Looking for Apartment to Buy in Türkiye - Need Advice! (Move Dec2024)

Not so difficult, fine a VERY good real estate agent and bring enough money.

I would first suggest scouting out potential flats/villas from the two most prominent real estate websites in Türkiye:

https://www.hepsiemlak.com/en

https://www.sahibinden.com/en/for-sale

For the 2nd website, you will need to setup an account before you can start exploring.  Each website offers search features which allows for filtering to match your desired criteria to provide insight on availability/cost/locations/amenities.  Beyond that, I would contact a prominent real estate company like RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker, Century 21 etc.  and determine if their agent suits your expectations.

To give you context, I am not well-versed in purchasing property in Türkiye but I have read and researched a lot of websites.  Just make sure the publish date for the website is up-to-date as laws change fairly frequently.  I have yet to move to Türkiye but I am fortunate to have a family friend who is employed with Coldwell Banker and he helped me through the entire process of purchasing an apartment this past spring.  It is a cumbersome process which is why an experienced agent working with foreigners is necessary.   

The purchase price needs to exceed $200,000 (USD) to qualify for obtaining a residence permit through real estate investment and you need to make sure the neighborhood for the location of the apartment is not restricted for foreigners. 

Good luck

@Gino_C

Thanks Gino and appreciate your advise.

Will do some research.

Looking forward to seeing you some day.

@Gino_C I prefer full service from real estate agents, Re-max and alike are not my preference (they are just employees and they want their commission). A local agent with 40 employees with drivers, tax specialists, after sales, with local connections. I do not want to promote, but eg Ataberk in Alanya gave me a good impression.

When we came here we did not want to buy only, but also full service.

(driving license (change), direct debits (electricty/water/telephone) local taxes, furniture, small repairs, drinking water machines, ...)

I know I repeat myself, but it is important I think.

@cdw057 Thanks and appreciated your advise.

I am also looking for a full pack of services. I am checking with few Property Agencies like Property Turkey, Turk Homes, etc.

Any other advise is highly appreciated.

@cdw057

I am in agreement that the realtor needs to provide full service for expats.  It is invaluable.  As I mentioned, I do not have much experience regarding real estate agencies and don't know their reputations.   To relate my experience in working with the family friend realtor, I received his services for a comprehensive purchase process including obtaining a Turkish tax ID, opened a two bank accounts for each currency, arranging for an appraisal of the property, all the necessary documentation with notarized translations to complete the transaction, ensuring that all requirements are met for a foreign buyer, hiring an interpreter during closing, handling the negotiation process and finally, starting water, gas and electricity service to the apartment.   The family friend does not speak English but I can speak conversational Turkish but with very limited vocabulary.

@aabidrasool

Where are you planning to move to?  Good luck

@Gino_C I do not know about your martial status, but if you buy your house together with your wife, for Ikamet the most important thing seems to be a marriage cerficate (WITH APOSTILLE (not older than 6 months), which for some countries is not easy to get (I know some Russians which had to goo back to obtain it and also for Germans does not seem too be easy). Luckily for Netherlands it is very very easy. In Turkey both autorities (and lawyer) were impressed by the international version,

@Gino_C

again thanks for the valuable feedback.

I am intending to move to Bursa.

@cdw057

Thanks again for your advice.

I am married and in Singaporean our marriage certificates are in english, do that still need to be notarised?

And is it necessary for the residency permit that I need to purchase the property with my wife's name in?

I am afraid apostille is needed, is your marriage concluded in Singapore? (is your wife also Singaporean). I think buying a property in your own name should be easy, but if can make problems for your wife further down the line.

We bought both (ie having utility bills (for me electricity,for my wife water). Makes it live easy for bank-accounts etc.

Of course your wife should be with you, but there might be questions if she is a guest (which nowadays is challenged from time to time). The way to prove the is actually your wife is not passport, not even a marriage certificate, but an apostille (international ideally) issued by your location of marriage (and then stamps by a notary or alike)

Having said that, Turkey seems to get in panick that rich expats are leaving Turkey, so rules will be changed quite shortly (my view)

@cdw057

Thanks again buddy.

Yes, we all are Singaporeans.

Noted and I think it is better to get the Marriage Cert notarised.

Again Love your valuable advise.

@aabidrasool Apologies notarized might not be sufficient

@cdw057 Please check VERY carefully before you apply for Ikamet

I would want to add, I am no specialist, but I have had some (persional) experiencies (perhaps even outdated)

Bottom line, bring your money (apart from many other things)

Sounds cruel (and it is)

Question is what Turkey wants??

There is no way around commissions as they are built into the regulations. The cost is typically shared between the buyer and seller, but it's common practice to pass the total amount on to the buyer.

If you have original marriage and birth certificates, it is best to have them apostilled. If you have the originals and the Singapore embassy in Turkey will authenticate them, then you can do that instead of apostille. Remember that if you are married and both your and your spouse's names are on the TAPU, you should apply for a residence permit together. If children are using, both parents need to be present. If not, a consent letter must be created to state travel and living in Turkey and apostilled.

For their education, you must be careful whether they homeschool or do online studies, which is better. Still, if they plan to attend local Turkish universities, they need to have the proper education to attend university and pick their schools wisely. Most international schools are only in Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara.

The system will not get more accessible, or rules will be less, such as Turkey maturing for (immigration) residency, and citizenship will align with European standards, following other nations like Asia and the Americas.

You'll need to invest more than $200,000 in real estate to qualify. This amount does not include taxes, fees, commissions, valuation reports, translation, or notary fees. The property you invest in should be valued at $200,000 or more. Additionally, expect to set aside an extra 10% and have a budget of $220,000 to $225,000 to cover initial expenses and to settle the property with basics.

Be wary of all real estate companies, including Remax and Property Turkey. We know many people who were misled, and it cost them their dream because the realtor stated that there were no issues with the area, but the entire area was restricted. Always hire a third-party attorney and never use the real estate company's attorney. They work for the real estate company or the developer. An attorney will cost around $2000.

If you have any plans to obtain citizenship, make sure not to buy from a foreigner only a Turkish. The property should have been in their possession for 3-5 years, and make sure you ask these questions if you have any plan to acquire citizenship.

@d4zt7bsj Thanks alot for the details and appreciated the advise.

If you want to buy a house, you need to know where to buy it first: Istanbul Antalya Izmir Muğla Aydın? Generally, Istanbul is preferred and there are also affordable and expensive places in Istanbul. The places we call the Anatolian side are more affordable and there are brand new houses and their prices are more affordable. I advise you not to give money to anyone before the title deed process is completed. Pay the title deed fees to the bank. The aim here is to protect both sides, the state does this. suggests