If you are considering Turkey as the place to buy an investment property - capital appreciation and holiday let income - then it is probably a good idea to research which area of the country will most likely achieve your financial ambition... and if you are considering retirement here, then which area will give you the lifestyle that suits you.
My wife and I left England to live in Turkey six years ago. We didn't know exactly where in Turkey we would settle. We travelled the coast from Bodrum all the way down to the Mersin in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean looking at all areas hoping to find 'home'. We found it in the small human scale town of Kas, Antalya. We fell in love with it at once - and it has been our home since. We found a place that is naturally very beautiful and has a sense of integrity and intimacy - it is well known as a Bohemian paradise with its cafe society and early retired professionals growing their hair long and running bars and restaurants or playing guitars in bars.... The place suits us.
My advice is not to fret over being ripped off by estate agents or lawyers. Find where you want to buy first. Then figure out if you want to buy new, 'off plan' or resale. Resale is often overlooked - and yet if you are patient you will find a property closer to the sea, better views and better value in the resale market - and it physically exists.
Find an English speaking lawyer in the locality that interests you (the local ex-pat. population will recommend the best lawyer). The lawyer's job is to check the property deed (Tapu) is in order - that the owner is correct, there are no debts associated with the property etc. and to draw up a purchase contract on your behalf that is acceptable to both parties.
The transaction of the property going into your name is done at the Tapu office (a government office). They will only put your name on the title deeds when you have received military clearance. It is worth noting that the Tapu office will not transfer a deed to another name if there are any debts associated with the property... i.e. bank loan and property used as security.
The procedure is simple and safe. However, there is a lot of property on the market that do not have registered Tapus (deeds) - my advice is if you don't have a lot of experience in Turkey, don't think about buying such a property.
As far as Estate agents are concerned, there are good and bad. But it depends on what you mean by being afraid of being ripped off - paying too much, no Tapu, exorbitant commissions, poor after sales service...? An agent selling you a new development property and certainly 'off-plan' may not charge you a commission at all - however, he may be getting between 10% and 15% commission of your money from the property developer... put that in context of your 'investment' ambition.... hmmmm.
On resale property, if you look at an area like Kas for instance, you will see the same properties advertised on various websites - at different prices. You may be forgiven for thinking that someone is trying to pull a 'fast one' here and which agent should you trust.. Having lived here I know that a property owner will put his property on the market with one agent at a certain price... and then 3 weeks later put it on the market with another agent at a different price - one in Euros, the other in UKP.... then watch the confusion.. and it's not the agent being dodgy at all.
The best policy is to always take the lowest advertised price as a starting point. Talk or email a selection of agents who have the type of property you desire and see and feel the kind of responses you get - too gushy, uninterested, business like, sensible, responsive etc... You will know who you want to deal with (again ex-pats can recommend). At some point you will have to put some trust in someone, otherwise nothing happens.
As long as you understand the process of buying property in Turkey, then your best strategy is using common sense in all dealings.
If I can be of any further assistance, I would be pleased to help.
The old grey wolf
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