Fethiye, in southern Turkey on the Mediterranean coast, is already home to 2,500 Britons enjoying a cost of living a third of that in the UK. This four-bedroom, four-bathroom house comes with a pool and a five-year guarantee and will be completed this year. It’s £113,000 from World Class Homes (01582 832 001, www.worldclasshomes.co.uk). Frequent charter flights serve Dalaman international airport, 30 miles away. Prices in Turkey, a candidate for the European Union, have risen steeply since last year and 7% since the EU expanded on May 1.

International property consultant Bill Blevins says prices are expected to rise further this year, but recommends taking a UK mortgage because of the volatility of the Turkish lira. There is a risk that a crack in the British market may affect holiday-home values, he says: “UK buyers push up prices abroad and if property plummets at home, as some believe it may do soon, this could impact.” Turkey’s lettings season runs from April to October. Property in key resorts starts at £56,000 for flats and £350,000 for villas.

The property laws in Turkey can be baffling, so make sure you hire a competent, English- speaking lawyer to guide you through the process. Necessary paperwork includes a copy of your passport for a “security risk” check by the army, as well as the usual searches through title deeds, of which the records are good.

Expect to pay stamp duty, legal fees and wealth and purchase taxes, the latter at 3% but split between buyer and seller (so just 1.5%). Annual service fees include tax of 0.3% for land and 0.1% for the property.

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