Couple Starts Turkish Property Restoration Business

A Turkish couple returned to their homeland, fell in love with it and bought a property to stay for good. Lorna Acikalin and her Turkish husband Sadi spent a great deal of time traveling in southern Turkey before returning in 2006 to Side, Antalya. They bought several plots and have recently completed the first couple of their ’boutique’ Turkish property developments.

“About 15 years ago, Sadi and I came across a beautiful old farmhouse in the countryside near Side and on a return visit in 2006 we decided to try and find it once again to see what had become of it,” shares Lorna. She remembers Side standing out because it was so green and lush. According to her, it was not how you would imagine Turkey. “It reminded me of rural England in some ways.”

“We were shocked, not only by how little the countryside had changed in 15 years, but also by exactly how many old farm buildings there were in the region – many just left derelict.”
Instead of buying just one house to live in, they decided to start developing some of the old, rural dwellings. According to the couple, the old buildings were very strong, with two-foot thick dry stone walls.

The Acikalin ’s first property project in Turkey was Olive Farm. It was transformed from an overgrown field with a derelict building to a traditional family home with modern updates.
“With Olive Farm we kept as much original material as we could. All the upstairs floors are wooden and we added a roof with open beams and high ceilings. We’ve also added a pool,” adds Lorna.

“We manage all our own builds and have the potential to build people their dream home here in one of the most beautiful locations in Turkey. We put our heart and soul into our projects. I think this is important as we’re enriching the local environment by keeping some of the tradition and history of the area alive in our builds.”

Side has a lot of restrictions on new structures and limited development opportunities because of its rich archaeological history. The Acikalin’s developments suit this landscape because they are sympathetic to the environment. Side also borders thousands of acres of National Park. Whilst this is favorable to hikers and mountain bikers, it also prevents any building development in this region.

“I think the major advantage of buying in rural Antalya is the quality of life here. It’s stress-free compared to the UK with little traffic, friendly locals and old-fashioned values. For example villagers will bring you fruit and vegetables from their land, or offer to help you if they see you laboring, and expect nothing in return.

“With regard to the market, Turkey is becoming increasingly buoyant. I think many people who might have considered Spain in the past are now opting for Turkey as it offers excellent value for money and a sunny climate without any of Spain’s detractions. A million-pound Spanish home would only cost about a quarter of that in Turkish property,” claims Lorna.

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Couple Starts Turkish Property Restoration Business

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