Buy A Property In Turkey - The actual purchase

As already mentioned, it's not difficult to buy a property in Turkey (provided you make sure you observe the legalities as mentioned in the last post. And don't even think of trying to get round them - e.g. by buying in the name of a Turkish friend - you will get into serious trouble!)

1. Once you've found a property you're interested in, it's essential to get it checked out very thoroughly. Get a reliable structural engineer to inspect it thoroughly for structural soundness - and this needs to include earthquake safety! If it's a resale property, make sure that there are no debts secured on the property. And check that all bills - e.g. for water and electricity - have been paid in full. Of course your lawyer need to do this for you.


2. Every property in Turkey must have a tapu (title deed). Get your lawyer to check the tapu thoroughly to make sure it's actually for that property and they aren't trying to palm off a different property on you - this has been known!


3. To begin the buying process, you and the seller sign an initial contract. You then begin the application for the tapu in your name.


4. Before the tapu can be issued to you, you have to obtain permits from both the the City Council and the Army Office. This takes about two months - your lawyer will see to it for you.


5. Once the tapu is issued, you then pay over the final purchase price, plus fees. If you have used an estate agent in Turkey, the agent's fee is 3 percent. There are also Land Registry and other fees that amount to about $1,200-$1,400 USD. And remember that earthquake insurance is compulsory in Turkey - a very good idea!

Don't forget you can find some fantastic Turkish properties at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html - as well as plenty of helpa nd support, so you don't have to struggle with language problems on your own!

There won't be any posts for about three weeks as I am off to our lovely villa/apartment in Crete (the most southerly island of Greece)! More about this when I get back - see you then!

Buy A Property In Turkey - Things To Watch Out For

As we said in the previous post, it's not that difficult to buy a property in Turkey and right now it's one of the best places to choose. But of course there are things you have to be careful of.

• First of all, check that it's actually legal for you to buy a property in Turkey. There's no problem if you're from the USA, the European Union or Russia. If you're from outside these countries, check that your country has a reciprocal agreement with Turkey.


• Foreigners can't buy a property just anywhere in Turkey. It has to be within the boundaries of a municipal area, i.e. a town or village with a population of 2,000 or more. Also make sure it's not in a military zone.


• There is legislation in Turkey covering purchase of property by foreigners (The Land Registry Act, Article 35). This covers property purchased for your own use but there are special regulations for property purchased for business or investment purposes connected to tourism. So if you intend to use your property for a holiday rental business, you should take legal advice.


• Remember that Turkish is a very difficult language for speakers of English and other European languages to learn, as it belongs to a completely different language family. Also English is not widely spoken in Turkey, except by those who have been to bilingual schools. You do need a reliable translator and a bilingual legal adviser.

In the next post we will look at the actual process of purchasing the property. Because of the language situation, a good alternative to struggling on your own is to find a property company in your own country or on the Internet to help you find your property. If you find it through us at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html we will support you at every stage and help you with all the difficult bits!

Buying properties Abroad - Delights of Turkey

More and more people are deciding to buy a property in Turkey. In fact it's becoming an increasingly popular choice for British people to retire to.


A decade or so ago, the idea wouldn't have occurred to many people. The usual choices were places like Spain, France or Italy. However these are becoming saturated and smart people are looking further afield.


And Turkey seems to be a good place to look at. It seems to have everything - a spectacular coastline, a near-perfect climate and ancient sites going back thousands of years.


What's more, Turkey is seen as a hot property market at the moment. The country is anxious to join the European Union and is doing everything possible to be foreigner-friendly. Properties can still be snapped up for wonderfully low prices and if Turkey succeeds in entering the EU, there will be a property boom.


If you want to buy a property in Turkey, the good news is that house purchase is a relatively simple process for foreigners. However, as with most countries, there are things you need to be careful of and we will look at these in the next post. Meanwhile you can start looking for your Turkish property at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html

Buying A House In Cyprus

In the last post we noted that before buying a house in Cyprus (as a non-Cypriot), you need to obtain permission from the Council of Ministers. It takes 8-14 months so you should wait to choose your property till it has come through.


Once you have received your approval and identified your property, you can then start the purchase process.

1. First you have to sign the preliminary contract and post a holding deposit with a Notary, or with your lawyer. The deposit can be as little as 1 percent of the purchase price.


2. Your lawyer then draws up a secondary reservation deposit agreement which both parties sign. The property is then taken off the market and it won't be put back on provided you stick to the agreement.


3. The lawyer will then investigate the title through the District and Registry office. Once the investigation is complete, the parties can move to the final contract stage. The contract is signed by both parties and then filed with the Land Registry.


4. If the seller is a Cypriot, an application then has to be made to the Central Bank of Cyprus to approve the transfer of funds. If you are buying from another non-Cypriot, this isn't necessary.


5. If the property is not new, the title will be transferred to you straight away and you are now the owner. If it's a new build, the title will not be transferred for three years, though you are fully protected as the final contract is filed with the Land Registry.

Of course, before getting to the final contract stage, you need to have your finance in place. The easiest way is probably through a bank in Cyprus - most banks will provide mortgages to US and UK clients. Also, if it's a new build, the developers may offer their own mortgage facilities. Alternatively you may prefer to refinance your existing house - for help with this, try http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/lending.html To find some gorgeous Cyprus properties, visit http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/propertyabroad.html

Buying Properties Abroad - Think of Cyprus

Cyprus is the top choice - or near the top - for many people looking to buy an overseas property, whether it's for investment, retirement, vacation or rental.

There are many reasons for its popularity. Living there is easy and relaxed, especially for English speakers, as English is widely spoken there. It is incredibly beautiful, with a special quality of mystery and romance that comes from its connection with ancient myths and legends and its history stretching back thousands of years. Whether you choose the gorgeous coastal areas or the stunning mountain regions, you can be fairly sure of finding a fantastic property at a price you can afford.

So what's involved in buying a house in Cyprus? Well it's not difficult, but there is a specific procedure to go through. The first thing you have to be aware of is that every foreign national has to obtain permission from the government before buying a house in Cyprus. This permission is obtained from the Council of Ministers. You will need a lawyer to help you with the purchase process, so your best plan would be to hire a lawyer now to advise you as to how to go about getting this permission. The process takes 8-14 months so it's best to begin the process before choosing your property.

(Remember that this applies to the Republic of Cyprus. The legal process in Northern Cyprus is quite different.)

In the next post we will look at the process of buying a house in Cyprus. Meanwhile if you are ready to choose your property you can start your search at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html

Buying Properties in Egypt - Traps to Avoid

The property market in Egypt has only recently got going and this is good news for overseas investors! However, the fact that it hasn't been going very long has its downside too. For those thinking of buying properties in Egypt, there are things you need to be very wary of.

1. Remember construction standards are lower in Egypt and the standards that do exist are not strictly observed. So don't put down any money on a property until you have ensured that it's structurally sound. Ideally you should commission a structural engineer, preferably a European one. (This may seem expensive but you will be getting a bargain on the property.)


2. You must check whether a property is registered before committing yourself - insist on seeing the original title document, not a copy. Many properties are unregistered - the reason for this is that registration used to be much more expensive than it is now, so many owners just didn't bother! If you don't check, you could find later that you don't actually own the property, even though you've paid for it!


3. Another vital check you must make is if there are any mortgages registered on the property. In Egypt, mortgages are recorded on the actual property rather than being in the name of a person. So a transfer of ownership doesn't make any difference. You don't want to find after purchasing a property that it's mortgaged to a third party! You can check any encumbrances on a property through the Pledge Register at the Notary Public's office.


4. Before beginning the actual purchase process, make sure you get a lawyer who is fluent in your language. Unfortunately, foreigners are sometimes seen as "fair game" and other parties may try to slip something past you! Insist that the initial "Sale and Purchase" agreement document is bilingual and check that it includes all the legal guarantees. You can then complete your purchase by registering the title through the Real Estate Department and the Notary Public.

Yes - buying properties in Egypt CAN be a bit of a minefield - but making the effort can be very worthwhile. You will have a beautiful property at an amazing price and it is almost certain to appreciate in value. Remember, we have a few superb Egypt properties at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html And the good news is that if you buy one of these, we will help you through all these steps and make sure you have a good clear title!

Buying Properties Abroad - Try Egypt

Have you ever thought of buying a property in Egypt?

If it's never occurred to you, you're not alone. The idea of buying properties in Egypt hadn't occurred to many people at all until recently. However, in the last few years the Egyptian government has made a determined effort to attract overseas property investment. Now more and more people are realizing that it has a lot to be said for it.

Egypt as a place to visit has many well-known attractions. In fact, there are very few places to compare with Egypt for romance, culture and fascination. Everyone has heard of the Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, the Temples at Luxor and the Nile, one of the most amazing rivers in the world. Egypt was home to one of the world's most ancient civilizations and you can see stunning reminders of this everywhere you go.

Unfortunately, a few years ago people were put off visiting Egypt because yjere were one or two outbreaks of terrorism. The government does seem to have made a good job of clamping down on this and Egypt remains one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Many experts believe the outlook is very rosy for the Egyptian property market. Prices are very favorable at the moment and there is a high rental potential because of Egypt's popularity as a tourist venue. Because it's early days for the Egyptian property market, there is every reason to believe it would be a very profitable investment as well as a delightful and "different" holiday home. You really would be getting in on the ground floor.

However, for those considering buying properties in Egypt, there are some points to be very careful of and we will look at these in the next post. Meanwhile, you can find a few stunning Egypt properties at http://www.bizwrite.co.uk/realestate/propertyabroad.html