Buying land in turkey to build your own property is better long-term investment, says agent

"Opportunities to buy land come in all shapes and sizes, from the large-scale urban investment sites to the smaller ones on the edge of resorts suited to individual homes," Julian Walker, director at Spot Blue, tells TheMoveChannel.com.

Indeed, the agent says they are experiencing “consistent demand” for land this year, with Bodrum and Belek both cited as areas of interest among buyers.

Turkey's real estate proposition was recently confirmed by the internationally recognized Knight Frank Global House Price Index, in which the country recorded the seventh highest rise in residential property globally during 2012, namely 11.5 per cent - higher than any other European country.

The country’s  recent removal of reciprocal investment gave the country a strong boost last year, with Middle Eastern buyers flooding into the market.

“Many of these have long-term investment interests and come to us asking for help finding land deals in hot spots,” continues Walker, “particularly the rapidly developing suburbs of Istanbul, where demand for residential housing is booming."

Buyers of smaller plots, for the development of a second home, should bear in mind that local building rules dictate how much of a plot can be built on, typically 15-20 per cent. In general, areas in and around the Centre of a resort, where plot sizes are usually smaller, might get planning permission for anywhere between 30 and 100 per cent of the plot size.

On top of meeting all national and local property regulations, other considerations when choosing a plot in Turkey should include: access to main roads and infrastructure, the gradient of a property and exposure to extreme weather conditions, views, the immediate surrounding area and possibility of further developments, and amenities in the wider area.

"Bear in mind, as building laws become more stringent in Turkey, plots near a beach that can legally be built on are becoming scarcer and consequently more valuable," concludes Julian Walker. "This makes speaking to experts so important. At Spot Blue, after an initial consultation, we suggest a trip out to Turkey, where we present the best options suited to each individual investor, whether they're buying land or built property. Key to our service is using our contacts to match buyers with what's available on the market at that particular time and helping them to navigate the Turkish buying process."