Turkey"s Undiscovered Mediterranean Jewel
Looking for a sunny place to escape the unreliable British summer? A friendly Mediterranean resort with sandy beaches which hasn't been swamped by mass tourism? A place where you can buy a brand new seaside apartment for a recession beating £36,500? Well, the Turkish seaside town of Ozdere may be just what you are looking for.
Located on a beautiful, unspoilt stretch of coast between the better-known Turkish resorts of Cesme and Kusadasi, Ozdere is virtually undiscovered by foreign tourists and property buyers.
A popular holiday destination for middle-class Turkish families, it is a small and friendly place with a permanent population of just 13,500.
The town is backed by rugged pine-forested mountains and fringed by citrus orchards, but it is the excellent local beaches and hidden coves - there are over 24 miles (40 km) of sand to choose from in the area and several beaches have won the coveted Blue Flag award - that attract domestic holidaymakers in summer.
"Only a few foreign buyers have discovered the area, which is one of the hidden jewels of the Turkish coast.
The resort has fantastic beaches but is very laid-back even in the height of summer and never gets too busy," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide.
"Property prices are some of the lowest on the entire Turkish coast.
It is still possible to buy a well built new apartment with good facilities within 5 minutes walk of the beach for as little as £36,500.
" Without the attention of foreign buyers property prices have risen more slowly, and are currently 15-20% lower, than nearby resorts like Altinkum and Kusadasi.
However, there is strong and growing domestic demand for property in the area, which is popular with families from Izmir, a city of over 4 million people which is Turkey's third largest, located only 37 miles (60 km) away.
"Ozdere is an excellent investment opportunity with good potential for capital growth.
The local rental market is buoyant with good quality apartments in demand for long lets by Turkish families during the summer," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide.
Ozdere has plenty of shops on its bustling main street and three supermarkets.
There is a good choice of convivial restaurants and tavernas serving excellent value seafood and mouth-watering Turkish dishes washed down with the local aniseed spirit, Raki, locally produced wine or lager.
A dinner for two with drinks costs less than £15.
For those in search of nocturnal fun there are bars and a few discos open in the summer, but the local nightlife is low-key compared to larger Turkish resorts.
The town has a public hospital and several private clinics catering for permanent residents and visitors.
Izmir international airport, which is served by year-round British Airways flights from the UK, is only 30 miles (50 km) or 35 minutes drive from the town.
The tourist attractions of Efesus, an ancient city and Turkey's most extensive archaeological site, and the House of the Virgin Mary are 15 miles (25 km) from the town.
There are many other fascinating ancient sites dotting the countryside around Ozdere.
Located on a beautiful, unspoilt stretch of coast between the better-known Turkish resorts of Cesme and Kusadasi, Ozdere is virtually undiscovered by foreign tourists and property buyers.
A popular holiday destination for middle-class Turkish families, it is a small and friendly place with a permanent population of just 13,500.
The town is backed by rugged pine-forested mountains and fringed by citrus orchards, but it is the excellent local beaches and hidden coves - there are over 24 miles (40 km) of sand to choose from in the area and several beaches have won the coveted Blue Flag award - that attract domestic holidaymakers in summer.
"Only a few foreign buyers have discovered the area, which is one of the hidden jewels of the Turkish coast.
The resort has fantastic beaches but is very laid-back even in the height of summer and never gets too busy," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide.
"Property prices are some of the lowest on the entire Turkish coast.
It is still possible to buy a well built new apartment with good facilities within 5 minutes walk of the beach for as little as £36,500.
" Without the attention of foreign buyers property prices have risen more slowly, and are currently 15-20% lower, than nearby resorts like Altinkum and Kusadasi.
However, there is strong and growing domestic demand for property in the area, which is popular with families from Izmir, a city of over 4 million people which is Turkey's third largest, located only 37 miles (60 km) away.
"Ozdere is an excellent investment opportunity with good potential for capital growth.
The local rental market is buoyant with good quality apartments in demand for long lets by Turkish families during the summer," says Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide.
Ozdere has plenty of shops on its bustling main street and three supermarkets.
There is a good choice of convivial restaurants and tavernas serving excellent value seafood and mouth-watering Turkish dishes washed down with the local aniseed spirit, Raki, locally produced wine or lager.
A dinner for two with drinks costs less than £15.
For those in search of nocturnal fun there are bars and a few discos open in the summer, but the local nightlife is low-key compared to larger Turkish resorts.
The town has a public hospital and several private clinics catering for permanent residents and visitors.
Izmir international airport, which is served by year-round British Airways flights from the UK, is only 30 miles (50 km) or 35 minutes drive from the town.
The tourist attractions of Efesus, an ancient city and Turkey's most extensive archaeological site, and the House of the Virgin Mary are 15 miles (25 km) from the town.
There are many other fascinating ancient sites dotting the countryside around Ozdere.