Fr om May 1, 2026, the Safe Payment System will become mandatory for the sale of residential properties and land plots in Türkiye, already applied in transactions with used cars. The purpose of the innovation is to increase market safety and transparency.
According to the President of the Turkish Realtors Federation, Hadji Ali Taylan, the new rules will eliminate the risks of fraud, theft, and counterfeit money that occur in direct payments between the buyer and the seller.
The essence of the system is simple: the buyer’s money is blocked in a special protected account until the official registration of ownership in the cadastre (Tapu). Only after the procedure is completed, the funds are transferred to the seller. In case of problems during the transaction, the money remains safe in the account.
The system will be integrated with the e-Devlet service, allowing citizens and realtors to submit applications and conduct operations through a digital platform. The Ministry of Trade has already made changes to the Real Estate Trading Regulation, and the project will soon be finally approved.
According to Taylan, alongside the safe payment system, mandatory electronic verification of all real estate sale listings, previously applied only to rentals, will be introduced. This will create unified digital control over transactions and significantly reduce informal operations in the market.
The innovation is part of a broader industry regulation program and brings the Turkish real estate market closer to international safety and transparency standards.
Fr om May 1, 2026, cash payments and informal agreements will gradually disappear from the market, and transactions will become more secure and transparent for all participants.
Why buying real estate in Türkiye is safe for foreigners
Full ownership rights
Foreigners receive full ownership (Tapu) of an apartment, house, or land plot. This means they have the same rights as Turkish citizens: they can sell, rent, inherit, or use for business purposes.
No risk of “okupas”
Situations wh ere someone illegally occupies a property (like okupas in Spain) are almost non-existent in Türkiye. The state strictly protects owners through the judicial system, and new laws and registration procedures further reduce any risks.
Land under apartment buildings is included in ownership
Unlike some countries wh ere buying an apartment gives only a share in the building, in Türkiye buying an apartment means joint ownership of the land and common areas. This eliminates the risks of construction on rented or unregistered land. They do not build on rented land, as, for example, in Bali.
Safe Payment System
From May 2026, all transactions will go through the government Safe Payment System. The buyer’s money is blocked in a special account until the registration of ownership in Tapu, eliminating fraud and the risk of losing funds.
Transparent and regulated infrastructure
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All transactions are recorded in the cadastre; the state controls real estate registration;
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The Turkish real estate market is digitized: through e-Devlet, one can track the registration process, check owners, and review property history;
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All new buildings are constructed legally, under the supervision of government authorities and licensed construction companies.
Investor guarantees
Foreigners have the right to participate in court proceedings on an equal basis with citizens, receive compensation in case of violations, and monitor all stages of the transaction through notaries and banks.
Thanks to the combination of strict legislation, a transparent cadastre system, government support, and new tools such as the Safe Payment System, Türkiye is today one of the safest destinations for foreigners to buy real estate among popular resort countries.
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