Buy a new home for Christmas

There’s no time like the present for flying off to the land of St Nicholas to purchase a property, says Robin Hollingbury It is a misconception that Muslim countries do not observe Christmas; Turkey is one predominantly Islamic nation where the Christmas presence is increasingly apparent. Shopping centres throughout the country are decked with baubles and garlands, and 20ft-tall inflatable Father Christmases sway in the breeze from vast air-conditioning vents. One could be forgiven for thinking that Harrods or the Burlington Arcade were not far away. Of course, Turkey was the birthplace of St Nicholas back in the days of Roman occupation; Patara on the sun-kissed western shores of the Mediterranean coast is the actual spot. All the south western coast has long been a favoured destination for the British. Most shops, restaurants and hotels display signs and menus in both Turkish and English and the St Nicolaus Hotel and Father Christmas convenience store in Patara are open for business for 12 months of the year. It may seem strange to many that a country more readily associated with endless sunshine should be the origins of a man more often associated with snow, holly and Christmas punch. For those who have bought a second home for the benefit of sun, sea, sand and rapidly increasing equity, Turkey has provided all this and more. With an ever increasing interest in investing, both from private investors as well as major commercial investment funds, the country is experiencing growth and development on an unprecedented level. Property values continue to increase year on year by as much as 100 percent in some areas and certainly with an average annual equity increase of at least 40 percent. continue