Just bought an apartment in Yenişehir district of Mersin.

[PeteJF 40]

We spent almost two weeks looking round apartments trying to find something we liked within our price range. We thought we had found a suitable place on Tuesday   only for it to be sold before I could get the money transferred. Still at last we have found and paid for an apartment, going back to Antalya next week to sort out the removal of furniture and stuff from stepsons apartment to the new place, also have to get the shipping company in the UK to send our stuff over.

[Ken Grubb 1,250]

Congratulations, Pete! Great to hear you found a good place.

I am wondering, for my own education. Isn't there a way you can pay a deposit on a property, so the owner can't sell it until you get the money together?

Good luck to you on your move.

[JustinM 24]

They can accept a deposit, but unfortunately the past has made both buyer and seller very weary in Turkey. Lots of fraud in the Real Estate Sector in the past and still ongoing in many parts of Anatolia. It's imperative to use a realtor and have signatures and written statements for every transaction along the way. It's getting better from what I'm told as police finally start to build cases and courts decide to prosecute. 

[PeteJF 40]

Hi Ken

My Turkish stepson who has had experience of working at an emlak office dealt with the buying of the apartment. He confirms what JustinM said about getting  signatures and written statements for every transaction along the way.  We bought the apartment in my wife's name, since she is Turkish it apparently saved on the need for bureaucratic  checks on myself.