Overview of the Property Market in Turkey 2026

If you have not reviewed Turkey’s housing market since the mid‑2010s, the picture today is quite different. Official figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) show a large domestic market alongside a smaller but still meaningful foreign segment. The snapshot below reflects the full‑year 2025 release (the latest annual benchmark widely cited as of early 2026) and what it implies for buyers comparing Istanbul, the Mediterranean coast—including Antalya and the Belek side of the market—and other hubs.

National housing sales remain very deep

In 2025, Turkey recorded about 1.69 million residential transactions nationwide—often described in press coverage of TÜİK data as a historically strong year for turnover. Activity is spread across new and second‑hand stock; mortgage use and pricing dynamics vary by city and project segment, so lumping “the whole country” into one trend line rarely matches what you see on a specific listing.

Foreign buyers: smaller share, familiar geography

Sales to foreign nationals totaled roughly 21,500 units in 2025, or about 1.3% of all housing sales—both figures widely reported from TÜİK’s disclosure. That foreign total was down around 9% compared with 2024, continuing a multi‑year pattern where overseas demand moves with currency, pricing, and eligibility rules rather than tracking domestic volume one‑for‑one.

Provincially, Istanbul and Antalya remained the two largest magnets for foreign purchasers (on the order of roughly 8,000 and 7,100 sales respectively in 2025, as summarized in national reporting of TÜİK tables). Mersin also ranked prominently. For coastal investors, Antalya’s scale explains why sub‑markets such as Belek continue to see steady international interest alongside Turkish buyers.

Who is buying

Reporting on TÜİK’s nationality breakdown for 2025 typically highlights buyers from the Russian Federation, Iran, and Ukraine among the largest groups by volume. Mix shifts year to year as mobility rules, exchange rates, and relative home prices change; use these rankings as orientation, not as a forecast.

Prices, regulation, and due diligence

Unlike the mid‑2010s boom narrative built on rapid liberalization and reciprocity changes, today’s market is shaped more by macro conditions (inflation, interest rates, FX), title‑deed and zoning scrutiny, and evolving pathways related to residence permits or citizenship through qualifying investment—thresholds and procedures change, so paperwork should be verified with a qualified lawyer at the time of purchase.

What this means for you

Türkiye still offers breadth—megacity liquidity in Istanbul, resort and lifestyle demand around Antalya, and value‑seeking segments in emerging provinces—but success depends on hyperlocal comps, developer track record, and exit liquidity. Treat aggregated national statistics as context; negotiate on the actual flat or villa in front of you.

Author: Maximos Real Estate

15/05/2026