When Can You Sell Property Bought in Turkey?

If you are interested in buying property abroad as an investment, we recommend buying an apartment or villa in Turkey at an early stage of construction. In this case, before the building is completed you can resell the apartment by assigning the contract with the developer, and after completion as soon as ownership (the TAPU) is registered. Registering the TAPU after construction is completed can take several months, especially if you are the first foreigner buying an apartment in that building. Both the developer and numerous real estate agencies can help you with the resale. The law does not set a general minimum holding period: you can sell an apartment at any time after receiving the TAPU. There are restrictions only in certain cases, described below. We look at how realistic it is to make a profit selling property in a separate article.

For example, you buy an attractive investment property for €100,000 at the construction stage and pay a down payment of €10,000. At the end of construction, about a year later, the building is completed and its value rises to €115,000 (this is a hypothetical example: price growth depends on the project and the market). To save on costs, you can resell the property by assigning the contract and earn up to 15% of the purchase price.

If you need to sell property abroad urgently, you can do so even before the TAPU application is submitted: in this case, the contract with the developer is terminated by mutual agreement. Of course, the apartment or house must not be encumbered by a mortgage. It is possible to sell an apartment mortgaged to a Turkish bank, but the procedure is somewhat more complicated, because the collateral can only be disposed of with the consent of the mortgagee, that is, the bank. Either way, the proceeds must first be used to repay the loan.

Note also that if you sell the property less than 5 years after receiving the TAPU, you will have to pay tax on the gain at 15% to 40% on the 2026 progressive scale; the first TRY 150,000 of the gain is tax-free. This is why it is very important that the TAPU states the real price of the property: in that case, tax is paid only on the increase in its value.

In any case, Turkey remains one of the most interesting options for those who want to buy property abroad and earn good returns. In lira, homes are becoming more expensive: prices rose by 23% in the year to August 2026, but inflation was higher, so adjusted for inflation prices fell by 6.5%. An apartment in Alanya let on a long-term basis pays for itself in about 20 years on average (Endeksa). In addition, property can also be rented out to the many tourists who come to Turkey all year round, and reliable developers are often ready to find tenants for your apartment or villa.

Contents:

• When you cannot sell, or when it does not pay to sell
• Tax on a sale within 5 years: an example
• Who a quick resale is not right for
• Frequently asked questions

When you cannot sell, or when it does not pay to sell

Tax on a sale within 5 years: an example

An apartment was bought for TRY 6,000,000 and sold 2 years later for TRY 7,500,000. The gain is TRY 1,500,000 (about €27,200).

1. The tax-free TRY 150,000 (the 2026 amount) is deducted from the gain, leaving TRY 1,350,000.

2. The tax is calculated on the 2026 scale: 15% up to TRY 190,000, 20% up to TRY 400,000, 27% up to TRY 1,000,000, 35% up to TRY 5,300,000.

3. The total is TRY 355,000, about €6,430.

In practice, the tax is usually lower. If the producer price index rose by at least 10% during ownership, the purchase price is indexed for inflation, and purchase costs such as the title deed transfer fee are also deducted from the gain. Euro amounts are converted at the Central Bank of Turkey exchange rate on October 6, 2026: €1 = TRY 55.19. The tax return is filed by March 31 of the following year.

After 5 years of ownership, no capital gains tax is due, however much the apartment is worth. A sale of a home received by inheritance is not taxed either.

"We advise investors planning a resale to calculate two dates right away: when the property will be completed and when 5 years from the purchase will have passed. Sometimes it pays to keep the apartment longer and rent it out rather than sell earlier and pay the tax," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

Who a quick resale is not right for

• Those buying for citizenship. The property cannot be sold for 3 years.
• Those counting on a profit in euros within a year or two. In real terms, prices are currently falling, and the tax on a sale within 5 years reduces the return.
• Those who obtained a residence permit on the basis of this apartment. After the sale, they will need another basis for living in Turkey.

All these restrictions are visible before buying. The holding period is usually planned in advance, and the property is chosen to match: one under construction for resale, a completed one for renting and long-term ownership.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum holding period for property in Turkey?

Generally, no. The exception is property bought for citizenship, which cannot be sold for 3 years.

What tax is paid when selling an apartment?

If you sell within 5 years of purchase, tax is charged on the gain above TRY 150,000 at 15–40%. After 5 years, there is no tax.

Can an apartment be sold before the TAPU is issued?

Yes, by assigning the contract with the developer or terminating it by mutual agreement.

Can a mortgaged apartment be sold?

Yes, with the bank's consent. The buyer's money first goes to repay the loan.