This place really does have an ocean view. In fact, the large circular balconies opening off the apartments all have amazing views of the sea, about a minute's walk from the front door. And according to Noreen Hynes of Aquarius Properties, when the firstphase apartments were launched at Ocean View, they sold out instantly.

A low-rise scheme of twobed apartments, all units have lovely large terraces, while ground floor units come with private gardens of 150 square metres (1614 square feet), and top-floor apartments also include 70 square-metre (720 square-foot) solariums.

Between the seaside towns of Gumusluk and Yalikavak, Bodrum is a popular tourist town with lots of shops and local amenities. The Ocean View development is a gated resort and will include tennis courts, swimming pools, Turkish bath, steam room, supermarket, amphitheatre, community house, private beach, walking trail, landscaped garden and private dock for yachts. The development will also have 24-hour security, and apartments come with a guaranteed annual rental income of 6630 for the first four years. Completely furnished, apartments are ready to go and prices start from 126,000.

Hynes believes Turkey is a strong location for Irish investors. "There are 21 million tourists expected in 2006, which is a 29% increase on previous years. The implications of this dynamic growth are that house prices may rise a lot faster than they did in Spain in the past ten years.

Turkey is only a three- to fourhour flight from all over Europe, but seaside properties here are still only onequarter the price of Spain and Portugal, " says Hynes.

Also on the Turkish front, Parador Properties has just launched its 2006 brochure, with a range of apartments and villas in various areas including Bodrum, Gulluk, Altinkum and Didim, all popular tourist resorts with good infrastructure in place. Prices start from around 55,000, and the company are now running inspection tours costing around 190 per person.

Aquarius Properties Abroad, 01 - 278 2900; Parador Properties, 01 - 882 8888