🏡 Top 5 Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make When Purchasing Property in Turkey – And How to Avoid Them

Buying real estate in Turkey can be a rewarding experience—whether you’re looking for a dream home by the sea, a high-return investment, or a foothold for Turkish residency. But like any international market, there are risks. At Mac Realtors, we’ve helped hundreds of international clients avoid costly mistakes. In this post, we’ll walk you through the 5 most common pitfalls and how you can steer clear of them.

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1. Not Working with a Licensed Real Estate Agency

Many buyers connect with agents through social media or online listings, without checking credentials. This can lead to inflated prices or legal issues.

✅ Solution: Always choose a licensed and experienced real estate agency that specializes in working with foreign buyers. Ask for their business registration and past client reviews.

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2. Skipping Legal Due Diligence

Some properties may have hidden debts, unclear title deeds, or even lack construction approval.

✅ Solution: Hire a trusted lawyer or work with an agency that includes legal services. All title deeds (Tapu), permits, and registry info should be verified before signing anything.

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3. Trusting Verbal Promises

Developers or agents may promise rental guarantees, future value increases, or perks that are never delivered.

✅ Solution: Make sure all promises are written into the contract—in both Turkish and English. Never rely on verbal agreements.

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4. Underestimating Taxes and Extra Costs

Aside from the property price, buyers are often surprised by VAT, Tapu transfer tax, legal fees, translator costs, and furniture expenses.

✅ Solution: Ask for a full breakdown of all expected costs. A transparent agency should give you this before any agreement is signed.

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5. Choosing the Wrong Location

Some buyers focus only on price, not realizing the area may lack infrastructure, transport, or future growth potential.

✅ Solution: Focus on balance—location, quality, growth, and lifestyle. For example, Kartal offers sea views, modern infrastructure, metro access, and excellent long-term potential.

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✅ Final Thoughts

Buying a property in a foreign country is a big decision—but it doesn’t have to be risky. With the right guidance, you can make a safe, smart, and successful investment in Turkey.

If you’re considering buying in Istanbul, let our team at Mac Realtors guide you every step of the way—from legal checks to viewing exclusive projects and navigating the Tapu process.

📞 Contact us today for a free consultation.