Selling a home as a non-resident involves more than finding a buyer. Start by checking the current title record, the identity of every registered owner, any mortgage or annotation, and whether shared building charges or utility accounts need to be settled or transferred.
Prepare a traceable sale file
Collect the title details, purchase records, renovation invoices and any representation documents. Agree in writing on the sale price, what remains in the property, the completion date and who pays each transaction item. Arrange for a qualified translator if you do not understand the deed or payment documents. Use the land-registry process to register the transfer; a private sale agreement alone does not update ownership.
Ask about tax before the deal closes
The Turkish Revenue Administration explains that, for individuals, gains from disposing of certain property acquired for consideration within five years may be treated as capital-gains income, subject to statutory rules and exceptions. Inheritance, transaction character, inflation adjustment, annual exemptions and other details can change the result. Keep the acquisition date and documented costs, and ask a Turkish tax adviser to assess your own case using the current year's guidance. See the Revenue Administration's 2026 guide.
For the closing, coordinate the payment and title registration through a traceable method and keep receipts. If the buyer is a foreign national, ask whether the DAB procedure applies to them. Read our guides to secure property payment and the DAB certificate.
Continue this practical series with the previous guide and the next guide.
Rules and procedures may change. Confirm the requirements for your own case with the responsible authority or a qualified local professional before acting.
