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 when Buying Property in Turkey (2026)

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. This fee ranges between TRY 26,000 and TRY 37,733 for residential properties (1 - 1,000 m²); TRY 28,283 and TRY 92,158 for commercial properties (1 - 10,000 m²); TRY 27,683 and TRY 45,052 for agricultural land (1 - 100,000 m²); and TRY 35,421 to TRY 92,017 for plots of land (1 and 25,000 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 fee: if both the buyer and the seller are Turkish, TRY 6,681; if the buyer is Turkish and the seller is foreign, TRY 27,549; if the buyer is foreign and the seller is Turkish, TRY 27,549; if both the buyer and the seller are foreign, TRY 48,417.

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 TRY 8,000 and may increase depending on the type of transaction. Passport translation and power of attorney fees are fixed at EUR 100 in many offices. The sworn translator fee is on average TRY 2,000, 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 TRY 1,890. The electricity connection and disconnection fee ranges between TRY 75 and TRY 1,048 for low- and medium-voltage subscribers.

In İstanbul, the water connection and disconnection fee is TRY 507, the security deposit is TRY 1,573.50, and the contribution fee for water infrastructure is TRY 3,295.80. For workplaces, the security deposit is TRY 4,120.80, while the water infrastructure contribution fee remains TRY 3,295.80. For foreigners under the temporary accommodation category, total costs may start from TRY 10,000.

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 TRY 885 and TRY 2,000, 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

Every home must pay a yearly property tax which is 0.2% in metropolitan municipalities and 0.1% in non-metropolitan areas. Commercial properties pay 0.4% in urban districts and 0.2% in non-metropolitan areas. When signing for the title deeds, 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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