Real estate in Turkey

Yes. Foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, can buy residential, commercial, or land properties almost anywhere in Turkey, with restrictions in military and special security zones. All foreign individuals are also capped at 30 hectares each nationwide and at 10 percent of the private land in any district. Ownership is freehold, with no leasehold restrictions. From signed contract to registered title deed (Tapu) usually takes a few weeks.

Plan for roughly 6 to 8 percent on top of the property price, excluding VAT. The main components are: title-deed transfer tax (Tapu Harcı) at 4 percent, an official valuation report (Ekspertiz), mandatory for CBI purchases and optional otherwise, sworn translator and notarisation fees, a brokerage commission where you use a licensed broker (capped by law at 4 percent plus VAT of the sale price in total, shared equally between buyer and seller unless agreed otherwise in writing), and our coordination fee. On a new-build bought from a VAT-registered developer, KDV (VAT) of 1, 10, or 20 percent may apply on top, depending on property type; first-hand sales to non-resident foreigners paid in foreign currency brought from abroad can be VAT-exempt (VAT Law Art. 13/i), and resales between private individuals carry no VAT. We provide a complete written cost breakdown before any commitment.

It depends on your goal. Istanbul has the deepest market and the widest choice of CBI-eligible property. Antalya is the Mediterranean coast, popular for holiday use and seasonal letting. Bodrum is the high-end Aegean villa market, with fewer transactions. Prices and rental income vary and are never guaranteed; we explain the trade-offs for your objective in the initial consultation.

A major risk for Chinese buyers is paying well above true market price through CBI-targeted developer projects. The safeguards are: (1) an independent valuation (Ekspertiz) by an SPK-licensed appraiser, ordered for you, never by the developer; (2) Turchina takes no developer commissions, and any brokerage commission of Bosphorus Brokers is set out in its written agreement; (3) comparing recent transaction prices for similar units in the same building; (4) negotiating, through the licensed broker, a discount for payment in full, with every payment made through banks.

These are three different title-deed states. Tapu is the general Turkish term for title deed. Kat İrtifakı (construction servitude) means the building is still under construction, you own a defined share with the right to your unit when completed. Kat Mülkiyeti (condominium ownership) means the building is finished and your unit is fully registered as a freehold condominium. Both can be used for CBI applications, provided the purchase meets the Land Registry's (TKGM) citizenship rules; since 2023, shared-title shares and agricultural or unbuilt land no longer qualify. Your independent Turkish lawyer verifies the title state before every signing; we coordinate.

Yes. Rental yields vary with the city, the building, and whether you let long-term or short-term. Since 1 January 2024 (Law 7464), short-term tourist lets (Airbnb-style) of up to 100 days need a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and a flat in an apartment building also needs the unanimous consent of all the other unit owners; we check this before purchase. Residential rental income up to TRY 58,000 (2026 income) is tax-exempt, subject to conditions; the excess is taxed at progressive rates of 15 to 40 percent. After closing we can introduce vetted property-management firms, whose fee is usually a percentage of the rent. CBI-purchased properties cannot be sold or transferred for 3 years but can be rented out throughout that period.