Resale or a developer's apartment in Alanya: which should you choose?

If you need a home by a certain date, start with apartments you can inspect and receive on clear terms. If you can wait for your preferred layout or payment schedule, consider a developer's project too. “New build” does not automatically mean better value, and “resale” does not always mean an old building. In Alanya, the useful questions are more personal: what will the apartment cost by the time you can actually live in it, and what exists beyond the photographs?

Two homes in Avsallar that challenge the usual price rule

Consider two Maxhome Invest listings in the same neighbourhood. An apartment in a building from 2025 has 55 m², one bedroom and no furniture. It is on the first floor and is advertised at €62,000. A resale apartment in a building from 2023 also has 55 m² and one bedroom, but it is on the third floor and partly furnished. Its advertised price is €68,000. Both are listed at about 1.5 km from the sea.

There is a €6,000 difference between the asking prices. That does not tell you which purchase will cost you less. The new home needs furnishing; the resale comes with some of it, although you should see exactly what stays and in what condition. A first-floor home and a third-floor home will feel different in daily life. Even within one part of Avsallar, real apartments tell you more than the labels “new” and “resale”.

These are published offers checked on 20 October 2026, not a final cost estimate or a promise that either home will still be available when you buy. Each listing carries its current asking price and details.

When a ready resale apartment makes life easier

The strongest advantage of resale is the chance to see the neighbourhood as it already works. Look beyond the balcony and kitchen: the walk to the shops, the entrance, the lift, nearby buildings and the light at different times of day. If you are moving with family, spending winters in Alanya or coming for short visits, these details may matter more than a beautiful rendering.

Furniture becomes easier to judge as well. You can open the cupboards, test appliances and decide what you would keep. Still, “sold furnished” should become a written list of items and their condition. Ask who uses the property now and when it will be handed over empty. A completed building does not mean you can necessarily move in on your chosen day.

Resale is especially attractive when your move is close and the layout already suits you. Its weak point is the work that may emerge on inspection: windows, plumbing, air conditioning, signs of dampness and the condition of shared areas. Before negotiating, separate essential work from improvements you can make later.

When a developer's apartment may suit you better

A new project can give you a choice of layout, floor, outlook, finish and sometimes a payment schedule. If the building is finished, you can assess the apartment much like a resale home: visit the entrance, grounds and the property itself. But a completed new build and a home still under construction are different purchases. With the first, you inspect a real apartment. With the second, you also weigh the promised result against the delivery date and contract terms.

A new home can still need a considerable budget after purchase. It may be sold without furniture or appliances. A pool, spa and other shared facilities are enjoyable when their running costs fit your monthly budget. Ask which facilities are operating now, which remain to be finished and what the service charges are for that particular complex. Compare an instalment offer by the total price and schedule, rather than the size of one monthly payment.

Check who is selling the specific unit. A listing under “new builds” does not establish that the seller is the developer or that buying “direct” is cheaper. Ask for the seller's documents, the details of the apartment and written payment terms.

If the building is still going up, include time in the price

Imagine planning a move to Alanya next spring. With a completed home, you can make plans around a known address and handover terms. A construction project raises another question: what happens if the building is not ready by the time you need to arrive? You may need temporary accommodation or storage, or the wait may simply not work for your family. None of that appears in the apartment's headline price.

Before paying, request the project and permit documents, identify the exact unit in the contract and compare the planned schedule with work actually completed. The written terms should make payments, included finishes, handover and the process for changes to the date clear. A rendering shows an idea; it does not prove that permits have been issued or a building is finished. If future rental income or resale is part of your reason for buying, examine that calculation on its own. A construction-stage purchase does not guarantee a rise in value.

Compare your first-year cost, not just the asking price

Put two lists side by side. For a completed resale: the price, purchase costs, necessary repairs, missing furniture, any cost before the property is vacated and the building's regular charges. For a new build: the same items, with an exact list of what is included, the completion date, furnishing and temporary accommodation if you must wait. Both lists should account for utilities and the expenses tied to your reason for buying.

There is no single service charge that describes every apartment building in Alanya. It depends on the actual complex and its approved expenses. Electricity and water costs vary with the home and how you use it. Ask for information about the building you are considering, rather than applying a general figure quoted for Turkey. Our guide to buying costs covers the purchase itself. The aim is to compare what you would spend before you can live as you intend.

The documents that can change your decision

For resale, obtain up-to-date ownership and property information, have any restrictions on the title reviewed and agree on occupancy, furniture and the handover date. For a completed new build, add the building's completion and occupancy documents. If construction continues, the seller's rights, building permit and the promises in the contract become especially important. With every property, compare the address, floor, size and identification of the unit in the paperwork with the home you were shown.

In Turkey, the title status of an individual apartment can differ during construction: you may see kat irtifakı or kat mülkiyeti. The label alone does not establish the condition or readiness of a building. Ask a qualified professional to review the documents for the precise apartment and explain what is registered now and what remains to be done. Turkey's Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate, TKGM, publishes the applicable guidance; construction documents should also be checked with the relevant Alanya municipality.

If your purchase is linked to a residence permit, do not choose by the age of the building or the term “new build”. Check the price and exact address against your proposed basis for residence before paying a deposit. Our Alanya residence-permit property guide explains how to approach that check.

Which option is right for you?

You need to move soon. Start with completed homes in both categories. Rule out those whose title, occupancy or handover terms do not fit your timing; then compare what you saw and your full budget.

You want to furnish a home your own way. Look at finished new builds and developer offers with a clear specification. Keep a well-planned resale on the list too: changing a few things there may cost less than furnishing an empty new apartment from scratch.

You can wait for construction. Compare the contract, payment schedule, cost of waiting and a realistic allowance of time alongside the layout and price. If your move depends on a particular month, the allowance matters.

The best answer comes from comparing actual addresses. Browse resale apartments, new builds and, if your timing allows, homes under construction. Tell us your budget, when you need the keys and what you expect the apartment to include. We can help compare suitable options by their full cost and handover terms, so your choice reflects the life you plan to have in Alanya.