From the real estate shops to the local waiters - everyone in Köycegiz claims to know some land or a house which is for sale. As soon as people know you're English a premium is placed on the land or the property as they believe you have more money. However, we can source land cheaper than even some of the real estate shops and not charge you extra through using the right people.

There are some lovely houses for Sale already but we believe for similar money you can have your own dream home designed the way you want. But how do you go about it? First all of all you need to decide your budget. From that you know how much you can spend on the land then on the build of your home. Remember if you want it furnished, with a pool etc then it will all cost more. It is still a lot cheaper than building in England or even Spain - but you should get a proper quote before you buy any land.

Once you have found the land you should contact a buyer. Be aware - some sellers will force you to go with one particular builder as they may have a deal but you should only buy land where you can choose the builder yourself. You may want to shop around for your quote. But you should get references too as some maybe cheap but may not build to a high quality or earthquake proof. Some are just very expensive.
You will need to come over to Turkey to look at any land or properties you are interested in. This way you will be able to see the plot size for your self, the surrounding area and what your neighbours (if you have any) will be like? You will be able to meet the land owner - we can accompany you - to ask questions and give our opinion. It is important never to give a deposit on any land which doesn't have a tapu. If they say things like we don't have the tapu here or it will be coming soon then wait until you can see it in case they are not the legal owners of the land.

When you visit Turkey it is a good idea to open a local bank account here. That way you can transfer the money from your UK account to your local bank here to make transfer of money for deposit, land, furniture etc easier to pay for. Bank transfers can take 5 days so open on your first day to allow time to clear (unless you bring cash over to deposit). You can use credit cards or travellers cheques but expect to pay a high commission rate if you do. To open a bank account you will need to get a tax number from a local tax office then take that, along with your passport, to open your account.

Buying land is fairly straight forward but they like to take their time so be warned the whole process (from buying the land to registering the house) is not quick.
This process can take a few weeks (up to 20 weeks) as the Land Registry office needs the official permit papers from the military administration.

Anyone from the UK can buy in Turkey - with all taxes and duties paid in Turkey recognised in the UK. Typical costs when buying property in Turkey include the following:

• Stamp duty (3% of sale price, with 1.5% paid by the buyer and seller)
• Capital Gains Tax (not payable by private purchasers if it is not sold within the first four years)
• Personal income tax (based on rental income and capital gains)
• Corporate tax (a company is exempt from any corporate tax as long as it has been held for at least two years)
• Real estate tax (an annual charge, similar to UK council tax, which is 0.3% for uncultivated land for development and 0.1% for residential buildings - although it can be double in some Turkish provinces)
• Inheritance and succession tax (check with a/your lawyer to make sure your will, drawn up at home, is required in a Turkish court and the tax implications for the heir if the property is sold)
• Environmental tax (taken as part of water utility bills)
• Earthquake insurance (compulsory and at a nationwide contribution rate)
• New properties are exempt from 25% of the annual property tax for 5 years. All properties are subject to revaluation every year for tax purposes.

If you want to build on the land, permission must be sought from local authorities and proposed building specifications must be in line with official Construction Plans. Since the building owner is liable for any injury caused by the property due to poor construction, negligence or misuse, home insurance is recommended. The threat of earthquakes also means that buildings must be constructed according to a regulated standard. Remember each piece of land will have a building allowance on it - you cannot build more than is allowed. If anyone complains after your house is built it can be taken down!

It is important to check whether there are any outstanding debts attached to the property – such as real estate or utility taxes - as the new owner will be liable for them (a specific clause can be added to the sale agreement, however, to clarify that the vendor will still be liable). It is also worth double-checking land registry details to make sure the property is not owned by more than one person and the address of the property matches that on the title deeds. For anything relating to ownership, it is recommended that foreign buyers seek the advice of an independent lawyer to clarify terms on a standard Tapu or title deed.

The acquired property may be resold and the proceeds of the sale may be transferred out of Turkey. There is no time restriction for reselling property after having bought, you can get it registered in your name and resell it the next day.

Remember, that to reserve a property you will need a 10% deposit.

Importent Notice: All the new properties will require a certificate of habitation (there is a charge for the certificate) before you can register your water & electric to your house.

WHAT IS A TAPU?

A TAPU is an official document which shows you have ownership rights over the real estate. The owner's full name and photograph, and detailed information on the asset appear on this document.

Click on the image for a larger tapu. For more information on a tapu visit the Turkish Economy site.

You can contact us with clicking here to take most recent and healty information.

Best Regards