Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Expat & Property Owners Q and A Forum => Topic started by: mskhasawneh on February 10, 2018, 16:13:28 PM
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Dear members of this very informative and helpful forum: I would like to thank every participant in this valuable forum, I have followed this forum for a year and a half and it has been an excellent source of info and experience and enabled me to buy my dream holiday apartment in calis.
I am considering to buy a small olive farm as a hobby, and would like to know if foreigners are allowed to buy land and keep it, and what are the conditions for keeping it.
I appreciate our members advise.
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My hubby says yes but takes a few months to complete. Investigations etc.
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Buying agricultural land has the potential to be an absolute nightmare. Both from a legal and financial perspective, more so if you're only a casual visitor.
If you go ahead, I hope you have deep pockets...
JF
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Thank you JohnF for your input. I was thinking that sharing the produce from the olive trees would finance servicing and care taking of the land and trees.
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I would appreciate John if you elaborate more on the legal perspective?
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I suggest you do some research into the implications of running a business in Turkey, as a foreigner. As regards to purchasing agricultural land, it all depends on location. I can recommend a very good solicitor if you're serious about this project.
JF
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Welcome Mohammed, I have spent time in Al Ain in long past years.
I would agree you need to be careful, even if your objective is hobby rather than profit. One of the issues you will doubtless come up against is whether you are running a business or enjoying providing a free service to assist the local area. My experience is that in Turkey, nobody will believe you did anything for nothing...
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I appreciate all the input I am getting, and Scunner a warm greeting from Al ain, as you know we have mild beautiful weather at the moment.
I will hardly call ownership of a small olive grove (max 10000 sqm.) a business, I was thinking just of having it and have a local farmer share the produce 50/50 or what ever the percentage while taking care of the trees and land. That type of sharing is done else where. At the same time willing to pay what ever tax they ask for of any profit of any sort, but without the hassle of establishing a business. May be one can call renting own flat a business if someone does that, but a small plot with trees is far from that.
I have tried to read as much as I could but I am running into a condition where it is stated that you have to present to the authorities a plan or project for the plot you buy, but then I am thinking if the plot is already filled with trees then what kind of a project are they talking about? I don't understand this part.
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I will hardly call ownership of a small olive grove (max 10000 sqm.) a business, I was thinking just of having it and have a local farmer share the produce 50/50 or what ever the percentage while taking care of the trees and land. That type of sharing is done else where. At the same time willing to pay what ever tax they ask for of any profit of any sort, but without the hassle of establishing a business.
In the eyes of the Turkish taxman it would be a business and in the eyes of the ministry of labour it would be a business. The local farmer would also be liable for tax on his share of the produce. The Turkish tax man, at times, makes Shylock look benevolent - I mean, he only wanted a pound of flesh.
May be one can call renting own flat a business if someone does that,
Actually in Turkey it is. Recently imposed rental regulations mean many property owners now have had to retain the services of an accountant and register as a business.
Turkey isn't like "else where", it is unique and after nearly twenty years of working and doing business in Turkey I am happy to be out of it, for now :)
JF
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Thank you JohnF, as you can see I am just trying to learn about his and know more. I like the analogy about renting the flat as a kind of business, and then if renting a flat does not require registering a company in our name can a small olive trees plot be owned and run without registering a company in our name, and would it be suffecient just to pay income tax same way when renting out a flat.
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The bit about renting a flat wasn't an analogy, it is reality - to the extent many owners have been heavily fined for not complying with the law.
There will be a solution to your problem, but you won't get it on an online forum. You could do a lot worse than to go and have a chat with Cenk from Interturk, he wont bullshít you.
One caveat, don't try and bend the rules to get what you want. Local folks do it all the time and most get away with it, foreigners don't. A second caveat, do not enter into a business agreement with a local person unless... actually, just don't do it. There are more sharks in the vicinity of Fethiye bay than off the coast of Australia.
JF
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Thanks for the advise. Is buying a plot with olive trees lets say 5000 sqm. up in the hills of Seydikemer, I am asking is it a must that one should register a company??
I thought before going to an agent or solicitor to hear from others who might have done it before me.
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As I said, speak to someone on the ground, like Cenk. The rules and regulations applicable to foreigners buying village land have changed a few times over the years, last limitation I remember was that it had to be under thirty hectares and still there were many hoops to jump through.
Another person who can advise is Şule Beder, an English speaking lawyer based in Fethiye. A quick Google will give her contact details.
JF
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Hi Mskhasawneh.
Unless you have a big plot ıt would need to be a hobby. I have an acre plot with 50 trees on. Some small but the majority are big. This winter I picked around 800 Kilos of olives which equates to about 150 litres of oil. A bottle of oil sells for around 15 Lira. So for the years crop i will make a profit of 2250 Lira or 432 Pounds!!!. It pays a few bills. Luckily I am doing it for a hobby!!!. You need to be available both before and after blossom time in order to spray the trees to prevent olive blight. If you have young trees they need to be thoroughly watered, fortnightly . The large ones are ok though.. Then there is the picking. Oh what fun !!! Be prepared for back aches as you will be bending down a lot. Despite all the above I wouldn't change a thing. It feels very rewarding in a healthy way. Good luck if you do manage to get it sorted though.
WW
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Dear wickwilly
I am so happy to hear from you, it seems that we share same interest and passion for olive trees. But can I own a similar plot without having to register as a company?? Do I need to go through the hassle of presenting some project in two years? Please guide me through I love to learn from people with firsthand experience. :)
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why censor and delete with no reason
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why censor and delete with no reason
I don't understand above message??
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why censor and delete with no reason
What ?
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He made the same post in several topics.
It's a little embarrassing when people can't find their own question and accuse us of removing it :D
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(https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/400x/65787612/computer-science-is-mind-blowing.jpg)
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I am still hoping for more people to write about their experinces so we can learn more about buying a small plot of land with olive trees????
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You'll have to live in hope. There are very few people who'd have done that.
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Hi Mskhasawneh.
I am pleased that we share the same interest in Olive trees. Unfortunately, I am unable to help with how you would go about purchasing such a plot as l am a dual national,. one of which is Turkish , so I didn't have the legal hoops to jump through. Save for using a solicitor to purchase the land. I hope you get it sorted though and I will gladly advise you on the growing/harvesting procedures.
Good luck
WW
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We used to own a property in Ovacik with a big garden and as we liked Olive trees we planted eight around it.It takes a few years for them to produce olive.You can have them pressed in a cooperative with you neighbours I believe.This gives you the quantity needed.We just gave a neighbour the olives.
We also had a larger property along in Koycegiz which had olives and fruit trees in the garden and when we were not there the neighbours would graze their goats there and we never saw what happened to the fruit and olives.This is Turkey!!! ;D
The crops were being used and appreciated and that was very satisfying.Our neighbours would give us little gifts like salad or a pastry or some goats meat cooked meals.I don't think money is considered,it is more give and take in a courtesy level.Friendship of your neighbours in Turkey is very valuable,or anywhere come to that.I really don't think it would be a moneyspinner for anyone but maybe I am wrong.