Yes, real persons of foreign nationality can acquire all kinds of real estate (Residence, Workplace, Land, Field) in Turkey, provided that legal restrictions are observed.
A foreign natural person can purchase a maximum of 30 hectares of real estate in Turkey and acquire limited real rights. In addition, it is necessary to ask the authorized command by the Land Registry Directorate whether the real estate is outside the military prohibition and security zones, and a positive answer should be received for the acquisition.
Foreign real persons may acquire real estate and limited real rights up to 10% of the district area subject to private ownership.
Real persons of foreign nationality are obliged to submit the project they will develop for the property (such as land, field, vineyard, orchard) they have purchased for the approval of the relevant Ministry (Municipality, Provincial Directorate of Agriculture) within two years.
How to Buy Real Estate in Turkey?
Transfer of property ownership in Turkey is only possible with an official deed and registration to be signed at the Land Registry Offices. It is possible to sign a "promise to sell contract" between the seller and the buyer in the presence of a notary public, which aims to transfer a real estate in a future time with the conditions agreed in the contract. However, it is not possible to transfer the real estate with a "preliminary sales contract" or an external sales contract signed in the presence of a notary public. The transfer can only be made at the Land Registry Offices.
For the transfer of real estate in Turkey, the owner of the real estate or its authorized representative must make a preliminary application to any Land Registry Office. Transfer transactions do not necessarily have to be made at the location of the real estate, but can be done at any Land Registry Office.
Appointment and pre-application procedures must be obtained from the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre https://randevu.tkgm.gov.tr/ or https://webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr/ appointment system. Tracking can be done on the same system. In addition, appointments can be made via the ALO 181 line and by calling 03125939900 from abroad.
About how to make an appointment and the process please see: https://www.tkgm.gov.tr/sites/default/files/2021-09/WEB%20TAPU%20S%C4%B0STEM%C4%B0%20YABANCI%20PORTATI%20USER%20MANUAL3.pdf
Foreign nationals are not required to have a residence permit as a prerequisite for acquiring real estate in Turkey. In addition, a renewable short-term residence permit is given to foreigners who purchase real estate in Turkey.
The countries whose citizens have the right to acquire real estate in Turkey are determined by the Council of Ministers, and the Council of Ministers can apply special conditions regarding the acquisition of real estate if deemed necessary.
What are the Documents Required for the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate in Turkey?
Documents required for foreigners to buy/sell real estate in Turkey are shown below.
Title Deed Document of the real estate or information of village/neighborhood, island, parcel, building, independent section,
Identity document or passport (with translation if necessary),
Obtaining the "Real Estate Market Value Certificate" of the real estate from the relevant municipality,
Compulsory earthquake insurance policy for buildings
1 photo of the seller and 2 of the buyer (6x4 size, within the last 6 months).
Sworn translator if there is a party who does not speak Turkish,
Power of attorney in case the transaction is made through a proxy (In case of transactions with a power of attorney issued abroad, the original certified power of attorney with its translation. The power of attorney must clearly contain the authorization to buy and sell real estate and must have a photograph.)
The declaration of the person who has acquired Turkish citizenship by purchasing real estate from Turkey, that he/she will not sell the purchased real estate for 3 years, is annotated in the title deed. Foreign persons cannot sell these real estates for 3 years from the date of transfer.
There may be obligations such as mortgages, foreclosures and similar types of encumbrances on the real estate to be purchased, and these must be checked before starting the proceedings at the relevant land registry office.
What Are the Regular Expenses That Must Be Made During and After the Purchase and Sale of the Real Estate in Turkey?
Title Deed Fee: During the purchase and sale of the real estate, the title deed fee is paid by both the buyer and the seller over the sale price, not less than the "Real Estate Current Value" received from the municipality of the place where the real estate is located. (The title deed fee rate determined according to the Fees Law No. 492 is 2% for the buyer and the seller separately.)
Revolving Fund Fee: A revolving fund fee is paid during the buying and selling transactions of the real estate. Revolving Fund Fee is 385 TL for 2021.
Service Fee: In transactions that cause real estate transfer debt, the service fee is collected by the land registry directorate during the transaction and in addition to the revolving fund fee determined for the transaction.
Intermediary Fee: It is one of the expenses that may arise voluntarily in the process of purchasing the real estate, and if a consultant accompanies the buying and selling transactions, real estate consultants can request a service fee of 2% of the real estate value + VAT (18%) separately from both the real estate owner and the new buyer. The parties may, by mutual agreement, determine the fee to be paid to the real estate agent in a different way, not exceeding 4% of the real estate value.
DASK: TCIP, Compulsory Earthquake Insurance policy, is also required during the transaction at the title deed in the purchase/sale of housing. This insurance is renewed every year and the buyer is required to carry this insurance on his own behalf when buying a house.
Real Estate Tax: Every real estate owner is obliged to pay the Real Estate Tax calculated over the real estate value. Real estate tax must be paid to the district municipality where the real estate is located every year.