Foreigners banned from buying property in Turkey Article Published: 12:34 16/11/2009 Article Classification: United Kingdom
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Turkish English-language newspaper Hurryet Daily News is reporting that the government has banned foreigners from purchasing property in a number of locations in Southeast Turkey.

According to the report, foreigners have been banned from purchasing real estate in Mardin, Kilis  and Hatay  as title deeds owned by overseas buyers has exceeded 10% of the total available in these destinations.

According to data from the Turkish Land Registry Directorate, four Germans have bought 25,153 square meters of property in Kilis, while 99 foreigners bought 521 properties for a total of 2,383,192 square meters in Mardin.

Speaking to the Planning and Budgets Commission of Parliament, Mustafa Demir, Minister of Public Works and Settlement said: “Since the acquisitions in Mardin, Kilis and Hatay have exceeded 10 percent of the improved land, the purchasing of property by foreigners is banned by the Cabinet.”

Turkey has become an increasingly popular property destination over the past 18 months as the strength of the Euro has resulted in many British buyers, who might previously have bought in places like Spain, turning their attention to the country.