ANPA Estate Guide

Buying Property in Turkey 2026

A step-by-step roadmap: from choosing your strategy to receiving the TAPU. With real figures, timelines and a cost breakdown.

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We check the district, budget and strategy for your goal before the deal.

Buying property in Turkey happens in five stages: choosing a strategy (residence permit, citizenship or investment), selecting a property and checking the district, legal due diligence, the contract with the DAB currency-exchange certificate, and registering ownership - the title deed (TAPU). Below is a step-by-step roadmap with real figures, timelines and a cost breakdown for 2026.

Choosing your strategy

Before selecting a property, define your goal - it sets the asset criteria, the deal structure and the financial outcome.

Residence permit

from $200,000

min. cadastral value

  • Applies across the whole of Turkey.

Turkish citizenship

from $400,000

min. investment

  • The property is bought from a Turkish citizen or company.
  • A government appraisal confirms a value of $400,000 or more.
  • A 3-year ban on selling the property.

Investment purchase

no residence permit needed

resale or rental

  • A residence permit is not required.
  • What matters: location liquidity, project quality and growth potential.
The ANPA Estate approach

An effective entry strategy is the key factor in preserving capital, minimising risk and reaching your target yield.

Stage 1 - location & price guide

District status for a first residence permit

In 2026 many locations that were previously closed for a first residence permit are accepting applications again - including the seaside districts of Alanya (Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar, Kargıcak). District status is a living list: it changes as demographics shift, and in some places restrictions still apply, usually in certain densely populated neighbourhoods. That is why we verify the status of the specific address against the migration authority database on the day the deposit is paid: a TAPU can be registered almost anywhere, but for a residence permit the address must be open. This way the deal and the permit go through without surprises.

Market benchmarks

  • Istanbul (1+1, quality districts) $150,000 - $200,000+
  • Antalya / Alanya - new builds $100,000 - $150,000+
  • Antalya / Alanya - resale from $70,000

The price depends on location, developer reputation, build quality and the infrastructure of the complex.

Recommendation

Your purchase budget should account for the full deal cost (TAPU tax, DAB certificate, fees, notary) - not just the property price.

Already have a district in mind? Message us - we will check its current status

Stage 2 - legal due diligence

Legal due diligence is a mandatory stage: the safety of the deal and the protection of your capital depend directly on it.

If the property is ready

TAPU (Tapu)

We verify the real owner and the absence of encumbrances - mortgage, lien or pledge.

İSKAN (İskan)

Genel İskan - the building occupancy permit; Ferdi İskan - the individual occupancy permit for the specific apartment. Without a Ferdi İskan, utility tariffs may be higher.

Aidat (maintenance fee)

We check for arrears on complex maintenance. In Turkey, aidat debts are tied to the property and pass to the new owner.

If the property is under construction

Developer audit

Reputation, years on the market, number of completed projects, history of delays on past developments.

Documentation

The building permit (Yapı Ruhsatı) is in place.

Take this list with you

The 12 points we verify before the deposit - on a single page. Just save it.

Download the checklist (PDF)
The ANPA Estate approach

In investment deals the priority is not only an attractive entry price, but also project reliability, legal transparency and predictable timelines.

Seismic safety: how to vet a building

It is not the earthquake that destroys a building - it is the cost-cutting at the construction stage. So we look beyond the year built, into the control documents: since 1999 Turkey has built one of the strictest building-control systems in the world.

2001

Independent construction supervision

After the Marmara earthquake, Law 4708 made supervision mandatory: every site is supervised by a licensed inspection firm (yapı denetim). It is liable for the load-bearing structure for 15 years and for everything else for 2 years, jointly with the designer and the contractor. Since 2011 the system covers the whole country.

2019

The current code (TBDY 2018)

Projects are designed to the official AFAD seismic hazard map for the exact coordinates of the plot. Concrete of class C25 or higher, ribbed B420C/B500C reinforcement only, and a mandatory soil survey (zemin etüdü) before design.

What we check before you buy

  • Year and code: when the building permit (Yapı Ruhsatı) was issued and which seismic code the design follows.
  • Soil survey (zemin etüdü): whether it was done and what it showed - the ground often matters more than the building itself.
  • Supervision file (yapı denetim): independent inspection reports and lab test records for the concrete.
  • Materials as designed: the concrete class and reinforcement type match the current code.
  • The address on the AFAD map: the hazard level of the specific plot, not the region in general.
  • For resales: whether the building was legalised under the 2018 amnesty (a Yapı Kayıt Belgesi instead of an iskan means there was no technical inspection), and for pre-2000 buildings - a seismic performance test (deprem performans testi).

Download the detailed vetting guide

A step-by-step seismic check of the developer and the building: 7 steps, the document list, red flags.

Download the seismic guide (PDF)
The ANPA Estate approach

Codes only work together with enforcement: the year built alone proves nothing. We verify the documents - the permit, the soil survey, supervision reports and concrete tests - before the deposit.

We will request the seismic file for your building and check the address on the AFAD map - message us

Stage 3 - contract & finance

  1. Sale and purchase agreement

    Sets out the price, the payment schedule, the obligations of the parties and the terms for the subsequent transfer of ownership.

    Notarisation is used to a limited extent - because the cadastral and market values of a property often differ significantly.

  2. Tax number (Vergi No)

    Issued remotely. Required for the transaction, banking procedures and registering ownership.

  3. DAB certificate (Döviz Alım Belgesi)

    A mandatory currency-exchange document: the buyer transfers foreign currency, the bank converts it to lira and issues a certificate. Without the DAB, the deal cannot be registered at the Land Registry.

Investment logic

Arrange the financial side in advance: it avoids delays at registration, keeps control of the cash flow and minimises operational risk.

Stage 4 - closing the deal (TAPU)

Documents

  • Passport (with notarised translation)
  • DAB certificate
  • DASK insurance policy
  • Photographs (if required)

Conditions & timeline

  • Processing takes 3-7 business days from submitting the full package.
  • Presence of the buyer or their authorised representative.
  • A sworn translator is mandatory.

Result

The TAPU - the official government document confirming your ownership.

Stage 5 - the cost structure

Factor in not only the asset price but all the related costs - they form the true cost of entry.

The visible part The asset price (per contract)
Main costs at closing
  • TAPU registration tax
  • Land-registry fee
  • Translator & notary services
Additional / ongoing
  • Utility connections & furnishing
  • Property-management fees
  • Aidat (complex maintenance)
Financial principle

To assess yield objectively, calculate the full cost of entering the asset - not just the purchase price.

Sample cost breakdown from a real deal

An apartment in a complex in Antalya · registered to a foreign buyer · June 2026

Value on the TAPU (the basis for the tax) 1,690,453.80 ₺

In Turkey the TAPU states the appraised (cadastral) value - it may differ from the actual purchase price.

  • TAPU registration tax (4%) 67,620 ₺
  • Land-registry fee (döner sermaye, foreign buyer) 28,000 ₺
  • Sworn translator 4,500 ₺
  • TAPU transaction handling 4,500 ₺
  • Total registration costs 104,620 ₺ ≈ $2,270 · €1,970

Also budget for: the notary, DASK insurance, the appraisal report and utility connections.

The lira rate and Turkish fees change often. Figures are accurate as of June 2026 - confirm current amounts with your ANPA expert before the deal.

We will prepare the same breakdown for your budget and property

Calculate my costs

Managing the investment: rental in 2026

Short-term rental - regulatory requirements

  • A licence from the Ministry of Tourism is required.
  • Consent of 100% of the owners in the building is required (where applicable).

Without a licence, short-term rental is illegal and creates substantial legal and financial risk for the owner.

The ANPA Estate approach

  • Focus on legal rental-income models.
  • Assessment of project liquidity and resale potential.
  • Calculation of real yield and strategy resilience.
Investment logic

Yield is determined not only by the entry price, but by the ability to operate the asset legally, the quality of management and liquidity at the exit.

Planning to rent out? We will check whether legal rental is possible in your complex

Why clients choose ANPA Estate

End-to-end support

The full deal cycle: from shaping the strategy and selecting the property to receiving the TAPU and residence-permit support.

Legal safety

Thorough due diligence on every property; support from a specialist lawyer in Antalya (Turkish- and Russian-speaking).

Remote format

You can buy property by power of attorney - without being present in Turkey.

Investment approach

We select assets for liquidity, growth potential, legal transparency and resale or rental scenarios.

After-sale support

Property management, resale, design and furnishing, landscaping for villas, help enrolling children in schools and universities.

The result of working with us

A deal built as an investment process - with a clear structure, legal protection and a focus on the long-term value of the asset.

Frequently asked questions about buying property in Turkey

For a residence permit, the cadastral value of the property must be at least $200,000 - this applies across all of Turkey. For citizenship the threshold is higher: from $400,000, with a 3-year ban on selling. On top of the price, budget for registration costs - usually another 5-7% of the property value.

The DAB (Döviz Alım Belgesi) is the official currency-exchange document. The buyer transfers foreign currency, the bank converts it to Turkish lira and issues the certificate. For foreigners the DAB is mandatory: without it the deal cannot be registered at the Land Registry.

On average, registering ownership at the Land Registry takes 3-7 business days from submitting the full set of documents. The buyer (or an authorised representative) and a sworn translator must be present.

The list is a living one and changes constantly. In 2026 many locations that were previously closed for a first residence permit are accepting applications again, including the seaside districts of Alanya: Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar, Kargıcak. Restrictions still apply in some places - usually in certain densely populated neighbourhoods of large cities where the share of foreign residents is already high. Because the status is tied to a specific address and gets updated, we verify the chosen property against the migration authority database before the deposit is paid: a TAPU can be registered almost anywhere, but for a residence permit the address must be open. You can buy property for holidays or investment in any location.

Main costs at closing: the TAPU tax (4% of the value on the deed), the land-registry fee, and translator and notary services. Additionally - DASK insurance, the appraisal report, utility connections, furnishing, property-management fees and the monthly aidat.

Legal short-term rental requires a licence from the Ministry of Tourism and, in some cases, consent from 100% of the owners in the building. Without a licence, short-term rental is illegal and carries legal and financial risk. Long-term rental is simpler to arrange and brings steady income in hard currency.

Yes. The deal can be done by power of attorney - without the buyer being present in Turkey. ANPA Estate handles the property search, due diligence, tax number, banking procedures, the TAPU and sworn-translator support.

The terms depend on the task: the market (new-build or resale), the property type, the scope of support and extra services - residence permit, assistance with banking, property management. We calculate the terms individually and fix them before the work starts: send a request and we will prepare a transparent quote. You see every deal cost in the breakdown upfront, with no hidden charges appearing along the way.

It starts with a short consultation: we clarify your goal (residence permit, citizenship, investment), budget and timeline. Then we send a strategy, a shortlist of verified properties and the full cost breakdown. Viewings are held online or in person in Turkey. Next come legal due diligence, the contract, the DAB certificate and TAPU registration. After the deal we help with the residence permit, furnishing, rental and management.

After the 1999 earthquake Turkey tightened its system: since 2001 every construction site is supervised by an independent inspection firm (Law 4708), and since 2019 one of the strictest seismic codes (TBDY 2018) has been in force - concrete of class C25 or higher, ribbed reinforcement, a mandatory soil survey and design to the AFAD hazard map. But the year built alone proves nothing: you need to check the documents - the building permit, supervision reports, concrete tests, and for resales whether the building was legalised under the amnesty without a technical inspection. We request this file from the developer before the deposit is paid.

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A strategy, a property shortlist and the full cost breakdown - for your goal.

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