I’m a 72 year old, former restaurant owner from Charlotte, North Carolina and my New Year’s resolution is to live life to the full. Forget the struggling global economy, life is short and I’m seeking adventure, travel and as much golf as possible. Not bad since I’m retired.

Last year I purchased my first home overseas in Belek, in Turkey. It might sound like a crazy thing to do at my age but it’s completely changed my outlook on life.

Why invest in Turkey I hear you ask?

Well, it has an excellent Mediterranean climate, a reasonably low cost of living and because of the strong economy it’s one of the best places in the world to invest in property. Also,  buy property in turkey and get residency Turkey has risen to become a world class destination for golf. With some 15 immaculate golf courses to choose from, Belek near Antalya on the Turkish Riviera is leading the way.

The idea of buying a home overseas can be daunting at first. But the process in Turkey isn’t so complicated as some people might think. Buying a property in Turkey is actually much easier than buying in Europe for example. For an investment property is very good, the value of property investment in Turkey is going up every month, it’s not uncommon to make 30% profit on new build. I did have some concerns about the buying process but we were fortunate enough to meet a lovely estate agent Zekiye Dincer to whom I’m really grateful.

I bought my apartment off-plan as you get excellent deals. For example, I paid $90,000 for a 2 bedroom, state of the art apartment with a shared garden and pool. The purchase included site management for 5 years, so there’s no need to worry about cleaning the pool or fixing problems if anything goes wrong.

There are many people who feel that retiring is about slowing down but this doesn’t have to be. The challenge of adapting to a new culture and lifestyle in Turkey has been very energising. Retirement I’ve discovered can actually be fun.