How to Buy Property in Turkey and Register the Title Deed (Tapu)

Buying a home in Turkey becomes a clear, well-organised process once you know the order of the steps. Citizens of most countries can buy property in Turkey, and the purchase follows a set sequence: choose the property, reserve it, prepare a few documents, complete the valuation and the payment, and register the sale at the Land Registry Office, where the title deed, known as the Tapu, is issued in your name. This guide explains each stage, so you know what to expect from the first viewing to the day you receive your Tapu.

Choosing the home and reserving it

Everything starts with the right property. Compare the locations, layouts, gross and net areas and payment options of each project, and see the homes in person on a visit to Istanbul, or first through a private video tour with our advisors. Once you have decided, a reservation agreement secures the unit for you and records the agreed price, the payment method and the next steps. Payment can be made in cash, and installment plans are offered on select projects. A home that is still under construction is usually sold through a notarised promise-to-sell agreement, and the title deed transfer follows at a later stage.

Documents and checks before you pay

Before the payment, two practical items are needed: a Turkish tax number and an account at a local bank. Both are simple to obtain, and our team helps you with them. You will also need a valid passport, and any document issued abroad, such as a power of attorney, usually needs an apostille or consular legalisation and a sworn Turkish translation. If you cannot stay in Istanbul for every step, many of them can be handled through a power of attorney, so a short visit is usually enough.

This is also the time to check the property itself. Ask about the type of title deed, the building permit, the occupancy permit (İskan) for a completed building, and whether there is any mortgage or lien on the property. If you plan to apply for a residence permit, confirm that the neighbourhood is open to new residence registrations for foreigners, because some areas are closed to them. For Marmara Haven Villa, these points are shown on a Verified Project Card confirmed by the HADARA team, and copies of the documents can be requested.

Valuation, payment and the title deed appointment

Before the transfer, a foreign buyer needs an official valuation report prepared by an appraisal company licensed by the Capital Markets Board (SPK). The report confirms the value of the property and becomes part of the file at the Land Registry. The price is then paid by bank transfer, following the schedule in your agreement. If you are buying for Turkish citizenship, the payment is made in foreign currency and converted at a Turkish bank against a Foreign Currency Purchase Certificate (DAB). Keep every receipt and bank document, as they show where the money came from and how it was paid.

On the day of the appointment, the seller and the buyer, or their representatives holding a power of attorney, attend the Land Registry Office (Tapu Müdürlüğü). If you do not speak Turkish, a sworn translator is present to explain the documents before you sign. The title deed fee is paid at registration, and the costs of a purchase are explained in our separate article on taxes and fees. Once the documents are signed, the property is registered in your name and the new Tapu is issued. For a citizenship purchase, an annotation is added stating that the property will not be sold for at least three years.

After you receive your Tapu

Keep the original title deed in a safe place, together with copies of the valuation report and the payment documents. Next, transfer the electricity, water and natural gas subscriptions to your name, and make sure the property is recorded at the local municipality for the annual property tax. In a residential compound, you will also start paying the monthly building management fee, known as aidat. If you bought for citizenship, the Land Registry then issues the Certificate of Conformity, which opens the way to the residence permit and the application itself. Please note that these procedures follow current law and may change, so they should be confirmed for each purchase.

HADARA, your real estate partner in Istanbul, coordinates each of these steps with you, from the first shortlist to the day you receive your Tapu. Contact us to talk about your plans, or book a private video tour to start choosing your home before your visit to Istanbul.