Costs of Buying Real Estate in Turkey: Taxes & Fees

There might be additional expenses when buying a property in Turkey. Throughout the buying process, our experts will inform you about the expenses. Thus, you can make your budget adjustment more comfortable and avoid unnecessary expenses. When buying a property in Turkey, you should consider an additional 4% to 5% of the purchase price to cover additional costs.

Buying property in Turkey comes with different costs. Here’s a list of the main ones to help you know what to expect:

• Appraisal Report Fee (Only for citizenship/residence applications)
• Title Deed (Tapu) Transfer Fees
• Real Estate Agent Fee
• Property Tax (Emlak Vergisi)
• Property and Earthquake Insurance (DASK)
• Getting Connected: Electricity and Water
• Telephone and Internet
• Maintenance Fee (Aidat)
• Lawyer Expenses

Detailed Explanation of the Costs & Fees

Last updated on 04.03.2026.

1. Appraisal Report Fee

The appraisal report determines the average market value of the property. While not mandatory for standard property purchases, an appraisal report is legally required for buyers intending to apply for citizenship or a residence permit.

The appraisal report costs between;

• TRY 26,000 and TRY 137,733 for residential properties up to 1,000 m².
• TRY 28,283 and TRY 92,158 for commercial properties up to 10,000 m².
• TRY 35,421 and TRY 92,017 for plots of land up to 25,000 m².
• TRY 27,683 and TRY 45,052 for agricultural land up to 100,000 m².

The appraisal fee is paid by the buyer to an SPK-licensed (Sermaye Piyasası Kurulu - Capital Markets Board regulator) valuation expert. The appraisal report is usually delivered within 2-3 days.

2. Title Deed (Tapu) Transfer Fees

There could be various costs during the transfer of title deeds. The first and main cost is the Title Deed Transfer Tax. According to the law, the buyer pays 2% and the seller pays 2% according to the declared price. The declared price fact is explained in Tips on Legal Process. According to the customs in Turkey, the buyer pays all taxes.

The other expenses that you may face during the title deed transfer are as follows;

• Sworn translator fee: Depends on the work that will be done, but the average cost is TRY 2.000.
• Passport translation and power of attorney total fee: Approximately EUR 100 per person.
• The one-time circulating capital transaction fee (Döner Sermaye Harcı) and Cadastre Tax are determined based on the citizenship status of the buyer and the seller. If both the buyer and the seller are Turkish, the fee is TRY 6,681; if one party is Turkish and the other is foreign, it is TRY 27,549; if both parties are foreign, it is TRY 48,417.
• Translation of address document at the notary to open a bank account
• Obtaining tax number
• Photos

3. Real Estate Agent Fee

The real estate agent fee in Turkey may vary between 3% and 6% + VAT of the sales prices, depending on the negotiation. The buyer and the seller pay separately.

4. Property Tax (Emlak Vergisi)

The property tax in Turkey is paid annually. The real estate taxes vary depending on the location and the type of property. For instance, the tax rate for residences in metropolitan areas is 0.2%, and it is determined as 0.1% in non-metropolitan areas. The tax rate for commercial properties within metropolitan areas is 0.4% and 0.2% in the non-metropolitan areas.

5. Property and Earthquake Insurance

Natural disaster insurance, known as DASK, is compulsory for all real estate. DASK (Doğal Afet Sigorta Kurumu), the earthquake insurance in Turkey, covers the risks that may occur after an earthquake, like fire, explosion, erosion, etc. In 2026, it costs generally between TRY 885 - 2.000; however, it can change according to the features of the property.

You can also take out a home insurance policy to protect yourself from undesirable issues like theft. The cost of property insurance varies according to the issues it covers and the features of the property.

6. Getting Connected: Electricity and Water

Upon taking ownership, you must arrange for electricity and water subscriptions, with costs varying based on whether it is a new connection or a transfer. For first-time connections, the average cost is around TRY 3,500 for electricity and TRY 3,377 for water. Water fees for foreigners under the temporary accommodation category may exceed TRY 11,000. If you are transferring an existing subscription, costs are lower, averaging TRY 2,000 for electricity and TRY 590 for water. An additional DASK amount is also required if the DASK has expired.

7. Telephone and Internet

You can apply for telephone and internet subscriptions when you have a residence permit. You may choose the most suitable company for your needs. However, the starting price of the internet subscription is TRY 420 monthly. Setup fees change depending on the operating company.

8. Maintenance Fee (Aidat in Turkish)

A monthly maintenance fee is paid in residential complexes. It is paid for maintenance of communal areas like pools, gardens, security, stairwell electricity, etc.

9. Lawyer Expenses

We recommend that you work with a lawyer who speaks in your mother tongue so that the process can be carried out smoothly. You don’t need to hire a lawyer if you are a TEKCE customer. Our lawyers will follow every step of the process and inform you.

If you decide to hire a lawyer, the lawyer fee will change depending on the type of the process like citizenship application, residence permit application, title deed transfer, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions About Property Purchase Costs in Turkey