Oh joy! I have roads all around my apartment!
It seems the Belediye (local council) had a mad rush to impress the voters in the time leading up to the local elections.
I have lived in the same apartment over the past 3 years and always dread the wet weather when it comes to crossing the marshes growing around my home.
But I am happy to report that the roads are so much better. Just one or two more bouts of rain are expected and then lots more roadwork will be done around the resort.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The sun is shining!
At last the sun is here, the temperature is up and everyone is starting to give their properties and shopfronts a facelift. What a difference the sunshine makes - everyone is in a good mood!
The colour of the sea has changed - a good sign that sunny weather is on its way. Did you know that the sea in this area really does turn turquoise once the winter storms have ended and the sun shines down in to it? All those photos you see are real!
The Easter Holidays are on their way and Thomas Cook say their bookings are up by 100% on this time last year. All those special offers are luring people away from the doldrums in the UK. Even the forecasts for the property industry are up - much assisted by the Turkish Government's assistance for the home making industry. Not just building materials, but also taxes and home furnishings have been reduced just to give the economy a quick boost.
So here's to 2009 and the best the sunshine can bring!
Debbie at Ideal Homes
The colour of the sea has changed - a good sign that sunny weather is on its way. Did you know that the sea in this area really does turn turquoise once the winter storms have ended and the sun shines down in to it? All those photos you see are real!
The Easter Holidays are on their way and Thomas Cook say their bookings are up by 100% on this time last year. All those special offers are luring people away from the doldrums in the UK. Even the forecasts for the property industry are up - much assisted by the Turkish Government's assistance for the home making industry. Not just building materials, but also taxes and home furnishings have been reduced just to give the economy a quick boost.
So here's to 2009 and the best the sunshine can bring!
Debbie at Ideal Homes
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
WHETHER planning to live permanently, or only spend lengthy holidays in the country, medical care is top of the list of concerns for many British property buyers in Turkey.
However, there is no reason to worry, with many people actually travelling to the country from Britain to take advantage of the high quality health services on offer. Medical care in medical centres and hospital in Turkey is provided by board-certified physicians, many of whom have previously trained in top U.S. or European medical programs. "The quality of care is equal, and in many cases far superior, to that available in the UK. Most doctors speak English fluently, with private hospitals in the tourist areas having many English speaking staff," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey property guide, www.buyingin.co.uk.The cost of medical care is lower than in the UK due to the lower cost of living, lower staff and doctors’ fees and cheaper medication. In addition, the cost of medical care is lower because there is significantly less administration and paperwork.
The vast majority of private patients in Turkey pay the doctor or medical centre directly. Unlike the UK, there is no administrative paperwork associated with insurance claims or approval of care for private patients in these countries. The cost of medication and treatment, including dentistry, is typically about half the price of the UK and "medical tourism" is a growing trend with patients travelling from the UK and Western Europe in increasing numbers for dentistry, fertility treatment, cosmetic surgery and other surgical and medical treatments. There are large private hospitals with excellent facilities in the following resorts/towns: Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Mugla, Fethiye, Antalya and Alanya. Other resorts will have state hospitals, private clinics and doctors, which provide emergency care, and treatment for minor injuries and routine ailments. Chemists, "eczane" in Turkish, are also trained to treat the most common ailments and dispense medicine, many of which are available over the counter without a prescription.
Despite the low cost of high-quality private medical care in Turkey, visitors and longer-term residents are advised to take out medical insurance. Health cover will usually form part of a travel insurance package. If you travel regularly then it is more cost effective to get an annual policy. For permanent or long-term residents medical insurance can be arranged through an international insurer or broker specialising in expatriate policies, or through a Turkish insurance company.
International policies typically offer 3 levels of cover, which will include in-patient/day care and emergency repatriation to the UK, along with out-patient care, specialist treatment, dentistry and maternity care, depending on the level of cover. Annual premiums for a 40 year-old couple will typically range from £1,320-£4,560 depending on the level of cover and the insurer. Medical cover through a Turkish insurance company is cheaper and will typically cover all hospital treatment and a limited number of doctors' consultations each year. Out patient care and medication can also be included for a higher premium. Emergency repatriation to the UK will be extra. Annual premiums for a 40 year-old and a 60 year-old couple start from £750 and £1,000 respectively. Premiums can generally be paid in 5 or 6 monthly instalments. It is important to remember that under current regulations British citizens living outside Britain for more than 3 months are no longer eligible for free NHS treatment.
For this reason many people relocating to Turkey keep a base in the UK which they use for part of the year; or simply retain a postal address at a friend's or relative's address.
However, there is no reason to worry, with many people actually travelling to the country from Britain to take advantage of the high quality health services on offer. Medical care in medical centres and hospital in Turkey is provided by board-certified physicians, many of whom have previously trained in top U.S. or European medical programs. "The quality of care is equal, and in many cases far superior, to that available in the UK. Most doctors speak English fluently, with private hospitals in the tourist areas having many English speaking staff," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey property guide, www.buyingin.co.uk.The cost of medical care is lower than in the UK due to the lower cost of living, lower staff and doctors’ fees and cheaper medication. In addition, the cost of medical care is lower because there is significantly less administration and paperwork.
The vast majority of private patients in Turkey pay the doctor or medical centre directly. Unlike the UK, there is no administrative paperwork associated with insurance claims or approval of care for private patients in these countries. The cost of medication and treatment, including dentistry, is typically about half the price of the UK and "medical tourism" is a growing trend with patients travelling from the UK and Western Europe in increasing numbers for dentistry, fertility treatment, cosmetic surgery and other surgical and medical treatments. There are large private hospitals with excellent facilities in the following resorts/towns: Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Mugla, Fethiye, Antalya and Alanya. Other resorts will have state hospitals, private clinics and doctors, which provide emergency care, and treatment for minor injuries and routine ailments. Chemists, "eczane" in Turkish, are also trained to treat the most common ailments and dispense medicine, many of which are available over the counter without a prescription.
Despite the low cost of high-quality private medical care in Turkey, visitors and longer-term residents are advised to take out medical insurance. Health cover will usually form part of a travel insurance package. If you travel regularly then it is more cost effective to get an annual policy. For permanent or long-term residents medical insurance can be arranged through an international insurer or broker specialising in expatriate policies, or through a Turkish insurance company.
International policies typically offer 3 levels of cover, which will include in-patient/day care and emergency repatriation to the UK, along with out-patient care, specialist treatment, dentistry and maternity care, depending on the level of cover. Annual premiums for a 40 year-old couple will typically range from £1,320-£4,560 depending on the level of cover and the insurer. Medical cover through a Turkish insurance company is cheaper and will typically cover all hospital treatment and a limited number of doctors' consultations each year. Out patient care and medication can also be included for a higher premium. Emergency repatriation to the UK will be extra. Annual premiums for a 40 year-old and a 60 year-old couple start from £750 and £1,000 respectively. Premiums can generally be paid in 5 or 6 monthly instalments. It is important to remember that under current regulations British citizens living outside Britain for more than 3 months are no longer eligible for free NHS treatment.
For this reason many people relocating to Turkey keep a base in the UK which they use for part of the year; or simply retain a postal address at a friend's or relative's address.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Home is where we feel at home
As an estate agent in Altinkum, I deal with many people looking for their ideal home. Whether I speak to them in person, in an email, or over the phone, I know that I have done exactly what they are now doing - look for an ideal home.
Of course, with unlimited funds we may make completely different choices. However, each person has a budget and a set of boxes that need to be ticked. As we all know, life is full of compromises, and usually at the crucial point in time, we have to compromise on one thing or more in order to get the majority of our wishes fulfilled.
I currently have a couple looking for a particular kind of property. They are renting here with a view to settling here. They have sold up in England and have a limited budget. I have to admire their tenacity, but often wonder that maybe they are setting their goals too high. In a real world can they really tick all the boxes?
I bought my apartment in a bit of a rush, on a whirlwind inspection visit almost 3 years ago. I viewed about 10 properties over 2 days, and had to make a decision on the 3rd day (self imposed time limit). I was lucky, the choice was easy and I bought off plan, well within my budget. The building was almost complete so I was able to make a real choice between two different apartments.
Three years on, now an estate agent myself and familiar with hundreds of properties, I now know just how lucky I really was - they seem to build everything so much smaller now!
To anyone who wants to view properties, the choice is not so easy now, since there are so many to choose from and all with different qualities (or lack of them!). I always recommend that you should just keep looking until you find one that really does feel like home. One that has the majority of boxes ticked, is within your budget, and with an agent you can trust.
Happy house hunting...
Of course, with unlimited funds we may make completely different choices. However, each person has a budget and a set of boxes that need to be ticked. As we all know, life is full of compromises, and usually at the crucial point in time, we have to compromise on one thing or more in order to get the majority of our wishes fulfilled.
I currently have a couple looking for a particular kind of property. They are renting here with a view to settling here. They have sold up in England and have a limited budget. I have to admire their tenacity, but often wonder that maybe they are setting their goals too high. In a real world can they really tick all the boxes?
I bought my apartment in a bit of a rush, on a whirlwind inspection visit almost 3 years ago. I viewed about 10 properties over 2 days, and had to make a decision on the 3rd day (self imposed time limit). I was lucky, the choice was easy and I bought off plan, well within my budget. The building was almost complete so I was able to make a real choice between two different apartments.
Three years on, now an estate agent myself and familiar with hundreds of properties, I now know just how lucky I really was - they seem to build everything so much smaller now!
To anyone who wants to view properties, the choice is not so easy now, since there are so many to choose from and all with different qualities (or lack of them!). I always recommend that you should just keep looking until you find one that really does feel like home. One that has the majority of boxes ticked, is within your budget, and with an agent you can trust.
Happy house hunting...
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