Selling property in Turkey: Complete guide

Disclaimer: The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. You are solely responsible for any tax or other legal liabilities arising from the purchase/sale of foreign property. Decisions to purchase foreign property and their procedure should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Own property in Turkey and are thinking of selling up? Perhaps it’s an underused holiday home or an investment property, or perhaps you live in Turkey and are thinking of returning to the UK.

Whatever your plans, we’re here to help - with a complete guide to selling property in Turkey. We’ll cover everything you need to know, including a step-by-step look at the property sales process and info on fees, taxes and legal requirements.

We’ll also show you a low-cost*, transparent way to transfer the proceeds of your property sale back to the UK - using the Wise account from the money services provider Wise.

It lets you spend, hold and convert money in 40+ currencies and make secure transfers to 140+ countries for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates. Every transfer is trackable and you’ll get dedicated support when making large amount transfers.

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How to sell property in Turkey as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide 1. Get your documentation together 2. Find an estate agent - or sell privately 3. Market your property 4. Negotiate the price and accept an offer 5. Sign the preliminary agreement 6. Appoint a solicitor or make a notary appointment 7. Complete the sale at the land registry office Is now a good time to sell in Turkey? How long does it take to sell property in Turkey? Do you need a lawyer or a solicitor to sell property? Do you need a Turkish bank account to sell property in Turkey? Taxes and costs when selling a property in Turkey as a non-resident Real estate agent fees Title deed transfer fees Legal and notary fees Capital gains tax Does owning property in Turkey make you a tax resident? Save money on your Turkish property sale with Wise

How to sell property in Turkey as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide

If it’s your first time selling a property in Türkiye, you’ll need to get to grips with how the process works.

You may have some experience of it from buying property in Turkey, but it can be different from the seller’s perspective.

Let’s run through the main steps, so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Get your documentation together

You need quite a bit of paperwork to sell property in Turkey, so it’s a good idea to get it all ready before you put your house on the market. Here’s what you’ll need:¹

• The Tapu for the property (this is the property ownership document or title deed)
• Notarised and translated copies of passports or other valid photo ID
• Your Turkish residence permit - this is usually required for foreigners selling property in Turkey
• 2 x passport photos
• Municipality value document
• Property survey report
• Evidence of compulsory earthquake insurance
• Energy efficient certificate
• Building permits (if you’ve previously made any alterations to the property which required a permit).

2. Find an estate agent - or sell privately

It’s not obligatory to use an estate agent to sell a property in Turkiye. Estate agent fees can be quite high (more on that later), so you can potentially save money by selling your home yourself. You can make use of online listing sites and real estate portals.

However, you may want to take advantage of the local knowledge and specialist expertise of an estate agent. They’ll also handle viewings, negotiations and other key tasks that may not be possible if you don’t actually live in Turkey while selling your property.

If you do want to use a property agent (emlakçı), the best way to find one is a personal recommendation from a friend or family member.

Whoever you use, make sure that they have the appropriate certificate from the Vocational Qualification Authority (MYK). This ensures they are properly licensed and qualified.

3. Market your property

Now it’s time to get your property onto the market and start attracting buyers. Your estate agent should handle most, if not all, of the advertising activity, but private sellers will need to make sure they list their property in as many places as possible.

Here are some of the most popular real estate websites in Turkey:

• Sahibinden.com
• Hepsiemlak.com
• Emlakjet.com
• Properstar.com

Before you list the property, make sure to carry out a thorough declutter, deep clean and ‘dress’ the property for sale - so that it appeals to as many potential buyers as possible.

4. Negotiate the price and accept an offer

Once your property is listed, you or your estate agent can host viewings - and hopefully some offers will start to come in.

Negotiations on price are very common in Turkey, so you need to be prepared to entertain sensible offers and enter discussions on the final selling price.

5. Sign the preliminary agreement

Known as the Satış Vaadi Sözleşmesi, the preliminary contract is a binding agreement that outlines the terms of the sale. This includes the final price, payment method and proposed date for transfer of ownership.

At this stage, the buyer will usually pay a deposit of 10%.²

6. Appoint a solicitor or make a notary appointment

Many foreign buyers choose to hire a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal aspects of the sale. This includes checking, drawing up, and translating documents, and making sure all the paperwork and procedures are done according to the letter of the law.

However, you can also use a notary for some or all this work - although bear in mind that they won’t specifically be acting in your interests like a solicitor would do.

Once the contract of sale has been agreed, you’ll need to book an appointment with the notary’s office via the e-Application page on the Union of Turkish Notaries' website.¹

7. Complete the sale at the land registry office

Once the buyer’s solicitor has done the required due diligence checks and all other legal work is complete, it’s time to complete the sale.

This happens at the Land Registry Office (Tapu ve Kadastro Müdürlüğü) where the official transfer of ownership takes place. The title deed is transferred to the buyer and you’ll receive the final balance.

You might want to do some preparations for this, such as opening a local account. If you’re not in the country, you’ll need to research the best and most cost-effective way to receive large sums from abroad.

Is now a good time to sell in Turkey?

Whether or not it’s the right time to sell your Turkish property will depend on your circumstances. This includes how much you originally paid for the property and how much prices have risen in the region.

But generally speaking - it could potentially be a good time to sell.

The Turkish property market has seen significant property price rises of 31% to 39%. But before you get too excited, it’s worth bearing in mind that Turkey has an extremely high inflation rate of 39% to 45% - so it may actually mean a recent decline in real property prices once the figures are adjusted for inflation.³

Despite this, it could still be a good time to sell, as sales volumes have increased by around 20% year-on-year.³ There’s reasonable demand from foreign buyers and the rental market is reasonably stable.

The highest property prices are in Istanbul, while coastal areas remain popular among foreign buyers. There’s also particular demand for energy-efficient new builds, with those in urban centres commanding premium prices.³

How long does it take to sell property in Turkey?

The time it takes to sell a home in Turkey can vary. But on average, it takes between 3-6 months,⁴ so a similar timeframe to selling property in the UK.

The exact time, though, may depend on the complexity of the transaction as well as the region - as properties located in in-demand areas typically tend to sell much faster.

Do you need a lawyer or a solicitor to sell property?

It’s strongly recommended to appoint a solicitor specialising in real estate or conveyancing work in Turkey. They can draw up and translate documents, check over conditions of contracts, give you advice about the selling process and so much more.

This could make your property sale go more smoothly and crucially, help you avoid a costly mistake.

Do you need a Turkish bank account to sell property in Turkey?

It’s not a legal or mandatory requirement to have a Turkish bank account to sell property in the country - although you may find it easier with one.

You’ll need to get in touch with banks in Turkey to find out what the requirements are and if you’re eligible for an account.

You may be able to use an international account for your property sale, or even your current account with a UK bank.

Another thing to note is that international transfers could get expensive, especially if the provider adds a margin to the exchange rate to convert your Turkish lira to British pounds.

Consider checking out Wise to handle your international large transfers with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*.

Taxes and costs when selling a property in Turkey as a non-resident

The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Decisions related to tax should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Now we come to the important question - how much will it cost you to sell a property in Turkey?

Below, we’ll run through the main fees and taxes you need to know about:⁵

Tax/fee name	Rate/fee
Real estate agent commission	Around 2-4% of the sale price
Title deed transfer fee	4% of the sale price, split between buyer and seller
Legal and notary fees	Varies
Capital gains tax (on profit)	15% to 40% if applicable⁶

Real estate agent fees

While it varies, you can expect to pay your real estate agent commission of around 2 to 4% of the total sale price.⁵

Title deed transfer fees

When the title deeds of the property are officially transferred from seller to buyer, there’s a fee of 4% to pay.⁵

This is usually split between both parties, although negotiations are also common. Some sellers may opt to pay the title deed transfer fee in order to make the property more attractive for buyers, or to get the deal over the line.

Legal and notary fees

It’s always recommended to use a solicitor or conveyancer when buying or selling property in Turkey. The cost of this will vary, depending on where you are in the country and what services you use - so you’ll need to get some quotes.

You may also have notary fees to pay, if a notary is involved in the process at any point.

Capital gains tax

When selling property in Turkey, taxes must also be factored into your overall budget, as well as fees. The main one you need to know about is capital gains tax.

If you’ve owned the property you’re selling for under 5 years, you may have to pay capital gains tax. This is due on the profits of selling a property or land, and rates range from 15% to 40%.⁶

If you’ve had the property for more than 5 years, you should be exempt from capital gains tax.

Does owning property in Turkey make you a tax resident?

For anyone considering moving to Turkey (or staying there if you’re a temporary resident), it’s useful to know about tax residency and how it relates to property ownership.

Turkey does have a citizenship by investment programme, which provides a route to Turkish citizenship through a real estate purchase.

However, simply buying property in Turkey doesn’t automatically make you a tax resident in the country. Instead, it’s based on how much time you spend living in the country.

Like many countries, Turkey has something called the 183-day rule to determine tax residency status. You’re considered a tax resident for the year if you spend 183 days or more in Turkey within that calendar year, or if you’re a permanent resident in your Turkish home.⁷

Save money on your Turkish property sale with Wise

Once the deal is done, you’ll need to work out the best way to transfer the proceeds from your Turkish property sale.

If you don’t live in Turkey, you’ll need to send the money back home to the UK. Use your bank to do this, and you could lose out to high transfer fees and poor exchange rates.

Luckily though, there’s an alternative solution available. Use Wise to send money between the UK and Turkey and you’ll get mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*.

It’s quick, reliable and secure, even to transfer large amounts. Wise uses sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures to protect your money.

And it could save you a bundle compared to using certain banks.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

Learn more about sending a large amount transfer with Wise in our video below:

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And that’s it - everything you need to know about selling property in Turkey. We’ve run through all the important stuff, from the steps involved to what fees you’ll need to pay.

With a little preparation and paperwork, you’ll soon be ready to put your Turkish property on the market.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Turkey Homes - Selling Your Property in Turkey
2. Esales International Property - Sell Property in Turkey from the UK
3. Investropa - Will real estate prices in Turkey go up in 2025?
4. TEKCE - Selling a Home in Turkey: Key Tips & Legal Must-Knows
5. Deal - How to Sell Property in Turkey: The Complete Guide for 2025
6. Global Citizen Solutions - Taxes in Turkey for Foreigners: Complete 2025 Tax Guide
7. Pebbles - Turkey Tax Residency: Your Complete Guide to Becoming a Resident

Sources checked on 13-Oct-2025.