For the first six months of 2013 the number of foreign buyers in Turkey has doubled compared to the same period last year, according to the report of the Ministry of Urban Planning and Development in Turkey. For the first six months of 2013 7,145 houses was bought by foreigners compared to 3,107 in the first half of 2012. Experts point out that this was due to softening of Turkish law.
In the first half of 2013 buyers from 88 countries have purchased a house in Turkey, compared to 55 countries last year. 7,761 foreign buyers purchased the 7,145 objects - the 916 plots of land and 6,229 houses.
Statistics show that Russians are still the most active players in the Turkish market. The citizens of Russia have acquired over 1,388 objects, the British - 720 and the Germans - 653.
Alanya and Gazipasa - in the area of special attention
Mitigating the law regulating the sales of housing and the provision of a residence permit to the owner of Turkish real estate attracted great interest of investors from Russia, the Arab world and Southeast Asia. In 2012 foreigners bought a property in Turkey for a total amount of €1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2013 and spent €543 million. Turkish government plans to attract €2.2 billion by the end of the year.
Growth figures for Tourism also contributes to the fact that foreigners are more likely to buy a house in Turkey. In 2013 the surge in demand for housing in the resort area of Alanya in southern Turkey is expected. Experts attribute this to the influx of tourists and the opening of the Antalya Gazipaşa Airport.
In Alanya foreigners often buy apartments in residential complexes with communal swimming pool within walking distance of the beach. Such accommodation usually costs about €46,000. And in Gazipaşa, near the local airport, two-bedroom villa has a price tag of €143,000.