As a property investment it may be well to remember that house prices may have dropped dramatically in the UK, Spain, Italy and Portugal over the past few years but not so in Turkey. Added to this, Turkey has applied to the EU and, when other countries have joined, house prices have soared so this may well happen once Turkey gains acceptance.

Back in the day, the much-revered Kemal Ataturk transformed the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, westernised and secular country, and the country has remained true to his vision. Today there is rising international interest in the property market in Turkey. Choice has largely been dictated by the location of international airports, most of which have been built near delightful coastal towns with magnificent beaches to accommodate the increase in tourism. Broadly speaking the market ranges from Kusadasi (pronounced Kushadasi) on the Aegean side to Alanya with its magnificent medieval castle on the Mediterranean.

Between the two you will find smaller towns such as Gocek, an upmarket marina town and popular stop-off point for yachts, with Kalkan and Bodrum both very popular with property buyers at the top end of the market. Other coastal towns that are attracting a lot of interest are Fethiye, Kas and Side – lovely old towns surrounded by oleanders with views of the nearby turquoise coloured sea.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Turkey, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Turkey Property Buying Guide’