Contract for the purchase and sale of real estate in Turkey

The purchase and sale transaction of apartments in Turkey consists of several successive stages. One of the most important steps — This is the preparation of a formal agreement to confirm the seriousness of your intentions, transfer of collateral and fix all the conditions for the acquisition of real estate.

A contract for the sale and purchase of an apartment in Turkey is drawn up in accordance with the general provisions of Turkish law and imposes certain legal consequences on the parties to the transaction. Read about this and much more in our expert publication.

Content of the article:

Turkish legislation on contracts for the sale and purchase of real estate

Real estate purchase agreement — This is an agreement between the seller and the buyer. Under the terms of the contract, the buyer undertakes to pay the seller a fixed amount in exchange for re-registration of ownership in his name.

When drawing up the document, the provisions of the Civil Code of the Republic of Turkey and the law on real estate registration are taken into account. If legal standards are not followed, the contract will be considered legally invalid. Therefore, it is very important to approach the preparation of the contract as responsibly as possible and familiarize yourself with Turkish legislation.

Consider the main rules:

  1. In accordance with Article 213 Turkish Civil Code, a contract for the purchase of an apartment in Turkey is valid if it is drawn up and certified as required by law.
  2. According to Article 26 Law No. 2644 “On state registration of ownership of real estate and transactions with it” (original name “Tapu Kanunu”), agreements on the transfer of ownership of real estate, as well as other rights (such as transfer on security or in mortgage, for temporary or permanent use) are legal if they were registered in the Cadastral Chamber («Tapu Sicil Müdürlüğ»). That is, this is the only possible legal option for the lawful sale and purchase of real estate.
  3. Articles No. 60, 89 Law No. 1512 “On Notaries” determines the type of real estate transaction. Thus, the contract contains information about the conditions that both parties must fulfill. That is, the intention to transfer ownership of property from the seller to the buyer. In turn, according to the terms of the contract, the buyer, by signing the document, officially confirms his desire to buy the apartment.
  4. A contract for the sale and purchase of real estate in Turkey receives legal force only if it has been certified by a notary. A well-drafted document that takes into account all the conditions of sale and purchase, provides information about the apartments, — the key to a successful transaction.
  5. It is important to know that when concluding an agreement, the seller’s presence of TAPU is not mandatory. Example — participation in shared construction. The developer and the owner of the land plot enter into a construction contract, under the terms of which the customer of the work (land owner) has the opportunity to pay with finished apartments in the residential complex. All conditions are specified in the schedule of contract work and mutual settlements. Thus, in order to attract third-party investments, a developer can enter into notarial contracts with investors without yet having ownership rights to these objects. For foreign citizens, this is one of the easiest ways to purchase Turkish housing at affordable prices.
  6. An agreement for the acquisition of real estate can be concluded between the parties to the transaction or their attorneys under a notarized power of attorney. If the seller does not yet have ownership rights, the contract is registered only in his presence.
  7. After registration with the Cadastral Directorate (TKGM), according to paragraph 2 of Article 1009 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Turkey, fulfillment of obligations under the contract can be demanded even from third parties who will subsequently become owners of the property. This is additional insurance for the investor if he pays in the form of an advance payment.
  8. If the terms of the contract have not been fulfilled within five years from the date of its registration with the Cadastral Department, the document will be deleted from the electronic database.
Examples of real estate in Turkey

Mahmutlar district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 60 m², built in 2021, 550 m to the sea, 150 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, sauna, fitness, hamam and children's playground.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

10226

Mahmutlar district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 62 m², built in 2021, 500 m to the sea, 250 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, playground, fitness, sauna and security.

room

1+1

area

62 m²

id

10225

71 500

Oba district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 55 m², built in 2023, 1500 m to the sea, 700 m to the center. Complex with an outdoor pool, garden, gazebos and parking.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10224

from 230 000

The Obagol district offers 1+1, 2+1, and 3+1 duplex apartments ranging from 56 to 135 sq. m. Completion date: 2026. The sea is 300 m away, and the city center is 100 m away. Residence permits are available, and duplexes are suitable for citizenship. The complex features a swimming pool, fitness center, recreation area, and a smart home system.

room

1+1, 2+1, 3+1, Penthouse

area

56 m²

id

10223

96 000

Tosmur, furnished 1+1 apartment, 65 m², built in 2018, 650 m to the sea, 200 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, sauna, hamam and fitness room.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

10222

247 500

Luxurious loft dublex 2+1 120 m2 furnished in a complex on the first line of the sea in Kargicak

room

2+1, Duplex, Penthouse

area

120 m²

id

10221

from 126 500

1+1 apartments from an investor, 53 m2, in a complex with the infrastructure of a five-star hotel in Avsallar

room

1+1

area

53 m²

id

10220

62 000

Avsallar, furnished 1+1 apartment, 42 m², built in 2022, 1200 m to the sea, 1000 m to the center. Complex with swimming pools, hamam, sports ground and tennis court.

room

1+1

area

42 m²

id

10219

55 000

Avsallar, 1+1 apartment unfurnished, 40 m², built in 2023, 1500 m to the sea, 1200 m to the center. Complex with swimming pools, fitness, sauna and hamam.

room

1+1

area

40 m²

id

10218

253 000

Central Alanya, Cleopatra district, furnished 2+1 apartment, 96 m², built in 2024, 1000 m to the sea, 500 m to the center. Residence permit available, covered parking, complex with swimming pools, fitness center, and spa area.

room

2+1

area

96 m²

id

10217

115 500

Alanya city center, 2+1 apartment, 70 m², built in 2024, 500 m to the sea, 250 m to the center. Unfurnished, complex with swimming pools, fitness, sauna and playground.

room

2+1

area

70 m²

id

10216

68 500

Both, 1+1 apartment, 48 m², house built in 2023, one balcony, one bathroom, unfurnished, 1800 m to the sea, 900 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

48 m²

id

10215

Citizenship
50 m² apartment, Cleopatra Beach, residence permit and citizenship-id-10214-photo-13

88 000

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in the Cleopatra area, 50 m², building built in 2023, only 700 m to the sea.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

10214

144 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 70 m², building built in 2022, 650 m to the sea and 450 m to the center.

room

2+1

area

70 m²

id

10213

144 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 85 m², building built in 2022, 650 m to the sea and 450 m to the center.

room

2+1

area

85 m²

id

10212

115 500

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 65 m², built in 2024, 600 m to the sea and 150 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

10211

115 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 55 m², building built in 2022, 300 m to the sea and 150 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10210

139 000

Unfurnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 80 m², built in 2024, 650 m from the sea and 450 m from the center

room

2+1

area

80 m²

id

10209

Furnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar area, 50 m², building built in 2024, only 950 m to the sea and 500 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

10208

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar area, 55 m², building built in 2023, located 650 m from the sea and 200 m from the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10207

See more

Important! Any other form of contract for the purchase or sale of real estate is legally void from the moment it is entered into. In particular, we are talking about oral agreements, documents drawn up in a simple form, certified only by a notary and/or translator, as well as any other organization or person. Such legally void agreements are invalid for all aspects related to the purchase and sale of real estate, including the terms of the transaction and penalties. That is, in this case, only voluntary, but not forced, fulfillment of the terms of the contract is possible (with the exception of the return of the amount already paid).

Contract for the purchase and sale of real estate in Turkey

Preparation for concluding a contract

The first thing that interests an investor after he has decided on the choice of an object is — what documents are needed to buy an apartment in Turkey. In order to conclude a contract, the buyer only needs an international passport and a deposit amounting to 5–10% of the total cost of the property.

With regard to preparation for concluding an agreement, the parties should agree on the amount and method of payment, rights and obligations, penalties in case of failure to comply with the terms of the agreement.

At the time of signing the contract, the buyer makes a deposit. Thus, he confirms the seriousness of his intentions and is guaranteed to become the only contender for the property under the contract.

In most cases, the contract for the purchase of property in Turkey is tripartite. The third party is a real estate company that performs intermediary functions. This form of cooperation is the most acceptable for both parties to the transaction, since the agency protects the rights of the investor and the seller, undertakes to check the legal purity of documents and facilitates the receipt of all documentation for the transfer of ownership of housing.

Contents of the purchase and sale agreement

Standard information, the presence of which is mandatory in any purchase and sale agreement:

  • Passport details of the seller and buyer.
  • All information about real estate, including the number and purpose of premises, floor, building characteristics, construction date or completion date of construction work and issuance of a technical certificate (if purchased in a new building) and other data.
  • Cost and method of transferring payment to the seller.
  • Obligations and rights of the parties.
  • Fines in case of failure to comply with the terms of the contract.
  • Legislative norms.

Legal consequences of the concluded agreement

According to the laws of Turkey, the following legal consequences apply to the concluded contract for the purchase of real estate:

  • Ownership is not transferred to the buyer.
  • A correctly concluded contract guarantees the buyer the right to insist on the transfer of ownership by the seller.
  • If the owner has not transferred ownership, the apartment can be re-registered in the name of the buyer by court decision.
  • Design TAPU in Turkey or Turkish title is handled by the only government agency — Cadastral Chamber
  • The future owner, even having a concluded contract in hand, does not have the right to evict tenants or other persons from the property being sold. Only the owner has the right to do this.
Examples of real estate in Turkey

Mahmutlar district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 60 m², built in 2021, 550 m to the sea, 150 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, sauna, fitness, hamam and children's playground.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

10226

Mahmutlar district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 62 m², built in 2021, 500 m to the sea, 250 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, playground, fitness, sauna and security.

room

1+1

area

62 m²

id

10225

71 500

Oba district, furnished 1+1 apartment, 55 m², built in 2023, 1500 m to the sea, 700 m to the center. Complex with an outdoor pool, garden, gazebos and parking.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10224

from 230 000

The Obagol district offers 1+1, 2+1, and 3+1 duplex apartments ranging from 56 to 135 sq. m. Completion date: 2026. The sea is 300 m away, and the city center is 100 m away. Residence permits are available, and duplexes are suitable for citizenship. The complex features a swimming pool, fitness center, recreation area, and a smart home system.

room

1+1, 2+1, 3+1, Penthouse

area

56 m²

id

10223

96 000

Tosmur, furnished 1+1 apartment, 65 m², built in 2018, 650 m to the sea, 200 m to the center. Complex with a swimming pool, sauna, hamam and fitness room.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

10222

247 500

Luxurious loft dublex 2+1 120 m2 furnished in a complex on the first line of the sea in Kargicak

room

2+1, Duplex, Penthouse

area

120 m²

id

10221

from 126 500

1+1 apartments from an investor, 53 m2, in a complex with the infrastructure of a five-star hotel in Avsallar

room

1+1

area

53 m²

id

10220

62 000

Avsallar, furnished 1+1 apartment, 42 m², built in 2022, 1200 m to the sea, 1000 m to the center. Complex with swimming pools, hamam, sports ground and tennis court.

room

1+1

area

42 m²

id

10219

55 000

Avsallar, 1+1 apartment unfurnished, 40 m², built in 2023, 1500 m to the sea, 1200 m to the center. Complex with swimming pools, fitness, sauna and hamam.

room

1+1

area

40 m²

id

10218

253 000

Central Alanya, Cleopatra district, furnished 2+1 apartment, 96 m², built in 2024, 1000 m to the sea, 500 m to the center. Residence permit available, covered parking, complex with swimming pools, fitness center, and spa area.

room

2+1

area

96 m²

id

10217

115 500

Alanya city center, 2+1 apartment, 70 m², built in 2024, 500 m to the sea, 250 m to the center. Unfurnished, complex with swimming pools, fitness, sauna and playground.

room

2+1

area

70 m²

id

10216

68 500

Both, 1+1 apartment, 48 m², house built in 2023, one balcony, one bathroom, unfurnished, 1800 m to the sea, 900 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

48 m²

id

10215

Citizenship
50 m² apartment, Cleopatra Beach, residence permit and citizenship-id-10214-photo-13

88 000

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in the Cleopatra area, 50 m², building built in 2023, only 700 m to the sea.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

10214

144 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 70 m², building built in 2022, 650 m to the sea and 450 m to the center.

room

2+1

area

70 m²

id

10213

144 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 85 m², building built in 2022, 650 m to the sea and 450 m to the center.

room

2+1

area

85 m²

id

10212

115 500

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 65 m², built in 2024, 600 m to the sea and 150 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

10211

115 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 55 m², building built in 2022, 300 m to the sea and 150 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10210

139 000

Unfurnished 2+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, 80 m², built in 2024, 650 m from the sea and 450 m from the center

room

2+1

area

80 m²

id

10209

Furnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar area, 50 m², building built in 2024, only 950 m to the sea and 500 m to the center.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

10208

Unfurnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar area, 55 m², building built in 2023, located 650 m from the sea and 200 m from the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

10207

See more

These materials have been prepared for informational purposes and are not of a commercial nature.

Point Property — is a certified real estate agency that specializes in providing a full range of real estate services for residential and commercial real estate transactions in Turkey. Our company takes care of all the organizational aspects of a real estate transaction: searching for an object, organizing a sightseeing tour, assistance in collecting documents and checking the legal purity of documentation, support in re-registration of ownership. In addition, we provide our customers with a wide range of after-sales services.

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