With a historic 8.84 million applications, Turkey’s record-breaking “Ev Sahibi Türkiye” housing project has reached its most anticipated milestone. Following the official closure of applications on December 18, the Turkey government housing project is now moving toward the lottery draws that will determine the final beneficiaries.
Why Ev Sahibi Türkiye Received Record Applications in İstanbul
Turkey’s nationwide housing project across 81 provinces is set to deliver a total of 500,000 social housing units to meet the public housing demand in Turkey. The mega-project has accessible financial terms, including a 10% down payment and repayment plans up to 240 months. The youth category showed the highest interest, with 1,326,000 applications. The project received a record number of applications in İstanbul.
Understanding the Two-Stage Lottery Process: What Happens Next?
The selection process for the Ev Sahibi Türkiye housing project will be managed through a two-stage lottery system. To ensure maximum transparency, all draws will be conducted in the presence of a notary public and will be available for live streaming.
The first stage of the lottery (Eligibility Draw) will be held between December 29 and February 27 to determine the primary and substitute beneficiaries. This stage will identify who is officially entitled to purchase a home within the state-supported housing projects.
The second stage (Unit Assignment Draw) will occur starting from late February. This stage determines the building block, floor number, and apartment type.
A key aspect of this Turkey housing project news is the security of the application fees. For unsuccessful applicants, the 5,000 TL application fee will be fully refunded. For successful applicants, the 5,000 TL fee will be automatically deducted from the required 10% down payment during the contract signing phase.
While İstanbul leads demand with 100,000 units, a specific lottery calendar for the city has not yet been released. Applicants can monitor the official e-Devlet (e-Government) portal and the TOKİ website for the finalized local schedule.
A First in Turkey: TOKİ Debuts a Social Rental Housing Model in İstanbul
To meet the growing İstanbul social housing demand, the government is introducing an innovative social rental housing model. First of its kind in Turkey, the program aims to alleviate the financial burden on tenants and offer an affordable housing program in Turkey.
In the initial phase, a total of 15,000 rental units will be constructed in İstanbul. The monthly rent will be set at 50% of the local housing market rate. Similar to the homeownership program, tenants for these social units will be selected through a transparent draw in the presence of a notary. The properties will be rented for three years, and the rent will be updated afterward. The maintenance and management of the rented housing units will be carried out by TOKİ.
TOKİ 2026 Payment Plans for İstanbul and Turkey Average
The financial timeline for the project will officially start after the second draw. Upon signing the official contract, right holders will be expected to pay a 10% down payment of the total property value. The first monthly installments are expected to begin in March 2026. Monthly payments will be rearranged twice a year based on the civil servants’ salary increase rate from the previous period.
The project offers a distinctive way for affordable housing in İstanbul with down payments for 1-bedroom apartments starting at 195,000 TL and monthly installments of 7,313. For 2-bedroom apartments, down payments range from 245,000 TL to 295,000 TL, and monthly payments range from 9,188 TL to 11,063 TL, depending on the unit size.
In the Anatolian regions, monthly installments will range between 6,750 TL and 9,938 TL, with down payments varying from 180,000 TL to 265,000 TL depending on the size of the apartment.
Note: Monthly installments will be updated semi-annually based on the civil servant salary increase rate to maintain the project’s financial sustainability.
