"Turkey has always been a popular destination with our buyers," comments Dave Smith, Property Consultant at Knight Knox International, "and even more so now, as it is viewed as a more secure market than other countries in Europe. In particular, enquiries into property in Istanbul are increasing, as investors look towards gaining an income from the residential property market."

A recent report by CBRE (Istanbul property Market Q1, 2012) paints an extremely positive outlook for the city, with numerous multinational insurance and banking companies and organisations set to relocate and/or expand to Istanbul over the next 12 months. This influx of investment has meant that there has also been a lot of investment from the private sector, in regards to residential developments targeted at commuters or city workers.

Turkish rents and prices both on the up

Ivan Radford — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:42:00 GMT

Turkish house prices and rents were both on the up last month, according to the latest figures.

Property values climbed by 10.76 per cent compared to 2011, REIDIN's new report reveals, with Izmir leading the way with a 14.66 per cent annual price hike. Istanbul also performed strongly, with values of real estate increasing by 12.29 per cent.

Both cities also posted increases in rents, adds Property Showrooms, with rates climbing by 13.79 per cent and 11.38 per cent respectively. Indeed, rents rose by 10.34 per cent year-on-year across the country and were 1 per cent higher than May.

The positive growth follows news that demand is also increasing. Tim Morgan, director of Emerging Real Estate, recently announced that the agent had witnessed rising interest from both international and local investors.

Global commercial property investment up by 10 per cent

Ivan Radford — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Investment activity in commercial property looked positive across the globe in the second quarter of 2012, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.

Comparing data from over 60 countries, JLL's report shows that volumes rose by 10 per cent upon the first quarter, with investors continuing to move away from equities and towards other assets.

Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and the Americas all recorded an increase in activity in the second quarter of the year. However, on a year on year basis the picture is more mixed with only Asia Pacific showing growth in investment volumes, up by 21 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

In contrast to the fragile market of the first half of 2010, investor sentiment is much more optimistic and this is reflected in volumes being over 50 per cent higher in H1 2012. However, the positive attitude of the first half of 2011, when government stimulus was in full swing globally, has not been sustained in the face of continuing debt and economic growth concerns and volumes are down 9 per cent on H1 2011.

Clearly we remain in a challenging environment. However, the demand for good quality, well located direct commercial property remains high globally as evidenced by the rising transactional volumes this quarter," commented Arthur de Haast, Head of the International Capital Group at Jones Lang LaSalle. "In the light of ever diminishing yields from other asset classes the potential income returns offered by core, prime commercial property are attractive to many investors. Even in Europe, the eye of the economic storm at present, we continue to see strong demand for the best properties as witnessed in the recent purchase by the Malaysian pension fund PNB of two London properties from the KanAm portfolio above the reported book value of €590m."

One consistent feature of the investment market over recent times has been the influence of cash rich buyers in core, prime locations. With further news this quarter of banks exiting the commercial lending business, and new entrants only able to provide a fraction of the level required, private equity, institutional and high net worth purchasers continue to dominate purchasing activity at the expense of distressed vendors and developers in particular.

David Green-Morgan, Global Capital Markets Research Director at Jones Lang LaSalle commented: "While volumes have improved in the second quarter and the pace of activity is broadly in-line with that of 2011, the investment market globally continues to evolve with new equity rich entrants attracted by the immediate income return as well as the longer term capital growth. We expect the investment market to continue to be dominated by those groups with access to equity and only a minimal or no need for debt financing, as evidenced in Paris by the Qataris buying retail and office assets or new market entrants such as Norges continuing to increase their direct real estate exposure across international markets."

Concluding, Mr de Haast added: "For the last two years core, prime locations have been performing well and this has attracted the vast majority of investment capital. This weight of capital has compressed yields in prime markets globally whereas secondary markets continue to see yields move out, and the gap between the two has grown ever wider. While the economic outlook remains precarious the pricing in many secondary markets will eventually approach a level which will trigger more activity."

"Transparent" Brazil joins the big boys

Ivan Radford — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Photo credit: Alex McGibbon

American property is still the most transparent in the world, according to new research. The 2012 Global Real Estate Transparency Index by Jones Lang LaSalle shows that the US and runner-up UK lead the way in transparency for investors, while traditional property destinations such as Australia (3^rd), Canada (6^th), France (7^th) and Switzerland (10^th) complete the top 10.

But emerging markets are joining the big boys. Turkey and Brazil are the two fastest-improving countries in the world, leading the surge as seven emerging markets become ranked as "transparent" - more than ever before. Brazil's Tier 1 cities are now the first transparent markets in Latin America, boasting similar levels of transparency to Portugal.

Dean Thomas, MD of DLT International, owners and developers of land opportunity Palm Springs Natal in Brazil, comments:

"It is clear to see from the latest Jones Lang Lasalle report the great strides that have been made in improving real estate transparency not only by Latin America as a whole but notably Brazil. Led by tier I cities Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil has joined the list of newly "transparent" counties and is now rated on a par with Japan, Austria, Italy, South Africa and Portugal amongst others."

According to the report Brazil's climb up the rankings is due to improvements across all five sub-indices of transparency, particularly in areas of data availability and across regulatory and legal factors.

The findings follow predictions from PricewaterhouseCoopers that the GDP of the leading emerging economies will surpass all the leading advanced economies by 2050, with China, the US, India and Brazil forecast to be the dominant economies.

"We are already standing at a milestone," declared PwC real estate partner John Forbes at the 2012 Cambridge real estate Finance and Investment Conference. "According to the latest data published by the IMF in April, the share of world GDP of emerging and developing economies is expected to overtake that of advanced economies for the first time this year.

"It is not a question of 'if' real estate investors will adapt to this changed landscape but 'when' and 'how'," added Forbes. "Emerging market economies will be a major source of investment opportunities but also of capital. Real estate businesses need to address both."

Dean Thomas continues: "Brazil, now the 6^th largest economy in the world having overtaken the UK with a GDP forecast to expand at 2.5% in 2012, is serious about being a global real estate contender and the achievements in transparency are testament to its commitment. Real estate investment has surged in the last decade from less than $2 billion in 2000 to $10 billion plus in 2011 and with the market now rated "transparent" there is no reason for individuals not to feel confident about investing here."

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Appetite for Turkey property on the up

Ivan Radford — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Investor appetite for Turkish property is on the up, according to one agent.

Tim Morgan, director of Emerging Real Estate, said that the country has "a good economic story and increasing demand from the local, as well as the international, market".

Morgan said there were many opportunities across Turkey for property buyers, reports Property Showrooms, "provided the deal is right". He also advises investors to consider the rental market in the area, as rates continue to increase, promising stronger buy-to-let yields.

Turkey turns up heat as house prices and rents keep rising

Ivan Radford — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:21:00 GMT

Turkey's property market is continuing to heat up as the prices climbed once again in May.

Average house prices rose by 1.1 per cent last month, marking a 10.19 per cent annual increase, according to REIDIN.

Property values in Antalya posted the biggest monthly increase of 1.7 per cent, while Izmir saw the largest year-on-year rise of 13.46 per cent.

Rents also continued to increase by 1.66 per cent in the area and by 1.01 per cent across the country as a whole.

Source: Property Showrooms

Bulgarian property suffers world’s sixth-biggest fall in prices

Ivan Radford — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:17:00 GMT

Bulgarian property suffered the world's sixth-biggest fall in prices in the first three months of 2012.

After severe downturns at the end of 2011, with prices dropping by 9.65 per cent year-on-year, Bulgaria's property market showed "positive changes in momentum" in the first quarter of the year, according to a new survey by Global Property Guide, as decreases slowed. But these "are so feeble... they hardly signal a recovery", the report adds.

Reviewing market figures for 36 housing markets across Europe, Global Property Guide's survey notes that 24 countries saw prices fall, while values increased in only 10 markets.

Athens in Greece and Warsaw in Poland led the declines, with prices falling by 11.68 per cent and 10.94 per cent respectively. Spain and the Netherlands also saw values fall by 9 per cent and 6.05 per cent, while annual dips were recorded in Finland (2.05 per cent), Turkey (2.32 per cent), Sweden (5.34 per cent) and Riga in Latvia (5.83 per cent).

However, some markets did see prices climb. Estonia's home values surged by 9.13 per cent compared to the first three months of 2011, while Austrian property prices rose by 8.24 per cent. Other increases also occurred in Switzerland (5.49 per cent), Norway (5.43 per cent), Russia (3.86 per cent) and Iceland (2.25 per cent).

Source: Novinite.com

New York most popular British holiday destination

Ivan Radford — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:51:00 GMT

New York is the most popular holiday destination with Brits, according to HolidayLettings.co.uk.

The holiday home site found that New York topped the list of most-enquired about places, with an average of 185 enquiries per property in the Big Apple. London came close behind with 155 enquiries, followed by Amsterdam with 101, but the biggest surge of demand was directed at Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro, who received an average of 84 and 71 enquiries per property over the year.

"Turkey's capital Istanbul is now in the top five of most in demand cities, with half of all holidaymakers to the country now visiting the city in response to increased efforts by Turkish authorities to provide events, attractions and activities," commented Holiday Lettings.

"There's a real buzz around the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro with the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics coming up, and that's reflected in a huge rise in enquiry numbers from holidaymakers."

Turkey prices and rents rise again

Ivan Radford — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:55:00 GMT

Prices and rents for Turkish property rose once again in April. The average value of residential real estate in Turkey climbed by 0.86 per cent compared to March, when prices also rose by 0.95 per cent. Rents, meanwhile, jumped up by 1.02 per cent.

Istanbul saw the biggest increase, with rental rates increasing by 1.18 per cent, while overall prices are now 11.93 per cent above April 2011.

The positive growth follows the introduction of a new law, which will open up the market even more to investors from the Middle East as well as increasing the amount of land foreign buyers are allowed to purchase.

Source: Property Showrooms

Turkey tourism booms as Arabs are attracted by new law

Ivan Radford — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:36:00 GMT

Turkey's tourist industry is booming as Arabs are attracted by the country's recently approved investment law.

The bill, which allows visitors from the Middle East to buy Turkish property for the first time, was announced last month. The news came just as visitors from Qatar doubled in the first four months of 2012, according to official government figures. Visitors from the UAE also surged by 86 per cent compared to 2011.

The Turkish Tourism and Culture office's attaché commented: "We have good relationships with those countries," he said. "The shopping is popular and there's been a response to the Arab Spring. Lots of people who would have gone to Egypt, Syria and Libya have gone somewhere else."

"We have the same culture and religion, so they do not feel like strangers in Turkey. Nobody has a prejudice about them. We see the Arabs as friends."

Source: OPP

New bill sets Turkey property ready to roast

Ivan Radford — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:49:00 GMT

Photo credit: Bryan Tighe

The temperature of Turkey's property market was turned up this week as the Turkish government passed a draft bill that allows more foreigners to invest in the country's real estate.

Turkish property has long been a popular choice for lifestyle buyers in the UK and Europe, but has only so far been available to countries that allowed Turkish buyers to invest there in return. This restriction, which primarily affected investors from the UAE and other countries, left buyers needing to register a Turkish company first, adding red tape and extra costs to their investment.

But that is about to change, say agents, thanks to the country's acceptance of this new law, which is expected to bring a gold rush of buyers back to Turkish real estate. And not just from the Middle East but the EU too, as the bill also increases the amount of real estate a foreigner is permitted to own: from 25,000 square metres to 300,000 square metres.

The news follows reports from the Turkish government that tourism revenue is heating up as well. With Europe still plagued by financial crisis, Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay predicted that visitor arrivals in 2012 would stay stable at 31 million but that profits from overseas visitors would rise from $23 billion to $25 billion, according to Bloomberg.

As income increases from both holidaymakers and investors, Turkey's property market appears ready to roast. Colordarcy has even declared that the $2.5 billion currently invested by foreigners in Turkish real estate each year will double to $5 billion.

Speaking to TheMoveChannel.com, Jayne Schofield of Turkish Connextions predicted that the rush will see the market become even stronger: "With the market in turkey opening up to more and more countries, people are looking to this already popular property hotspot to purchase their second home. This will push the property prices up over the next few years, making Turkey an even better place to invest."

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Turkey prices continue to increase

Ivan Radford — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:42:00 GMT

Turkish property prices increased by 0.95 per cent in March, according to REIDIN GYODER home price index.

The performance on a regional basis was varied, with Adana prices up by 1.06 per cent, Antalya up by 0.49 per cent and Ankara up by 0.75 per cent. The highest increase occurred in Istanbul, where property values jumped by 1.18 per cent. On the other hand, Bursa's residential property prices remained constant.

The residential rent prices for existing homes also increased across the Turkey, with overall rates up by an average of 0.85%.

New home prices rose by 1.28% compared to February 2012, and are now 11.62 higher than March last year.

Do you know Tapu?

Ivan Radford — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:11:00 GMT

Do you know Tapu? If you're planning to invest in Turkish property, Colordarcy says that you should.

Speaking to Property Shorooms, the investment company advises investors to become familiar with Turkey's title deed system, which is not automatically transferred to a new owner when a property is sold.

Turkish translators are recommended for transactions involving foreign, Colordarcy MD Loxley McKenzie says, "as the document is, as one would expect, written in Turkish".

Despite the efforts required to secure the Tapu for a new home, Turkish property is still very popular with overseas buyers, with demand and prices both rising as the country's economy continues to boom.

Kuwaiti investors surge into the Gulf

Ivan Radford — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:15:00 GMT

Kuwaiti investors are entering the Gulf and "surging" into Turkey's property market, announced a Turkish government official this week.

Speaking at the launch of the Real Estate, Investment and Bulding Exhibition, the Undersecretary for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said: "Turkey encourages Kuwaitis tohave their own housing units in its cities and facilitates all property acquisition measures."

The exhibition highlights this trend in overseas investment, adds OPP, with 32 foreign real estate companies participating in the show.

Istanbul poised for rental growth

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:03:00 GMT

The year is likely to see Istanbul undergo stronger capital and rental growth than London, according to a property investment company.

Turkey's real estate advantages were outlined by Colordarcy, which said rental growth in the British capital seems to be slowing down.

Source: Assetz.co.uk

Istanbul poised for rental growth?

Ivan Radford — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:11:00 GMT

The year is likely to see Istanbul undergo stronger capital and rental growth than London, according to a property investment company.

Turkey's real estate advantages were outlined by Colordarcy, which said rental growth in the British capital seems to be slowing down.

It quoted Financial Times figures showing net yields of around 5.5% on properties in sought-after spots in London but yields of 8.5% on the Turkish capital's prime real estate. And a home there costs less than half of one in London.

Colordarcy said Istanbul can expect at least 15% growth in property prices in 2012, which would at least match the 2011 figure.

Turkey was recently ranked seventh in Knight Frank's Global House Price Index. The value of the country's real estate generally rose 7.7% over 2011.

Source: Assetz

Turkey property owners in earthquake insurance plea

Ivan Radford — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:18:00 GMT

With the property market in Turkey proving popular with overseas buyers and investors, experts are advising would be buyers to check out insurance and building guarantees as it is a part of the world that can be affected by earthquakes.

Many people don't think that an earthquake could strike but Turkey is on what is known as the San Andreas fault of the East which means that Istanbul lies on one of the most restless fault lines in the world.

According to seismologists, the risk of a 7.6 magnitude earthquake striking Istanbul by 2030 is greater than 60%.

Earthquake insurance is compulsory in Turkey and property owners should make sure they are up to date. Under the country's DASK insurance scheme any new developments that fail to pass a minimum standard will not be granted certificates.

But Loxley McKenzie, managing director of property investment company Colordarcy, says that extra checks should be made on properties built before 2007.

‘It is important to get the right cover for Istanbul property investments before the worst happens such as your property turning into a pile of rubble and the owners losing all the money that was invested,' he said.

‘Checks should be made to make sure a building complies with earthquake safety rules. The seller should also be in a position to provide a Use of Building Permit or a Habitation Certificate.

To be passed for DASK insurance, all new buildings built since 2007 have been built according to TSE standards, similar to the UK British Standard or other similar codes of practice. They must also have a full minimum five year structural guarantee similar to the UK NHBC scheme,' he explained.

To arrange DASK earthquake insurance on a property, investors will need to provide a copy of the Tapu (Title Deeds) plus passport numbers of all people named on the Tapu, the size of the property or land in square metres and the address.

SourceL PropertyWire

Is this 2012's biggest property money-spinner?

Ivan Radford — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:51:00 GMT

If you had to name the biggest themes that could shape the industry this year, most of us would probably name the Eurozone crisis, the upcoming elections in France or Greece or the emergence of the US housing market from its record slump.

All of these issues will impact overseas property sales. However, another less talked about development is about to have a huge impact on transaction volumes.

The Turkish government is on the verge of abolishing the recipricrocity law which will lift restrictions on buyers in the Arab world purchasing in the country. Turkey and particularly its capital Istanbul, is already top of the list for investment prospects with international investors (see table below).

A growing population, high economic growth, low mortgage penetration, non Euro currency and its strategic position on the European-Asian frontier make it a fertile hunting ground for the more adventurous overseas investor.

The lifting of restrictions on Arab buyers is significant to three reasons. Proximity, price and culture. These are the key drivers of overseas property sales and buyers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait fit the bill perfectly.

Prices in Turkey are affordable for oil-rich buyers, it’s a short plane ride and similarities in language and culture make the proposition of owning in Turkey attractive. It may be a difficult opportunity to grasp for many but for those in a position to exploit it, this trend could be the biggest money spinner of 2012.

Source: Global Edge

Turkish property market set for huge overseas boost

Ivan Radford — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:40:00 GMT

The Turkish property market currently stands on the edge of the biggest change since the Turkish government allowed foreign buyers, with some restrictions, to enter the market in 2002.

In 2005, many of these restrictions were lifted, allowing foreign homebuyers the freedom to purchase property almost anywhere in Turkey, the exception including municipalities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants (Article 87 of the Villages Act) and military zones.

However, the 2002 change in the law allowed foreign buying only on a reciprocity basis, which meant they could buy property in Turkey only if their country of residence allowed a Turkish buyer to purchase property in that country.

This change will have a big impact on purchasers from the Arab world. Because of the reciprocity law, citizens of most Arab countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, are not allowed to buy in Turkey, and this has been a big hindrance to foreign investment - at a time when Turkey is becoming a more popular destination for Arab visitors.

Buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are expected to spend up to US$10 billion (Dh367.31bn) when the restrictions are removed, according to some estimates. Sales are expected to increase by 20 per cent.

Source: The National

Investor appetite grows as commercial foreclosures keep rising globally

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

While investor appetite rose dramatically towards the end of 2011, the level of distressed properties* coming to the market is set to keep on rising globally, according to RICS.

Released today, the latest RICS Global Distressed Property Monitor reveals that two thirds of the countries surveyed anticipate a rise in forced selling of commercial buildings for the first quarter of 2012. Unsurprisingly, the number of commercial foreclosures is set to rise at the fastest pace in the Euro area.

Once again, the countries at the centre of the eurozone debt crisis are worst hit. The Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy expect the highest number of foreclosures. As previous reports have shown, the highly volatile economic and financial context has started to affect steadier markets. Property professionals in France and Germany also anticipate more distressed selling.

Source: Property-Magazine.eu

New Turkish overseas buyer law will "open the market" says Spot Blue

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:40:00 GMT

Turkey’s move to make it easier for foreign nationals to purchase land and real estate will “open up the market” according to a leading agency.

The Turkish government’s draft bill would remove current reciprocity laws…meaning a person of any nationality can purchase in Turkey, rather than just those that allow Turks to purchase in their home countries.

If enshrined in law the bill would also increase the amount of land that foreigners can buy in Turkey from 2.5 hectares to 30 hectares.

Julian Walker, managing director of Turkish agency Spot Blue, told OPP exclusively that the bill, if passed into law, would “open up the market” by reducing the barriers to entry for prospective buyers.”

Source: OPP.org.uk

Property prices in Turkey continue upwards

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:22:00 GMT

The prices of new properties in Turkey have been increasing steadily over the last 12 months and experts expect them to continue doing so in 2012.

According to the latest figures from the REIDIN New Home Price Index prices increased 0.78% in November and are now 9.88% up on November 2010.

Trademarked projects in the of European side of Istanbul increased 1.17% month on months while those on the Asian side were up 0.47%.

The index also shows prices for existing homes increased 0.89% in Turkey overall, 0.93% in Adana, 0.55% in Ankara, 1.27% in Antalya, 1.08% in Istanbul and 1.14% in Izmir. Prices were stable in Kocaeli and decreased 0.11% in Bursa during December 2011.

Source: IBTimes.com

Istanbul surge as buyers eat up Turkey after Christmas

Ivan Radford — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:03:00 GMT

Photo credit: Erman Akdogan

Istanbul property prices are surging as buyers remain hungry for Turkey after Christmas.

Values of prime houses in the Turkish capital are rising, according to figures released by Castle Research. "Strong demand for apartments" has driven up prices, says the Turkey Real Estate Investment Outlook 2012 report, with developments proving increasingly popular over the past nine years: in 2003, off plan properties were selling for US $1,500 per square metre; now, those figures have skyrocketed, with real estate fetching $10,000 per square metre.

"No matter how you analyse it, those price increases represent significant market strength," Castle told OPP, adding that the data only represents that top end of the market.

Indeed, Turkey is starting the year in a position of strength, as international buyers keep up their taste for Turkey's property, ready to either resell for profit or rent out and capitalise on the market's buy-to-let demand. Even Turkish companies are making a move toward the capital's real estate, adds Castle, where rates of return are now "higher than they earn on their bank deposits".

Visitors are getting greedy for Turkey, too, with tourism figures also heating up. According to Xinhuanet, the country's Culture and Tourism Minister predicted last week that they will welcome 32.5 million tourists in the coming year. As foreigners keep gobbling up accommodation, it is no surprise that the economy is expected to continue expanding, albeit at a slower rate, with 4 per cent growth forecast by the government for 2012, following last year's boom of 7.5 per cent.

Turkey's coast is seeing the highest number of tourists, becoming stuffed with real estate developments ripe for consumption. This glut of feasting has led to some resale values declining due to an overcrowded plate, but investors that bought before 2005 "are enjoying solid gains", Castle finds, while current buyers can still find rental yields of 5 per cent in popular hotspots.

Meanwhile, in the capital, apartment blocks are seeing rents jump by up to 10 per cent per year, with gross yields firmly in double figures. There was a decline last year in UK and North European buyers biting at Turkey's real estate, but Castle's report reveals that there is a "steady interest [from British and Scandinavian investors] at the upper-middle price bracket, and also from young professional British buyers at the low end of the market."

Christmas may be over, but as Turkey remains piping hot at the beginning of 2012, investor appetites are set to get even stronger.

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Istanbul property 'rivals markets in London and Paris'

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:30:00 GMT

The property market in Istanbul is in a position to "compete in every sense" with the likes of London and Paris, it has been claimed.

Arman Ozver, Turkey Sotheby's International Realty general manager, made the comments in an interview with Sunday's Zaman.

He explained there are certain areas in the city, such as Nisantasi, which are considered to be safe haven areas for investment.

Mr Ozver is also confident that real estate in Istanbul will remain robust, even if the economic problems in Europe worsen.

Source: PropertyShowrooms.com

Global housing markets struggling

Ivan Radford — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:29:00 GMT

The world's housing markets had a weak third quarter of 2011, according to the latest survey of worldwide house price indices prepared by the Global Property Guide. During the year to end Q3 2011, house prices fell in 25 countries (out of the 44 for which quarterly house price statistics are available) and rose in only 19.

Moreover, 26 housing markets performed more poorly during the year to the third quarter than last year, while only 18 countries performed better.

The Global Property Guide's statistical presentation uses price-changes after inflation, giving a more realistic picture than the more upbeat nominal figures usually preferred by real estate agents.

What is most remarkable this quarter is the wide variety of outcomes:

Brazil and India booming

India and Brazil's housing markets have continued their spectacular outperformance, with Delhi house prices up 22.68% during the year to Q3 2011, according to National Housing Bank (NHB) figures. There were strong house price increases in almost all India's major cities, reflecting the country's current high rate of consumer price inflation, despite a drop in demand resulting from the repo rate hike in October (currently at 8.50%), the 13th since March 2010, making home loans costlier.

Brazil's Sao Paolo had the second highest house price rise in the world during the third quarter, with house prices up 5.88% during the quarter, according to the FIPE- Zap price index. Sao Paolo had an astonishing year, with house prices up 20.26% during the year to Q3 2011. The country is experiencing an unprecedented boom, not least because it is the host country for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Europe's mixed housing markets

The world's second strongest quarter-on-quarter house price rise occurred in an unexpected city - Vienna, where house prices surged by 5.44% during the quarter (and +4.25% on the year), continuing 6 years of nearly unbroken price rises for Austria's capital.

The Baltics have also performed strongly. Latvia is the third best performer among all reporting countries in our survey over the twelve months to Q3 2011. In Riga, standard type apartments rose 13.31% year-on-year, a quick comeback after a fall of 5.40% in the second quarter.

Following Latvia was Estonia, whose housing market is rallying after three years of terrific losses that began during the onset of the global financial crisis. During the year to end Q3 2011, house prices in Tallinn were up 12.30% with a quarterly rise of 2.71%.

Other European markets which have enjoyed satisfactory increases were Norway (+6.74%), France (+4.80%), and Switzerland (+3.35 %).

Modest house price increases were seen in Slovenia (+0.82%), Iceland (+0.76%), Germany (+0.66%) and Luxembourg (+0.55%) in the year to Q3 2011.

Ireland stays weak

The Irish housing market remains the world's weakest performer. House prices were down 15.61% year-on-year, the steepest decline since 2008. Quarter-on-quarter, Ireland's house prices slid 4.25%.

Several other European housing markets experienced accelerated downturns during the year ending in the third quarter of 2011, including Netherlands (-5.20%), Portugal (-6.77%), Slovak Republic (-7.94%), Warsaw, Poland (-7.95%), Spain (-8.41%) and Bulgaria (-9.65%).

Conversely, European countries which saw slower house price falls this year than the previous year include Turkey (-0.50%), Russia (-3.47%), Croatia (-4.59%), Hungary (-4.67%), Athens, Greece (-6.57%) and Kiev, Ukraine (-7.02%).

Asian housing markets now cooling

In Asia, several countries had house price increases during the year to end Q3 2011, albeit less strong than last year, following the government measures to curb the heat in their respective housing markets.

In Hong Kong, house prices were up 12.07% year-on-year, after a rise of 19.30% the previous year. In Malaysia, house prices rose by 3.15% year-on-year, after a rise of 5.76% during the same period last year. In Singapore, house prices rose by 2.73% year-on-year, a big drop from last year's 18.96%. In Taiwan, house prices were up a mere 0.46% year-on-year, after a rise of 6.97% during the same period the previous year. During the latest quarter, house prices were down 7.02%.

However, housing markets in South Korea and Philippines (Makati CBD) improved from a year earlier with price rises of 1.55% and 0.89%, respectively.

In Japan (Tokyo) and China (Shanghai), housing markets have been deteriorating since Q1 2011. House price declines are being reported across China, indicating the success of government measures during the past year. The country's skyrocketing housing prices have been blamed for social tensions and other economic problems.

Patchy progress for North America

The Canadian housing market has been a notable performer in the year to Q3 2011, with house prices in the six cities rising by 3.25% year-on-year, according to Teranet - National Bank Composite House Price Index. Record-low interest rates and a fairly stable Canadian economy have bolstered consumer confidence in the housing market. During the third quarter, house prices were up 3.46%.

In the United States, the housing market drifted lower as house prices plummeted by 7.22% (seasonally-adjusted) year-on-year to Q3 2011, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). However, the number of homeowners who owe more than their homes' worth decreased modestly in the third quarter, though levels remained high.

Israeli house price boom now over

House prices in Israel fell 0.58% in the year to Q3 2011, the first drop since 2009. During the latest quarter, house prices were down 3.65%.

The moderation in home prices comes against the background of the continued increase in the number of building starts, the lagged effect of the increase in the interest rate, measures introduced by the Bank of Israel affecting mortgages, and steps taken by the Ministry of Finance in real estate taxation. The effect of these moves is expected to continue and be evident going forward.

Pacific housing markets heading down

In New Zealand, median house prices were down 4.30% from a year earlier, with a quarterly house price fall of 2.26%. However, there is optimism in the housing market buoyed by low interest rates and recovery following earthquakes in Christchurch.

High interest rates and global economic uncertainty have continued to impact the Australian housing market, and it slumped 5.55% in the year to Q3 2011, the third quarter in which annual house price falls were reported this year.

Accordingly, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lowered the benchmark interest rate in November, the first time since April 2009, moving to boost the nation's economy amid uncertainty stemming from Europe's debt crisis. The benchmark rate is currently at 4.50%.

Brits account for 1 in 6 Turkish properties sold to foreign buyers

Ivan Radford — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:23:00 GMT

Recent findings have shown that around 1 in 6 Turkish properties sold to foreign buyers were bought by Brits in the last two months.

The Land Registry Directorate General's most recent statics highlight that 113,687 properties across Turkey are now owned by foreigners, an increase of 2,487 property sales made on September's 111,200 figures. Further data shows that Brits are still the biggest foreign buyers of Turkish property, with 25,177 properties now owned by British citizens, an increase of 329 since September 2011.

Meanwhile, the value of homes in Turkey increased by an average of 0.81% last month compared to September, according to the REIDIN.com monthly property index, with economic powerhouse Istanbul topping the average figure, increasing by 0.88%.

Indeed, those who have invested in Turkish property for rental purposes will be happy to hear that rental values have also increase between September and October this year rising by 1.07% with rents in Istanbul pushing up by 1.26%

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish property investment experts, Property Frontiers, comments: "Turkey has become an exceptionally popular property choice. At present it is an anchor of stability with a booming economy that is hoped to reach around $2 trillion by 2023.

"Indeed, Istanbul, the pulse of the nation has experienced an increase in rental values therefore creating one of the best areas for rental opportunities. The western suburbs located around Ataturk International airport such as Beylikduzu, one of the fastest growing areas, presents not only a great opportunity for investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe, making the city even more attractive to potential buy to let investors wanting to take advantage of the increase in rental prices highlighted by the data."

Turkish property prices climb

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:41:00 GMT

The value of residential real estate assets in Turkey has risen, new research shows.

According to the REIDIN.com monthly property index for the nation, the worth of homes increased by an average of 0.81 per cent in October, compared to September.

Izmir saw the biggest price hike in this period at 1.53 per cent, while Istanbul also topped the average figure with a jump of 0.88 per cent in its real estate values.

Those who have invested in a property in Turkey with the intention of renting it out may be pleased to learn that rental values climbed by 1.07 per cent across the country between September and October.

Source: PropertyShowrooms.com

123,000 foreigners own immovable property in Turkey

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:59:00 GMT

A total of 123,000 foreigners own 113,687 immovable properties in Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday.

Most foreigners with immovable property prefer Turkey's resort cities, such as Antalya, Muğla and Aydın, besides the cities of İstanbul and Bursa, according to data obtained by the Land Registry Directorate General.

These immovable properties cover an area of 86.1 million square meters.

Antalya is the most popular city among foreigners who want to buy immovable property. A total of 41,184 foreigners have 32,057 immovable properties in Antalya.

Source: TodaysZaman.com

Turkey voted Frommers favourite for 2012

Ivan Radford — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Amongst a list of 10 destinations compiled by Frommers, Turkey was announced as the reader's top destination to visit in 2012, despite being up against strong contenders such as Paris, Italy and Hawaii.

According to the leading guidebook publisher and travel website, 51 per cent of readers quizzed about their top destinations to visit in 2012 voted in favour of Turkey.

Described as a Frommers 'favourite' since the publication of Turkey on $5 a Day in 1971, the nation's economic powerhouse, Istanbul, has been marked as one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities as well as one ‘packed with a rich Byzantine history, divine architecture, fantastic street food and one-of-a-kind shopping'.

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish property investment experts Property Frontiers comments,

"With Turkey becoming one of the biggest success stories of late having emerged as a sound economic marketplace underpinned by an already thriving tourism industry, positive acclaim from a leading and trusted source such as Frommers will certainly help propel the nation even further, much to the delight of foreign property investors."

Further positive news arrives from the latest REIDIN.com index which has revealed that Turkey has experienced an increase in the value of residential property with average house prices rising by 0.73% in September 2011 compared to the previous month, while rental values jumped by 0.90% across the same period.

Meanwhile, the Turkish construction sector has grown by 13.2% in the second quarter of 2011 according to data released by the Association of Real Estate Investment Companies (GYODER) with property sales reaching 107,308 in the country in the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 17.8% over the first quarter.

With this in mind, the projected demand of 2.9 million houses by 2015 has led investors into the lucrative Buy-to-Let world where there is high demand for good quality rented housing in Istanbul and surrounding areas. Those looking to invest in a key asset class in the proven market of Istanbul can also look no further than the booming student accommodation sector.

With University Dormitories and Government Funded Dormitories accounting for only 12.7% of rising student housing demand, a shortfall of housing stock for around 254,000 students has emerged and the new student accommodation development HAN Florya, located in the booming western suburb of Küçükçekmece, will provide an optimum opportunity to capitalise on the growing demand for student housing.

"Dramatic" surge sees Colordarcy double Istanbul sales

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:41:00 GMT

Overseas property investment consultancy Colordarcy is experiencing a “dramatic” surge in sales for Istanbul as the company more than doubles its turnover there, managing director Loxley McKenzie told OPP this week.

The company confirmed £1 million-worth of Istanbul home sales in the last quarter, compared with £400,000 during the same period last year.

“Sales in Istanbul are actually outselling our previous best-performing marketplaces by an average of 60%,” says McKenzie. The city is now doing better than “countries and regions such as Brazil, Egypt, Florida and Atlanta,” he adds.

Official figures show that demand for properties in Istanbul is outstripping supply by 70,000 units each year and such is the need locally for contemporary properties to cater for the ever-growing population that many development projects are not even released to international investors because the local domestic marketplace is so strong.

Source: OPP

EU crunch time: Your real estate escape routes

Ivan Radford — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:07:00 GMT

Photo credit: Eisenrah

The world is watching Brussels today, where EU leaders are meeting to discuss the eurozone debt crisis. Disagreements between country leaders have fuelled fears that the crisis will only continue. But as the 27 European Union leaders vote to finalise financial plans this afternoon, careful buyers can still make a sound investment in Europe. It's crunch time for the EU, so where are your real estate escape routes?

France

As countries such as Greece face an uncertain economic future, central eurozone markets (including the UK) remain a safe haven for many. French property, consistently the second most popular on TheMoveChannel.com, continues to attract investors, particularly in the high-end market, where Sotheby's have seen a jump of 38 per cent in luxury homes sold at auction, reports the Guardian. For UK buyers, taxes now apply to UK pension lump sums, but the country's cautious banks have helped France's economy to stay stable amid wider uncertainty.

Germany

Taking a similar approach to France, Germany's careful economy has made it an established market for house hunters with its high yields and low prices appealing to an increasing number of foreign buyers. While central locations, such as Berlin, are seeing house prices increase, real estate across the country has grown in popularity during the eurozone crisis, becoming one of TheMoveChannel.com's top 10 property destinations earlier this month.

Italy

Italy remains one of the main points of discussion in the EU talks. One of the key countries in the eurozone, other leaders are demanding that the country outline firm plans to reduce its large national deficit. While unconfirmed rumours suggest Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will resign at the beginning of next year, Italy's climate is still attracting new residents, although an awareness of seasonality is advised by experts. The property market is slow, but PropertyShowrooms.com suggests that this means lifestyle buyers can pick up houses "at bargain prices if they find someone who really needs to sell or move".

Spain

Spain remains the most popular destination on TheMoveChannel.com, and its low costs and sunny coasts have built up a significant expat community. 800,000 Brits are currently living in Spain, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and although exchange rates are less favourable than a few years ago and a wealth tax has just been introduced, property prices in more popular areas have reduced by up to 50 per cent, say recent reports. These bargain homes have seen foreigners invest €1.3 billion in Spanish real estate in the second quarter of this year, according to the Bank of Spain - an increase of 37 per cent compared to 2010. Buyers afraid of Greece or Italy can still rely on Spain for a second home.

Portugal

Portugal's economy has been badly hit by EU debt, but real estate activity was less negative in September than in August, say the latest figures. It helps that the market has not been crowded by an oversupply of property. Instead, "it is the demand side of the equation that is weighing down on prices in Portugal", according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a finding supported by the differences between regional markets. The Algarve, for example, is faring significantly better than Lisbon and Porto. Overall confidence In Portuguese real estate is low, but prices are too, kept down by the number of repossessed property banks are now putting up for sale.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria has been a surprisingly popular place for property buyers to browse in recent months. A boom in Balkan tourism has seen construction of holiday homes in Bulgarian resorts rise - there are 5.4 per cent more homes across the country now than in 2001 - and EU citizens, attracted by the non-eurozone market, currently account for 23 per cent of all foreign residents, according to a national survey published by BulgarianProperties.com. The latest data from the National Statistical Institute shows that apartment prices are falling in the country's regional cities, but like Portugal, this rate of decline is slowing, as signs of eventual market stability may be starting to show.

Turkey

Eastern Europe has delighted in Turkey, a country that has seen strong economic growth throughout the EU crisis. Investors have rushed to Istanbul for real estate and foreign buyers have poured over $1.3 billion into the country's property market over the years. Although lending growth has slowed since Turkey's phenomenal first quarter in 2011, a strong tourism industry continues to drive investment. "Mortgages represent just 5 per cent of GDP and there is a growing population that aspires to consume," one fund manager told Interactive Investor. Indeed, there is now a shortage of accommodation in Turkey, with a projected demand for 2.9 million houses by 2015. Turkey has been waiting to join the EU for a very long time, but as the leaders meet today to solve the major debt crisis, the EU's refusal to accept Turkey has only helped its property market thrive.

Where is your real estate escape route?

Avoid the EU debt crisis by browsing our listings of apartments, houses and other overseas property both inside and outside of the eurozone:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all/

Lack of house insurance undermines Turkish buildings

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Only 9 percent of houses in Van were insured against earthquake, officials say. Particularly the old houses not only in the earthquake-hit province, but the whole country are theathening lives of millions, experts warn.

Less than 10 percent of the houses in the quake-stricken eastern province of Van were insured, according to the top executive at Turkey’s main earthquake insurance authority.

“Only 7,318 out of the houses out of the total of 84,000 in the province were insured,” Selamet Yazıcı, the board chairman of the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (TCIP), told Anatolia news agency yesterday.

“This would mean only 9 percent of the houses are insured,” he said, noting that house insurance rates were lowest in the eastern region of the country.

Source: HurriyetDailyNews.com

New property deed system for Turks

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:55:00 GMT

Turkey is to offer it citizens living abroad an easier way to apply for title deeds online.

With the new system, expected to start functioning in 2012, a Turkish citizen residing in Germany will be able to conduct purchase or sale transactions for real estate property in Turkey, just by applying to the Turkish Embassy.

Gökhan Kanal, the acting general manager of the Deeds and Land Registry Office, said they plan to request staff for foreign missions from the Foreign Ministry.

Kanal says the Recorder of Deeds Office plans to employ its own representatives at diplomatic missions, adding that transactions to be carried out by experts who will be recruited by Turkish embassies abroad will be entered into the online Deeds and Land Registry Information System (BİS).

Source: VoicesNewspaper.com

Istanbul student accommodation welcomed by investors

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:25:00 GMT

Over the past year, two property sectors have upheld an exceptionally strong position seeing considerable growth in student accommodation and the Turkish property market. With this in mind, purpose built student accommodation in Istanbul is currently in high demand providing the perfect opportunity for savvy investors to own a key asset class in a proven market.

Ray Withers Director of Turkish investment expert's Property Frontiers comments,

"Combining the proven key market fundamentals of Istanbul with an asset class deemed by Knight Frank to be a "critical component of a balanced investment portfolio", the two sectors combined together make absolute sense".

With the ongoing success of Turkey's economy and predictions that the nation will be the 9th largest economy in the world by 2050, Turkey affords 154 universities, four of which have secured a place in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2011-12). While Turkey has as a total student population of 3.78 million, Istanbul represents the educational hub of the nation boasting 36 universities and a student population of 298,000.

Currently, Turkish universities accommodate students from around 147 countries, including the UK, seeing a rise of 59% over the past 5 years and with the international increase in enrolment combined with an 8% annual student growth rate, enormous pressure has been placed on existing student accommodation stock.

Withers explains,

"Student accommodation traditionally supplied by University Dormitories and Government Funded Dormitories account for only 12.7% of demand and has resulted in a shortfall for around 254,000 students. Our new student accommodation development in Istanbul, HAN Florya, provides an optimum opportunity to capitalise on the growing demand for student housing."

With a huge undersupply of student accommodation mismatched with growing demand, students are transforming the rental market in Turkey offering excellent returns potential for investors.

Located in the booming western suburb of Küçükçekmece, home to some 600,000 people, HAN Florya occupies a prime location close by to three universities in Istanbul with a combined population of 19,000 students and less than 2 minutes' walk from the Metro bus station enabling easy and quick access to the city centre.

With only 38 student rooms available on a leasehold basis, HAN Florya has been explicitly designed to cater for the market requirement of separate male and female accommodation. Comprising two blocks (one for male, the other for female residents) this attractive student residence offers a secure high yielding low level investment starting at £14,965 with no buying, ongoing maintenance or management costs while investors can enjoy a guaranteed NET yield of 10% per annum.

For more information on investing in the key asset class of HAN Florya in Istanbul please contact the experts Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Foreigners stuff billions into Turkey property

Ivan Radford — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:22:00 GMT

Photo credit: Victor Radziun

Over $1.3 billion were stuffed into Turkey's property market last year.

The figures, released by the Turkish government, show that foreign investors are still keen to own a share of the country's booming real estate industry, as Turkey becomes one of the biggest success stories of recent years.

Fuelled by a highly successful tourism industry, Turkey's economy has sky-rocketed, much to the delight of property investors. At present, Turkey ranks seventh in the most-visited global destinations list, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Since 2000, Turkish tourism operators were able to record the first noteworthy increase in tourist numbers, resulting in an impressive 10.4 million visitors that year. From then on, Turkey has experienced consistent growth in its inbound tourists leading the country to reach an incredible 28.63 million visitors in 2010.

Today, the tourism sector continues to grow and is a primary contributor to Turkey's national income and success on the global stage. Indeed, increased tourist numbers over the years certainly contributed to the 11 per cent year on year economic growth seen in Q1 2011, with Istanbul seeing a 30.1 per cent increase in tourist revenue in 2011, helping Turkey's capital to become the 34th richest city by GDP in the world.

Recording better growth than any of the largest emerging markets in the first quarter of this year, Turkey's $735 billion economy grew 8.8 per cent in the second quarter, developing faster than India and more than four times the speed of the Eurozone's expansion. And, with the help of ever growing tourist numbers and credit growth prompting rising consumer demand, Turkey has been experiencing the best year for takeovers since 2008 with the value of transactions involving Turkish targets rising by 59% annually to $8.8 billion.

At present, there is a shortage of homes across the country, especially in urban areas such as Istanbul, which is currently on the receiving end of huge internal migration. With this in mind, the projected demand of 2.9 million houses by 2015 has led investors into the lucrative Buy-to-Let world where there is high demand for good quality rented housing in Istanbul and surrounding areas.

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish property investment experts Property Frontier, comments: "It seems everyone wants a piece of Turkey. Certainly, for investors, the Turkish government's plan to make the tourist industry reach 15 per cent of its GDP by the year 2020 will be a big attraction.

Currently, the Turkish property market is underpinned by a strong economy with a growing tourism sector, and savvy Buy-to-Let investors understand that this can be converted into solid rental yields. We at Property Frontiers have recognised the growing potential of Istanbul as a lucrative property investment hub presenting not only one of the best opportunities for property investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe."

Want a taste of Turkey?

Browse our listings of Turkish apartments, houses and buy-to-let properties:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

Polish property popular as people pick outside Euro

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:26:00 GMT

Photo credit: Marcin Kowalski

property in Poland is proving popular as people avoid the Eurozone, new research has revealed.

The debt crisis continues to worry the continent, but property buyers are still investing in real estate abroad – particularly in Poland, where interest has risen significantly in recent months. According to Rightmove and Moneycorp, searches for property in Poland “soared by almost 60%” in August, as buyers turned away from more debt-affected property markets, such as Portugal.

Poland has been planning to adopt the Euro for several years, but in 2010 cooled its intentions to join the single currency, along with the Czech Republic, in response to Greece's growing deficit. Separate from the Euro, Poland’s economy grew 4.3 per cent from 2010 in the second quarter of 2011, keeping the country optimistic in its struggle to meet the EU’s deficit limit of 3 per cent within the next year.

Poland joins Turkey as a non-Euro economy experiencing positive growth, as Turkish tourism and buy-to-let investment led to Beylikduzu in Istanbul being recommended for investment by Global Property Guide last week.

But all is not lost for the Eurozone countries, with bargain prices in Spain seeing purchases double over the summer, according to data from World First. Interest also remains strong in homes in Germany and France, which Moneycorp suggests is because the two countries have “led the way in addressing the debt crisis”.

Indeed, cautious buyers are still snapping up property across the continent, with August seeing an overall increase in interest in property worldwide, adds the report. But with Poland heralded as the latest property hotspot for Brits, smart investors are proving that sometimes it pays to say “no” to the Euro.

Interested in property in Poland?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments and other overseas property:

http://poland.themovechannel.com/property/all

Beylikduzu recommended by experts as key place to buy

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:27:00 GMT

Beylikduzu has been recommended by experts as a key place to invest in Istanbul.

A key city in one of the world's fastest growing economies, Istanbul, Turkey's economic powerhouse, has been enjoying soaring tourism along with vast internal migration and a youth orientated demography which has propelled the city forward and boosted its property market. The Global Property Guide, an authoritative source of information on buying overseas property, has produced an independent guide to buying property in Istanbul, highlighting the city's strong political situation and geographical beauty as factors that have attributed to Istanbul's surge in visitors and buy-to-let property investors.

Labelled Eurasia's rising Tiger by The Wall Street Journal, Turkey's economy grew 11% year on year in Q1 2011 seeing around $100 billion in foreign investment pour into the nation since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the stand in 2003, while Turkey's 'city of desire', Istanbul, saw a 30.1% increase in tourist revenue in 2011, according to data from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, helping the nation become the 34th richest city by GDP in the world.

As tourism continues to accelerate faster than other European countries, the Global Property Guide also highlights that Istanbul has now become the third most visited city in Europe after Paris and London, with many property investors from around the world, including the UK, USA and Russia, attracted to the projected demand of 2.9 million houses by 2015.

Low unemployment and the undervaluation of the Turkish Lira also makes property in Istanbul relatively inexpensive compared to other European cities. Indeed, the growing middle classes and a flourishing international community have made Istanbul a prime buy-to-let market with outlaying suburbs, such as Beylikduzu, growing in popularity.

Ray Withers, Director of Property Frontiers, comments, "We at Property Frontiers have recognised the growing potential of Istanbul as a lucrative property investment hub. The western suburb of Beylikduzu is one of the fastest growing areas which present not only one of the best opportunities for investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe. Its location is perfect, located close to shopping centres and leisure facilities, the area affords three universities and plenty of green spaces as well as excellent transport options including trains and the Metro bus which runs through the suburb making it easily accessible from the city centre.

"Due to its popularity Beylikduzu is expanding rapidly with the population expected to increase fivefold to 1 million residents by 2016. At present there is an acute shortage of rental properties and it is exactly this lack of supply and growing demand which investors can capitalize on."

Interested in property in Turkey?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments, and buy-to-let investment opportunities:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all/

Turkey law change to spur $10 billion land market

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:01:00 GMT

A proposed change in Turkish law to drop reciprocity conditions and allow more non-Turkish nationals to buy property in the country will create a $10 billion real- estate market spurred by sales to Arabs, Sabah reported.

Companies including Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Binladin Group and Kuwait’s Mena Real Estate have opened units in Turkey in recent weeks in anticipation of the change, the newspaper said.

Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar is expected to introduce legislation to drop the reciprocity requirement in real-estate purchases in parliament in coming days, Sabah said.

Passage of the legislation is expected to spur purchases from buyers in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Dubai, Azerbaijan, Qatar and Iran, the newspaper said, citing Isik Gokkaya, chairman of the Turkish real estate trust association GYODER.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Real estate prices rise in Turkey

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The latest figures from the REIDIN.com real estate index for Turkey has revealed that, overall, property prices in the country increased during August, compared to the previous month.

On average, home values in Turkey rose by 0.55 per cent, with Ankara, Izmir and Kocaeli exhibiting the greatest increases of 0.95 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.85 per cent respectively.

Bursa was the only region to record a monthly fall in property prices, although this was marginal at 0.02 per cent.

Year-on-year, Istanbul has the strongest performing real estate sector, with housing values in the city up by 7.42 per cent compared to August 2010.

Source: PropertyShowrooms.com

Naomi Campbell builds island eco house in Turkey

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:34:00 GMT

Every architect on the planet would probably love to have an assignment like this one, and Luis de Garrido from Spain, ostensibly free of budget or creative restrictions, ran with it.

The multi-level central dome is framed with steel and clad in glazed glass panels that permit sunlight all year round. Although the greenhouse effect promotes natural heating, certain measures – such as landscaping and tilted louvers – ensure that the heat is bearable during the summer time. Steps have also been taken to provide plenty of ventilation.

Combined with the photovoltaic panels that make up the property’s Eye of Horus shape, a state-of-the-art geothermal system provides all of the energy this 25 bedroom home (complete with five lounges) could possibly need. Rainwater is harvested, and an on-site biological system treats wastewater. Inside, the house is a landscaped terrace, from which it is possible to take in the incredible views.

Perhaps the only question remaining is this: how do we become best friends with Naomi so we can camp out on Cleopatra Island when the apocalypse comes?

Source: Inhabitat.com

Istanbul real estate market continues to boom

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:42:00 GMT

Istanbul’s property market continues to accelerate ahead of the rest of the world according to new data from the city’s chamber of commerce.

Foreign direct investment into Istanbul increased by an impressive 27 per cent this year meaning Istanbul is now one of the most popular property hot-spots in the world.

Turkey’s thriving economy which outpaced China to become the world’s fastest growing economy earlier in the year has been focused around the countries successful banking and financial sectors as well as flourishing tourism industry.

While the tourism boom has directly affected property prices in coastal regions, Istanbul’s property market is benefiting from Turkey’s rapidly expanding economy. With a growing number of businesses moving to the city there is significant job creation taking place and a huge demand for commercial real estate.

Source: SelectProperty.com

British buyers gobble up Turkey property

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:44:00 GMT

Photo credit: Bryan_T

British buyers are the top real estate investors in Turkey, owning almost 25,000 properties across the country, according to the latest figures.

The Land Registry Directorate's Foreigner Affairs Unit has announced that British buyers now account for 22 per cent of all property purchases by foreigners in Turkey. Investors from 89 different countries have purchased approximately 111,200 estates across the country, but over 35,000 Brits own a total of 24,848 properties, putting the UK on a pedestal as one of the most popular buyers of Turkish property. It is followed by Germany and Greece who have also succumbed to the nation's hypnotic charm.

Further research suggests that foreigners have bought real estate in 76 of Turkey's 81 provinces with a total of 12,190 properties in the economic powerhouse of Istanbul being owned by foreign nationals.

In response to buyer demand and according to recent figures from the ReidIn Turkey Residential Property Price Index, the cost of buying property in Turkey is rising steadily with sale prices having increased by 0.83 per cent across the country with a 1.05 per cent rise in Istanbul alone in July this year.

The research also indicates that buyers are searching for new build properties, which have been growing in popularity among overseas and second home owners. From June to July, there was a 1.2 per cent increase in new build buyers - over 7 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish investment experts Property Frontiers, comments, "Turkey is fast becoming an exceptionally popular property choice. At present it is an anchor of stability with a booming economy that is hoped to reach around $2 trillion by 2023, and with the predicted 2.9 million housing units required over the next four years to accommodate the ever growing population, we at Property Frontiers have recognised the flourishing potential of Turkey as a lucrative property investment hub."

Increasing rents combined with cheap prices and a stable economy explain why so many British buyers are investing in Turkish real estate.

Withers added: "Istanbul, the pulse of the nation and the western suburbs located around Ataturk International airport such as Beylikduzu, one of the fastest growing areas, presents not only one of the best opportunities for investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe, making the city even more attractive to potential buy to let investors, especially given the increase in rental prices highlighted by the data."

Interested in gobbling up Turkish property?

Browse our listings of houses, apartments and buy to let properties in Turkey:

http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all

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Property prices in Turkey creeping up, latest index shows

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:49:00 GMT

Residential real estate prices and sales in Turkey are increasing steadily with buyers looking for bigger properties, according to the latest figures to be published.

Sales prices increased 0.83% in Turkey overall, the ReidIn Turkey Residential Property Price Index shows. They were up 0.32% in Adana, 1.02% in Ankara, 0.64% in Antalya, 0.66% in Bursa, 1.05% in Istanbul, 0.84% in Izmir and 1.02% in Kocaeli during July 2011.

Rental prices are also on the up, increasing 0.36% in Turkey overall. Rents climbed 0.31% in Adana, 0.47% in Ankara, 0.76% in Antalya, 0.44% in Bursa, 0.28% in Istanbul, 0.81% in Izmir and 0.46% in Kocaeli during July 2011.

New homes, popular with both domestic and overseas buyers are also increasing. They were up 1.2% in July compared with the previous month and are now 7.29% higher than a year ago.

Source: PropertyWire.com

"Many reasons" to buy property in Turkey

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:01:00 GMT

Turkey has become an increasingly popular option for those seeking a property abroad, one expert has noted.

Andy Bridge, managing director of A Place in the Sun, explained that there are many reasons to consider buying Turkish real estate.

"It's outside the eurozone - so sterling goes further, property is relatively affordable and it's a wonderful country for food, climate and culture," he stated.

This may particularly appeal to those who are looking for a base outside the UK where they can visit on holiday and which they can rent out for the remainder of the year.

Source: Property Showrooms

Istanbul tops list of world's fastest-growing airports

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:52:00 GMT

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport is the world's fastest growing airport, according to a new report released by Airports Council International (ACI) August 1.

The World Airport Traffic Report 2010, which analyzed the performance of over 1,300 airports in 157 countries around the world last year, suggests that traffic at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport, completed in 2009, jumped by 75 percent last year.

That puts it considerably ahead of Campinas in Brazil, the world's second-fastest growing airport, and Rio de Janeiro, the third.

Charleroi in Belgium and Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport rounded off the top five list.

Source: Independent.co.uk

More interest in buying overseas properties

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:42:00 GMT

Interest in buying property overseas has now tipped the balance versus that of property in the UK, with 67% of respondents saying it is a good time to make a foreign investment and 65% actually considering doing so, a new survey shows.

Countries which generated the most responses were the United States, Turkey and Portugal, the research from Oxfordshire based property investment company, the Worldwide Property Group, shows.

‘It’s hardly surprising that investors are looking beyond the UK for places to invest. Many overseas regions are providing very strong potential returns, the USA being a prime example,’ said Kevin Wilkes, managing director of the Worldwide Property Group.

‘The UK has always been a great place in which to invest in property, and will continue to be so. But with some incredible potential for property investment overseas mixed with increasing ease of purchasing a foreign property, people are finding they have much greater choice, and the UK now has some strong competition,’ he explained.

Source: Property Community

Turkish property is beginning to see an upswing

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:45:00 GMT

For some time, there has been depreciation in the values of Turkish property due to many factors, including economic issues incurred during its attempt to accede to the European Union. These have held back property investors from buying in Turkey for fear of a further real estate valuation decline. Recently, this has shown signs of change as the factors which worked against the Turkish economy have started to be reversed.

The issues that Turkey has faced in attempting to join the European Union still exist.Yet with the problems that the EU itself is facing amongst its member states, Turkey, not being a part,has not been seen as such a draw-back. In fact, the issues that some of the member states face have forced investors who might previously invested in properties in Greece, Spain or Portugal to seek alternative opportunities. This is where Turkey is coming into its element as it has a tie of sorts to the EU, giving it credibility without being so tightly bound as the other sovereign debt crises.

The Turkish economy appears to be entering a growth period unlike many of the surrounding areas, which is great news for investors. This growth is being seen as partially being driven by new initiatives by the Turkish government to decrease reliance on imports, chief among which is the growing energy bill the country faces. By tackling this expensive problem head-on, the country’s leaders hope to decrease the country’s deficit and increase investor confidence. This will be augmented by the trade agreements that Turkey has already started to put into place.

As the economy stabilises and investor confidence in the country grows, this will trickle down into various areas of the country. Tourism is starting to see benefits with increased flights to the Middle East. property in Turkey is starting to show greater value and should show increased returns for investors in the long run.

Source: Buy Association

Turkey is world's fastest growing economy

Sarah Kendell — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:55:00 GMT

The Middle Eastern nation's latest GDP growth figures saw it surpass both Argentina and China to become the fastest growing economy in the world, according to the national statistics authority, Turkstat.

Turkey's Q1 GDP growth was recorded at a staggering 11%, the only country in the world to have achieved double digit growth, and higher than that of Argentina at 9.9% and China at 9.4%. At a diplomatic conference in Istanbul, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the results as indicative of the nation's status as an economic leader in both Europe and the Middle East.

"The 11 percent growth rate is phenomenal", said Clinton. "What I hope is that Turkey will become an engine for economic growth in the region."

The news has stoked international property buyers' interest in the country, which is already strong due to the country's location straddling Europe and the Middle East, and its scenic beaches and low cost of living. A recent survey by UK-based property investment firm World Property Group saw Turkey named the second most popular country in the world for international property investor interest. The capital of Istanbul is also currently the fastest growing tourist city in the world, with foreign visitor levels having increased 30% so far in 2011.

Interested in property in Turkey?
Browse our listings of apartments, houses and other properties for sale in Turkey here: http://turkey.themovechannel.com/property/all/

EU debt crisis encourages property investment in Turkey

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:43:00 GMT

Historically, property investors watched prospective EU members with anticipation. Often targeting markets that were expected to gain full EU membership, savvy investors would benefit from the subsequent up lift in prices. Turkey has long been on the verge of membership to the EU however many would suggest it never really stood a chance of gaining full membership due to objections from the likes France and Germany.

Now the EU’s economy is caught in a deep sovereign debt crisis with two of its members, Greece and Ireland forced to accept huge bail-outs. Not only must both of these countries borrow more money to service their debts but they both face ongoing austerity measures. While the general appetite for property in Europe has reduced significantly, one such measure has directly affected Greece’s property market in particular. The country has placed new taxes on high-end property, causing owners to sell en-mass while new buyers remain few and far between. Portugal has been advised to implement similar taxes.

As a result, property investors have snubbed the debt ridden EU nations in search of better performing markets and greater value for money. While Turkey now stands in a position where it could gain membership much more easily, the tables seem to have turned as investors care less about EU membership and Turkey reaps the benefits of its exclusion.

While GDP growth improved in the EU during the first 6 months of 2011, it only reached 2.5% while Turkey impressively recorded 11% to become the fastest growing economy in the world. The Economist published that Turkey will soon surpass Germany as one of Europe’s top performing economies.

Source: SelectProperty.com

Istanbul is fastest growing tourist destination in the world

Sarah Kendell — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:03:00 GMT

Undoubtedly one of the world´s greatest cities, Istanbul has seen a 30.1% increase in tourist revenue, generating an estimated $10.2 billion in 2011, surpassing New York and Amsterdam in terms of the number of visitors according to a city index developed by MasterCard Worldwide.

Estimates from the city index suggest that Istanbul will receive a predicted 9.4 million visitors in 2011 proving more attractive than traditionally popular global cities such as Rome, Milan and New York.

Dubbed ‘one of the hippest cities in the world', it seems visitors are undoubtedly attracted to this impressive accolade. With a rich cultural background, abundance of amenities and rising economic wealth, Istanbul is propelling Turkey forward with the country's economy growing by 11% in the first quarter of 2011 according to figures published by the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkstat.

As a whole, Turkey's income per capita has almost doubled since 2002 and as a result, has generated a boom in consumer spending, seeing a rise in the shopping mall culture, proliferating across the country almost as much as in the US as well as trendy restaurants, bars and clubs lining the streets becoming even more prevalent than the widespread Ottoman mosques.

Indeed, with more money to play with, consumers, in particular the middles classes have begun to travel a great deal more aided by the growth of national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines. However one of the biggest emergences to have come out of rising consumer wealth has been the increased demand for property with more people buying new homes.

Rising demand led to Turkey's construction sector displaying an impressive 17.1% growth in 2010 over the previous year. This sector has been driving economic growth in the economy over the past few years, seeing improved technology utilised and stronger financial structures helping construction companies to deliver property projects at a faster rate.

Back in May this year, PricewaterhouseCoopers Emerging Trends in European Real Estate report which surveyed worldwide investors found that Istanbul is currently considered along with Munich, to be the best city in Europe for investment opportunities in the areas of new developments and acquisitions, and second best for opportunities to increase returns on existing investments.

Ray Withers, Director of property investment experts, Property Frontiers, comments,

"The Turkish property industry is receiving considerable interest from foreign investors seeking to purchase property in popular cities like Istanbul due to the ongoing growth in the economy and rising tourist numbers, pushing up demand for property and generating vast opportunities in the already thriving rental market.

"Istanbul, considered to be the dominant powerhouse in Turkey is fast becoming a popular destination for Europe's glitterati as well as a thriving business hub with new residential developments emerging in up and coming areas on the desirable European side of Istanbul such as Bahcesehir and Beylikduzu as well as the city centre. Modern Istanbul properties offer exceptional facilities and a cheaper price tag than the rest of Europe, making the city even more attractive to potential buy to let investors."

Confirming the strength of demand, statistics from leading overseas property search portal The Move Channel show that at least 1 in 5 Turkey property searches are for Istanbul. Of these enquires, around 60% are for properties priced between £0 - £100,000 while 35% enquiries are priced between £100 - £200,000.

For more information about exciting new buy to let investment opportunities available in Istanbul contact the experts Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit http://www.propertyfrontiers.com/.

Istanbul Property Investment To Be Boosted By New Universities

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:43:00 GMT

Property investors considering an investment in the Istanbul student property sector will be looking even more closely at the city in the next 12 months, as 9 new universities are opened. This will take the total to 166 universities.

This year some 895,000 students took the Transition to Higher Education Examination (YGS), but there are only 700,000 places available in undergraduate and postgraduate courses throughout the country. The 9 new universities will make it easier for all to find placement on courses.

Istanbul is currently being perceived as one of the hottest residential investment spots in the world, and student property investment is really taking off as well. This can only to increasing interest in that field, as well as hopefully increasing demand, increasing occupancy and of course, increasing yields.

Süleyman Şah University will add 300 places in the Kartal district, 60 with full scholarships. Süleyman Şah will have courses in the following psychology, sociology, Turkish language and literature, economy, business, political science and public administration.

Source: Novrealty.com

No debt crisis on Turkish Riviera

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:39:00 GMT

Glossy white yachts line its glittery marina club and celebrities such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas traipse the cobblestone sidewalks around downtown. You'd think it was Mykonos or St. Tropez -- but it's neither. With multimillion-dollar estates being snapped up right and left from Middle Eastern billionaires and Saudi royalty, Bodrum is the epicenter of a Turkish Riviera enjoying the perks of a booming economy a lot farther from Greece than the 20-minute hydrofoil ride would suggest.

More on Top 1% Chefs Go Beyond Basic BarbecueGlobal Pool Parties Are Big BusinessChefs Go Casual, Starting With Small Plates With a year-to-year GDP that's expanded 11% -- better than China and Argentina -- Turkey has a booming economy helping support bold investments in resort destinations such as Bodrum. The property market is benefiting from an influx of second-home buyers in addition to foreign investment and real estate developments such as a luxury shopping center that will bring retailers including Louis Vuitton to town, not to mention the five-star resorts opening this summer.

Source: TheStreet.com

Turkey: the world’s fastest growing economy

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:37:00 GMT

Turkey notched up astounding 11% growth in the first 3 months of this year making it the fastest growing economy in the world. Turkey impressively surpassed the rapid growth of China by 1.1%; a significant margin in economic growth terms. Turkey now stands in a strong position predicted to surpass its 2008, pre-crisis GDP levels by the end of the year becoming one of the first major world economies to do so.

The fastest growing sectors were wholesale trade, tourism, energy, transportation, communication and most notably, construction, which grew by over 14% to keep up with real-estate demand in the country.

Timothy Ash, the chief economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland commented on Turkey’s growth strong growth in 2010 leading up to these most recent figures.

“Real GDP grew by 9.2 percent year on year in the fourth quarter, and by 8.9 percent for the full year in 2010,”

Source: SelectProperty.com

Hilton to launch budget hotel brand in Turkey

admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:37:00 GMT

Worldwide hotel giant Hilton has announced that it will be launching a new low-cost hotel brand in the Turkish market.

The firm said that it has signed contracts to begin operating four ‘Hampton by Hilton’ properties in Turkey next year. One property will be located in the Kayaşehir district of Istanbul, another in the Tekirdağ’s Çorlu neighbourhood, while others will be situated Rize province on the Black Sea as well as in Gaziantep in the southeastern part of the country.

Hilton Worldwide’s VP for development in Eastern Europe, Turkey and Russia, Michael Collini, said during a press conference on Thursday that the decision to launch the new brand was encouraged by Turkey’s current placing as a powerful and growing economy in the world.

The company also said it has six additional budget hotel properties in the works as part of a new strategy, which also includes expanding the company’s luxury and midrange brands in the region. Hilton is planning to introduce the luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to Turkey, although Mr Collini said this was not part of the current short-term strategy.

Source: CompareCarHire.co.uk

Istanbul construction boom fails to quench demand

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:31:00 GMT

Last month investors from around the world, as surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in its Emerging Trends in European Real Estate report, said that Istanbul is currently the best city in Europe for investment opportunities in the fields of new developments and acquisitions, and second best for opportunities to increase returns on existing investments. However, in coming second Istanbul had the same score as first placed Munich at 6.08, so should really have been tied for first place.

One particularly significant trend that came from the responses was the consensus that although Istanbul is currently experiencing a construction boom, construction is not fast enough to bite into the widening shortage of housing. Commercial spaces are also in short supply in many areas and some segments. We have heard this from many developers and agents on the ground in Istanbul.

This is surely a double whammy of investment potential, because you have room for growth in the construction industry, which will generate more and more revenues into the economy, and this in turn will generate more demand for housing. Such self-perpetuating cycles come along very rarely in property investment, and when they do every investor should carefully look at the opportunity and possibly look at it with a view of "why wouldn't I invest here?".

That is if people haven't already decided that from the fact that Istanbul is constantly being named one of the hottest investment opportunities on the global market. Back to the PWC report; in first place for new property acquisitions Istanbul beat off London, Munich, Stockholm, Berlin and Warsaw, and for development opportunities it beat off London, Munich, Warsaw, Zurich and Stockholm.

Source: PropertyShowrooms.com

Aman Resorts unveils new Aegean coast destination

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:06:00 GMT

In August this year, Amanresorts will launch its 24th property, Amanruya, in a quiet valley on the Bodrum Peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea.

There are few places in the world which offer classical history and natural beauty in equal measure, and the Aegean region of Turkey is one such place. This fabled coastline is where Homer’s heroes were born, where the ancient Greeks consulted their oracles and the Romans built magnificent temples to honour their gods. The region tells a story spanning 5,000 years of Greek and Roman history, and everywhere you go are reminders of this glorious past, vying for attention with spectacular scenery. Olive groves and forests give way to sun-kissed beaches, littering the scalloped coastline like so many smiles. Towns with ancient names inhabit the bays and traditional Turkish gulets ply the turquoise waters between the Aegean’s many islands. It is into this setting that Amanruya will open, named for the Sanskrit word for peace, ‘aman’, and the Turkish word for dream.

Surrounded by a pine forest and olive groves, Amanruya is set on a peaceful hillside, offering breathtaking views of the sea and a winding pathway leading to a protected pebble beach. An access road weaves its way through the trees before revealing one’s first glimpse of the resort and its graceful setting. Inspired by the region’s traditional architecture, Amanruya ascends through a series of elevated levels. Courtyards and terraces create the intimate and organic ambience of a village, while still providing a sense of space and luxury, and local materials including stone, acajau wood and Turkish marble form a timeless natural palette.

Amanruya offers a total of 36 nearly identical Pool Terrace Cottages with varying courtyard and swimming pool designs to ensure a unique character prevails. Entry is via a small porch which leads to the interior living room, beyond which is a four-poster bed with a writing desk behind. Adjacent to the bedroom is a dressing room and a light-filled bathroom. Positioned at the end of the bathroom with garden views is a soaking tub. Double glass doors lead from the living room to an exterior terrace that features a swimming pool and a covered dining and lounging pergola. The swimming pools vary in shape from cottage to cottage, yet measure an average 35 square metres, and a number are heated. All cottages are fitted with outdoor showers, underfloor heating and a fireplace.

Source: LuxuryTravelMagazine.com

Why it's important to get a good Turkish property lawyer

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:56:00 GMT

Turkey offers some excellent property investment opportunities and is one of the most popular overseas locations for Brits to buy houses. However, the buying process in Turkey is different from other countries and so it’s important that you understand how to buy property.

Many people end up withdrawing from property transactions in Turkey due to the complicated legal process. Property companies and developers are urging the government to change the rules, but until they do, it’s vital that you appoint a good overseas property lawyer when considering buying property in Turkey.

Buyers need permission to buy property in Turkey

Sales to foreign nationals have to be approved by the authorities in Turkey and this can often mean a significant hold up to the buying process. Many people simply get def up with the delays and back out of buying property in the country. Kürşat Tuncel, from Turkish construction company Ağaoğlu İnşaat told the Daily News, “For the sale of every unit, many signatures are required for the authorities. This does not correlate with Turkey’s aim of attracting more foreign investment.”

For example, Turkish Act 2565 states that any foreign national wanting to buy a property in Turkey must apply in writing to the Turkish authorities. This is to ensure that a property or a piece of land is not located on a military zone.

Source: Homesgofast.com

Foreign capital inflows into Turkey remain strong

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:59:00 GMT

Despite record-low interest rates, international capital inflows to Turkey remain strong - a total of $684 million in foreign capital entered the country in April.

Net foreign capital inflows between January and April stood at $4.7 billion, corresponding to an annual rise of 12.6 percent, according to Treasury data released Tuesday.

The amount of foreign capital entering Turkey was at $470 million in January, $691 million in February and $2.8 billion in March, Anatolia news agency reported. Wealthy Gulf Arabs seeking a safe place to store their cash in March chose Turkey, according to various press reports in May, accounting for the month’s spike in capital inflow.

Property purchases account for around $300 million of the April figure, while the remaining $384 million went to other areas of the economy.

Source: HurriyetDailyNews.com