Real Estate Brokerage

What we do and why it matters

We are a full-service, licensed real estate agency that has been operating in Istanbul since 2012. Our real estate trade license (Taşınmaz Ticareti Yetki Belgesi No. 3409694) was issued by the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye and confirms that we have passed all required state inspections and are authorized to conduct transactions involving any real property within the territory of the Republic of Türkiye.

When a client contacts us, they receive not merely an intermediary, but a professional partner who bears legal responsibility for every stage of the transaction. This fundamentally distinguishes us from unlicensed intermediaries operating in the gray market.

Law No. 31274 dated 14 October 2020 on real estate trade established strict requirements for our activity: mandatory training, passing a professional qualification exam for each specialist, and obtaining state authorization. This was introduced to protect buyers — and we fully support this approach.

Documents that confirm our legitimacy

If you wish to verify that we are indeed authorized to work with real estate, here is the complete set of documents we are ready to provide:

The last document is our greatest pride. It is issued by the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye and confirms that we have passed all required state inspections. Without this document, an agency’s activity is considered illegal. You can verify the validity of our license yourself in the state registry at ttbs.gtb.gov.tr.

How we organize our work

Fee model: transparency and integrity

When a client asks how much our services cost, we tell the truth: for the buyer, they are effectively free of charge. The commission is paid by the seller or the developer. This is the American model, which has become the standard in the Turkish market.

Why is this fair? Because it is the seller who is interested in ensuring that their property is sold quickly and at a good price. The agency helps the seller find a buyer and complete the transaction — and the seller pays a commission for that service. The buyer pays only mandatory government charges: the title transfer tax (4% of the cadastral value), notary expenses, and land registry and cadastre fees. These are unavoidable costs that exist regardless of whether the client works with an agency or not.

An agency accredited by a developer has access to up-to-date prices, special terms, and properties that are not published publicly. At the same time, the developer pays for the agency’s services — for the client, it is free of charge.

The scope of our services

We do not simply sell apartments. We support the client at every stage of their journey to Türkiye — from the first call to the moment they are already living in their new home, paying bills, and renting the property out. This is a full-cycle service that distinguishes us from small intermediaries.

What we do: a step-by-step process

Stage 1. Property selection

When you contact us, we begin with a detailed conversation. We need to understand:

• Why do you need property in Türkiye? For living, investment, obtaining a residence permit, or citizenship?
• What is your budget?
• What are your location preferences? District, proximity to the sea, infrastructure?
• What type of property are you interested in? Apartment, villa, commercial premises?
• Do you have any special requirements? For example, must the property be ready to rent out or meet the requirements of the citizenship program?

Based on this information, we prepare an individualized shortlist of properties from our primary and secondary market database. This is not merely a list of links — it is a carefully curated set of options that genuinely match your criteria.

If you are in Russia or another country, we organize online viewings with a live broadcast from the property. You see everything in real time, can ask questions, and request that specific details be shown. If you come to Istanbul, we organize in-person viewings — typically, this takes 2–3 days of intensive property tours.

All viewings are conducted in Russian. The language barrier is not your problem.

Stage 2. Legal due diligence (Due Diligence)

This is the most important stage, and we do not cut corners on it. Before you sign any documents or pay a deposit, we conduct an enhanced due diligence of the property:

• TAPU (title deed) — we verify the status, the type (blue or red), consistency of the address, and any restrictions on use
• İskan (occupancy permit) — we ensure that the property was built in compliance with regulations and is approved for use
• Encumbrances (İpotek, Haciz, İhtiyati tedbir) — we verify that there are no mortgages, attachments/seizures, or other encumbrances on the property
• Taxes and utilities — we ensure that all bills are paid and there are no outstanding liabilities
• Compliance with construction standards — we verify that the property complies with zoning and the designated use of the land

The review is performed through the official TKGM registries (land registry and cadastre) and the portal parselsorgu.tkgm.gov.tr. This is not guesswork — it is work based on government data.

If the property does not pass the review, we state this honestly to the client, even if the property is very attractive and inexpensive. We do not recommend purchasing problematic properties.

Stage 3. Negotiations and agreement of terms

Once you have selected a property, we begin negotiations with the seller or the developer. This is not merely an exchange of offers — it is a professional negotiation process.

We know the market. We know what prices are realistic for each district and each property type. We know which terms can be negotiated and which cannot. A professional negotiator, as a rule, secures more favorable terms than a client acting independently.

We agree on:

• The price (sometimes it is possible to reduce the price by 5–10%)
• Installment terms (if available)
• Property handover deadlines
• Inclusions (furniture, appliances, other equipment)
• Deposit terms and the refund mechanism in case the transaction is terminated

All of this is documented in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

Stage 4. Obtaining a tax number

To conduct any real estate transaction in Türkiye, a foreign national must obtain an individual tax identification number (Vergi Kimlik Numarası). This is not optional — it is a legal requirement.

We accompany you to the tax office or arrange the number under a power of attorney if you are abroad. Typically, this takes 1–2 days.

Stage 5. Opening a bank account

Payments for real estate transactions in Türkiye are made exclusively via bank transfer. No cash, no checks. This is a requirement under anti-money-laundering legislation.

We assist with opening an account at a Turkish bank. We select the optimal bank based on your requirements, prepare the necessary documents, accompany you to the bank (if you are in Istanbul), or facilitate remote account opening.

Stage 6. Transaction support and issuance of the TAPU

This is the final stage. We coordinate the entire process of completing the transaction:

• Preparation of the sale and purchase agreement (Satış Sözleşmesi)
• Organization of the bank transfer
• Appointment with the Land Registry and Cadastre office (Tapu Kadastro Müdürlüğü)
• Attendance at the closing (if you are in Istanbul) or representation of your interests under a power of attorney
• Receipt of the TAPU and handover of keys

All documents are reviewed before signing. You receive a complete set of certified copies in Russian and Turkish.

Typically, the entire process from selecting a property to receiving the TAPU takes 2–4 weeks.

Stage 7. Connecting utility services

After you have received the keys and the TAPU, the practical part begins. Electricity, water, gas, and internet must be connected. You must register with the property management (Aidat) and begin paying monthly fees.

We help with all of this. We know which documents are required, where to go, and how to complete the forms. For you, it is straightforward — you sign the documents, and we handle the bureaucracy.

Stage 8. After-sales service and property management

If you purchased a property for investment purposes and do not plan to live in it permanently, we offer property management services. This includes:

• Finding tenants (we work with a vetted database)
• Collecting rental payments
• Monitoring the condition of the property (regular inspections)
• Paying monthly bills (electricity, water, gas, internet, aidat)
• Arranging maintenance and repairs
• Regular income and expense reports

All operations are recorded in detailed reports that you receive monthly. You always know how much money was received, how much was spent, and what the net income is.

Primary and secondary market: how we work differently

The Istanbul real estate market is divided into two segments, and we operate in both.

Primary market: new builds from developers

In the primary market, we act as an accredited partner of the developer. This provides specific advantages for us and for you:

• Access to up-to-date prices and special terms
• Properties under construction (often cheaper than completed units)
• The ability to choose an apartment from the floor plan before it is built
• Flexible installment terms, often more favorable than bank financing
• The commission is paid by the developer — for you, it is free of charge

We regularly visit construction sites, photograph progress, and send updates to clients. If you purchased an apartment in a new development, you will know how it is being built and will not worry about handover timelines.

Secondary market: properties owned by private individuals

In the secondary market, the role of the agency is especially important. Enhanced legal due diligence is required here because the risk of acquiring a problematic property is significantly higher.

We verify the history of ownership, the presence of encumbrances, and any outstanding tax and utility liabilities. We ensure that the seller is legally entitled to sell the property and that no one can challenge this transaction.

Why clients choose us

1. We are licensed and accountable

Our license is not merely a piece of paper. It means that we bear legal responsibility to the client, are accountable to the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye, and may be held liable in the event of a breach of professional standards. This is a fundamental difference compared to working with private brokers or unlicensed intermediaries.

If an unlicensed intermediary makes a mistake, you will not be able to hold them accountable. If we make a mistake, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Trade, and we will be required to respond to it.

2. We know the market

We have been operating in the Istanbul real estate market for more than 10 years. We know every district, every developer, and every property type. We know realistic prices, realistic construction timelines, and realistic installment terms.

This knowledge allows us to provide you with honest advice. If a property is overpriced, we will say so. If a district is not suitable for investment, we will propose an alternative. If installment terms are unfavorable, we will help renegotiate them.

3. We speak your language

All of our specialists speak Russian. We do not hire interpreters to communicate with clients — we conduct negotiations ourselves, explain documents, and answer questions.

This matters because in complex situations, interpretation can lead to misunderstandings. We eliminate that risk.

4. We provide full-cycle services

We do not simply sell apartments. We support you at every stage: from selecting a property to managing it after purchase. If you need assistance with a residence permit or citizenship, we work with accredited legal partners. If you need help with settling in Türkiye, we know all the right contacts.

How to verify our license

If you want to confirm that we are indeed authorized to work with real estate, you can verify our license yourself. Visit the portal of the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye ttbs.gtb.gov.tr and enter our license number: 3409694. You will see that the license is valid and issued to the company RealEast.

It takes 2 minutes, and you will be confident that you are working with a legitimate agency.

Frequently asked questions