Many people believe that all they have to do to buy a property in Turkey is scour the internet for a something they like and then book flights and accommodation ready for their viewing trip. However, to get the most out of your time in Turkey it is wise to do a little homework beforehand. Viewing trips in the heat of the sun can be tiring and unfulfilling if you don’t plan ahead and have some fixed ideas in mind.
Determine your reasons for buying in Turkey
It is very easy with all the hype about Turkey to feel you are missing out. However, you need to be very clear on why you want to buy into this market. Are you buying for profit, pleasure or a permanent move here? If it is just because you think you can buy cheap and sell high, you need to take a step back and consider what would happen if you bought here and couldn’t sell or rent out your purchase. Could you afford to let the money just sit here earning you nothing and for how long could you do this? What do you know about the property market that gives you the edge over professional investors and the rest of the “get rich quick” brigade? Investing in Turkey should be seen a medium to long-term investment. There is a high rate of construction here now which has given people a lot of choice and in some regions, supply exceeds demand. If you want a holiday home, let it be because you love the country, its culture and way of life. If your holiday home is purely for your own use, you need to enjoy the country enough to keep coming back. If it is something you want to rent out, you need to talk to rental agents to see what’s hot and what’s not. If you are looking for a permanent move here, ask yourself about the kind of life you want to lead in Turkey. Do you want to buy in a village, town or city? Think very clearly, about how village life would be before you are carried away with nostalgic views of growing vegetables in your back garden, particularly if you do not like mud, dust and animals. Do you need to be close to a school or hospital? Do you like shopping and eating out? There are many questions to consider to help you in the search for the ideal property.
Do your homework
The secret to the perfect brief is to do plenty of research beforehand. First, decide on an area of the country you want to buy in. If you are looking for a cosmopolitan lifestyle with excellent potential for finding work, consider choosing a city rather than a beach resort. Once you have chosen an area, read as much as you can about it, and contact people who live there through the internet, look at photos online, email real estate agents for their view on the region and the cost of property there and if you can afford it, take a holiday touring the area without viewing any property. Enjoy the place and see if it feels like home to you.
Narrow down your area search
Now you know the region you want to be in, you need to narrow your search even further to a city, town or select villages. By doing this, you can ask your agent to only show you properties in these areas. The same goes for the type of property you want to buy. If you only want land, do not look at anything else. If you want a place you can live in straight away, do not look at old houses and likewise, do not buy an apartment in a resort if you are looking to move here permanently, you may find that they are lacking in life once the season is over.
Be realistic about your price range
You should give your agent a price range to work with and ask them to stay within this range. If you have done enough research, you will have a good idea of prices for the type of property you want to buy. Ask the agent taking you on a viewing trip for a list of properties they intend to show you, in advance of your visit. You will not get agent details like you get at home, but you should expect to be given the location of the property, price and basic description. This way you can ensure that they all fall within your brief.
Shop around
How many agents are selling property in your target area? What do they have on offer, which meets your specifications? You should not be looking for the agent offering a hidden bargain that others have missed - most land and properties are round about the same price in each area. What you need to do is to look at as many target properties as you can, but don‘t overdo it. Don’t forget to enquire in advance, about how much the agent charges for viewing trips and commission fees; these are the add-ons, which vary tremendously.
Do not be pressurised into buying
It is all too easy to find what you think is your dream home and convince yourself that if you don’t act quickly you will lose out, yet the fact of the matter is you will not. Price rises are small and gradual, not something, that happens from one day to the next. You can afford to take your time and a good agent will respect this and not put you under pressure. Agents may encourage you to spend time with the seller, you don’t have to do this unless of course you genuinely want to meet some local people; just tell your agent at the outset that you are not prepared to hang around at each property (especially when you could be lying on the beach). Don’t let the agent push you into making a preliminary contract unless you are 100% certain that you have found the right property. You also need to arrange your finances before you sign any contracts. Tell the agent you will call them when the funds have arrived and then they can make an appointment for the prelim.
Everyone has a tale to tell about his or her viewing trips, but most of the negative press comes from a distinct lack of preparation on the part of the buyer. Remember, “Spectacular achievements are always preceded by unspectacular preparation”
