ABOUT Altinkum

 Altınkum is a large package resort with a series of sandy beaches that give it its name-“Golden Sand”- in Turkish. Popular with British and domestic holidaymakers, the town’s pedestrianised seafront promenade is lined with restaurants and bars. During the summer months there are a variety of water sports and leisure facilities on the beach, which is gently sloping and ideal for children. Didyma’s famous Temple of Apollo is within the town itself, with the ancient Greek city of Miletus and several other archaeological sites close by.

 At the moment Altınkum is a 90-minute drive from Bodrum airport. A new coastal road, due for completion in 2012, will cut this journey to an hour. The town has a new public hospital, which can provide basic healthcare, with larger private hospitals in Bodrum and Kuşadası. Shopping facilities are good with several large supermarkets and a weekly market for fresh produce.

 Altınkum is popular with both domestic and British buyers. There are currnetly over 5,000 foreign-owned properties in the area, with most being used as holday homes by British families. The town has a wide choice of property at the mid and lower end of the market, with about 80 % on the housing stock made up of apartments. Very basic two-bedroom apartments generally start from around £ 30,000. New-build and off-plan apartments are often on complexes with excellent facilities.

 Away from the center there are more villa developments, with areas such as Çamlık and Aytepe offering quieter surroundings, yet only a short walk or minibus ride from the main beach and shopping. Near the site of a planned marina, Aytepe has seen rapid development and major priceincreases in the last year. A new three-bedroom villa on a complex with shared pool typically sells from £ 70,000 - £ 80,000.

 The smaller resort of Akbük, situated 10 km South of Altınkum on a wide bay backed by mountains, has become popular with buyers wanting more peaceful surroundings. The area has resale and new-build villas and represents excellent value for Money at the moment. A three-bedroom villa with pool starts from £ 90,000 and land with building permission is also available.

 Infrastructual development has struggled to keep pace with building in some areas of Altınkum. Many Access roads are unsurfaced and become muddy or even impassable during the winter. There are also problems with drainage in low-lying areas.

 Rental potential should be excellent thanks to Altınkum’s popularity with British package tourists. However, the on-going building boom has created a large stock of rental properties, which makes choosing the right property very important.