[carolk]

Bob is quite right. You don't know to ask, do you own the land, when the builder is building on it? You don't know to ask, exactly what is your arrangement with the land owner - can you show me your tapu? Can I see you proof that you or X Y or Z own this land/building, that you have permission to build on it? Then to complicate matters further, you need to make sure you don't use a solicitor within a million miles of them!! I have my problems here but, it wasn't with the buying process - that was fine on both occasions and I'm not willing to say there wasn't a lot of luck on my side!

It is not the same as buying in the UK (or any country) where there is redress if a solicitor is corrupt, Oh sure, you can report them but it seems to end there here. In the UK in particular you have a solicitor that works for you and money is not handed over at any stage until completion, not even the Estate Agents fees. Ask the hundreds of people who are told this is the way it is in Turkey - pay this, that and the other first!! Emlaks here take their cut straight off the top in the long list of must pays which include the military check, lets face it, who is going to pay for that if not you, you are buying the property so you get the 'good old list' of what needs to be paid first before you get anywhere near paying for the actual property!

The military checks are an outdated money maker, nothing else.

Thank heavens for these forums.