Completed Turkish real estate sales to foreigners went up by an amazing 59% in 2008, reaching to a total $2.9 billion! (more than Spain and Portugal), which clearly shows that even without EU membership, purchasing a property is safe. Everyone in Turkey remains optimistic about Turkey's eventual EU membership, but even before membership Turkey has already become an international property hotspot because of the ease in purchasing property, constant price rises and low taxes.

Before you decide on what you want to buy, take the time to do some research. Clearly, if you’re planning on earning an immediate income from your investment you should look for an existing property (commonly referred to as a resale property) in an area frequented by holiday makers. Take a look at the rental market, get a feel for how much you can rent your villa or apartment for. Don’t forget to factor in other costs such as maintenance and property management charges (someone will have to look after the property in your absence) and remember that property with pools that are close to the beach will yield higher rental incomes.

Buying a run down place for renovation has the advantage that you can improve the property in ways that will specifically attract holiday makers. It’s a good way of adding value to your property while converting your economical investment into a higher yield, and getting building work done in Turkey is a choice for all. As for most of the part, the high quality turkish craftsmanship will impress you.

Another popular option is to buy off-plan. This is where a developer decides to build a number of properties on a large plot and needs to sell them before they have been built to fund the development. The advantage here is that you can secure the property by paying a deposit and then a percentage (usually around 30%) of the purchase price.