All over the world, people come to Turkey to invest in the property market because of several attractive factors. However, what many people tend not to expect is the huge cultural differences in the country. Many foreigners fancy the Mediterranean country due to the business opportunities.
Turkish real estate offers a significant business opportunity for astute investors to make a lot of money in a short time.
However, what these investors may not expect, is the differences involved in Turkish culture. While there may be cultural differences, Turkey offers a lot of benefits, such as a rich culture, low cost of living, friendly colleagues, and so on.
Turkey demographics
If you are going to do business in Turkey, you must understand the demographics of the country. Turkey is made up of 80% Turkish people. The remaining 20% are Kurdish. The country’s official language is Turkish. Also, the people who have Kurdish origins may speak Kurdish. In Turkey, a small percentage of the demographic speaks Arabic.
You can also find out that people speak German, English, and French as a second language in some little cities. Also, many small towns in Turkey speak German.
In the country, the official language is Turkish; however, you may also hear other predominant languages such as Greek, Armenian, Arabic, and Kurdish. The population of people in the urban areas is 71.5%.
Cultural differences in Turkey
In Turkey, there is a wide range of people of different cultures. This is also evident in the real estate industry, where there are several people from various cultural backgrounds. This means that if you are looking to invest in the property market, there is a possibility of working with people from various backgrounds.
However, knowing how to communicate with people helps in these cases. It is very easy to get your meaning across if you are honest and empathetic to Turkish citizens. One of the most significant cultural elements of the Turkish culture is the hand kissing. If you are looking to reside or do business in the country, you should be familiar with this essential cultural gesture.
Communication problem in the Turkish real estate industry
In Turkey, the citizens speak their language and may have problems communicating with foreigners from several countries. Many people in the country speak the English language fluently because of its importance in education and business. However, many foreigners still have difficulties speaking English.
Then again, in Turkey, there are certain desirable real estate locations where not too many people understand English. Therefore, it is always a problem trying to communicate with the locals if you do not speak Turkish. If you are looking to buy a property, this cultural factor is often a problem. The Turkish property market is made up of several important business segments that may prefer to communicate in their local languages.
Cultural differences in the Turkish real estate industry: Some fast facts
Business dress: In the country, people usually wear smart business clothes such as suits and ties. Greetings: In the country, people usually greet with a firm handshake while making straight eye contact. Business language: The official language of the country is Turkey, and English is also spoken widely. Many other languages are spoken in Turkey. Expats need to understand key Turkish real estate phrases. Business hours: In Turkey, there are regular business hours. However, a devout Muslim will usually break out to pray the usual five times per day. In addition, they may leave their offices early for Friday afternoon prayers.
Also, a lot of people in the country usually take their vacations between July and August. Foreigners should consider this when setting their appointments and meetings.
