Paradise Properties: paraprop@aol.com

Sandy@sandystanleyantiques.com

Bricks and Mortar has 50 pairs of tickets to give away for the Homes Overseas Exhibition from March 4-6 at London Olympia. Entries should be e-mailed to: tickets@articulate.co.uk. Write “Homes Overseas ticket giveaway” in the subject line and give your postal address.

Sea fronts

A three-bed, three-bathroom villa near Ovacik, not far from Dalaman in southwest Turkey, has a large, open-plan reception room with a terrace opening on to a private pool. The villa is set in a private area and has mountain views to the front and back. Price: £148,000 through Brookings Overseas Property, 01245 473000 or www.brookings.co.uk

A three-bed villa, in an elevated position with sea views, is one of 24 on a small development a five-minute walk from the beach and a short drive from Yalikavak, near Bodrum. It has a spacious open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area, a separate lounge and bathroom and a second bathroom upstairs. Price: from £83,450 through Brookings Overseas Property.

Headlands International is also selling three-bedroom apartments in a new development near Dalaman town centre, ten minutes away from Sarigerme beach. The apartments, priced from £34,975, have two double bedrooms (one en suite) with balconies, a single bedroom, and an open-plan kitchen and living room with balcony overlooking the communal swimming pool. Headlands International, 0845 9005151 or www.headlands.co.uk

Areas of Law

PURCHASING a property in Turkey and buying in Britain involve many of the same experiences. The main difference is the requirement to obtain permission from the military, before completion, to purchase the property (a lawyer will apply on your behalf), as non-nationals are not permitted to buy in all areas of Turkey.

There are subtle differences, however, such as the requirement for both buyer and seller to be present at the Land Registry office on the completion date for the transfer of the property title, although it is acceptable to sign a power of attorney to a local lawyer.

On the level of deposit required, each agent or lawyer will have his or her own requirement but generally not less than 4 per cent is acceptable, although 10 per cent is the more usual minimum to ensure both parties are serious about the undertaking.

Using the services of an English-speaking local lawyer the pitfalls will be few, but buyers should be aware of the common practice of under-declaring the purchase price to reduce the seller’s tax liability. “Though strictly speaking it is an illegal practice, it as accepted as part of the buying process in Turkey,” says Dennis Phillips, head of emerging markets at the solicitors John Howell & Co. “But beware, as you could end up with a seriously undervalued property if and when you come to sell up.”

John Howell & Co: www.europelaw.com

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