Buying property in Turkey is remarkably easy and the whole process, from signing a preliminary contract to completion, could be completed in a matter of days. Unfortunately, however, all foreign nationals must get permission from the Military Authorities, a process that at the best of times takes up to 12 weeks. At the moment however, there is a huge backlog of applications thanks to a freeze on foreigners buying while the countrys property legislation was re-drafted in 2005. Although the new law has been in place since January 2006, it is expected to take most of the year for things to get back to normal.
The recent amendments to the property law will not affect most British buyers. The main changes were to limit the amount of land that a non-Turkish national can buy to 2.5 hectares, and to limit purchases to within areas with an official town plan. Foreigners will also not be allowed to buy property in certain areas of military, economic and cultural significance. These areas are being defined at the moment, but they are not expected to include the popular coastal resorts where most British people buy.
Once you have decided on a property to buy, your will...