(Zaman) - News about real estate sales to foreigners in parts of Turkey, mainly Hatay, came to the countrys agenda again.
According to the official data, foreigners have purchased 53,000 properties in Turkey since 1934, reports Trend.
The amount of properties that Turks have purchased abroad exceeded 190,000 at the same period.
Answering the motion proposed by the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Hatay Deputy Fuat Cay, Minister of Public Works Faruk Ozak said that Syrians could not purchase real estate in Turkey due to legal restrictions enacted in 1939.
Indicating that foreign people can own real estate in Turkey as long as they are in line with the laws, Ozak said that 57,000 foreigners have purchased a total of 53,000 properties, totaling 166 million square meters. Many Greeks who own property in Turkey are of Turkish origin.
Of the 14,000 Greek citizens who purchased the 12,000 properties of three million square meters, 12,000 are of Turkish origin.
The amounts of estates owned by Syrians are only around 4,000.