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In advertisements on purchasing Turkish property and real estate websites, including ours, you often see the phrase 'straight forward buying process'. That sounds wonderful but is empty until you've experienced it yourself.

However every word of the phrase is true, buying property in Turkey is as easy as buying a sofa set or ordering goods online. The whole process takes no more than 1,5 hours and after that you can call yourself a Turkish home owner!

How does it work? We will take you through a sale when you are present and one where you are not in Turkey at all.

In Turkey:
* After viewing several properties (or just one) you've made up your mind and ready to commit to a sale
* We contact the builder/owner and set up a meeting with a lawyer to make up the sales agreement.
* At the lawyer's office we sometimes negotiate extra's (air-conditioners, white goods, repairs) to be taken into the sales agreement.
* A copy of your passport is made, and the lawyer draws up a sales agreement on the property.
* A translator will be present and translate any questions you might have and ofcourse the answers that follows.
* The translator will translate the Turkish sales agreement into English so you can read it extensively yourself.
* You will carefully read your agreement and check if everything is in it (the property you are buying, the deposit you are making, maybe arrangements made with the builder, your payment plan etc.) When you agree with everything you sign the agreement.
* In total you will sign 4 copies in Turkish and 4 copies in English. A set for each; buyer, seller, lawyer and translator.

After this the property is yours, taking in account that you ofcourse will pay the selling price.

What you do need to know is that the person(s) who signed the sales agreement from the buyer's side, need(s) to be present at the time of title deed (TAPU) transfer.

When you cannot be present at the time the title deed is transferred, you can arrange a Power of Attorney. Which means your agent or lawyer or any other person of your choosing can complete the purchase for you. Power of Attorney is arranged through a notary.

You can also purchase Turkish property when you are not IN the country. For instance you want to get in on off-plan property or you have seen a house while on holiday and wanted to check your financial situation at home first.

This way of buying is not uncommon at all and safe when done through a reputed and trustworthy agency. Underneath the steps on how to buy in Turkey from your own country.

Outside Turkey:
* Through communicating with your agent you've found the property of your liking.
* Based on the information your agent has given you, they will negotiate with the builder (repairs, air-conditioners etc.)
* You will provide a copy of your passport and a sales agreement is drafted by a lawyer, stating the property you are buying, the deposit you are making, maybe arrangements made with the builder, your payment plan etc.
* The agreement is translated into English and a copy is sent over to you (e-mail/fax) for reading.
* When you've read the agreement and have nothing to add or change, you will return the copy signed together with the agreed deposit.
* After receipt of the signed copy, your agent will send out all the signed originals for you to sign and return.

After this, the property is yours. Your agent will keep you posted on progress (in case of off-plan property), repairs, renovations or installation of appliances.

As you can see, buying property in Turkey is extremely simple. There are no hidden extra's, the property is free hold and there are no strange time-share constructions.

Any questions on buying property in Turkey? Post them on the forum or leave us an email.