Why Turkey Remains a Hotspot for Global Property Buyers

Turkey remains one of the most sought-after countries for property investment, offering a blend of strategic location, modern infrastructure, and attractive returns. With a growing real estate market, competitive entry prices, and options such as citizenship by investment, properties for international buyers in Turkey present a smart and versatile choice for global mobility.

Long-term fundamentals further strengthen the Turkish property market. A steadily rising population, ongoing domestic migration from smaller cities to major urban and coastal hubs, and an increase in international migration are all driving sustained demand for housing. This growing demand supports price stability, rental yields, and long-term capital appreciation, reinforcing Turkey’s position as a strong and resilient real estate investment destination.

Tourism, Smart Cities, and Migration Fuel Turkey’s Property Market Growth

Turkey’s strongest-performing property markets increasingly overlap with cities that successfully combine economic activity, tourism appeal, and improved accessibility. As a member of the Group of Twenty (G20), the world’s leading economies, Turkey continues to benefit from large-scale public investment in infrastructure and urban transformation projects. These long-term initiatives enhance connectivity, modernize city centers, and sıupport sustainable growth, directly impacting real estate values over time.

Turkey is increasingly aligning its real estate sector with global sustainability standards, as reflected in the growing number of LEED-certified residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects that emphasize energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and long-term value creation.

This sustained momentum strengthens the appeal of Turkish real estate for foreigners, as recent data and ongoing development highlight why select destinations consistently outperform. In addition, Turkey’s young and dynamic population, combined with its globally competitive tourism sector, drives strong rental demand and income potential while supporting steady capital appreciation across key residential mixed-use markets.

Growing Foreign Demand

According to figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), foreign home purchases in Ankara, Muğla, and Sakarya rose sharply in June 2025, marking a 26.2% year-on-year increase. These cities reflect different buyer motivations; from Ankara’s stable rental demand driven by government and education sectors, to Muğla’s lifestyle-focused markets, and Sakarya’s affordability paired with proximity to İstanbul.

Tourism Affect

Tourism continues to drive significant demand. In the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Turkey climbed to 4th place globally, overtaking Italy. This sustained visitor growth directly supports short-term rentals and branded residence projects in cities such as Antalya, İstanbul, and Mersin, among the most popular destinations in Turkey for real estate investment, which also ranked as the top three cities for total housing sales, following a 35.8% annual jump to 107,723 units nationwide.

New Growth Opportunities

Meanwhile, emerging markets are entering a new growth cycle. Trabzon is witnessing a shift toward modern residential developments, mixed-use projects, and improved urban planning. These new projects are redefining the city’s appeal for both domestic and international buyers seeking sea views, cooler climates, and long-term appreciation value. Property investment in Turkey increasingly centers on cities that deliver not only attractive returns, but also strong lifestyle fundamentals and long-term urban vision.

Accessibility

Accessibility has become a key driver of demand. The advantageous location of Turkey is strengthened by Turkish Airlines, the world’s largest airline. Turkish Airlines is the flagship company flying to the most destinations, serving 285 destinations in 122 countries, and continuously expanding its routes, including all five continents.

Also, other airline companies are constantly increasing their connections. Direct flights from the UK to Bodrum and Dalaman have made Muğla easier to reach, while direct routes from Dublin and Cork to İzmir and Muğla are expanding access from Ireland. At the same time, direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Antalya are strengthening Turkey’s appeal to international property buyers in Turkey and supporting year-round property demand. Additionally, the opening of Çukurova International Airport in 2024 has strengthened connectivity across southern Turkey, boosting investor interest in surrounding residential and commercial zones.

Smart Cities

Beyond tourism and transport, innovation-driven cities are gaining attention. Bursa, recognized by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as one of the Smart21 Communities of 2025, stands out for its focus on digital infrastructure and sustainable urban growth. Such recognition enhances long-term confidence among buyers seeking resilient, future-ready markets.

Real estate investment in Turkey continues to benefit from this multi-layered growth, where tourism strength, infrastructure upgrades, and smart-city initiatives converge.

Top Reasons to Buy Property in Turkey

Here are some of the top reasons to invest in Turkey’s property market.

Affordable Property Options

Despite recent price increases, buying property in Turkey remains significantly more affordable compared to most EU and Middle Eastern countries. Especially in emerging and high-potential cities such as Mersin, Trabzon, Yalova, and Bursa, first-time buyers and investors can still find competitively priced properties with strong growth potential. On this page, you can see the cost of buying property in Turkey.

Strong Rental Yields

Turkey's real estate market offers attractive rental income opportunities for both short-term rentals, supported by tourism, internal migration, and a young population. Every year, millions of students and professionals move from smaller cities to major urban centers such as İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, and Antalya for university education and employment. With around 6.7 million higher-education students nationwide and a median age of about 30, demand for rental housing remains strong, especially near universities, business districts, and transport hubs.

Foreign demand supports rental yields, as Turkey hosts over 1.5 million foreign residents, many of whom prefer renting in developed cities. Ongoing urban transformation projects in major metropolitan areas improve housing quality and infrastructure, increasing rental appeal and occupancy rates. At the same time, Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations, such as Bodrum, Fethiye, Alanya, and Kuşadası, benefit from strong seasonal tourism, high occupancy levels, and premium short-term rental potential.

Together, population mobility, international inflows, and tourism create steady rental demand and consistent yields across Turkey’s key property markets.

Strategic Location

Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Turkey provides excellent global connectivity. This strategic position enhances its appeal for international buyers, digital nomads, and investors looking for easy access to multiple regions. Supported by Turkish Airlines’ extensive flight network, connecting Turkey to more countries than any other airline, Turkey has experienced a notable rise in its expat population in recent years. This accessibility continues to attract digital nomads with the rise in popularity of remote work and global professionals, making Turkey particularly attractive for those looking to live, work, and invest abroad while staying closely connected to the world.

Turkey’s strategic position is also reflected in tourism figures. According to CEOWORLD and Euromonitor International, Turkey ranked 11th globally in 2025, welcoming 51.75 million international visitors. On a city level, İstanbul attracted 19.7 million visitors while Antalya welcomed 18.6 million, driving strong rental demand and investment potential.

This connectivity and visitor volume make Turkey a strategically strong and globally connected property investment destination. Here, discover the best places to buy property in Turkey for real estate investment.

High Quality of Life

The quality of life in Turkey is especially attractive for international buyers and investors. According to an HSBC survey of over 18,000 expatriates from 163 countries, Turkey ranked 7th globally among the best countries to live and work. This appeal is supported by Turkey’s Digital Nomad Visa and the global rise of remote working, which allows professionals to live in Turkey while maintaining international careers, particularly in major cities and coastal lifestyle destinations. The results highlight strong lifestyle satisfaction: 62% of expatriates reported a higher quality of life compared to their home countries, 52% said they enjoyed more family time, and 55% felt they could afford a better home and car.

In addition, 59% of respondents stated they felt safe in Turkey and well integrated with the local population, supported by the country’s strong tourism-driven social environment. Combined with a favorable climate, rich culture, renowned cuisine, modern healthcare, and lifestyle options ranging from dynamic cities to peaceful coastal towns, Turkey delivers a balanced and rewarding living experience for homeowners and investors alike.

Modern Infrastructure and Ongoing Development

Significant investments in transportation, healthcare, and urban development continue to strengthen Turkey’s real estate market. New airports, highways, residential projects, and mixed-use developments contribute to long-term value growth and investor confidence.

A Market That Continues to Deliver for International Buyers

Rising demand for infrastructure growth, and sustained international interest continue to support foreign direct investment in Turkey across both established and emerging property markets.

For investors and lifestyle buyers alike, there is still a broad selection of property in Turkey to buy that offers a balance of affordability, rental potential, and long-term value.

Clear regulations, accessible purchase procedures, and investor-friendly policies make buying property in Turkey for foreigners a practical and secure option in today’s global real estate landscape.

For those also considering daily life beyond investment, you can explore our article on Is Turkey a Good Place to Live for Expats? to gain a deeper perspective on living standards, lifestyle, and long-term relocation advantages.

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