How To Buy A Home In Turkey As A Foreigner

Buying a property in Turkey is exciting for foreigners and locals alike. Homeownership rates in Turkey are lower than in many Western nations, so demand for properties is high. More importantly, the government has made significant changes to the law to make it easier than ever before for foreigners to buy property in Turkey. This article will go over some of the important ones as well as share how to buy a home in Turkey as a foreigner. 

Where To Start With Your Search

When you have decided to buy a property in Turkey, one of the first things you should do is decide what kind of an apartment or house you want. 

Know What You Want

Choosing a property can be difficult, so I recommend you create a list of things you consider important when buying a property. Some of the most important questions are:

• Size – what is the maximum number of rooms do you want?

Location – where will your new apartment or house be?

• Type – there are many different properties, and you should choose if you want an apartment, a villa, or a basement property?
• Price – if you have decided on your budget range, it will help narrow down your choice.

You also have to consider the neighborhood. This is especially important if you live abroad and cannot visit the area in person. Make sure it is safe and has good infrastructure such as schools, shops, and transport links.

Do Your Research

If you have decided on a neighborhood that you want to buy in, there are many things that you will need to research. The first thing is to ensure that the area is safe and has a good infrastructure. This can be done by looking at independent Turkish websites or via your research online. You also need to ensure that the area is stable and will remain so in future years (for example, there are many houses for sale in Istanbul in projects planned for the near future).

Find The Right Agent

A good real estate agent will help you understand the Turkish law and property market, so you can make an informed choice about which property you want to buy in Turkey. Reputable agents should be able to provide references from existing clients and should also be able to give you information about properties in the area that would suit your requirements.

What Documents To Consider When Buying A Property In Turkey As A Foreigner

One of the most important points to consider is documents when buying a property in Turkey as a foreigner. It is important to ensure you have all the documents when purchasing anything in Turkey. 

Title Deed

The title deed is a document that shows who owns the property and confirms to the state that you are the legal owner of the property. There should be only one registered owner in the title deed, which will normally be you (the buyer) or you and your spouse in the case of joint ownership.

This document also confirms which banks are registered as mortgage lenders on your property, usually including your primary bank and one or two secondary banks for security purposes. There may also be an “owner’s designator” if you have delegated a third party to manage some aspects of your property. 

Building License

The building license is a document that confirms whether the property you are buying has been built according to legal requirements. It should be noted that having a building license is not an assurance that your property will be in good condition. Some defects can only be discovered after you purchase and inspect the property. You should have a professional structural engineer or architect inspect the property before your purchase if there is no building license (this applies to foreigners and locals alike).

Habitation Certificate

The Habitation Certificate is a document confirming the type of property, the number of rooms, the size of the land (in square meters), and other information required by law. The Habitation Certificate is issued by the local municipality or district governorate, and it should be noted that it does not confirm building defects. 

The Habitation Certificate also forms part of your title deed. If you buy a property without this certificate, you must apply for one before receiving your title deed from the Land Registry Office. 

What Documents Will You Need?

The documents you will need will change based on your situation. The following list showing the most common documents you’ll need to buy a home in Turkey as a foreigner.

Tax Identification Number

This is a number issued by the tax office, confirming that you are registered with the Turkish tax system and that your address is in Turkey. If you are not an expat living in Turkey, it would be normal to have already this kind of identification number (for example, if you have been working in Turkey for some time). If this is not the case, complete your tax registration with the tax office as soon as possible before proceeding with your purchase.

Bank Account

If you are buying a property as an individual, you will normally need a bank account as proof of funds. This may be done by providing bank statements from the last three months that show that you have sufficient funds for the purchase.

Notarized Translations Of Your Passport

If you are a foreign national, you will also need to supply notarized translations in Turkish of your passport and residence permit. This is required by law and is for the convenience of the land registry officer that ultimately registers your property title deed.

The Bottom Line

Buying a property in Turkey is an interesting experience. Perhaps the property market is not as stable as it once was, but there are still plenty of good properties available in Turkey. Be prepared by researching to buy a property in a secure and stable neighborhood.