THE COMPLEX CHOICE BETWEEN TOWN & COUNTRY
If you’re thinking of making that huge jump, buying a holiday home or starting a new life in the sun, once you start to look for property, the vast array of homes available is probably going to be a little overwhelming.
Is it best to live in the countryside, in the town or in a ready-made expat community on a complex? The answer is really dependent on who you are and what sort of life you want to lead – but we thought a few pointers may help:
VILLAGE LIFE
If you buy property in rural Turkey then it’s likely to be a villa in its own grounds – and the price may well reflect that.
One advantage is that the neighbours are likely to be some distance away so, if you have barky dogs, for example, you’re less likely to find yourself dealing with complaints. The sense of living in splendid isolation or at one with nature is also appealing to some and, with plenty of land around you, it’s a relatively simple thing to save yourself a few trips into town – and a few lira – by growing your own fruit and veg.
Integration will be important though; you’ll need to make friends in the community or that feeling of isolation can be enervating rather than invigorating. The Turkish custom for hospitality means it’s not necessarily all that hard to do either as long as you show respect for local customs, a willingness to engage and to learn the language.
However, you probably will need transport of your own, make sure the property is fully insulated against winter cold and summer heat and that it’s fitted with fly screens. In the countryside, you’re far more likely to encounter the local wildlife – and we don’t just mean mosquitos.
COMING TO TOWN
One of the obvious attractions of property in a Turkish town is that, first of all, it may be cheaper and, secondly, everything is usually to hand. Shops, market stalls, lokantas – often open long into the evening – abound and you’ll have a better sense of the vibrancy and colour of life in a Turkish community where people just love to talk.
Again, if you make an effort to acknowledge local custom and learn to speak some Turkish, your integration in to the community may be a bit speedier but, in town, there may be more foreign nationals to meet up with too. Just like the Turks, you’ll find they have their favourite hangouts and, once you know where they are, you can choose when to dip in or opt out.
Generally, towns are served a bit better by the local municipalities; things like rubbish collections, pest control, and the roads will be better than they are out in the countryside. You’ll also have the advantage of a more regular and reliable dolmuş network so you may not need to buy a car.
But be warned. The Turks are a lively, voluble, spontaneous race and being in the heart of community can be exhausting. If they take a liking to you, you could find yourself with a substantial extended family. If they don’t, you’ll probably be aware of it.
A COMPLEX CHOICE
If you want to start out life as an expat with a ready-made support network, a villa or apartment on a complex in Turkey could be the answer. You will often find neighbouring villas are occupied by foreign nationals who made the jump a few years ago and therefore have extensive first-hand knowledge of the pitfalls you could face in your first 12 months living abroad. You may have to endure a “pecking order” among them too, but there’s no denying existing residents are likely to be able to share valuable information on trusted tradesmen and locations and recommendations for evenings out.
Although they can be a little more expensive than a standard town centre apartment, properties on Turkish complexes are often modern and in relatively good condition as existing residents won’t want a “bad apple” bringing the neighbourhood down. There’s often the advantage of a shared pool and companions to hand pretty much whenever you need them too.
But, if you decide to look at complexes, make sure you read the small print thoroughly. There can be numerous clauses about your rights as a resident – and expectations others will have of you. Also, check out if other homes are rented out to holidaymakers first. You probably won’t want to find your poolside peace and quiet shattered by a procession of stag parties or hen dos in the summer.
If any of the above sound like they may suit you, let us know as we have a number of homes available in each category. We’re here to help with the formalities too and happy to advise you on the complexities involved in moving to a foreign country. Just drop us a line or give us a call and we’ll do whatever we can to help.