Foreign real estate sales up 7.6 pct in first 8 months

Real estate sales recorded a significant increase thanks to a new law enacted this year easing foreign purchases, while direct foreign capital inflow declined.

Real estate sales between January and July this year increased by 7.6 percent when compared to the same period last year, Ministry of Economy data showed. Direct foreign capital inflow declined inTurkey by 8.2 percent year-on-year in the same compared period.

The Economy Ministry said that out of a total of $8.8 billion of international direct investments between January and July 2012, $7.4 billion was direct foreign capital inflow while $1.4 billion came from the sales of real estate. Direct foreign capital inflow in Turkey between January and July 2011 was $8.1 billion.

Citizens of 183 countries are allowed to acquire fixed property, buildings and land in Turkey, with the exclusion of some countries such as Armenia, according to a decree released on Aug. 6.

Separately, the Turkish private sector’s outstanding long-term loans received from abroad had reached $125.9 billion as of July. The loans had decreased by $1.3 billion compared with the end of 2011 and $1.6 billion in comparison to the previous month.

While banks’ loan liabilities decreased by $1.7 billion, bond liabilities increased by $993.3 million compared to the end of 2011. During the same period, non-bank financial institutions’ loans increased by $711.9 million, while non-financial institutions’ loans decreased by $1.8 billion.

From the creditor’s side, liabilities to private creditors and to official creditors decreased by $2.1 billion and $195.3 million respectively compared to the end of the previous year. Meanwhile, the private sector’s outstanding short-term loans received from abroad reached $31 billion, increasing $3.9 billion compared to the end of 2011.

September/18/2012

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/foreign-real-estate-sales-up-76-pct-in-first-8-months.aspx?pageID=238&nID=30371&NewsCatID=344

Back on track!

For a long while this blog has been inactive but now we are back on track!

Have a look at Apartments for sale where you can find a small selection. Soon there will more and also villas for sale!

Kurban Bayrami/Sacrifice festival

The day before Kurban Bayram starts is called Arefe. This is a day when people visits the graves of those who are not among them anymore and plant flowers on the graves. In Alanya the municipality provides it's inhabitants with free flowers to be planted on the graves. 

During the four-day holiday, which takes place from Nov. 6-9 of this year, Muslims worldwide remember and celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. God saw this, intervened and provided him with a ram to be sacrificed in his son's stead.

There are special places for the sacrifices of animals (usually a cow or a sheep). As there are not enough butchers for a day like this the sacrifices take place at special appointed places. It can be a warehouse, a car-wash or some other empty premises. In Turkey it is forbidden to sacrifice animals in places that are not appointed for this purpose. Unfortunately there are still many doing the sacrifice in their own gardens!

The meat from the sacrifice is divided into three parts. The family keeps one third of the share, another third is given to friends and neighbors and the last third is being donated to the less fortunate. For many people this is the one time per year when they can have meal with meat!

During Bayram people are not meant to fight. You have to be nice to everyone! The first day of Bayram is normally spent with family. The other days with relatives and friends. This is also a time when people dress in new clothes, meaning that it boosts sales in Turkey! 

Iyi Bayramlar!

Turkey cancels Republic Day parades after deadly quake

Turkish officials have cancelled parades traditionally held every year to celebrate the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Van on Sunday, plunging the nation into grief over a disaster that has left at least 570 people dead. President Abdullah Gül had also earlier cancelled an Oct. 29 reception commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic due to the earthquake. A statement released by the Office of the President on Monday declared that the reception had been cancelled “while work continues to save any citizens found under the rubble and while our people continue to suffer deep grief.” Republic Day commemorates the day Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed Turkey a republic. Source: Todayszaman.com

29 Ekim Cumhuriyet Bayramı / 29 October Republic Day

The Turkish Republic was officially recognized on October 29 1923. Since that day it is a public holiday. The celebrations will start already after lunch on October 28. You will see the Turkish flag with the picture of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on it everywhere. The Turkish Republic was founded by Mustafa Kemal Paşa, later known by everyone as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk meaning the father of the Turks. (More interesting reading about Atatürk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk ) 

The way the Turks do! #3

Why not do like the Turks do and have a soup for breakfast!

A common soup for breakfast is the red lentil soup! Here's a recipe like the Turks like to prepare it

Sebzeli mercimek çorbası

1 glass of red lenses
1 tbsp rice
1-2 onion
1 carrot
1 potato
3-4 capsicum
1 tsp red pepper paste
garlic
1-1,5 beef bouillon or vegetable bouillon
2 tbsp butter
water
salt, pepper

Put all the ingredients in a pot and cover with water. Let cook for about 20-25 minutes. Then mix everything with a blender. If the soup is too thick then add some hot water. Serve with fresh bread, lemon and why not some hot pepper!

Afiyet Olsun! (Bon appetit!)

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