How to buy an apartment in Turkey remotely: choosing in Alanya and completing the purchase
A guide from Maxhome Invest · Alanya, Turkey
You can begin looking for an apartment in Turkey while living in another country. Compare a few real homes, see the most promising ones on a live video call and then decide which are worth a trip. Buying from a distance still requires a proper check of the property, clear terms with the seller and an agreed payment route. A beautiful video alone is no reason to send the purchase price.
Start with the life you want in the apartment
Tell us whether the home is for everyday life, holidays or rental, your budget, the number of bedrooms you need and the conditions you would not trade away. A couple might value a short walk to the beach; a family may need another room; an owner planning to rent should look closely at running costs. If you have saved property links, send them. They show your preferences more clearly than a request for “something nice near the sea.”
If you are buying in Alanya, decide what “walking distance” means to you. Five hundred metres on a listing cannot tell you about a hill, a busy road or the feel of the street. Those are questions to explore before booking a flight.
What can your budget buy in central Alanya?
Imagine you want a furnished one-bedroom apartment in central Alanya for no more than €100,000, preferably within 500 metres of the sea. These three Maxhome Invest listings make a useful first comparison:
| Apartment | Main difference |
|---|---|
| 55 m², 200 m from the sea — €97,000 | Second floor, 2013 building, furnished. The shortest beach walk. |
| 60 m², 400 m from the sea — €100,000 | Third floor, 2002 building, furnished. More space at the budget limit. |
| 55 m² in a 2020 building — €95,000 | First floor, furnished, 750 m from the sea. Newer building, longer walk. |
If proximity to the beach is essential, the first two deserve a video viewing. The third becomes interesting if the age of the building matters more. This is what a first shortlist should do: turn a long collection of links into a clear choice between location, space and the building itself.
A low asking price is only one part of an affordable purchase. Compare what furniture and appliances are included, what may need replacing, the cost of completing the purchase and the regular charges for the building. The useful number is what you will need through to receiving the keys, not simply the smallest price in the search results.
What will a video viewing show?
On a live call you can follow the route from the street to the entrance, see the lift and shared areas, and then walk through the rooms, kitchen and bathroom. You can look out of each window and balcony. Opening a window briefly helps you hear the street. The camera can also return to any finish, item of furniture or appliance that raised a question in the photos. Keep the recording to compare homes later without rushing.
Video shows the visible condition. It cannot establish legal ownership or reveal hidden problems in the building services. It can, however, tell you whether an apartment belongs on your travel itinerary.
After you choose a favourite
Clarify the sale and check the documents. Establish who is selling, what is included in the price, when the apartment will be handed over and what buying and ownership will cost. If your purpose includes a residence permit, the precise address and applicable conditions need a separate check before a reservation. You are considering a specific home and seller, not buying a photograph.
Agree on a reservation only when its terms are clear. If an advance payment is proposed, record the amount, recipient, reservation period and refund conditions in writing. The terms of one apartment do not automatically apply to another.
Plan the payment route. Before fixing a land registry appointment, agree which bank will send the money, who will receive it and what payment evidence will be needed. For a purchase by a foreign individual, Turkey's land registry requires a Döviz Alım Belgesi, the bank's foreign exchange purchase certificate; TKGM explains the requirement. If your funds are in Russia, read our separate guide to bank transfers and the certificate.
Complete the registration and receive the apartment. You may travel to sign in person. If a representative will act for you, agree the scope and form of their power of attorney for this transaction: TKGM sets out the requirements for documents issued abroad. After the title is registered at the land registry, check the keys, the agreed furniture and appliances, the condition of the apartment and the meter readings. If you remain abroad, decide in advance who will receive the home for you.
What does a first shortlist actually give you?
Return to the example: a furnished one-bedroom home in central Alanya for up to €100,000, within 500 metres of the sea. Two of the three listings meet those conditions. The €97,000 apartment 200 metres from the beach is the first one to see; the larger €100,000 apartment 400 metres away is the second. The 2020 building remains a reserve option because its apartment is 750 metres from the shore. The next step is a video viewing of the first two, followed by a decision about which homes to see in person. This is an illustration based on listed properties, not a claim about a completed client purchase.
If you would rather buy a house in Turkey, explore the Alanya houses and villas separately. A house brings different questions about land, maintenance and inspection.
Browse apartments for sale in Alanya and tell us your budget and the two or three conditions that matter most. We can start with real properties and arrange a video viewing of the homes you want to take further.
