A stunning coastline, lots of sunshine and great value for money have made Turkey a firm holiday favourite for over 20 years. The same things are now attracting property buyers in ever increasing numbers too, with the prospect of EU membership in the not-too-distant-future making the country one of the Mediterranean’s hottest emerging property markets. Most foreign interest has been concentrated on the country’s beautiful southern coast, between Izmir in the west and Alanya in the east. Backed by pine-forested mountains, with unspoilt scenery, the coast has a string of popular resorts, such as Altinkum, Bodrum, Fethiye, Kalkan, Side and Alanya. Many of these boast excellent beaches of fine white sand. Some are also close to fascinating archaeological sites, like the fantastic marble remains of Ephesus. For adrenalin junkies, the Turkish Mediterranean also boasts adventure sports, such as white water rafting and paragliding. Or if you prefer to take it easy, you can cruise off-shore from marinas at Bodrum, Gocek, Fethiye and Marmaris, with several more for the Dalaman area soon. There are also golf courses planned for several areas.
The Bodrum peninsular is one of the coast’s most popular holiday spots – and now, places to buy property. Spread around a double bay, with the medieval Castle of St John as a magnificent centre-piece, Bodrum is the country’s most cosmopolitan resort, attracting the cream of Turkish society, along with lots of package tourists from the UK and Europe. The resort’s nightlife is legendary. It also has some great restaurants and shopping too. The town’s harbour and marina are choked with sailing boats and traditional wooden gulets, which set-off in summer on day-trips and coastal cruises.
Property in Bodrum can be expensive, particularly if you want a view of the castle but beyond the town itself, a string of former fishing villages have become small resorts in their own right, and offer better value property. The village of Gumusluk has a small, pretty harbour, a shingle beach and is particularly famous for its waterside fish restaurants. There is a lot of development between Gumusluk and the nearby resort of Yalikavak, which has just gained a new marina, however at present the infrastructure in this area is limited. Further east, beside the planned site of a 18-hole golf course, several developers are selling apartments and villas off-plan in the Tuzla area.
The package resort of Altinkum is a firm favourite with British families thanks to its sandy beach, and there are over 3,000 British-owned properties in the area. The temple of Apollo, famous in ancient times for its oracle, is in the town, while the archaeological sites of Ephesus, Miletus and Priene are just a short drive away. The nearby Buyuk Menderes Delta and Lake Bafa are havens for aquatic birds and other wildlife.
Property prices in Altinkum are some of the lowest on the coast, with apartments available from as little as