Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Developers use one price list for Turkish and international buyers. For all the projects we market, you can be sure the conditions are the same for every buyer.

Yes. The tax system is exactly the same for everybody, and foreign buyers can even be exempt from VAT on new homes bought from the developer, under certain conditions. The taxes paid when you buy are explained under closing costs in our Buyer Guide.

No. Whether you go by yourself or with us, the developers offer the same prices. As we know the market, we also know how much discount is possible in each project, so in many cases we help you get a better price than you would on your own. Sometimes developers also run special promotions for our clients.

Bring your passport when we visit the projects. You pay 1% of the sales price as a reservation fee, in cash or by credit card. This reserves the apartment in your name, fixes the price and gives you two weeks to make the down payment. The fee is deducted from the down payment.

First, get a Turkish tax number from a tax office with your passport (we can arrange it for you the same day). Then go to the bank with your passport, your tax number and a proof of your address, such as a utility bill or a bank statement from your country. Requirements differ from bank to bank, and we will tell you which banks work well with foreign buyers.

With a tourist visa, foreign visitors can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days in any 180 days. Owning a home can make you eligible for a renewable short-term residence permit, as long as the property meets the minimum value and is not in a neighbourhood closed to new permits. The application is made online through e-İkamet and completed at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. See our Buyer Guide for the conditions.

Yes. Your spouse and your children under 18 can also apply for a residence permit based on your application.

There are two main routes:

• Citizenship by investment: you can apply when you buy property worth at least USD 400,000 and commit not to sell it for three years. The whole family (spouse and children under 18) can be included. See our citizenship guide.
• Citizenship by residence: after five years of uninterrupted legal residence in Turkey.

In both cases, the final decision belongs to the Turkish authorities.

Sales contracts usually include a termination clause. The penalty is typically around 10–20% of the sales price. If the buyer decides to terminate the contract at any stage, the developer deducts this penalty and pays back the remaining amount.

Sales contracts usually give the developer a grace period after the delivery date, often six months. If the developer still does not deliver after that period, it pays the buyer the monthly penalty stated in the contract. Check this clause before you sign; we go through it with you.

It depends strongly on the location and the project. Because purchase prices are high in the old city centres, rental yields there are lower than in the developing areas of Istanbul, and buying at the early stages of a project usually brings a better return. On top of the rent, well-chosen properties have historically gained value over time. Returns are never guaranteed; we will share recent rents and sale prices for the projects you are considering.

If you want the maximum possible profit in a project, buy at its launch. In almost every project, the sales prices rise regularly from the first stages until completion.

This is a very common question from foreigners, and there is a big misconception here: neither Taksim nor Sultanahmet is the centre of Istanbul. They are mainly the touristic areas.

Istanbul has a population of more than 15 million and 39 districts. Many districts have hundreds of thousands of residents and their own centres, so you can find whatever you need in the district you live in.

In most projects, the reservation fee is fully refundable during the two-week reservation period, so you can cancel for any reason.

Yes. Most projects offer an instalment plan until completion. The down payment is usually between 25% and 50%, depending on the project.

Some plans continue after completion, and sometimes there are payment plans for completed projects as well.

Depending on the project, you can sell your property during construction. In some cases, the sales contract asks for a 2–3% commission to be paid to the developer.

To get a mortgage from a Turkish bank, you usually need a regular income in Turkey. As most foreign buyers do not have one, bank loans for foreigners are rarely available. Still, we will support you, as some projects offer their own payment advantages. Our guide to mortgages in Turkey for foreigners explains the currency rules, how much a bank may lend and what a loan costs.

It differs from project to project; the more facilities a compound has, the higher the fee. Compared with cities like Dubai, maintenance fees in Istanbul are very reasonable, often around 1–1.5 USD per m² a month. For example, for a 100 m² two-bedroom apartment you would pay about 100–150 USD a month to the management.

• Maintenance fee, often around 1–1.5 USD per m² a month
• Property tax, 0.2% of the property's tax value a year in metropolitan cities such as Istanbul
• DASK (compulsory earthquake insurance), a modest yearly amount

• Title deed fee: 4% of the declared sales price, usually split as 2% for the buyer and 2% for the seller.
• VAT: 1%, 10% or 20% for homes, depending on the net area, the building permit date and the land value; usually included in the developer's price, and foreign buyers may be exempt on a new home bought from the developer.
• Valuation report: required for a citizenship purchase; from 17,622 TL plus VAT in 2026.
• Utility connections (electricity, water, gas): usually a few hundred USD.

See the full breakdown in our Buyer Guide.

If you sell a home more than five years after you bought it, there is no capital gains tax. If you sell within five years, the gain may be taxed, after adjusting the purchase price for inflation, at the progressive rates from 15% to 40%. Our Seller Guide explains it in detail.

Rental income tax is progressive, from 15% to 40%. For residential rent there is a yearly exempt amount, and you can deduct either a lump-sum 15% or your actual expenses, which lowers the tax. See our Turkey Rental Income Tax Guide 2026 for this year's figures.

Istanbul's rail network has grown fast over the past decade, and new metro lines now reach many developing districts. Being close to a metro station is one of the main drivers of rental demand and value, so we always show you how each project connects to the network.

Yes. Whatever your nationality, when you buy a property in Turkey you own it freehold, with all its rights.

Turkish law applies to property located in Turkey. If the owner leaves a spouse and children, the spouse inherits one quarter and the children share the remaining three quarters equally. Read more in our article on inheritance law and inheritance tax in Turkey.

Many people consider Turkish cuisine one of the best in the world, and its variety means there is something for everyone. Wherever you come from, you will quickly get used to Turkish food and start enjoying it.

Yes. There are many international schools teaching in English or Arabic in different parts of Istanbul, mainly attended by foreign students. Turkey is also a popular destination for university studies, and many universities teach both in Turkish and in English.

Yes. Istanbul is a safe city to live in and one of the most visited cities in the world. As in any large city, common-sense precautions apply in crowded touristic areas, but daily life in the residential districts is calm and family-friendly.

Istanbul enjoys all four seasons. The weather is a cooler version of the Mediterranean climate, with a pleasant spring, warm summers of around 30–35°C at most, a mild autumn with blue skies, and a rainy winter around 5°C.

You can use your credit card almost everywhere, which is also the safest way to shop. Still, we advise you to keep some cash for taxis and small purchases.

You can buy a car under the same conditions as a Turkish citizen. However, car taxes in Turkey are high, so we do not usually recommend it. Instead, many rental companies offer good daily, weekly and monthly prices.

Phones bought abroad can be used with a Turkish SIM card for a limited period (currently 120 days). To keep using one after that, you have to register the phone by paying a registration fee, which is set every year, and then applying to your Turkish mobile operator.

_For any other question, please contact us: we will get back to you as soon as possible._