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Limits set for property sales to foreigners

Saturday, February 10, 2007

ANKARA - TDN with Anatolia news agency

The issue of property sales to foreigners will be assessed on a province-by-province basis as a part of efforts to ensure that the number of properties owned by non-Turkish citizens in any region does not exceed the legal maximum of 0.05 percent by area.

A fact-finding committee made up of representatives from relevant ministries and government organizations is currently working on the issue, although the details have not yet been finalized, reported the Anatolia news agency.

Criteria such as the provinces' strategic positioning, demographic, and natural and cultural heritage will be taken into consideration during the assessment, which will set the sale limit for every province within the framework of the 0.05 percent limit stated by law.

The committee will submit its proposals to the Cabinet, which will then have the final say on the issue.

Legal situation:

Under Turkey's Property Law, property sales to foreigners are limited to 0.05 percent within a province by area. However, the Cabinet is also authorized to set regional limits where protection is judged to be needed, such as irrigation, power generation, agricultural, mining, environmentally protected or culturally sensitive areas.

Areas where flora and fauna need protection and strategically important locations are also listed in the law as regions where sales to foreigners should be very carefully assessed.

The law also states that a committee should be formed, authorized by and reporting to the Cabinet, to conduct an assessment of such areas, its findings and suggestions to be presented to the Cabinet.

10 provinces stand out:

According to the General Directorate of the Land and Property Registry, property sales to foreigners topped 180 square kilometers as of January 2007. Out of the total property owned by foreigners, 88 percent of the 63,484 pieces of property is clustered in 10 provinces.

Coastal tourist resorts account for four out of the top five: First place goes to Mediterranean resort Antalya with 14,610 pieces of property, followed by Istanbul (10,695) then the Aegean resorts of Muğla (8,251), Aydın (5,839) and İzmir (4,572). Central Anatolia dominates much of the bottom half of the top 10: Bursa (4,310), Hatay (3,852), Mersin (1,740), Ankara (1,034) and Gaziantep (1,013).

Germans own a quarter of properties:

Germans seem to show the biggest interest in Turkish property, accounting for almost a quarter of properties, 15,278. The British are second with 12,749 properties, followed by Greeks with 12,183 – although 11,166 of the latter properties belong to Greek nationals of Turkish ethnic origin.

The fourth highest group of foreigners buying property is the Netherlands, at 2,739, almost 10,000 lower than the figure for Greek-owned property. While foreign nationals from 70 countries have bought property in Turkey, four-fifths of owners come from 10 countries, the four mentioned above and Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Norway, United States and Italy in descending order of ownership levels.

Political debate:

The issue of property sales to foreigners has been a highly politicized topic in recent years in Turkey, perhaps linked to what some commentators see as a rising tide of nationalist sentiment.

Opposition parties and deputies have frequently brought up the subject on grounds that no limits on property sales were being enforced. Some have gone further and accused the government of “selling the country to foreigners.” The government and relevant ministers had to defend their stance many times in the Parliament as well as in the public by stating figures and proving that the numbers of properties being bought by foreigners remains a tiny fraction of the whole.

Despite repeated corrections and statements from the government that property sales to foreigners do not pose a threat to the nation's sovereignty, large portions of the public show a tendency toward dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the situation.Tables tables tables

Top 10 foreign property owners in Turkey by nationality:

Nationality No. of properties

--------- ---------------

Germany 15,278

Britain 12,749

Greece 12,183 (x)

The Netherlands 2,739

Ireland 2,541

Denmark 1,905

Austria 1,524

Norway 1,213

United States 1,148

Italy 1,091

---------- -------------

Total 52,371

(x) 11,166 of which belong to Greek nationals of Turkish ethnicity

Note: Property owned by Syrian nationals is not included because their records are controlled by the Finance Ministry.

------------------------------

Top 10 provinces with foreign property owners:

Provinces No. of properties owned by foreigners

--------- ---------------

Antalya 14,610

Istanbul 10,695

Muğla 8,251

Aydın 5,839

İzmir 4,572

Bursa 4,310

Hatay 3,852

Mersin 1,740

Ankara 1,034

Gaziantep 1,013

----------- ----------

Total 55,916

here

И эта страна пытается себя ассоциировать с европейскими ценностями?

Это ж надо быть каким идиотом,

чтоб самих себя обманывать

и убеждать других в том, что Турция - это цивилизованная страна.

Турция как была фашистской, так и осталась.