HSBC Comes to Didim - and brings Mortgages for Didim Property Buyers

As if prices of property in Didim weren't reasonable enough, now there is an extra reason for taking the plunge. Until this year it was impossible to get a mortgage for a property in Turkey, no matter whether the property buyer was Turkish or otherwise.

But now HSBC, among other banks, is offering a straightforward mortgage system for foreigners and Turkish property buyers alike.

HSBC's service is designed for completed, not off-plan, properties and allows buyers to borrow up to 75% of the property value over a 30 year term (for YTL transactions) or 50% over a 10 year term (for USD / EUR transactions). It even guarantees no penalties for early repayment, a subject originally of much concern.

Check out the details on HSBC Turkey's great English-language website. I'm so impressed I think I'm about to change banks myself!

And as for personal service - well HSBC opened up a new branch on Ataturk Bulvari, Didim's main road, just about a month ago!

DIDIM'S NEW CINEMA: A canny local investor has spotted a huge gap in Didim's facilities and decided to do something about it.

Mehmut Gokdemir, the neighbourhood leader of one of Didim's most populous districts, has already started work on the 3-screen, 400-seat capacity movie theatre. He is in negotiations with film companies to provide the latest quality movies, both for international and Turkish audiences.

The location of the new theatre is well thought-out, accessible to visitors from the Altinkum AND Akbuk areas: on the main Didim-Akbuk road running from Yenihisar centre and the Belediye (council offices) to Akbuk and then on to Bodrum. The cinema will be close to the Opet petrol station and the structure is already visible.

Didim's cinema is the latest piece of good news for Didim following the start of construction on the new marina, Didim D-Marin, due for completion in 2009.

To see investment opportunities close to the new cinema site, check out our Properties in Didim /Yenihisar from Dizayn Homes.

Source: Voices Newspaper

No more English water bills for Didim's British residents - but free Turkish lessons instead.

Didim has long been very welcoming of its British residents, even to the point of providing water bills in English.

Sadly for those whose Turkish is not up to deciphering meter readings and payment instructions, Didim Council recently responded to pressure from the Turkish Language Foundation who pointed out that the English bills were unconstitutional. The water bills, formerly in English for British homeowners, will now all be issued in Turkish.

But that isn't the end of the story. Didim Council have come up with another plan, bound to please the Turkish Language Foundation and with far wider benefits than being able to understand water bills: free Turkish lessons! The lessons, aimed at beginners, will run on a three-monthly cycle throughout the year, with more advanced lessons planned for the future.
Source: Today's Zaman 29 March 2007

Of course, you don't have to negotiate with desk clerks at the council, or the electric company, to make sure your bills are paid on time. Here at Dizayn Homes we will help you to set up direct debits and keep Didim home ownership worry-free!

Two new Golf Courses proposed for Didim

A big increase in investment in Didim is expected with confirmation that land has been allocated for two 18-hole golf courses and supporting facilities in the area.

The locations of the courses have been chosen and first-level analysis done of the areas. One site is at Golludam, north of the Didim-Akbuk road, further inland as you approach the 5-star Caprice Hotel at Akbuk. The other is on the seafront just across a small bay from Yesilkent, at Mercimek, an attractive location Altinkum boat trip veterans may be familiar with as many of the tour boats stop there to serve lunch.

The proposals are for a 49 year lease and the Mercimek /Yesilkent location would also include a 5-star hotel or combination hotel & holiday village, with 420 bed capacity.

While investors have yet to be found for the courses, there are rumours that a big Spanish golf resort company is interested in at least one of the locations, and this is hardly surprising with such a large and rapidly-growing expat community, not to mention the coming marina at Didim with its influx of high-end tourism.

To see investment opportunities available close to the proposed golf courses, check out our Yesilkent properties for the Mercimek location, and our Akbuk properties for the Golludam location.

Sources: Voices Newspaper (original location image) & Turkey Ministry of Culture & Tourism website (other details)

Didim Marina Plans Revealed!

It seems most appropriate to start this, the first issue of Didim Dizayns, with among the biggest news to hit Didim in the past years: the plans for Didim's long-awaited marina!
The design for the 623-berth yacht marina, which includes a heliport, customs and special shopping centre, will cost $50 million and covers 287,000 m2.

The site lies between Third Beach and Parlementerler, to the west of Altinkum and the marina, named Didim D-Marina, will be the largest in the Southern Aegean, including Bodrum's 450-berth site.

Construction is being carried out by Dogus Holdings, one of the biggest organisations in Turkey, who will also have a 25 year operating lease. Dogus also has interests in Volkswagen, Hyatt Regency and Porsche, and also built the marina at Turkey's luxury resort of Turgutreis. The website for this gives an excellent idea of what we can expect from Didim: http://www.dogusmarina.com.tr/index.html

Didim D-Marina signifies a new lease of life for the already buoyant Didim region, as it will open up the area to a whole new tourism market of yacht owners, gulet cruises, and tour boats as well as winter boatbuilding and drydock services.

To see investment opportunities close to the Marina location, check out Property in Altinkum from Dizayn Homes.