Property in Kalkan Turkey - A Sophisticated Investment Choice
The exquisite village of Kalkan has firmly resisted the trappings of mass tourism and, as a result, has retained its charm. Often compared favourably to Tuscany or the Dordogne, it is no wonder that property in Kalkan has surfaced on the overseas property radar as a the property investment of choice for the sophisticated second home buyer.
Property in Kalkan Turkey
This delightful picturesque port town with its steep cobblestone streets, unique Ottoman architecture and numerous jewellers, infamous restaurants and speciality craft shops, boasts one of the highest rates of returning visitors of anywhere in Turkey.
More sophisticated than the traditional resort town, Kalkan (old Phoenicus) does not seem to have been a place of settlement in antiquity, although it became an important port in the 19th century, settled around 200 years ago by people of both Greek and Turkish origin subject to the Ottoman Empire. It was then known by its Greek name of Kalamaki. Camels brought goods to Kalkan, whose cargo ships were then loaded to sail to the far reaches of the Ottoman Empire carrying charcoal, silk (you can see many mulberry trees in Kalkan today), olive oil (still produced in Kalkan) and wine, as well as grains and lumber. By the early 20th century, Kalkan had become quite a sizeable village. Following World War I, the exchange in population between the new Turkish Republic and Greece took place in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence. Most people of Greek origin then living in Kalkan left Turkey. As the Turkish road system improved, sea trade dwindled and people moved to larger coastal cities to find work. The arrival in the 1960s of wealthy English yachtsmen resulted in a turnaround for Kalkan and tourism became its main economy.
As a result, Kalkan’s residents put much pride and effort into keeping the town both beautiful and authentic, not least by preserving its distinctive Ottoman architecture. Tightly controlled building regulations keep the town small and architecturally blended with the historic heart of the town. Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, and are lined with old whitewashed villas with shuttered windows. Overhead hang carved timber balconies, from which flow masses of brilliantly coloured plants and flowers. Good food has always been central to life in Kalkan and the village is said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per inhabitant or square meter on the Turkish coast. However, Kalkan isn’t a place for noisy nightlife. Rather, one comes to enjoy the view of the stars from one of the town’s numerous rooftop terrace bars or restaurants. It is worth pointing out that you won’t have to endure the usual hassle that so many tourists are often subjected to – Kalkan is hassle-free and is proud to be so.
Kalkan’s obvious charms have made it a primary choice for the discerning property investor keen to sample the good life as well as enjoy the healthy financial benefits that inevitably come with investing in this exciting emerging market. The Turkish daily news reported the rush for summerhouse rentals is beginning in earnest this month. In an interview with the turkish representative of the TUI group, Mea Ville, General Manager Erdoğan Sivritepe explains that a rise in the newly coined ‘home tourism’ trend has prompted the TUI home tourism company, founded at the end of 2004 in reponse to a growing demand for private, furnished summer home residences. Pointing out that home tourism in Europe is increasingly on the rise, Sivritepe states, “The number of people bored with mass tourism is increasing day by day. Particularly people with good incomes and a high level of culture want both to understand the make-up and style of life of the country they visit and to use a more individual space.”
Kalkan Properties
Cultural differences as also reflected in home tourism with the British opting to rent villas with swimming pools, Germans look for more standard houses. According to Sivritepe foreigners prefer the Mediterranean and Aegean regions and whilst the price-conscious head for the Kuşadası region, some of the more upmarket summerhouses are to be found in Bodrum, Çeşme, Kaş, Alanya, Demre and Kalkan.
A property in Kalkan Turkey offers the overseas home buyer a sophisticated investment choice when searching for Turkish property retreat.
