Real estate brokers are
Real Estate Agents & Brokers Career Prospects in Virginia Real Estate Agents and Brokers Home | Find another career | Find career statistics Suggestions & corrections Printer friendly page What do they do? Real estate agents sell property for owners. Specializations : Residential property, commercial property Preferred education : Complete an approved real estate marketing program in high school (with Career & Technical Education), community college, or trade school; associate's or bachelor's degree is an advantage Certification & licensing : State license required Getting ahead : Selling more & higher-valued property brings more commissions & more property to sell Skills & knowledge : Selling, negotiating, & bargaining; working well with clients; knowledge of local area Where they work : Visiting houses & properties to be sold Job outlook : Good in the long run, but probably becoming more competitive as the housing boom of the last decade slows down Look for work : Link to job banks and other job search resources Earnings : Usually in the $16-110,000 range Links : Find more information about this career Become An Agent & Get Rich Quick? Think Again Interviews with real people See a video WHAT DO THEY DO? It's the "American Dream"-- buying a house somewhere to call one's own. And the people who assist in that dream, making a fair profit at the same time, are real estate agents. When people want to buy a house, some land, or a commercial property, they usually contact a real estate agent or broker who collects listings of all the houses, properties and parcels of land for sale in a particular city or neighborhood. The agent sorts through the listings and selects the properties that seem to fit a buyer's price range and needs. The agent then shows the property to the buyer, along with any others that seem to fit the bill. When clients have questions--for instance, how old is the roof and is the property in a flood zone--agents track down the answers. They draw up contracts between buyers and sellers, and help smooth along the whole process by acting as a "go-between" between buyer and seller. Money enters the picture when the agent actually makes a sale. Agents charge both buyers and sellers for their services. Many also offer services like renting and managing property owned by others, also for a fee. Real estate brokers are the people who own and manage real estate agencies. Real estate agents are usually independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agents sale of the property. (Agents are also sometimes called realtors if they belong to the National Association of Realtors). Despite all the excitement and money in real estate in recent years, selling real estate is not an easy line of work. Agents must stay on top of changes in the market by constantly touring homes that have just been listed. They work nights and weekends and have to be on call for clients who want to see them at odd times. They spend many weekend afternoons sitting at "open houses" and must be aggressive and good at drumming up new clients. In very competitive markets they must perfect the art of cold-calling or canvassing for new business. Va Association of Realtors Most importantly, real estates agents must be expert negotiators since they must manage delicate price negotiations when an interested buyer and seller hook up. The agent also coordinates the "closing" when a property is sold, that is, the actual signing of papers and transfer of a property's title. Once the property is sold, the agent who sold it and the agent who first got the listing both receive a portion of the commission. Agents who sell a property they also listed can increase their commission. Real estate agents and brokers need to know a lot about the communities in which they work. They need to know about the local real estate market and about local services, particularly the schools. They also need to be familiar with local zoning and tax laws, and know where to get financing. A broker's knowledge, resourcefulness, and creativity in arranging mortgages often means the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. Above all, the successful real estate agent has to be able to sense what clients really want in a property, be good at selecting properties that clients will like, and at helping clients be realistic about what they can afford. This type of job, in short, calls for a business-minded "people" person who really knows the lay of the land, so to speak. Specific tasks include: Finding properties to sell Estimates property will sell for to set the opening price Meeting with prospective buyers Helping buyers find property that they like Knowing the physical condition, features, and special characteristics of properties Preparing purchase agreements Referring clients to lawyers and tax consultants Working with lenders, home inspectors and others until the sale is completed to the client's satisfaction Commercial Investment Real Estate Real Estate Professional Realty Times The right job for you? Learn more with an informational interview with a local employer . The wrong job for you? Take an interest test & find a better one . SOME AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION Most real estate agents and brokers sell residential property. A small number, usually employed in large or specialized firms, sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, & LICENSING In Virginia, as in every other state, real estate brokers and agents need a license. Prospective agents need to be at least 18 years old, and pass a written exam. The exam--more comprehensive for brokers than for agents--includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. In Virginia, agents have to complete 60 hours of real estate classes at an approved school and pass the state and national portions of the salespersons exam. Brokers must complete 180 hours of education, pass the state and national portions of the broker exam, and submit proof that they worked as a salesperson during 36 of the preceding 48 months before applying for a license. A college degree is helpful in certain areas like commercial real estate, but it is not required. Real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. To qualify for renewal, agents and brokers need to complete 8 hours of approved continuing education. In addition to licensure and continuing education requirements, real estate agents and brokers in Virginia cannot be guilty of violating the fair housing laws of any jurisdiction, nor convicted anywhere for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, drug distribution, physical injury, or any felony. Real estate agents and brokers can also study to earn their GRI a nationally recognized professional designation that stands for Graduate, REALTOR® Institute. Studying to be a real estate agent in Virginia: Are you in high school? Learn more about Career and Technical Education . Find out about CTE courses in Real Estate Marketing. Students who complete this course are eligible to take the Virginia real estate licensing exam. Planning to go to college? Find real estate programs at community colleges . Read " How do I become a realtor " from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find out more about getting a license and other issues from the Virginia Association of Realtors. Find more information on licensure and a list of schools and colleges approved to offer the required courses for brokers and agents from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Read about GED , High School , Community College , Financial Aid , & more in The World of Education Va public schools • Your School Division • HS Graduation Requirements • Career Readiness Certificates GETTING AHEAD Real estate agents advance as they learn more about the business, become more efficient, and as a result increase their earnings by selling more property. They may also earn larger commissions by moving to agencies that list more expensive properties. In large agencies, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Experienced real estate agents who go on to get a brokers license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. Bright ideas for getting ahead in any job SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Communicating clearly Working well with customers or clients Working in a highly competitive environment Attention to detail Listening carefully to what someone else is saying Keeping track of numerous responsibilities at once Dealing with people under stress Being consistently pleasant and polite Building and maintaining good public relations Selling, negotiating, and bargaining Thorough knowledge of local area Inspiring trust and confidence Keeping abreast of economic conditions and trends In addition to career-specific skills, everybody needs these basic skills: Reading Math Writing Speaking & listening Computer literacy Problem-solving & decision-making Understanding the broader picture Working with people A strong work ethic A positive attitude Independence & initiative Self-presentation WHERE THEY WORK ( Employer locator ) Real estate brokers and agents spend much of their time away from their desks, showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, or meeting with clients. Increasingly, real estate agents work from home because now they can get so much of the information they need over the Internet. OUTLOOK Real estate brokers and agents enjoyed boom times during the last decade, as demand for housing soared. However, the future will not be quite so bright if interest rates rise and sales slow. In fact, some experts fear that the recent housing boom is expanding into a bubble that will soon burst leading to a fall in house prices and a slowdown in sales. Even if the real estate market holds up, opportunities for agents and brokers are expected to grow more slowly than average through 2012. People who want to buy houses can now do a lot of their own searching on the Internet, and this will probably reduce the need for agents and brokers. However, jobs prospects in this field also tend to vary by region and since many people are expected to retire from this field in coming years, there will always be work available. The economy in: Your area • Virginia • The nation Employment projections Monster Employment Index Manpower Employment Outlook LOOK FOR WORK See job ads at Virginia's Job Bank • More job banks • Find local employers Learn job search skills—from reading job ads to preparing for the interview EARNINGS See what people usually earn Most real estate agents in Virginia earn somewhere in the $16-73,000 range. Brokers usually earn more, in the $20-110,000 range. Incomes in this occupation vary widely because agents work on commission. They are paid a percentage of each sale they make, so their incomes depend on the price and the number of properties they sell. The average commission is about 5-7 percent of a property's selling price. This commission rate varies from firm to firm, and commissions are often split between broker and agent on a 50-50 basis. Commissions can also be split between the agent and broker of the listing firm and the agent and broker of the firm that made the sale. Learn more about earnings at Salary.com , Payscale.com , Career Info Net , & other sites FOR MORE INFORMATION Virginia Association of Realtors 10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 www.varealtor.com Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Real Estate Board 3600 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23230 www.state.va.us/dpor/reb_main.htm National Association of Realtors 4301 North Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 www.realtor.com/ National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. 1629 K St NW, Suite 1100 Washington DC 20006 www.nareb.com/ About.com's Real Estate professional's page Realty Times realtytimes.com/ WetFeet.com, Career Profiles and Interviews Career Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/careerprofiles_overview.asp?careerpk=33 Industry Overview www.wetfeet.com/asp/industryprofiles_overview.asp?industrypk=27 Real People Profiles www.wetfeet.com/research/rpp/rppbycareer.asp?careerpk=33&careerName=Real+Estate This page was last edited on: November 18, 2005
Buy House
Checklist for buying a house Get up to 4 MortgageOffers. When Banks Compete, You Win! Your House Buying Checklist Oneof the most important things you can do is to make a checklist as you search for, find and buy a home. By keepingon top of your game-plan at all times you will greatly increase your chances of success. To save time, bookmarkthis page and refer to the following checklist frequently. Follow the links, print out this checklist and let itincrease your house buying effectiveness. House Buying Checklist Be an informed buyer. There are well over 150 pages of information hereas well as links to much more information. Numerous guides are available on specific subjects. Our Bookstore had additional recommendedreading. Gather as much information as you can. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our free newsletter and by visitingthe What's New page. Want more information on the process of home buying? Get the Home Buyer's Defense Guide andget 6 free bonuses. Buying your firsthome ? See the page devoted to first time home buying . Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process. Have mortgage questions ? Need a few mortgage tips ? See the sections devoted to those subjects. Begin the application process by getting prequalified and preapproved from a Mortgage Lender. Do this first. Your Agent will need your mortgage qualification, and it will significantlystrengthen your offer when you find a home. At Lending Tree , you can submit a quick andeasy application, and within 2 business days get up to 4 offers from lenders so that you can compare terms and rates . Get your financialpicture in focus as soon as possible. Since it is an importantcomponent, be aware of your credit situation. You can get a free copy of your credit report or, see the credit center for additional resources for getting your credit report. The best time to work on your budget is before you move. Want to maximize your financial picture? See the section devoted to budget hints . Wondering about how much time is needed to buy a home? See the sample homebuying timeline . Find an Agent that you trust. It is important to do this before you go rushing off looking for homes or you may end up with norepresentation. See the Agency and BuyerAgent pages for important discussions regarding "who representswho." Looking to find an Agent? Click here to choose an Agent in your area .You can compare backgrounds, experience and more. Thinking about doing it on your own? See the section on buying on your own for things watch for. Determine your housing needs and wants to determine what typesof houses you should be considering. Familiarize yourself with the various types of housing available: Single family , townhouse ,and condo . If you are planning on buying or building a new home, see our section devotedto building a house including house building tips , resources and howto find a contractor . Have general questions about buying a home? See the questions homebuyers ask page. Still have a question about a Real Estate term or its definition? See our Real Estate Glossary . A question on a mortgage term? See the Mortgage Glossary . House Hunting Time! First, see the article devoted to finding the right home . Then,make a scorecard for each house to help you keep track of the properties you've seen. Familiarize yourself with howto set a value on a house . This can save you a great deal oftime and helps to avoid disappointment. When you find an acceptable house, write an offer . Familiarize yourselfwith how offers become contracts . Need examples of offers and contracts available for your state? See FIndLegalForms.com Negotiate your best deal using the information you have acquired. If you haven't already done so, apply for a mortgage loan . Arrange for homeinspection . Protect yourself and do not skip this step! Learn about homewarranties and what they cover. Compare and secure homeownersinsurance . Since homeowners insurance is a long term expense,getting the best deal here brings savings that continue. Arrange for closing agent or attorney. Make all final preparations for closing . Make movingplans . If you plan to use a moving company, make comparisonsand reserve time now. Secure final loan approval and commitment from the lending institution.If you have done your "up-front" work, this should be one of your easiest steps. Do a final walkthrough of the house. Final closingand settlement . Let us know what you liked or disliked about thisweb site! Move to your new home and begin enjoying it--you deserve it! Subscribe to the Home Buyer's Information Center newsletter Get Your Credit Score Compare Mortgage Offersat LendingTree.com COMPARE Mortgages Agents Insurance TheHome Buyer Defense Guide with 6 FREE BONUSES Searchfor Agents Anonymously Free Credit Report Find Homes at Bargain.com RECOMMENDED READING TheHome Buyer Defense Guide with 6 Free Bonuses Home Buying For Dummies (you won'tbe after reading this book!) 10 Steps to Home Ownership Simple, concisestep-by-step guide HOME | Your Checklist | To-Do Lists | Agents | Mortgages | Questions | Finda Home | Inspections | Research | More Links | Bookstore
property listings throughout the
Commercial Real Estate Listings Commercial Real EstateListings Vandema Vandema Commercial Real Estate Home Surplus Government R. E. | Surplus Corporate R. E. Realtor Listings | Foreclosure Listings Commercial Properties for Sale or Lease by Barry, Inc. - Includes listed land, office, industrial and retail properties. MrOfficeSpace.com - Office space for lease in a number of U.S. metros. RealEstateExchange.com - Multiple listing service for the exchange or sale of commercial and investment property. Bed & Breakfast for Sale - Listing directory of small lodging properties, hotels and inns for sale. Retreat Properties - Retreats, ranches or resort properties available for redevelopment in North and Central America. Private Islands Online - Directory of private islands for sale. Hotel Realty Resource - Listings of hotels, motels, inns and restaurants. Hotels & Motels FSBO - For sale by owner hotels, motels, b&b's and other lodging establishments. NAIDirect.com - Available office, retail, industrial, development properties and apartments buildings. Web-Real-Estate.com - Search for commercial and investment real estate for sale or lease. Storetrax.com - Directory of available retail space. RV Parks & Campgrounds For Sale ResortsForSale.Com - On-line guide to resorts for sale in North America, featuring photos, descriptions and contact info. CommercialSearch.com - Listing services for office, industrial, retail, residential, hotel, land and farm property. Loopnet Listing Services - Database of real estate for sale or lease throughout North America. FIABCI - Members Properties for Sale FIABCI - Members Properties for Lease Hotel / Motel For Sale Listings - Directory by state. COMMREX Listings - Search investment, commercial and industrial property listings throughout the U.S. Listings of Farms and Farmland - Land and farms for sale. Get in touch with us by Other Commercial Real Estate Resources
rental property? Add it
vacation rental properties by owner, vacation homes for sale by owner, vacation rental, fsbo - PPBO Paradise Properties by Owner, Sanibel Island Vacation Rentals, Florida Vacation Rentals, Sanibel Rentals PARADISE PROPERTIES BY OWNER Vacation rentals for rent by owner and homes for sale by owner Current Property Owners: HOME SEARCH BROWSE OWNERS AREA ADD LISTING NEWSLETTER CONTACT ABOUT LINKS Vacation Rental Properties by Owner PPBO is your source for vacation rentals by owner & vacation homes for sale by owner. Do you own a vacation rental property? Add it to PPBO for the world to see! Click here. Search Vacation Rentals List Your Properties Search Properties For Sale Attention Renters! Find the perfect vacation rental today! View Specials & Discounts. Attention Property Owners! Rent or Sell your property for only $9.95/month! Attention Buyers! Find luxury homes and properties for sale by owner! Go Directly to Property Id: Owners Get a Free Availability Calendar! Vacation Rentals in the United States: Alabama vacation rentals Gulf Shores , Orange Beach , AL Alaska vacation rentals Arizona vacation rentals Lake Havasu City , Scottsdale , AZ Arkansas vacation rentals California vacation rentals Big Bear Lake , Oceanside , San Diego , South Lake Tahoe , CA Colorado vacation rentals Aspen , Breckenridge , Frisco , Keystone , Vail , CO Connecticut vacation rentals Delaware vacation rentals Bethany Beach , Rehoboth Beach , DE Florida vacation rentals ( page 2 page 3 page 4 page 5 page 6 page 7 ) Florida - Central - Disney Area vacation rentals ( page 2 ) Clermont , Davenport , Kissimmee , Orlando , FL Florida - Central Atlantic Coast vacation rentals Daytona Beach , Ormond Beach , Vero Beach , FL Florida - Central Gulf Coast vacation rentals Bradenton , Clearwater Beach , Indian Rocks Beach , Madeira Beach , Sarasota , St. Petersburg , FL Florida - Keys vacation rentals Islamorada , Key Largo , Key West , Marathon , FL Florida - Northern Atlantic Coast vacation rentals Atlantic Beach , Saint Augustine , FL Florida - Northwest Panhandle vacation rentals Cape San Blas , Destin , Panama City Beach , FL Florida - Southern Atlantic Coast vacation rentals Hutchinson Island , Miami , FL Florida - Southern Gulf Coast vacation rentals ( page 2 page 3 ) Cape Coral , Captiva , Fort Myers , Fort Myers Beach , Marco Island , Naples , Sanibel , FL Georgia vacation rentals Blairsville , Blue Ridge , Ellijay , Savannah , Tybee Island , GA Hawaii vacation rentals ( page 2 ) Hawaii - Big Island vacation rentals Holualoa , Kailua Kona , Pahoa , HI Hawaii - Kauai vacation rentals Kapaa , Kilauea , Poipu Beach , Princeville , HI Hawaii - Maui vacation rentals Haiku , Kaanapali , Kihei , Lahaina , Wailea , Wailuku , HI Hawaii - Molokai vacation rentals Hawaii - Oahu vacation rentals Haleiwa , Honolulu , Kailua , HI Idaho vacation rentals Indiana vacation rentals Kentucky vacation rentals Louisiana vacation rentals Maine vacation rentals Maryland vacation rentals Massachusetts vacation rentals Nantucket , Vineyard Haven , MA Michigan vacation rentals Oscoda , Traverse City , MI Minnesota vacation rentals Mississippi vacation rentals Biloxi , Gulfport , MS Missouri vacation rentals Branson , Eminence , MO Montana vacation rentals Nevada vacation rentals Incline Village , Las Vegas , NV New Hampshire vacation rentals New Jersey vacation rentals Wildwood , NJ New Mexico vacation rentals New York vacation rentals North Carolina vacation rentals North Carolina - Mountains vacation rentals Bryson City , Burnsville , Maggie Valley , Murphy , NC North Carolina - Outer Banks & Coastal vacation rentals Corolla , Sunset Beach , NC Ohio vacation rentals Oregon vacation rentals Pennsylvania vacation rentals Rhode Island vacation rentals South Carolina vacation rentals Hilton Head Island , Isle Of Palms , Myrtle Beach , SC Tennessee vacation rentals Gatlinburg , Pigeon Forge , TN Texas vacation rentals Utah vacation rentals Park City , UT Vermont vacation rentals Virginia vacation rentals Luray , VA Washington vacation rentals West Virginia vacation rentals Wisconsin vacation rentals Wyoming vacation rentals Vacation Homes for sale in the United States: Alabama for sale by owner Gulf Shores , AL Alaska for sale by owner Arizona for sale by owner Arkansas for sale by owner California for sale by owner Big Bear Lake , CA Colorado for sale by owner Florida for sale by owner Florida - Central - Disney Area for sale by owner Davenport , Kissimmee , FL Florida - Central Atlantic Coast for sale by owner Florida - Central Gulf Coast for sale by owner Bradenton , Clearwater Beach , FL Florida - Keys for sale by owner Key West , FL Florida - Northwest Panhandle for sale by owner Cape San Blas , Destin , Panama City Beach , FL Florida - Southern Atlantic Coast for sale by owner Florida - Southern Gulf Coast for sale by owner Cape Coral , Fort Myers , Fort Myers Beach , Sanibel , FL Georgia for sale by owner Blue Ridge , GA Hawaii for sale by owner Hawaii - Big Island for sale by owner Kailua Kona , HI Hawaii - Oahu for sale by owner Honolulu , HI Maine for sale by owner New Jersey for sale by owner Wildwood , NJ New York for sale by owner North Carolina for sale by owner North Carolina - Mountains for sale by owner North Carolina - Outer Banks & Coastal for sale by owner Corolla , NC Pennsylvania for sale by owner South Carolina for sale by owner Hilton Head Island , SC South Dakota for sale by owner Tennessee for sale by owner Texas for sale by owner Welcome to Paradise Properties By Owner, your nationwide online guide to vacation rentals, long term property rentals, investment property sales offered directly to you by the property owners. Renting and buying directly from property owners has never been easier! Enjoy your next vacation in a tropical beach front home, cottage, secluded cabin, ski chalet, or a spectacular full service resort condominium. Find your next home with ease on PPBO.com. Search for properties to rent or buy in an area using any key words you choose. You will find homes, condominiums, and properties for lease, rent, and for sale offering golf, tennis, fishing, boat access, snow skiing, a private beach, pool, hot tub, fitness and spa facilities, hiking, biking, shelling, sailing, pet friendly, and more. Search now, and get connected to Paradise! Not finding what you are looking for, try searching: home - search - browse - owners area - add listing - edit listing - --- contact - about - link exchange - helpful sites - site map - privacy policy renters resources - buying tips - selling tips - scam alerts - link policy - terms of use - resources - 2 - 3 - 4 - special offers vacation rental advantages - pet friendly vacation rentals - vacation travel tips Web Site Design & Hosting: Virtual Softworks, Inc. Sanibel & Captiva Vacation Rentals Featured Listings: Look through our list of properties from our finest listings. Property Search: When looking at homes for sale or for rent whether in Sanibel or elsewhere, you will want to see the entire our inventory. Properties for Rent: If you want the best rental properties for Sanibel or elsewhere, look at here. List Your Property: Paradise Properties By Owner offers state of the art Internet advertising and marketing for your property. About Paradise Properties By Owner: Paradise Properties By Owner is your nationwide online guide to vacation rentals, long term property rentals, investment property sales and home and condominium sales offered directly to you by the property owners. Contact Us: Click here to e-mail us. We'd love to assist you with your purchase, sale or rental. Vacation Homes The vacation store with everything from buying to building to furnishing your vacation home. Articles, information, vacation home designs, remote control and monitoring, furniture, sports, leisure and more. Home For Sale by Owner - Homes for sale by owner from all over the world to small towns. Travel - Directory of travel information and resources, discount ticket resources, hotel information real estate new homes real estate foreclosures home for sale apartment rentals roommates vacation rentals timeshares mortgage guide
BUY PROPERTY IN TURKEY
British Embassy, Turkey Settle, Work or Buying Property in Turkey Short cut.. Contact Us Doing Business with the UK Events Foreign & Commomwealth Office HM Ambassador Passports Services for UK Companies Travel Advice Visas What the consul can and cannot do for you Using mobile phones Consular Registration Form Online Consular Registration Britons applying for residence in Turkey Consular Fees Notarial Acts Marrying in Turkey Settle, Work or Buying Property in Turkey Birth Registration English speaking lawyers Hospitals in Turkey Complaints Overseas voter registration REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONALS WISHING TO SETTLE, WORK OR BUY PROPERTY IN TURKEY UK Nationals who wish to visit Turkey for less then 90 days may obtain a tourist visa by presenting a valid UK passport at any of Turkey's ports of entry. A £10 visa fee, payable in cash only, is the only requirement. All other UK nationals who plan to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days must first obtain the appropriate visa from a Turkish Embassy or Consulate prior to arrival. Please access the Turkish Embassy website: www.turkconsulate-london.com for more information. RESIDENCE IN TURKEY (a) Residency Permits are obtained AFTER arrival in Turkey. Formal application must be made to the police authorities of the province in which you reside, or to the Aliens department of the Police in Ankara, if no fixed abode in Turkey is intended. HOWEVER, well BEFORE your departure from the UK, you should contact the Turkish Embassy in London for information on requirements for residency and for information about importation of your household goods or car. Please access the website www.turkey.org/consularservices/forms/. for further details. (b) A RESIDENCE PERMIT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY BEFORE YOU CAN CLEAR ANY PERSONAL GOODS/CAR FROM TURKISH CUSTOMS. THEREFORE AN APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT MUST BE MADE in Turkey within one month from the date of your arrival to Turkey. (c) On first application, residence permits may be issued for a two-year period, thereafter for a maximum of five years at any one time. (d) Please note that recent changes in Turkish legislation relating to the calculation of residence permit fees for foreigners living in Turkey, has resulted in huge increases, based on 50 million TL for the first month and 30 million for each subsequent month. For example, a 2 year, permit currently costs 740.000.000 TL plus a booklet fee of 65.000.000 TL, and a five year permit 1.820.000.000 TL, roughly equivalent to £335 and £785 respectively. The Embassy has written to the Turkish authorities asking for a review, with a view to reducing these fees. EMPLOYMENT IN TURKEY A Work Permit is required for employment in Turkey. These permits are issued by the Ministry of the Interior in Ankara. We again strongly advise those wishing to take up employment in Turkey to contact, before travelling, the Turkish Embassy in London and/or their prospective employer in Turkey about the procedures for obtaining a Work Permit or access the Turkish work permit website www.csgb.gov.tr REQUIREMENTS FOR TURKISH WORK VISAS Companies seeking to employ UK nationals in Turkey must first obtain approval from the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security to hire foreign citizen employees. Prospective employers may obtain application forms for work permits at www.csgb.gov.tr. Completed applications should be returned to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security at Inonu Boulevard No 42, Eskisehir Yolu, Emek, Ankara, Tel: (0312) 296 60 00. Upon approval from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the UK national, employment candidate must next apply for a Turkish work visa. Work visa requirements, instructions and application forms are available through the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey website at: www.turkishconsulate.org.uk PURCHASE OF PROPERTY IN TURKEY "FLASH MESSAGE" Current legislation applicable for foreigners, who wish to purchase land or property in Turkey, has been ruled to be unconstitutional by the Turkish Constitutional Court. The amended law, which was presented before the court, has unfortunately been rejected. Therefore, until the law is ratified and approved by the Parliament any applications made by the foreigners to the land registry office will NOT be processed. (as announced by the General Directorate of Land Registry Office on or about 26 July 2005) Unfortunately, we have not been given a time scale when the matter may be resolved. If you have any further enquires the time scale, please contact the local land registry office for updated information. PREVIOUS RULES FOR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR GUIDANCE: DO NOT PURCHASE PROPERTY WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING AN ENGLISH SPEAKING TURKISH LAWYER FOR BEST ADVICE. The Embassy website: www.britishembassy.org.tr has details or access the Turkish Attorney's Paralegal online www.tapo.co.uk. British citizens may purchase property in Turkey, subject to the following conditions: (a) The property can be paid for in either Turkish lira or foreign currency. There are also no restrictions about the transfer of foreign currency or Turkish Lira from a Turkish or foreign bank. (b) Applications should be made to the District Land Registry office (Tapu ve Kadastro Mudurlugu), when a suitable property for purchase is found. A recent change in Turkish legislation (i.e. on 19 July 2003) now permits foreigners to buy a property outside the boundaries of a municipality, i.e. council district (Belediye) and within a village or rural area. However, it is still necessary to obtain permission from the Military, prior to purchase. Note: Turkey and the UK have a bilateral agreement to avoid double taxation. Tax of the property in Turkey is payable to the Turkish tax authorities as the relevant law requires. INVESTMENT IN TURKEY 5. Prospective Investors, requiring information about the Manufacturing and Service Sectors may contact British Trade International, Turkey Trade Unit, Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SW, Tel: +44 (0) 207 215 5000, email: mick.essex@dti.gsi.gov.uk or www.tradepartners.gov.uk. You may also contact The Turkish Authority responsible for foreign investment in Turkey, the General Directorate of Foreign Investment (GDFI): Hazine Mustesarligi, Yabanci Sermaye Genel Mudurlugu, Inonu Bulvari, 06510 Emek - Ankara, Tel: +90 (312) 204 60 00, Fax: 90 (312) 212 8916 email: ybsweb@pm.treasury.gov.tr or www.hazine.gov.tr/english/ybsweb/index.htm. Other web sites you may find useful; - The British Embassy, Ankara, Turkey www.britishembassy.org.tr - Prime Ministry, Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade www.foreigntrade.gov.tr - Prime Ministry, State Planning Organisation www.dpt.gov.tr - Foreign Economic Relations Board www.deik.org.tr - Association for Foreign Capital Coordination www.yased.org.tr - Privatisation Administration www.oib.gov.tr - Turkish Attorneys Paralegals Online www.tapo.co.uk/real estate law/default.asp Those wishing to establish a business in Turkey should consult a Turkish lawyer. Details of English speaking lawyers for Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir are available at the Embassy web site. THIS LEAFLET HAS BEEN PREPARED BY HM CONSUL IN ANKARA FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF ENQUIRERS. ALTHOUGH ALL CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN ITS PRODUCTION, NEITHER HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT NOR ANY CONSULAR OFFICIAL IN THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN ANKARA TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS PRECISE ACCURACY OR FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY ACTION TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CONTENTS. Consular Section British Embassy Ankara – August 2005