A room with a view- Haleema's story

When we came to Antalya three years ago, it was mostly tarla (farming) land, and everyone who visited us wondered what we were doing in the middle of nowhere. Surrounding us were one or two buildings and the roads were not developed. It really looked like it was in the middle of nowhere, but we loved it as the scenery was breath-taking. We could see the mountains from our windows, and the air was clean and fresh. We were still a short drive away from local shops. We had the best of both worlds as we lived in an apartment but still had a small space for gardening and were surrounded by orange, olive and pomegranate trees. The children could go out and play with the local children, their common language was football and it became home very quickly. In all the time we have been in Antalya we can't see we have missed the UK much. The weather, the food and the amazing kind neighbours have made our stay feel even better than home.

What places did you consider living in before settling on Turkiye?

We visited Morocco and loved it. The only downfall we felt back then was the economy and couldn't quite see a future for our children there. We decided to see if Turkiye was a better option for the longer term and we're immensely grateful it has worked out.

What made you choose to settle in Antalya?

Initially Antalya, was completely off the cards. Our impressions was that it is full of tourists and beaches and all that comes with that mix. After we visited Antalya, whilst most of our thoughts about Antalya proved true, we discovered beautiful areas of Antalya that had much less tourists, and more locals and even English speaking Expats for us to connect with. Just 30 minutes from central Antalya we found the perfect place for us!.

Have you realized your dream home in Antalya?

We are deeply grateful to be where we are but at the same time we are travellers and don't know where our future might take us. For now we are happy to stay in Antalya, we have everything we want and that may change as the needs of our children change. We often compare what life would be like if we were in the UK- that thought only makes us grateful for our current position.

What challenges did you face when buying in Antalya?

We didn't know the process of buying like in the UK and and there were many things that came up along the way which we were unaware of, we just dealt with them as they emerged. We decided to involve a lawyer to help with the process and in hindsight that helped to make the process easier. Because of the lawyer everyone involved did everything right which the process was made as easy as could be expected. The after-sales care was surprisingly good, but that is because we had the right people able to make things happen, it is not what we have heard to be the norm in Turkiye.

Who helped you the most on your journey?

Our property agent was there every step of the way explaining things in English, translating where needed and gave us sincere advice when we had to make certain decisions. Not knowing the language can be difficult, having trustworthy people to help in the process is a huge blessing. Local English-speaking Expats who had made the move also helped with their advice and support, and we became close friends with them. After we moved in, the neighbours have been the biggest blessing and again, we are very grateful.

What advice would you give to someone considering buying in Antalya?

1. Make sure to have trusted recommended people to help with the process of buying a property. Along with the property agent it is wise to have a lawyer to facilitate the buying process to ensure everything is above board.

2. Learn at least the basics of the Turkish language so you can build rapport with people. It is not difficult to pick up, I learnt the most whilst still in the UK.

3. Don't expect UK customer service, timelines, or procedures and processes. If you lower your expectations, dealing with the hurdles will become much easier, and you can start to enjoy the amazing life Turkiye has to offer.

4. Know yourself and your family's needs. Do you want to be close to nature? Do your children need to be close to a community that speaks English and can make friends with them? Or do you want to immerse yourself in Turkish culture without relying upon an expat community? Knowing your family's needs helps you cater to everyone when moving to another country.

You didn’t come this far to stop

Nina and Adam's Antalya Farming Story

What places did you consider living in before settling on Turkey?

We researched Kuwait, UAE, and Malaysia, before eventually deciding to settle on Turkey. We started by looking south of Turkey, as it gets cold in the North and we wanted to avoid cold weather like the UK.

What made you choose to settle in Antalya?

Moving from Dubai, we wanted a hot climate as we do love the warmth, coming from UK which is very cold, we wanted to retire where the weather is hot. Also Antalya is good for farming, and the land is really fertile. It has a major airport with international flights to many countries, as we fly in and out a lot. It had a lot of history and a lot of beauty, and is one of the gems of Turkey. Lots of Turkish people and European people holiday there. We wanted to be near nature and felt really connected here.

Have you realized your dream property in Antalya?

No we haven't realized our dream property but it works for our large family as our residential property has many rooms and bathrooms, the reason it is not our dream property is because the garden is small. We were looking for a property with land primarily to farm with a house on it, but it was not possible, so we started to look for land, we bought a second property which was closer to what we were looking for in terms of size of land. We wanted something with farm structure, although it doesn't have farm structure we are creating it.

Where in Antalya did you buy and why?

We bought our house half hour from the beach in a village in Dosemealti. It is easily accessible to Antalya airport and ten minutes to central Antalya. We are also in the woods and mountains, so we are surrounded by nature. Its very private, quiet, and a retreat for us. Three years ago houses were a great value, there are still good value to be found but it was more affordable before.

What challenges did you face when buying in Antalya?

In the beginning we we wanted both our names on the title deed, we were in a hurry so we put it in my husband's name. This created a lot of problems. we were not aware how difficult it would be to add my name. This led from one problem to another, it meant that my husband got residency from day one but I could not, me and my children ended up with a tourist permit, for the first two years. This did not count towards citizenship, had the name been on title deed I would have got 2 years towards citizenship. I did get the residency on renewal and have started the process to citizenship, this is something to be aware of.At the time I started you need to be living in Turkey for 5 years before you can apply for citizenship, it does not mean you will get citizenship but you can at least be eligible to apply.

Who helped you the most on your journey?

We had some contacts in Dubai who first introduced us to Antalya. Through another contact we started to connect with other people in Istanbul and other cities through whats app groups. From these groups we connected to a local person in Antalya which really helped us a lot and that is how we found our first agent and property. Local turks on the ground really supported our move and this helped us a lot.

What advice would you give to someone considering buying in Antalya?

1. Seek guidance. Get on whats app groups and telegram groups to do research.

2. For a peaceful life with outdoor possibilities choose Antalya. If you want children to go to university choose Istanbul. Consider your lifestyle before choosing.

3. Most people who come to Antalya consider it as a tourist city but there is so much more to Antalya than tourism. Try to find the real Antalya, explore before buying, there is so much more to Antalya than tourism.

You didn’t come this far to stop

Ahmed and Syeda's Antalya Arsa Journey.

'If light is in your heart you will find your way home'

Jalaludin Muhammad Rumi.

"It’s a strange feeling to be born and raised in the UK, a native English speaker, yet feel drawn to lands that are foreign in both language and geography. What’s even stranger is finding a sense of belonging in a place where you don’t know anyone, can barely speak the language, and committing to an investment that seems outright crazy—especially when that investment is land. But that’s exactly what my husband and I did. We went to buy an apartment and ended up purchasing Arsa—land with permission to build or place a tiny house, depending on the location.

The quote by Rumi resonated deeply with us, as something intangible seemed to pull us toward this mountainous region of Turkiye. Amidst orange, olive, and pomegranate trees, we felt at home. My husband and I have always dreamed of living an organic lifestyle, where food grows naturally in our yard, the skies and stars are clear, and pollution is minimal.

Three years ago, we visited a resort in Antalya. While it was perfect for relaxation, we quickly grew bored. However, through our travels in search of property, we discovered just how incredible Antalya truly is. Now, when people say they’ve "seen and done" Antalya after a few resort visits, we simply reply, 'No, you haven’t even begun to experience it.' A place can’t be defined by its tourist resorts—there’s so much more to uncover off the beaten path."

What places did you consider living in before settling on Turkiye?

We explored various locations with hot climates, but none offered the opportunity to gain residency or citizenship. Turkiye stood out as the only destination near the UK that provided a feasible path to long-term residency at an affordable cost.

What made you choose to settle in Antalya?

For two decades in the UK, we dreamed of a place where we could reconnect with nature, raise chickens, and live surrounded by greenery. However, the cold climate and strict building regulations in the UK made it impossible. Then, we discovered Antalya through a British expat and were immediately drawn to its breathtaking mountains, crystal-clear sea, and the warmth of local villages like Dağbeli and Bademağacı.

Have you realized your dream in Antalya?

Although we couldn’t secure full residency or citizenship due to financial limitations, we were able to purchase a small plot of land in a village in Döşemealtı, away from the tourist crowds. It’s just a 40-minute drive to the beach, and for the first time, we felt hopeful. We had escaped the cold and found a place where our dreams could begin to take root. We can stay on our land for six months of the year, which allows us to avoid the harsh UK winters while enjoying the stability of a community. We wanted more than just a holiday retreat; we sought the warmth of knowing the locals and building lasting friendships—something that was increasingly hard to achieve in the vast expanse of a metropolitan city like London.

What challenges did you face when buying in Antalya?

One of our biggest concerns was finding trustworthy, honest English-speaking people who would prioritize our needs. We were fortunate to find independent agents recommended by friends who had worked with them before. They spent days with us, never once pressuring us to make a purchase. In fact, they even suggested we return to the UK and wait for land prices to drop. This genuine advice meant a lot to us, as it demonstrated their integrity. We didn’t wait, though—prices were unlikely to fall, and the cost of travel and accommodations would only add to our expenses. Plus, we risked losing the land we truly had our hearts set on.

Buying land for a prefabricated house also had its challenges. A common misconception is that all foreigners are wealthy, which often led to inflated service charges. We had to do our research and rely on trusted recommendations to ensure fair pricing.

Who helped you the most on your journey?

Our property agents continued to remain our lifeline in Antalya. They were not only honest but incredibly generous with their time and always responsive to our needs. Without their support, our journey would have been much more difficult.

What advice would you give to someone considering buying in Antalya?

1. Choose a reputable agent: Work with a licensed, independent, and recommended agent to avoid complications. We have provided the details of our agent to be forwarded to Musafir.uk members. We dropped our solicitor after a brief interaction as we realized licensed agents were approved by the government and in Turkiye solicitors are desirable but not always needed. In our case the decision to drop the solicitor did not present any problems, in fact, it saved us money.

2. Be prepared: Know what you want and have your funds ready, as prices fluctuate. If you like something, make an offer quickly.

3. Expect a different pace: Things move slower in Turkiye. Don’t expect prompt service—be ready for informal chats and tea before getting to business.