Inundated with Enquiries in Christmas week

We expected this week to be a quiet one with people focusing on the holidays, how wrong we were, we have been absolutely flat out with people asking for details of the Istanbul property opportunity.



Paul and Suzanne have been busy churning out information packs and contacting interested clients and we fully expect this to continue over the holidays and beyond.

With the development still freshly launched the best apartments are still available and we would urge interested parties to secure their units.

Pension Fund Invests in Istanbul

An excellent article that highlights Turkey, and in particular cities are continuing to attract investors.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has committed €250m (US$350m) to a Turkish retail property fund. Multi Corporation announced it had closed the fund, a real estate development platform consisting of 21 completed, under construction or planned shopping centres throughout Turkey. The fund has a projected real estate value upon completion of €4.3bn and will be financed through a combination of fund equity and bank facilities.

CPPIB, which manages the C$117.4bn (US$95.7bn) Canada Pension Plan, was the first founding investor. Multi said it was concluding negotiations with the fund’s second founding investor to close before year-end and might seek additional investors but would retain majority ownership of the fund.The fund is Turkey’s largest portfolio of retail real estate assets, and the largest publicly announced private equity investment in the Turkish real estate sector in 2008.

Property includes the 178,000sqm Forum Istanbul which, when opened in mid-2009, will be the third largest in Europe.The fund is focused on downtown locations in cities covering 70% of the Turkish population. Five of the shopping centres are already opened and fully leased, while eight others are under construction. Article from globalpensions.com 19th December 2008

If you are interested in property investments in Istanbul with a bank back guaranteed rental return of 9.5% per annum for 5 years then contact Nigel now at Girasol Homes.

Girasol Homes Istanbul
44 1974 299055
email istanbul@girasolhomes.co.uk

Good time for foreign buyers to look at Non Euro Markets

An annual investment-strategy study published by Jones Lang LaSalle this week suggests that re-pricing of property has happened faster in the U.K. than anywhere else, making U.K. property among the best buys world-wide.

One reason why U.K. property is attractive is that yields have moved out farther than in other European markets and property valuations have fallen more steeply.

There is also a currency advantage for foreign buyers because of the weaker pound against the dollar and the yen. The extent of the correction in the U.K. makes the potential return higher on the rebound.

In addition to its normal marketing strategy Girasol Homes are actively courting non UK buyers to add to its portfolio in both the UK and the marketplace in Istanbul as well.

Europe Real Estate Heading for a Train Wreck - WSJ.com

Mortgage rates looking to drop to 1958 lows in the USA make Istanbul Property a Top Investment

US Fed chief Ben Bernanke last night cut interest rates more than expected to between 0% - 0.25%. The dollar fell back on the news against most majors. Bernanke is recognized as an expert on the 1930’s depression and has unleashed all his armour in the fight against the recession.

The much talked about “quantitative easing” a monetary policy tool used by the Japanese in the 90’s during their fight against deflation is now centre stage as interest rate setting policy at almost 0% gives the Fed no further scope to cut. The Fed are likely to flood the US with money in order to keep the economy moving. I would imagine that US government debt by way of T Bonds will be purchased by the Fed in order to print more money.


This morning see’s the release of the Bank of England MPC minutes. They are likely to show a unanimous vote in favour of the rate cut at the beginning of the month and further easing of monetary policy.

The Euro has been one the major beneficiaries overnight and dragged Sterling to a new record low as traders buy back the euro on widening interest rate yield differentials. This is profit taking for Christmas bonuses in my opinion.

For property investors or for investors generally the pick of the crop are the Istanbul 5 year rental properties available from £62,950 with a 5 year rent guarantee at 9.5% per annum and investors can buy in Sterling not Euros.

Current interbank prices area as follows:


GBPEUR: 1.1060

GBPUSD: 1.5623

GBPDKK: 8.2130

GBPSEK: 12.2450

GBPCHF: 1.7375

GBPZAR: 15.5485

GBPJPY: 138.14

USDEUR: 0.7069

GBPAUD: 2.2434

GBPNZD: 2.6739

GBPCAD: 1. 8703

Clients and agents should contact Girasol at istanbul@girasolhomes.co.uk

Property investment in European cities - Times Online

An interesting article from the Times Online discussed investing in the European Cities, picking out Istanbul as well as Lisbon.

Istanbul Investment Properties

The article said "Anyone who has attempted to drive from one side of Istanbul to the other will appreciate that, in this mega-city spanning two continents, you need to pick your area carefully. Traffic jams apart, areas of the historical centre such as Beyoglu and Galata, which have the most obvious appeal to those looking for an exotic, lively city bolt hole, bear little relation to the multimillion-pound villas on the banks of the Bosphorus, which in turn are a world apart from the tower blocks springing up in the endless, uninspiring suburbs, where foreign investors are buying cheap and renting to the locals."

The average price in the city centre is between £1,000 and £1,500 per square metre, but houses on the riverfront go for a Mayfair-style £13,000 per square metre.

We have investment properties from £62,950 (2 bedrooms) with a 5 year rental guarantee with bank backed guarantees. With the current strength of the Euro = buying in Sterling may make good sense here.

The article continued......

“Property prices are now static after two years of 20%-plus growth, fuelled by demand and more widely available cheap mortgages,” says Dominic Whiting, the owner and editor of Buying in Turkey. “The fundamentals are still good, as there is a housing shortage and a rapidly growing population.”

Although buying costs will add only a relatively modest 6%, be sure to employ a good solicitor, as many properties have been built or altered without permission. A further complication is new legislation that stops foreigners buying in historic conservation areas, including parts of Beyoglu and Galata, though this is being challenged in court."

Contact Girasol for a full due diligence pack at istanbul@girasolhomes.co.uk both clients, financial advisers and estate agents are welcome.

Istanbul Hot Property Deals - 5 Year 9.5% Rental Guarantee

Istanbul was tipped as the second best property market behind Moscow for 2008 by International Accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper and according to Istanbul's Chamber of Commerce 350,000 new properties will be needed each year to keep up with demand from incoming residents.

These facts are substaniated with Girasol's new investment opportunity in Sekerpinar Geze, Istanbul. Located in a designated Industrial Zone which has attracted companies such as Siemens, Proctor & Gamble, Honda, DHL, Philips and Isuzu; Girasol are now promoting two bedroom apartments with a bank backed 5 year rental guarantee at 9.5% per annum.

The apartments all have balconies, a covered car parking space, video and audio intercom system, smoke alarm, heating system and come fully furnished. Priced at just £62,560 these are exceptional value when compared to similar developments in Istanbul. With mortgages now available to foreigner buyers Girasol's new offering ticks all the boxes for investors.


Girasol Homes Istanbul
44 1974 299055
email istanbul@girasolhomes.co.uk