Buying property in Hisaronu

Buying property in Hisaronu

A KHI guide

If you were considering buying property in Hisaronu, if you asked anyone to define the town, they probably wouldn’t be able to overlook its popularity as a summer resort.

What it lacks in shoreline, it more than makes up for in vivacity. After all, the town boasts a high street lined with bright lights, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Out of season, as you might expect, many of the shutters come down. Owners and employees tend to take a well-earned rest after working just about 24/7 for eight months straight.

But, even over winter, some of the restaurants remain to serve locals resident all year round. Indeed, some year-round residents may admit having those cozy establishments to themselves for a few months is their favourite time of year.

But buying property in Hisaronu does allow you the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the resort’s more exuberant summer months from the comfort of your own home. You can then relax and enjoy to quiet and slower pace of life, the empty beaches and peaceful forest walks off-season over the winter.

Tempted? We can’t say we blame you; but, if you’d like a more advice on buying property in Hisaronu, read on:

The districts

Hisaronu is often lumped together with neighbouring Ovacik and the popular summer beach resort of Oludeniz just down the hill.

However, despite their proximity, Hisaronu does have a distinct identity of its own. Most would agree its reputation is primarily as a party town. However, it has some quieter back streets and residential areas tucked away too.

Some are right on the edge of the forest. These offer shade in the fierce heat of the summer and the sense of being close to nature. But most are still an easy walk from the bright lights. If the mood takes you, you won’t need a taxi into town to paint the town red.

If you fancy a change, Ovacik high street is also lined with shops and more restaurants and bars.  Summer attractions also include the water parks, the intriguing Upside Down House, a Room Escape venue and a paintball arena.

Oludeniz is also only a five-minute bus ride away. Well-known as Turkey’s most photographed beach resort, it’s also a world centre for paragliding.

Oludeniz also boasts the famous Blue Lagoon and its beach clubs. Even more restaurants, bars and knick-knack shops line the main strip down to the beach.

Public transport

Although their frequency varies from summer to winter, Hisaronu is well served by the local public minibuses (dolmus). Services run to Oludeniz and the tiny coastal hamlets of Faralya and Kabak. The historic village of Kayakoy and the nearby Mediterranean harbour town of Fethiye are also not far.

The buses to Fethiye also connect with services across the wider Mugla region, including Dalaman International Airport as well as the inter-city coaches to the big cities such as Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul.

Landmarks and attractions

Hisaronu lies between the coastal conurbations of Fethiye and Oludeniz on a gently sloping plateau at the foot of Mendos and Babadag mountains.

As recently as the 1980s, it wasn’t much more than a small farming community. But once tourism took hold and overseas visitors discovered the beaches at Oludeniz, “pansions” and small hotels sprang up to cater for them. Next came the bars and nightspots.

One of the region’s newest attractions is the cable car from the base station just outside Hisaronu to the 1,969m summit of Babadag. The 20-minute ride up offers spectacular views over Oludeniz and Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Facilities at the peak include a restaurant bar and grill, an extensive paragliding launch point, and a glass walkway over what must be one of the world’s highest ponds stocked with koi carp.

Otherwise, beaches within easy reach of Hisaronu include the pebbly Belcekiz and Kidrak. There is also a selection of private beach clubs offering sandy shores and water sports around the Blue Lagoon.

Leisure and nightlife

If you’re buying property in Hisaronu, you certainly won’t be short of choice! If you ate in a different restaurant every night of a fortnight holiday, you would still leave twice as many untried and that’s without taking the bars and nightclubs into account.

In the summer, the high street is closed to traffic at 7pm and, as darkness falls and the neon lights come on and the town really comes alive.

Souvenir shops, others selling “genuine fake” designer clothes, handbags, sunglasses and watches, sitting cheek-by-jowl with tour agents’ offices taking bookings for boat trips, jeep safaris, paragliding flights, buggy and quad bike tours. There’s a fun fair just off the main strip too.

During the hot summer days with the high street back open to traffic, Hisaronu’s mood tends to be a little more mellow. There’s also a tented market on a Monday while boat trips sail daily in the summer from the beach at Oludeniz.

Should you choose to buy property in Hisaronu, if you enjoy mountain biking, walking or jogging, there are plenty of tracks on the forested slopes of Mendos and Babadag.

There are a few hash groups in the area too as well as others for kayaking enthusiasts, walkers and even quad-bike and off-road explorers.

Fethiye is the nearest large town and remains pretty much the same all year round. It’s home to the modern Erasta retail and leisure centre, which includes a cinema. The famous Kordon promenade is lined with even more restaurants and bars with more to be found among the narrow alleys of the Paspatur (old town). It’s also possible to enjoy trips on the day boats which line the harbour.

Local wildlife

Hisaronu’s position a little higher in the mountains means it enjoys cooler temperatures in the summer and, sometimes, a little more rain in the winter. However, weather conditions are ideal for growing colourful plants and flowers including buddleia, bougainvillea and oleander.

The forest-edge location means tortoises are quite common. Wild boar, attracted by the fruit trees and water sources, also visit the edges of town on summer nights. Smaller species living in the forests include red squirrels, foxes and badgers.

European bee eaters and hoopoes are colourful seasonal visitors. Local bird life also includes species familiar to Europe, including the ubiquitous jays as well as blackbirds, robins, sparrows, chaffinches and goldfinches.

Although not common as they prefer to avoid contact with humans, Turkey is home to species of snake, scorpions, hornets and larger spiders – although perhaps only the Ottoman viper presents a real health risk. The rest can still sting or bite but rarely pack enough venom to be of serious concern.

Costs

If you’re considering buying property in Turkey, you will probably find it’s cheaper than most of Europe for utilities such as water and electricity. You can also feed a family at a much lower cost.

Fuel is also cheaper – although the purchase price of a car is likely to be a bit of a shock. A new imported model is likely to be considerably more than in Europe but it will keep its value.

Clothes and shoes cost much the same, save for the “genuine fake” designer goods from the markets which feel like a bargain. However, the standard of finishing can leave something to be desired and you may find items purchased at the local department store actually last longer. It really depends on the importance you place on a badge or brand.

Depending on where you choose, the bill for a meal out can also be a pleasant surprise. However, popular restaurants in the tourist traps will charge more. The back-street lokantas offer tasty and traditional dishes for a fraction of the price.

Buying property in Turkey can be a sound investment. As a rule, asking prices are much lower, although they have risen sharply in some of the more popular coastal regions due to demographic changes inspired by the global pandemic.

Nevertheless, it’s still possible to find a family-sized villa with its own grounds and a private pool in Hisaronu for between £250,000 and £400,000, depending on size. An apartment sharing communal facilities might be as low as £100,000, depending in how many bedrooms you require.

For a detailed list of holiday homes and apartments available right now, you can view our current portfolio here.

How can we help?

If you’re considering buying property in Turkey and you’d like some hints and tips, feel free to give us a call. We’re also here if you’d like a heads-up on how to plan or even just a no-obligation chat about the pros and cons of investing in property in Turkey.

It’s not just about the buying and selling of homes; we would be happy to help with the logistics, paperwork and advice before, during and after your move. Feel free to get in touch; we’d love to help if we can.

Alternatively, feel free to browse our blog for previous posts you may find useful or, if you’d like to check out our full portfolio, you can find details of properties currently on our books right here. You can also keep up to date with our Facebook page here.