Turkish property sales up 24pc

Sales of Turkish property to foreign buyers have jumped by almost a quarter in the past year.

New figures from the Turkish Statistics Agency show that overseas purchases increased 23.8 per cent in the 12 months to October 2015, with 2,236 sold during the month.

Demand was strongest for property in Istanbul, where 780 units were sold, followed by the resort of Antalya, where 567 units were sold. Bursa (136) and Yalova (118) followed, ahead of Aydın (103) and Mugla (102).

Iraqi citizens accounted for the most sales, acquiring 430 units during October, followed by Saudi Arabians (325) and Russians (191). British people were the fourth most active, buying 133 units.

The figures paint a picture of steady and long-term success, with 18.428 properties sold to foreigners in the first 10 months of 2015, a rise of around 20 per cent compared to the same period of 2014.

However, the figures arrive just as conditions Change significantly in Turkey: following the downing of a Russian military jet, relationships between the countries have soured significantly, with tourisms links already severed. As tensions continue to build, and the Turkish continues to weaken, amid slightly weaker economic growth, will foreign sales begin to slide in the months and year to come?