Expenses of Property Purchase in Turkey

Buyers will be delighted to know that expenses when buying a property in Turkey are low compared to other countries. Still, knowing exactly how much extra you will pay, makes the process smoother, so we have listed the expected costs below. Prices are set in Turkish Lira (₺) and are rough guidelines. When you ask about any particular property for sale, we prepare a detailed payment plan, so you know exactly what to pay and when

Expenses for Buying Property in Turkey (2026)

There are several additional costs to consider when buying a property in Turkey, beyond the purchase price. These include appraisal, title deed, currency exchange, agency, and utility fees, etc. The following sections explain these expenses in more detail, so you can plan your budget with confidence.

Real Estate Appraisal Report Fee

In Turkey, an appraisal report isn’t required for typical property transactions, but it is mandatory for citizenship or residency applications, and must be obtained before the title deed transfer in sales to foreigners. The cost of an SPK report is calculated based on the size and characteristics of the property.

The appraisal report costs between:

• ₺26.000 and ₺137.733 for residential properties up to 1,000 m².
• ₺28.283 and ₺92.158 for commercial properties up to 10,000 m².
• ₺35.421 and ₺92.017 for plots of land up to 25,000 m².
• ₺27.683 and ₺45.052 for agricultural land up to 100,000 m².

Buyers pay this cost directly to the Real Estate Appraisal Department of Land Registry and Cadastre. The completion time of the appraisal report lasts 2 - 3 days.

Title Deed

The Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü) charges 4% of the property value at the time of signing for your title deed in Turkey. Declared property values adhere to local council price brackets and these are often less than the sales price. In addition, the Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate charges a one-time processing fund fees - Döner Sermaye Harcı and Tapu Kadastro Harcı.

Revolving Fund Service Fee: The Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate also charges a revolving fund service fee. The amount is calculated according to the type of transaction and the applicable local coefficient. For property transfers involving foreign parties, an additional fixed fee is charged for each property or independent unit. The applicable amount may change according to the current annual tariff.

Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB)

Foreign buyers may need to buy foreign currency through a bank in Turkey when paying for a property. During this process, a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB) is issued, and some additional costs may apply.

Foreign exchange transaction tax of 0.2% (0.002 or ‰2) may be charged on the transaction amount. Banks may also charge an exchange fee of approximately 0.5% to 1%, depending on the bank and the transaction.

Agent Fee

According to the regulation, the real estate agent fee is between 3% and 6% + VAT of the sales price and this rate is charged to the buyer. Since some sellers assume the finder's fee to make their portfolios more attractive, the buyer commission does not appear in many of our properties.

When you check out properties for sale on our website, some properties show Estate Agency Fee is included, and some properties show a 2% Estate Agency Fee is demanded. It totally depends on the property seller's choice.

Translator and POA Fees

At the time of signing for your title deeds, you will need a certified and sworn translator. Translator and Power of Attorney fees vary depending on the language and length of the content as well as from one office to another.

Notary procedures generally start from ₺8.000 and may increase depending on the type of transaction. Mranwhile, power of attorney fees typically range from ₺5.000 to ₺25.000. The sworn translator fee is on average €150, depending on the number and type of documents.

Electricity, Water and Telephone Connections

The electricity and water subscription fees in İstanbul vary from district to district.

When you get a first-time electricity or water subscription, you pay the connection fee, deposit amount, stamp tax, and file fee. Their transfer fees are as much as the deposit amount and additional DASK amount if DASK's time has expired.

Electricity subscription fees in Turkey are set by distribution companies. In İstanbul, the electricity security deposit for 2026 is around ₺1.890 for a typical residential subscription. The electricity connection and disconnection fee is around ₺140 for low-voltage subscribers and ₺1.048 for medium-voltage subscribers.

In İstanbul, the water security deposit is ₺1.690,50 for residential properties, and the contribution fee for water infrastructure is ₺3.295,80. For workplaces, the security deposit is ₺4.427,40, while the water infrastructure contribution fee remains ₺3.295,80. For foreign buyers, water subscription costs under the temporary accommodation category can be higher and may range from ₺13.000 to ₺15.000.

Natural gas subscription costs are around ₺7.000-₺10.000, depending on the property and subscription conditions.

Internet subscription fees start from around ₺850. The final cost may vary depending on the provider and the selected package.

Please note that to get a landline, you need to have a Turkish residence permit.

Property Insurance (DASK)

By law, every home must have "DEPREM SİGORTASI" which is earthquake insurance. The amount of property insurance depends on the size of your property. The annual policy cost ranges on average between ₺885 and ₺5.000, depending on the insurance company used, as well as the property’s size, age, and risk category. Optional insurance costs include fire, theft, damage, and contents.

Annual Property Tax

Property owners pay an annual property tax of 0.2% for residential properties in metropolitan municipalities and 0.1% in non-metropolitan areas. Commercial properties are subject to a 0.4% tax rate in metropolitan municipalities and 0.2% in non-metropolitan areas. When signing for the title deed, the seller must ensure there are no property tax debts.

This article details purchase expenses when buying a property in Turkey, but our article about the cost-of-living lets you know how much to budget for monthly groceries and running costs. We are also available via email, phone, or by dropping into one of our offices if you want to speak to a local sales rep about investing in the Turkish real estate market.

Lawyer Fee

Istanbul Homes has professional sales contracts approved by our company lawyer. We are experts in title deed transfers with zero failure in real estate sales to foreigners. Our customers who prefer Istanbul Homes do not need a lawyer.

However, since the citizenship process is more intricate, we recommend that you complete your process with a lawyer. We provide a list of several independent English speaking lawyers for you to choose from.

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