Recent statistical reports on foreign property ownership in Türkiye show a tangible recovery and continued activity among international buyers after a period of waiting and market reorganization. Turkish real estate continues to hold a strong regional investment position thanks to product diversity, relatively lower living costs than Europe and the investment value of property as an asset safe haven.
Istanbul retained first place for international investors seeking long-term commercial and residential investment, followed by Antalya for tourism returns, hotel-style property and holidays. Mersin has also emerged as a promising investment center, attracting younger capital through suitable prices and modern Mediterranean coastal projects.
| City / Province | Main investment demand | Target segment / property | Estimated growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Commercial, residential, re-letting | Businesspeople and investors (1+1, 2+1, offices) | Very high — stability and expansion |
| Antalya | Tourism, hotel apartments, seasonal returns | Retirees and tourism investors (villas, hotel villas) | Stable and high-return |
| Mersin | Competitively priced off-plan projects | Investors seeking capital growth | Very rapid growth |
| Izmir and Yalova | Family housing and recreation | Families, Arab and European investors | Balanced and sustainable |
Purchasing activity by nationality
Statistics show tangible changes in the ranking of nationalities buying the most property. Russian and Middle Eastern buyers remain prominent, alongside increased demand from Eurasian and Eastern European investors seeking living opportunities and long-term residence.
Why foreign investment continues to flow
Regulatory facilitation, the possibility of Turkish citizenship or property-based residence when legal conditions are met, and relatively lower prices per square meter than European capitals keep the Turkish market attractive and rich in renewed opportunities.
Official July 2026 foreign-buyer snapshot
TÜİK reported 2,120 home sales to foreigners in July 2026, up 1.9% from the same month a year earlier. Foreign-buyer transactions represented 1.7% of total home sales that month. For January–July 2026, however, foreign sales were 11,203, which was 7.3% lower than the same period of 2025. The picture is therefore mixed: one month showed a modest annual increase while the year-to-date total remained below the prior year.
The same release recorded the largest July 2026 nationality counts as 394 purchases by Russian Federation citizens, 189 by Iranian citizens and 145 by Ukrainian citizens. These figures describe completed sales recorded in the official system; they should not be treated as a forecast of future prices or as proof that every project marketed to a particular nationality has strong demand.
How investors should use the sales data
Foreign-sales statistics are most useful when combined with property-level evidence. Compare the national trend with the relevant province or district, then check asking prices against completed or well-supported comparable transactions, expected rental demand, building quality, legal status and ongoing costs. A city can rank highly in foreign sales while individual projects within it still differ substantially in liquidity and value.
For nationality trends, compare several months rather than one release. Monthly rankings can move with seasonality, exchange rates, large project completions and the timing of title transfers. The official TÜİK series is best used as a market-activity indicator, while the purchase decision should remain tied to the exact property and its verified documents.

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