Can You Really Make Money Selling Property in Turkey?

According to the financial portal Insider Monkey, which provides investors with insider information on trading and hedge funds, Turkey ranked first among the 20 most promising countries for buying and investing in property (a 2021 ranking). And not without reason.

Turkey is a country with a developing economy and many competitive sectors that compete on the world stage. It is the most profitable market for property investment, with enormous average annual growth of more than 20% in lira (23% in the year to August 2026). But adjusted for inflation, prices are currently falling, so you can only make money on a resale by choosing the right property and timing. Social, political and legal institutions in Turkey are stronger and more stable than in many other developing countries. Residential complexes under construction in Turkey win over foreigners with their combination of quality, high technology and practicality. What else underlies the success of the Turkish property market, and can you make money reselling a home? We explain below.

Prospects for the Turkish housing market

Turkey is actively developing, as are its economic sectors. In particular, the property market is showing optimistic results, attracting investors from all over the world in pursuit of profit. The Turkish daily newspaper Habertürk outlined the factors that show the current situation on the Turkish property market:

Prices in Turkey's major cities are developing dynamically. These include Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Bursa and Izmir.
The cost of housing varies depending on the region, the specific city and the type of property.
Property prices rise every year in all Turkish cities. In August 2026, growth ranged from 13% in Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag provinces to 27% in the east of the country.
The rental market is also developing. Rents may differ depending on the area where the property is located, its specifications and its size.

To see how prices for Turkish property have developed, take a look at the price index data provided by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT).

Month of 2026	Month on month	Year on year	Year on year, adjusted for inflation
January	+3.7%	—	—
February	+1.8%	—	—
March	+2.0%	—	—
April	+1.8%	—	—
May	+1.7%	+24.5%	−6.1%
June	+2.0%	+24.5%	−5.8%
July	+1.5%	+25.0%	−5.1%
August	+0.9%	+23.0%	−6.5%

Central Bank of Turkey house price index (KFE). The table for 2019–2021 has been replaced with 2026 data.

From this, we can conclude that despite the pandemic and widespread restrictions on international travel, home prices continued to rise from January 2019. In 2026, the picture is different: in lira, prices are rising by about 23–25% a year, but more slowly than inflation, and adjusted for it, housing has been getting cheaper for nine months in a row. This means that a profit on a resale in lira may turn out to be a loss in euros or dollars.

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Where is it better to buy?

Choosing property for later resale is not easy, especially when you need to decide which market to go for: new-build or resale. To resolve this dilemma, it is important to know the features of each. First of all, you need to define your goal and assess your financial and practical capabilities. Below, we look at the features of new and resale property in Turkey.

Buying property at the construction stage

New-builds in Turkey bought at the construction stage for resale have become one of the most popular types of investment among foreign buyers. The price of an apartment under construction is more affordable than investing in a completed property, and the installment plan is spread over a longer period.

During construction, property in Turkey rises in value by up to 30%. After the foundation is laid and the frame is built, the developer applies to the Land Registry Office to divide the property into independent units, that is, apartments. As a rule, this happens when the property is 30–50% complete, and once the developer has received a certificate of ownership of real estate in the Republic of Turkey (TAPU) for each apartment, it is ready to hand the property over to its future owners. Such a TAPU is issued with a kat irtifakı annotation, and after the occupancy permit (iskan) is obtained, it is replaced with kat mülkiyeti.

One of the main advantages of buying off-plan is that even while the property is still under construction, the price cannot be changed. If the buyer withdraws from the purchase for any reason, they must pay a penalty of 5–30% of the property price; each developer has its own conditions and penalty amounts. However, Law No. 6502 limits these penalties: within the first 14 days after signing the contract, you can withdraw from the purchase without a penalty, and within 24 months with compensation to the developer of no more than 2% of the price.

The second advantage is a profitable resale. After construction is completed, an apartment in a new residential complex may cost up to 30% more than you originally paid for it. So you can resell it at a profit. Before doing so, it is worth checking how soon you can sell the apartment without extra taxes and restrictions; we have collected the general arguments for and against investing in Turkish real estate in a separate article.

Buying resale property

Resale property is attractive for several reasons:

Price: sales are often urgent, so the price is minimal.
The home is ready to move into and does not require spending on furniture, appliances and air conditioners, and there is no risk of construction delays or an unfinished building.

True, very old resale homes have heavily worn furniture and appliances, and replacing them may involve additional costs.

There are pitfalls: an urgent sale is often linked to a mortgage on the apartment, and the amount of the encumbrance can only be found out at the Land Registry Office. Very cheap completed homes usually carry the risk of lacking the most important document, the occupancy permit, without which electricity and water meters cannot be legally registered. For resale property, it is also worth checking the year of the building permit: it determines which earthquake standards the building was built to, and this affects the price on resale.

How to start making money from Turkish property

If you have become the owner of property in Turkey and want to make money reselling it, you have 2 options:

do it yourself;
go to a real estate agent.

Selling on your own

Even foreign property owners in Turkey can do this themselves. To do so, you need to post a listing on the relevant property sales platforms. The largest Turkish platforms are sahibinden.com, hepsiemlak.com and emlakjet.com.

To roughly estimate the value of your home, you will first need to look at the offers on the market and compare them with your property. If the buyer is a foreigner, the Land Registry will in any case require a valuation report from a licensed company, so it is best to keep the price in the listing close to the market price.

Real estate agent services

A real estate specialist will help you avoid a number of problems that an inexperienced owner selling a home may face; they will help you save money and grow it through a profitable resale. In addition, real estate companies can arrange a proper valuation of the home. The commission by law is no more than 4% of the price plus VAT, usually 2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer. It is best to work with an agency that has a real estate trading permit (yetki belgesi), which can be checked in the state TTBS system.

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Rental yields

According to Global Property Guide research, rental yields in Turkey are less attractive than resale. In Istanbul, the yield ranges from 4.7% to 12.2%. In other areas, rental yields may exceed 4.5%. According to Global Property Guide for the third quarter of 2026, the average gross rental yield in Turkey is 7.86%. Now that prices are falling in real terms, renting out often brings more real income than reselling.

In 2021, yields by Istanbul district were:

In Besiktas, one of Istanbul's most attractive districts, rental yields range from 1.93% to 2.81%.
In Bakirkoy, Istanbul, from 2.2% to 3.56%.
In Beyoglu, on the European side of Istanbul, from 3.06% to 4.71%.
In Kadikoy, on the Asian side of Istanbul, from 3.26% to 4.04%.
In the prestigious Sisli district, from 3.04% to 4.62%.
In Sariyer, in the north of Istanbul, from 1.81% to 3.24%.

Returns from selling property in Turkey

According to the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, home prices across the country rose by 23% in the year to August 2026. The average price per square meter, according to Endeksa for July 2026, is TRY 41,703 (about $848). Annual growth in 2026: 24.5% in May and June, 25.0% in July and 23.0% in August.

However, in real terms, because of persistently high inflation, home price growth is much more modest, or rather, there is none: adjusted for inflation, prices fell by 6.5% in the year to August 2026. The real decline has continued for nine months in a row.

Over the three months from June to August 2026, prices across the country rose by 4.5% in lira.

Price growth in Turkey's major cities (Central Bank index for the year to August 2026, prices from Endeksa for July 2026):

Istanbul: 26.3%, average price per square meter about €1,179; adjusted for inflation, about −4%;
Ankara: 24.8%, average price per square meter about €701; adjusted for inflation, about −5%;
Izmir: 23.3%, average price per square meter about €978; adjusted for inflation, about −6%.

Real growth by city is our calculation based on the Central Bank index; euros are converted at the Central Bank of Turkey rate on October 6, 2026: €1 = TRY 55.19.

Given the figures above, the popularity of Turkish property on the international market is understandable. Investors from all over the world are keen to buy homes at a good price in order to resell them profitably as prices rise. In 2026, this works best when buying at an early stage of construction at a price in foreign currency and selling after 5 years of ownership, when no tax on the gain is due.

How to Earn Rental Income From Property in Turkey

Is a Turkish Mortgage Realistic for Buyers Living Abroad?

Resale costs and taxes in 2026

What	How much
Tax on the gain from a sale within 5 years of ownership	15–40% on a sliding scale; the first TRY 150,000 of the gain is tax-free
Tax after 5 years of ownership	None
Title deed transfer fee (seller's share)	2% of the price (4% in total, by law split equally with the buyer)
Real estate agent's commission	Usually 2% plus 20% VAT from the seller
VAT, if the apartment was bought with the exemption for non-residents	If sold within 3 years, the exemption is cancelled and VAT must be paid
Property bought for citizenship	Cannot be sold for 3 years

"We advise calculating the resale profit in the currency you bought in. If an apartment was bought in euros at the start of construction and is sold after completion and after 5 years of ownership, there are almost no taxes and the price growth stays with you. A quick resale in lira is now often eaten up by inflation and tax," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

Who a resale may not bring a profit to

Those who want to sell within a year or two. Adjusted for inflation, prices are currently falling, and the tax on the gain from a sale within 5 years is up to 40%.
Those who bought for citizenship. The apartment cannot be sold for 3 years.
Those who bought an expensive resale property without checking it. A mortgage on the property, the lack of an iskan or older earthquake standards reduce the price on resale.

Each of these situations is visible in advance. In such cases, buyers choose a project at an early stage with a clear completion date, or keep the apartment longer and rent it out.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make money reselling an apartment in Turkey in 2026?

Yes, but not on every deal. In lira, prices are rising by 23–25% a year, but adjusted for inflation they are falling, so the result depends on the currency of purchase, the construction stage and how long you own the property.

How much does an apartment rise in value during construction?

Up to 30% of the price at the start of sales; the exact figure depends on the project.

What tax is paid when selling an apartment?

If you have owned it for less than 5 years, 15–40% of the gain above TRY 150,000. After 5 years, there is no tax.

How much does a real estate agent charge for a sale?

By law no more than 4% plus VAT, usually 2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer.

Which is more profitable: renting out or reselling?

Renting out is often more reliable now: the average gross yield in Turkey is 7.86%, while real prices are falling.

We will help you buy and profitably sell property in Turkey

Yekta Homes is a competent assistant on the way to buying your dream home in Turkey. The company specializes in finding and selecting apartments from the leading developer in the Antalya region. Here you will receive comprehensive information support on renting, buying and selling Turkish property. Professional agents will select attractive investment offers from a developer in Turkey. As of October 2026, prices in Yekta Homes complexes under construction start from €103,000, and in completed ones from €139,000; it is best to check current terms with a sales manager.