This section of the site contains a lot of information but it is well worth the read if you have time as it contains helpful information with the property purchasing process in Turkey.

The buying process of villas and apartments is relatively straight forward in Turkey, a lot more so than what you would likely expect and are probably used to in your own country.  The key thing is to find someone you can trust to help you through the process and let you know what you need to do and when you need to do it.

The bulk of the purchase process can take place in a matter of days once a property has been found that you like.  You may like to enlist the services of a lawyer who will be able to search the title of the property and ensure that there is nothing related to it that should be an impediment to purchasing it or anything that needs to be explored further.  This will ensure that the property is not in an area where foreigners are not allowed to buy (generally areas zoned for military significance), has all the appropriate building consents and licenses and there are no debts associated with the property.

Payment schedules will be different depending on the seller but it may involve an initial fee to hold the property when a contract is signed, a deposit of 10-15% to hold the property through the military checks (see below) and then final payment when the Title Deeds are transferred. 

As a foreign buyer, before a title deed for a property can be transferred into your name you are required by law to have your background and the property checked by the Turkish Military to ensure you do not have any undesirable past or that the property that you are purchasing is not located in a restricted area which usually means it is not on or in close proximity to any important military sites around the country.  This process can take a little bit of time and may even take up to 3 months before the title deeds will be in your name.  However, this does not stop you entering into an agreement with the seller and signing a purchase contract.

Most of the apartments and villas listed on Affordablekusadasi.com are new builds so the seller will be the developer or a construction company or their representatives.  From time to time we will also list existing villas and apartments where you will deal with the buyer direct or their representative but we are here to help you with all that.

Mortgages for foreign buyers are now available from Turkish banks so this is an option if you are interested and we can explain more about this and the documentation you will need to apply for one so please get in touch with us.  Most buyers will borrow money from a bank in their own country so if this is what you are planning on doing then it is best to get a firm understanding of what your bank requires in order to approve such a mortgage or give you a pre-approved lending amount.  With the large amount of UK and Irish people buying property in Turkey, banks in these countries will be used to dealing with such requests.

As well as the cost of the property itself there are going to be some additional costs that you will need to take into account as part of the buying process.  The main cost is a 3% transfer tax based on the declared value of the property which is usually shared equally by the buyer and seller but a different arrangement may be agreed upon and set out in the purchase contract.  A registration fee is also payable by the purchaser at the time the title deeds are transferred at the registry office and usually costs between €210 - €280 (£150 - £200).  You must also pay for compulsory earthquake insurance which is approx €50 (£35).  You will need to factor in your legal costs which will vary depending on the complexity of the work required and the location of the property.  For basic contract and title checks a Turkish law firm will typically charge between €560 - €840(£400 - £600) so allow at least that much if you plan on using a lawyer for this part of the process.

For many the prospect of purchasing a property in a foreign country makes them a little nervous which is natural but the reality is that if you take the right steps then it can be a straight forward process.  Most people who have completed purchases often comment on how surprised they were with how easy it was to buy here in Turkey.  A good way to put your mind at rest is talk to others who have been through the process and we would be happy to put you in touch with those who have so you can ask them any questions.

Just remember there are no silly questions when it comes to buying property abroad so ask away and we will be only too happy to help you.