Breaking News - October 2008
 Marina set to increase price of property in Didim
Didim boasts fantastic beaches, fascinating historic sites and a warm climate and welcomes thousands of tourists each year. It has been declared a “center of tourism” by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey.
Didim is the setting for Turkey's second-largest marina which is under construction. There is also another project currently being planned for cruise liners due for completion in two years.
"The project was launched because the cruise ships cannot dock at the marina," said Didim's Mayor Mümin Kamacı. The Mayor added that they were also constructing a highway, a cultural centre and were looking to increase the number of parks.
Once the marina opens, it is anticipated that tourist numbers will increase and among these will be a number of high-income bracket tourists arriving on the cruise ships and yachts. There is a great deal to interest visitors to the Didim Altinkum area.
"When tourists come here they have the chance to visit the Apollo temple, which is three kilometers away, Priene and Miletos, the historical places, are one hour away, Ephesus and the Virgin Mary's House, which are the most holy places for Christians, are just 40 kilometers from the center," said Kamacı.
The population of Altinkum is 30,000 plus with many British and Irish people buying property in Didim and making the area their permanent home. Around 2,000 foreigners live in Didim.
"Most of the tourists who come to Didim don't want to leave because it is really easy to live here, the prices are cheap compared to European cities, even the house prices are low," Kamacı said, "Expats have bought nearly 10,000 houses in Didim."
Altinkum has a year round population and therefore does not close down over winter. The Mayor notes that: "The shops around Altınkum beach, one of the blue flagged beaches of Didim, were closed a few years ago in winter, now they are open all through the year."
The new marina is expected to raise tourism income and property prices in the area. Now is the time to invest in property in the area. Nirvana International offers property in Didim starting at £35,000.
Click here to find out more...
Nirvana International through its financial advisors is able to offer residential long -term mortgages in Turkey on completed properties. This will also apply to properties due for completion within 2 months.
Click here for advice on how to finance your property in Turkey
20,000 British buyers of property in Turkey
 The highest demand for property in Turkey comes from Europeans and in particular from British buyers, 20,000 of whom now own property in the Eastern Mediterranean country. Whether to retire, to work or just simply to start a new life an increasing number of people are leaving British shores for Turkey to set up a permanent home or are buying holiday homes there.
During the past five years Turkey has changed dramatically and in particular the amount of foreign investment in the country has greatly increased. Foreign investment in Turkey is around $11.8 billion this year. Minister Hurses - Hayati Yazici Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister stated that the number of foreign companies which was 5,500 in 2002 today exceeds 17,000. Minister Yazici said, “Thanks to its dynamism, Turkey hosts the regional centers of some global companies, such as Coca Cola, JP Morgan, Microsoft and General Electric.”
In the year 2000, only around 300 British citizens acquired property in Turkey, a marked increase of 19,700 by July 2008. In addition to UK citizens, Turkey has attracted nationals from Germany, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Belgium, France and the USA.
For peace of mind it is essential that you insure your home in Turkey and even more so if you intend to rent it out. Nirvana International can help you secure comprehensive cover underwritten by one of the world’s leading insurers, Lloyds of London.
Click here to find out more...
Turkey is a great choice for families. It offers a wealth of activities and interests from golf to water sports to skiing and has stunning beaches. Property hotspots include Bodrum, Altinkum, and Antalya.
Breaking News - September 2008
Airlines cut services to Spain - Turkey property owners have wide choice of flights
 Recent news about flight companies cutting back on services is not good for owners of holiday homes in the affected areas. Palma, Majorca is one of the destinations to lose flights, also Valencia, Granada and Basle.
At a time when others are cutting routes operators to and from Turkey have increased theirs. Pegasus Airlines increased its Stansted airport services to and from Istanbul. The decision by Pegasus Airlines is another indication of the rising number of visitors to Turkey both for business and leisure purposes.
Those owning property in Turkey have a wide choice of airlines and routes to choose from. Earlier this year British Airways launched a new route to Antalya and the budget airline easyJet also started operating a service to Dalaman. Property Turkey hotspots Dalaman, Bodrum and Antalya are on established flight routes used by tour operators. Out of season, Istanbul airports provide flights to regional Turkish airports and UK flights to Istanbul operate all-year-round to both Istanbul Ataturk Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gokcen on the Asian side of Istanbul.
The future is looking bright for owners of property in Turkey who can continue to enjoy a high rental yield.
Kalkan is a top choice for British buyers of property in Turkey
 The picturesque harbour village of Kalkan with its narrow cobbled streets is especially favoured by the British many of whom have chosen to buy homes there. The Mayor of Kalkan, Mustafa Salvarli, comments in the Turkish Daily News that:
"Some 748 houses in Kalkan are owned by foreigners, the majority of who are British nationals. The Belgian and the Dutch people follow the British in home purchases."
If you are looking to buy a property in Kalkan or other Turkey property hotspots such as Bodrum and Antalya you will need to consider how to finance your purchase. The changes in the law in Turkey have made mortgages in Turkey possible for foreign buyers. Nirvana International through its financial advisors is able to offer residential long-term mortgages in Turkey on completed properties.
Thousands of holidaymakers visit Kalkan each year, Mayor of Kalkan, Mustafa Şalvarlı, observes that:
“Most of the British people who buy homes here spend their summer holidays in the town. When they do not come, they rent out their homes.
Those owning high quality apartments and villas in Kalkan are in a good position as such property has great rental potential. Turkey is a top choice for the annual summer holiday with many people choosing rented accommodation over hotels. Letting your property in Turkey when you are not using it will generate an income for you and realise a return on your investment. To find out more about renting out your property in Turkey click here to view our Rentals Information Directory.
Breaking News - August 2008
Property in Turkey is a great Bank Holiday beach getaway
 The week of the August Bank Holiday is one of the busiest times of the year for UK airports, with many people making the most of the extra day and adding it to any leave taken from work. An estimated 200,000 holidaymakers are expected to be heading for Gatwick and Stansted airports alone this coming Monday.
Turkey is a popular choice for a Bank Holiday getaway. Many of those people visiting Turkey will be staying in their own homes or renting other peoples’. Earlier this year Turkey was named in the top ten of countries where holiday homes are most in demand (February 2008). The study by Holiday Lettings placed Turkey seventh in a list of 112 other nations. You can market your property in Turkey through Nirvana International’s partnership with holidaylettings.co.uk. Through Nirvana you will get 15 months for the price of 12 on the holiday lettings website.
Turkey’s stunning beaches ensure its continued popularity and are a big draw for holidaymakers. Ideal for sunbathing, swimming and water sports, 258 of Turkey’s beaches have been awarded blue flag status for their cleanliness and safety.
In Telegraph Travel (Saturday, August 16) Dan Eldridge named the three best beaches in Turkey as Oludeniz beach, Olympos beach and Konyaalti beach, Antalya. Nirvana International offers holiday homes giving access to these beaches, property in Turkey in both the Fethiye and Antalya regions. Konyaaliti beach is only a twenty minute drive from the Augustus Resort and Olympos, which is well worth a visit, is 90 minutes drive from Antalya.
Dan Eldridge author of Lonely Planet: Turkey says of Oludeniz beach;
“They don’t call it the Turquoise Coast for nothing. The water here is an uncommonly crisp blue, and because the curved beach is so large, it can accommodate even the biggest of paradise-seeking crowds. There is mountainous scenery, and a famously calm lagoon along the beach’s western stretch.”
Dan Eldridge goes on to say of Konyaalti beach, Antalya;
“Konyaalti sits in the heart of the big city, so this is a great holiday option for anyone who might be bored by the idea of lying on a beach towel for hours. Diversions are plentiful.“
Ownership of a Property in Turkey close to a beach is a big attraction for thousands of Britons many of whom have already opted for a home there. Life’s a beach in Turkey!
Theme park investment in property Turkey hotspot
 This month it has been announced that a new theme park will be constructed in the Oren district of Mugla with an investment of $3.2 billion. The region is home to property and tourism hotspots Bodrum, Marmaris and Dalaman. It is said that 17,000 people will be employed as part of the project, which will come into fruition after final approval is listed in the Official Gazette.
The project will be built on a 5,200 acre plot and will be modelled on other theme parks, including Disneyland in Paris and the Heidi Park in Germany. It is anticipated that construction work will take two years. The park will have a Turkish feel with Ottoman Seljuk architecture featuring in the development. It is hoped that the resort with its Disney characters and entertainment will draw 12,000 visitors a day. A dock will also be constructed to bring people by boat.
The projects announcement has coincided with news from the Tourism Ministry that foreign visitors to Turkey were up 19.17 per cent in June. Reuters reported that the number of tourists in the first six months of the year increased by over 16 percent to nearly 11 million compared with the same period in 2007. The resort city of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast was the top destination for tourists, attracting almost 39 per cent of foreign arrivals.
Nirvana International’s Augustus Resort is in the Antalya region. Now is the time to invest in property in Turkey with tourist numbers on the rise and projects such as the theme park set to attract even more to Turkey.
Breaking News - July 2008
Owners of property in Turkey well served by flights
 Pegasus Airlines has become the latest airline to announce an increase in services to and from Turkey. The airline currently operates three services per week flying the Istanbul-London Stansted route, which will increase to five times a week, Monday to Friday, in September.
The decision by Pegasus Airlines is another indication of the rising number of visitors to Turkey both for business and leisure purposes.
Those owning property in Turkey have a wide choice of airlines and routes to choose from. Earlier this year British Airways launched a new route to Antalya, the location of Nirvana International’s Augustus Resort. The budget airline easyJet also started operating a service to Dalaman. Out of season, Istanbul airports provide flights to regional Turkish airports.
With the number of airlines operating UK-Turkey routes sure to increase further over the coming years, investing in property in Turkey seems like a wise move. The arrival of new routes often boosts property prices in the region and certainly makes a rental property even more attractive to prospective customers.
Turkey is the UK’s most popular holiday destination
The strong Euro is prompting many Britons to look beyond the Euro zone for their holidays. New research shows that Turkey is the top choice for UK holidaymakers this year, who are choosing the eastern Mediterranean destination over traditional hotspots such as Spain and Portugal.
Among its customers, the Co-operative Travel Company reported that Turkey has moved ahead of Spain, a traditional package holiday destination for the British.
The Company found that, while bookings to Majorca were down by 13 per cent compared with the same period in 2007, 30 per cent more people were booking holidays to Turkey.
Analysis by Co-operative Travel revealed that the average cost of a holiday to Spain, a euro currency destination, was £465, whereas the average cost of a holiday to Turkey, which does not have the euro, is £357, a £100 cheaper.
Trevor Davis, Co-operative Travel's retail distribution director, said: "Bookings from people looking for cheap summer sun have traditionally ensured that Spain was the leading holiday destination. However, this year they are finding the high euro and a shortage of availability means the normal late deals are not available.
Turkey has benefited most from this trend and we're seeing 30 per cent growth in bookings for holidays across all parts of the country."
Top 10 Foreign Holiday Destinations
- Turkey – Dalaman
- Majorca
- Crete
- Turkey – Bodrum
- Algarve
- Cyprus
- Tenerife
- Costa Blanca
- Sharm el Sheikh
- Rhodes
Research by: Co-operative Travel Company
Turkey is also a top UK choice for homes overseas. Earlier this year Turkey achieved third place in the A Place in the Sun survey of The UK’s Top 20 overseas property destinations (17 Jan 2008). Thus demonstrating that Turkey is a top choice for UK residents looking for a home abroad.
Turkey has also been named in the top ten of countries where holiday homes are most in demand. The study by Holiday Lettings placed Turkey seventh in a list of 112 other nations. Turkey beat South Africa, the Canary Islands and Spain's Balearic Islands.
This is all good news for those owning property in Turkey, high quality holiday homes in tourist hotspots such as Dalaman, Antalya and Bodrum are in demand.
Britons top tourist arrivals in property Turkey hotspot
 Recent figures published by the Turkish Hotels Federation (TÜROFED) show that tourist arrivals to Turkey increased by 15 per cent during the first six months of 2008 in comparison with the same period last year.
"The first half of 2008 has been a good season. We expect the growth to continue for the rest of the year," said Ahmet Barut, chairman of TÜROFED
Barut continued: "Especially in Antalya, Mugla, Izmir and Istanbul, the sector grew 18-19 percent. This is a very pleasing development. We expect to end this year with 27 million tourists. For the year ahead, our expectation is to host 30 million tourists,"
Tourist arrivals in the Mugla region increased by 16 per cent compared with the same time in 2007. The Turkish Daily News reports that Mug˘la Governor Ahmet Altıparmak told reporters that 947,040 foreign tourists visited resorts in the area including Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum, Dalaman and Datça from January to June of 2008, compared to 816,961 in the previous year. The highest number of tourists to Mugla, some 426,893 people, arrived from the UK, with the next largest share coming from the Netherlands (69,678 people). These statistics clearly demonstrate that Turkey is a destination hotspot for Britons.
Many of those holidaying there opt to purchase property in Turkey and return time and time again to their favourite destination. The Mugla region as well as being a top holiday spot is also a favourite with Britons buying property in Turkey. Investing in property in Turkey can provide a nest egg for the future and a holiday home for now.
Investors in property in Turkey set to reap financial rewards – 1 July 2008
 The first sixth months of the year have seen a drop in prices for new homes in Spain as buyers have been deterred by tougher lending conditions and peaking prices writes the Turkish Daily News.
The average cost of new houses and apartments fell 1.2 percent to 2,871 euros ($4,536) per square metre, according to a statement released by Sociedad de Tasacion, a Madrid-based research firm.
This is sure to have an impact on the holiday home market in Spain. By comparison house prices in Turkey continue to rise meaning that buying now will reap financial rewards in the long-term for property investors.
The market is especially strong in the Istanbul area where house prices on the Prince's Islands, in the Marmara Sea, have been rapidly rising due to an increase in attention from foreigners. The island has now become a holiday magnet both for visitors from overseas, and Turks keen to escape the heat of the city during the summer months. Those with quality rental properties are set to make high financial gains.
Another property hotspot is the Antalya region where capital gains on new property are currently running at around 25%. With many championship golf courses being built in the area, including those by Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo, the Belek district of Antalya is fast becoming a golf property investment hotspot.
With government investment in tourism areas continuing now is the time to secure a property in Turkey.
Breaking News - June 2008
Luxury property market in Turkey grows - 26/06/08
 Luxury travel company Cox & Kings said its bookings for Turkey are up more than 200% this year. This is in part due to the strength of the Euro, which has prompted an interest in countries outside the Euro zone, and also to an increase in the number of five star hotels, which has boosted Turkish tourism. There has also been a marked increase over recent years in the number of luxury properties for sale in Turkey, reflecting an overall trend for upmarket offerings in the country.
The number of UK visitors to Turkey is increasing, with January to April 2008 figures showing an 18.75% increase on the previous year. According to The Turkish Culture and Tourism Office almost 205,879 UK visitors came to Turkey during that period compared to 173,379 for the same period in 2007. Commenting on the rise the Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in the UK, Irfan Onal said:
"We are incredibly pleased to see the number of travellers to Turkey continue to grow. There are several projects underway to ensure the continuing development of infrastructure and services in a bid to prepare for the increasing number of visitors to Turkey."
As well as being a top choice for holidays Turkey is one of strongest holiday home markets, with thousands of Brits having opted to purchase a property in Turkey. High-quality luxury homes are still affordable there and offer great value for money when compared to other European property hotspots. Deluxe villas on Nirvana International’s upmarket Augustus Resort start at around £117,000 while apartments are available from around £60,000. Bespoke interior design services are on offer from Jane and Janes Interior Design, specialists in furnishing and sourcing in Turkey, to give your home that exclusive feel www.janesdesigninteriors.co.uk
Puccini and Property in Turkey
 A major international arts festival is taking place in a property hotspot in Turkey. The 15th Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is currently underway in Antalya with performances being held until the 3rd July. The annual Festival is a consistent crowd puller with world famous operas and ballets being performed to thousands of spectators year on year. Many are attracted by the venue itself, Aspendos amphitheatre, a unique historical space that survived for more than 2000 years and can seat up to 20,000 people.
This year’s programme of events includes Puccini’s Turandot and works by Mozart and Verdi. Visitors and performers from across the globe attend, with international companies such as the Sofia National Opera and Ballet participating alongside well-known Turkish companies: Antalya State Opera and Ballet, Istanbul State Opera and Ballet and the Turkish Armed Forces Harmonic Band.
Many of those owning holiday homes in the region combine a visit to the Festival with a summer break. Rental properties giving easy access to Aspendos are in high demand. Nirvana International’s Augustus Resort is just a five-minute drive from Aspendos. Tickets to the Festival can be arranged for property owners and their guests by staff in the onsite Management Suite.
Click here for Festival programme details...
Investors in holiday property in Turkey set to benefit in 2008
 Many buy-to-let investors are on course to reap the benefits of the growing popularity of Turkey among holidaymakers this year. Research earlier in 2008 by the website holidaylettings.co.uk placed Turkey seventh out of 112 countries in terms of demand for holiday homes. Now according to Lastminute.com, Turkey is receiving more online searches and bookings than lots of other traditional tourist hotspots including Spain.
Managing Director of Lastminute.com John Bevan said: "Turkey is our number one destination - amazingly, France has been pushed out of our top ten."
This bodes well for owners of quality property in Turkey in popular resorts such as Antalya and Fethiye. An increase in the number of tourists means that many of those letting their property will enjoy higher occupancy rates and generate healthy rental returns.
The rise in numbers visiting Turkey is set to continue as the Turkish government recently revealed that it wants to attract more than 50 million visitors a year by 2023. In the current climate investing in property in Turkey in a holiday hotspot looks like a shrewd move for investors.
Antalya tops the list in terms of locations to buy property in Turkey, with 24.4 per cent of foreigners, some 17,871 people opting for this pretty coastal resort. With an average 300 days of sunshine a year the Antalya region is home to Nirvana International’s award-winning Augustus Resort.
50/50 finance deal
Nirvana International is offering a new finance option for properties on the Augustus Country Club. Details as follows:
- £1,000 reservation fee
- Remaining 50% deposit to pay, nothing further to pay until completion
- 8% return on investment during the life of the build
- On completion mortgage available subject to status
- Last 2 years growth at 20% per year
- Realistic capital growth for 2008, 2009 of 10% - 15% per annum
- Assignable contracts
The price you see is the price you pay!
No exchange rates – fixed price in sterling.
Seeing is believing - All-inclusive 5 star Inspection trips to the Turkish Riviera just £199 (usually £299)
To find out more about current investment opportunities call the Nirvana Team on 01189 744 950 / 955.
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