Who Buys Property in Turkey? Foreign Home Sales by Nationality (2026 Update)
TÜİK figures on home sales to foreigners in Turkey: totals since the 2022 peak, the leading buyer nationalities and provinces, and what the trend means. Updated annually.
How many foreigners buy homes in Turkey, where do they come from and which cities do they choose? The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) publishes these figures every month. This page brings the key numbers together and explains what they mean for buyers. We update it each year when TÜİK releases the full-year data, and during the year with the latest monthly figures.
Last updated: November 2026, using TÜİK data up to September 2026.
Foreign Home Sales at a Glance
| Period | Homes sold to foreigners | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 67,490 | Record year |
| 2023 | about 35,000 | Sharp decline after rule changes |
| 2024 | about 23,800 | Further decline |
| 2025 | 21,534 | Down 9.4% on 2024; 1.3% of all home sales |
| January–September 2026 | 15,308 | Down 4.3% on the same period of 2025 |
| September 2026 | 2,167 | Up 9.9% on September 2025; 1.5% of all sales |
Figures for 2023 and 2024 are rounded. Source: TÜİK Housing Sales Statistics, as reported in the national press.
Top Buyer Nationalities
Full year 2025
- Russian Federation: 3,649 homes
- Iran: 1,878 homes
- Ukraine: 1,541 homes
September 2026
- Russian Federation: 388 homes
- Iraq: 166 homes
- Germany: 162 homes
Russian citizens have been the largest group of foreign buyers in recent years. Buyers from Iran, Ukraine, Iraq, Germany and several Gulf and Central Asian countries regularly appear among the top nationalities.
Top Provinces for Foreign Buyers in 2025
- Istanbul: 7,989 homes
- Antalya: 7,118 homes
- Mersin: 1,800 homes
Istanbul and Antalya together account for the large majority of foreign purchases. Istanbul attracts buyers looking for a city home, investment and access to business and education, while Antalya draws more lifestyle and holiday-home buyers.
Why Foreign Sales Fell After 2022
Several factors explain the decline from the 2022 peak:
- Higher citizenship threshold: the minimum real estate investment for citizenship applications was raised to USD 400,000 in 2022, which reduced the number of smaller qualifying purchases.
- Residence permit rules: stricter conditions for property-based residence permits and limits on new registrations in some neighbourhoods.
- Prices and the lira: strong price rises in lira and in dollar terms made Turkey less of a bargain than in earlier years.
- Global conditions: changes in demand from some of the largest buyer nationalities.
For the wider market picture, see our Turkey real estate market report for 2026 and why property prices are rising in Turkey.
What the Figures Mean for Buyers
- A more selective market: fewer speculative purchases mean foreign demand is now concentrated on specific locations and product types.
- Location matters more: with lower overall volumes, well-located, well-managed properties stand out more clearly.
- Domestic demand dominates: foreigners represent a small share of total sales, so local demand and economic conditions drive most of the market.
- Do your own checks: statistics show trends, not the value of a specific property. Compare prices carefully using how to compare property prices in Istanbul.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many homes did foreigners buy in Turkey in 2025?
According to TÜİK, 21,534 homes were sold to foreigners in 2025, 9.4% fewer than in 2024.
Which nationality buys the most property in Turkey?
Russian citizens have been the largest group in recent years, followed by buyers from countries such as Iran, Ukraine, Iraq and Germany.
Which city do foreigners buy in most?
Istanbul, followed closely by Antalya and then Mersin.
Where does this data come from?
From TÜİK's monthly Housing Sales Statistics. We update this page with each annual release.
Buying in Turkey?
Explore property for sale in Istanbul, read our overview of ways to invest in Turkey, start with our Property Turkey guide or talk to our team.