Property Transactions & Due Diligence
A clear understanding of the property and the agreement before committing to a transaction.
Buying or selling property in Turkey calls for a review of the registered asset, the parties and the proposed exchange of payment and title. The review starts before a reservation payment, sale promise or final transfer is signed. It identifies unresolved legal questions and the documents needed to address them.
Issues that may need review
- A seller acts through a representative, or the person requesting payment is not the registered owner.
- The advertised apartment, its independent-unit number and the registered rights do not clearly match.
- A mortgage, seizure, annotation, existing tenant or project restriction affects the proposed transaction.
- The contract does not clearly connect payments, release of security, handover and registration.
Documents for an initial assessment
- Current title information and, where access is legally available, supporting registry documents.
- Draft sale, reservation or sale-promise agreement; payment plan and bank instructions.
- Seller identification or company authority documents, and any power of attorney.
- Available building permit, occupancy documentation, approved plans, management plan and lease.
Process and conditions that matter
The first stage identifies the precise property and the seller’s authority. Registry and available municipal records are then compared with the contract and the intended use. Missing records are recorded as open questions, rather than treated as a clean result.
Before completion, the parties’ obligations, payment sequence and any conditions for clearing an entry should be expressed in the transaction documents. Legal due diligence may identify the need for a surveyor, engineer or valuation specialist; it does not replace physical inspection or valuation.
If you are outside Turkey
A buyer or seller abroad may be represented under a suitable power of attorney. Its form, issuing authority, scope and any translation or legalisation requirements must fit the transaction. Foreign buyers’ eligibility is checked by nationality, property and acquisition route; an English or Russian language preference does not establish nationality.
Questions and answers
Is a copy of the tapu enough to decide whether to buy?
No. A title document identifies a registered property, but an older copy does not show every later entry or answer questions about the building, occupation or contractual obligations.
Does a mortgage disappear when the property is sold?
A transfer alone does not remove the mortgage. Any agreed release must be coordinated with the creditor and the registration process.
Can an online advertisement replace checking the property records?
No. It is useful evidence of what was advertised, but the apartment, plot, seller and legal position must be verified against the relevant records.
Discuss a property matter
Identify the property, the main question and any important approaching date. A passport or a complete case file is not required for the first message.