Bodrum Property Report From the Buying in Turkey Guide

 Bodrum is one of Turkey's most cosmopolitan and popular holiday resorts - as well as being a real hotspot for foreign property buyers. Sitting on the Aegean coast, the town's history stretches back 2,000 years. It is home to one of the 'Seven Wonders of the World' - the tomb of Mausolus - and a picturesque crusader castle dominates a harbour filled with yachts and traditional wooden sailing boats, known as gulets.

"A mecca for European holidaymakers, Bodrum also attracts the cream of Turkish society with its great dining, nightlife and watersports," explains Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey property guide. "Bodrum is increasingly popular with year-round British residents, many of whom work in the rapidly developing tourist and real estate industries."

For culture-vultures there is an archaeological museum in the castle, along with several galleries and a summer program of concerts and performances. The area is an important yachting centre; while the Greek island of Kos is just a short ferry ride away and a new terminal for cruise-liners was opened last year.

There are several excellent private hospitals in the town, which is a plus for both permanent residents and visitors, and there are supermarkets, furniture outlets and DIY stores, so you can find everything you need for your new property locally Turkish Gulet Charter. The resort's international airport, which is 20 minutes from the town centre, is well served by charter flights in season, making access from the UK easy.

"Beyond the town itself, the Bodrum peninsular is ringed by a series of smaller, quite distinct resorts," says Dominic Whiting. "There are good beaches and new marinas at Turgutreis and Yalikavak, with two new golf courses in the area too."

Renowned for its bougainvillea-splashed sugar-cube houses, Bodrum is very popular with both foreign and Turkish buyers and there is an excellent choice of property.

"Local planning controls limit the height of building but there has been a lot of development - some would say over-development - in recent years," says Dominic Whiting. "This makes choosing a decent quality property in a good location essential if you intend to rent or resell. Avoid the cheaper re-sale properties which are often very poor quality and buy from a well-established company with a proven track record of sales to foreigners."