Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Latest info for buyers of properties in Alanya






A lot has been going on in Alanya over the last couple of years, and for a long period seller was king and the market belonged fully to the sellers.
 
Those times are over and the buyers have again gained a good position in the market, leaving us with a market dominated equally between seller and buyer.
 
So for those who are potential buyers, here are our recommendations for key points that you should definitely keep an eye on:
 
Pricing 
Some sellers still believe that they can sell for the same price as last year when the market peaked. Be careful that you buy at market price, not at a overprice based on last years market.
 
Off plan vs ready build 
The upward trend has increased the number of new constructions significantly. Many of these constructions are done by newly established constructors. When choosing a off plan property please only do so in close collaboration with a market professional that can clearly point out the risks related to this.
Dont get us wrong, going for an off plan property can be the perfect choice and a great investment. But the risk is significant, so make sure that you are fully aware of what you are getting into.
 
Finally we want to give some sellers and buyers a little tip, or at least something to think about.
 
Currently a major part of all properties are sold to customers who want to settle in Turkey for a longer period. This means that the customer needs a resident permit, and currently the easiest way to have a resident permit issued is by buying a property.
 
But not all properties can be used for this, since some areas or no longer issuing more resident permits to foreigners since the quota in those particular areas has been reached.
As an example, a property purchased in Kargicak, Mahmutlar, Kestel and Avsallar can not be used for obtaining a resident permit, since the quotas for resident permit on those area has been reached.
But a property from among others Demirtaş, Oba, Cikcilli or Alanya center can be used.
 
This is nothing new and has been a hot topic of discussion on both local and social media.
Obviously, it is a positive thing for a property to be located in an area that is still open for resident pemit whereas it has a negative effect on the price in case the property is located in an area where no more resident permits are being issued.
 
This can change any moment and these changes often happen with very short notice and without any prior warning.
 
So here is something to think about:
 
I am trying to sell a property in an area where resident permits are still being issued 

All currently open areas are at risk of being closed down for issuing more resident permits, so be careful that you do not try to squeeze the lemon too much and by that do not manage to sell before the area - possibly - stops issuing resident permits.
 
I am trying to sell a property in an area where resident permits are currently not being issued 

This has already had a negative impact on the price. In case you are not in a hurry to sell, then maybe consider waiting until the area again starts issuing resident permits. Then prices should go up in your area.
 
For all scenarios mentioned above, the risk is obviously that it might take a long time before any changes happen, and they might not happen at all.
Also, even if they do happen, no one knows what the market trends look like at that time.
 
Timing is everything but when it comes to properties in Alanya the timing is impossible to get right, since changes are happening fast and without prior warning.
 
Furthermore, the market in Alanya are influenced and affected by so many local, foreign and international factors that trying to forecast the upcoming market trends is more or less impossible.

Even with 20 years of experience we can never tell what tomorrow brings in Alanya. 
All we can do is make our best guess and use our gut feeling.


Monday, August 14, 2023

Getaway on a small Greek island

 

Just a few kilometres of the coast of Turkish resort town Kaş you will find a small Greek island named Kastellorizo.
 
For those looking do to something different this is a good and exiting opportunity, and everyday small ferry boats sail the 7 kilometres between Turkish Kaş and Greek Kastellorizo.
 
Once on the island there is not much to do, but definitely enough for keeping your entertained for a couple of days.
 
The sea is crystal clear, the marina is cosy with many fish restaurants and just wandering around the old town and beautifully painted houses is worthwhile.
 
For the more adventurous, there are great hiking trails on the upper plateau and a boat trip to a gloving and hidden cave.

 

So here are our best tips for visiting Kastellorizo.
 
Getting there
Several ferry companies sail between Kaş and Kastellorizo. We used Meis ferry boat and it worked quite well.
  
Accommodation
Accommodation on the island is limited and the price range is quite wide.
Try international booking web sites, Airbnb or contact the few hotels on the island directly.
Another option is to use a travel agency on the island, we had a good experience using Papoutsis Travel Agency  .
 

Eat
Most restaurants are located next to each other at the marina. Our favourite place though was located a 5 min. walk from the harbour and is named Ta Platania.

Generally speaking the food on Kastellorizo is nice and tasty without being fantastic.
 
Swim
The sea is clear and blue. There are no sand beaches on the island but instead you can swim from the western side of the harbour or the beach club located at the end of the eastern side of the harbour.
 
What to do
  • Stroll around the old town
  • Walk around the small castle area
  • Visit the local museum
  • Hike up to the top of the plateau.
  • Visit the island
  • Explore the cave by boat
  • Chill and relax
 
Good to know
Even it takes just 30 min. to sail between the mainland and the island, the journey in total takes longer.
Since you are traveling from Turkey to Greece there are custom procedures on both sides so in real life you will be at the harbour in Kaş around 8:30 and arrive onto Kastellorizo at around 11.00 o'clock.
 
So when going we definitely recommend staying a couple of nights on the island.
 
3 pro tips
- If possible, try to be among the first to disembark the ferry boat, since the custom officers on both sides work really slowly.
So before the boat reaches the harbour on either side, go down to the main deck and take the line for disembarking.
 
- Remember that you need to either be a EU citizen or to have a Schengen visa to travel to the island. There are no visas issued on arrival.
 
- From Kastellorizo there are frequent ferries to other Greek islands such as Rhodes and Kos. There is also an airport with flights to Athen and Kos.
 
Links
 
 
Saint George Beach