It was a holiday that first gave Sue and Sean Flynn the idea of making an investment in a Turkish property. They had enjoyed visiting Kalkan, an upmarket Turkish village on the Mediterranean coast, for a number of years, and gradually realised the investment potential of the area. "From our holidays, we knew that Kalkan wasn't 'burger territory' and didn't attract the lager-lout element," says Sue. "On the contrary, it is renowned for its roof-top restaurants and great seafood. The location is excellent for exploring nearby ancient sites, and for visiting the Patara beach, which is often cited as one of the best beaches in the world; in other words a great place to make a property investment."

What's more, the Turkish area of Kalkan just got easier to reach. "A new tunnel has opened recently, cutting the journey time to the village by 20 minutes," explains Sue. Sue and Sean decided to look for a property that they could use as a holiday home, but that would also be a good investment. As Sue recalls, their search was not a long one. "We made our first investment in Turkish property in October 2005. We came to visit for a week, and made the purchase at the end! "Our property investment was made direct from the builder, Aslan Uzun, who owned the Asfiya hotel which we had stayed in previously when travelling with Tapestry Holidays. We knew and trusted his expertise, so we were confident that the building would be good."

The Turkish apartment set Sue and Sean back £82,000, but Sue estimates that it is now worth approximately £100,000. "The property has fantastic views over Kalkan Bay and is only a five-minute walk from the village centre, the harbour and restaurants," she enthuses. "After buying the property, we managed to let out the apartment all season, from beginning to end.

It proved popular with couples, young families and older families alike, many of whom have booked to return in 2007. "We organise the renting of the property through Owners Direct  and Holiday Lettings, as well as organising private lettings through colleagues, family and friends."

Far from finding the Turkish property investment process complicated, Sue and Sean seem to have found it remarkably straightforward. Having arranged to buy their Turkish property in October 2005, the title deeds were signed in June 2006, after military permission has been granted. "The first step when deciding to buy a Turkish property is to put down a deposit so that the property is taken off the market," Sue explains. "In many cases you are then required to pay further instalments until the balance is paid. "The most different thing to property buying in Britain is that you have to seek Turkish military permission to complete the process. This is sought by the Turkish property buyer making the investment and managed by the seller – it sounds daunting, but is only a formality. "Obtaining Turkish military permission can take up to a few months. You can then complete the process by signing the taupo (the deeds)."

It wasn't long before the rental success of their first property inspired Sue and Sean to make a larger Turkish investment. "Because the first purchase was so popular with guests and such a success in its first season, we decided to take the plunge and purchase a second, bigger property," Sue recalls. "We made our investment in the property while we were in Kalkan in October 2006 – exactly a year after we had bought the first one, and from Aslan, the same builder. "Again, the property has fantastic views out to sea from all rooms. In terms of location, it is right in the centre of the village, but because it is set back from the main road it is still very quiet and peaceful. "We have already received a number of bookings for the new apartment," adds Sue. Again, the purchase of the property seems to have caused Sue and Sean few problems. She does, however, have some advice for those considering a similar Turkish property investment. "Get advice from an English-speaking solicitor and make sure that contracts are in English as well as Turkish. "In terms of choosing your property, you should first get to know the market inside out. Read magazines and newspapers featuring the region in which you are interested, do some web-based research and read books on investment in Turkish property which are available. You should also make a specific property-hunting trip and see as much as you possibly can, as standards can vary greatly." Sue also recommends paying a good deal of attention to word of mouth. "It is crucial to talk to people. Don't be afraid to ask other Turkish property buyers in your chosen region about their experiences, as this can yield invaluable knowledge and potential for negotiations with the seller.

Finally, once you have completed the Turkish purchasing process, give some thought to maintaining your investment. "Make sure your have a reliable Turkish maintenance management team," Sue advises. "They're worth their weight in gold and will save you a small fortune in the long run. "You also need to realise that owning a rental property abroad will alter your life. Sean and I spend a lot of time on managing rentals and talking to prospective guests. On top of this, we deal with the apartments' management teams. "We also have to do the administration work so that guests' arrivals and departures go smoothly."

It appears, however, that Sue and Sean's hard work has paid off. They now own two beautiful Turkish homes, enjoy a very respectable rental income, and are comfortable in the knowledge that their investment is ticking up capital. All in all, not a bad outcome to a Turkish holiday! 

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How and where to buy property in Turkey
Advice on living and working in Turkey

Article published on 5 February 2007