Apartments for sale in Istanbul

Apartments for sale in Istanbul: matching the layout to your plans

Apartments for sale in Istanbul range from compact one-bedroom units in residence towers to large family homes in garden complexes. However, the right layout depends less on the asking price than on how you will use the home: living in it, letting it, or spending part of the year here.

Layouts and their typical buyers

For example, a 1+1 suits single professionals, students and investors focused on letting. Next, a 2+1 is the most flexible choice for couples and small families. Finally, a 3+1 or larger suits families who want space and a guest room, and these units are usually found in complexes with gardens and parking.

Complex or street building

On the one hand, complexes offer security, shared facilities and on-site management, with higher monthly dues. By contrast, street buildings are cheaper to run and often closer to shops and transport. Overall, Istanbul is consistently the province with the most home sales to foreigners in the statistics of TÜİK, the Turkish Statistical Institute.

What drives apartment prices

Overall, apartment prices in Istanbul depend on district, distance to rail, building age and net area. In addition, complex facilities and views add a premium. Because gross and net areas differ, compare price per net square metre rather than the headline price.

Who buys and next steps

Buyers range from first-time owners to families and investors. In practice, budgets from USD 200,000 can support a residence permit, and purchases of USD 400,000 or more can support citizenship. Start with the Istanbul hub to choose a district, then ask us for a free shortlist with net areas and yearly running costs.

New-build or resale apartment

New-builds offer modern layouts, parking and the current earthquake code, often in complexes with facilities. Resale homes can offer more space and central locations, and sellers may negotiate. Our comparison of new-build vs resale property explains the taxes and checks for each route.

How apartments are described in Turkey

• Room notation: “1+1” means one bedroom plus a living room, “2+1” two bedrooms plus a living room, and so on. A “1+0” is a studio. Kitchens may be open-plan or separate.
• Gross and net area: gross area (brüt) usually includes a share of walls, balconies and sometimes common areas; net area (net) is the usable floor space inside the apartment. Always compare net with net.
• Complex or standalone building: many new apartments are in complexes (site) with security, parking, pools or gyms and a management company. Standalone buildings have fewer facilities and usually lower service charges.

Choosing the right apartment

Start with the purpose. A home for daily life puts weight on layout, schools and the commute. A rental investment favours compact units close to transport, universities or business districts. A citizenship purchase needs a qualifying value of at least USD 400,000. Our Istanbul property hub lists districts, and pages such as apartments near metro, sea-view apartments and ready-to-move apartments narrow the search further.

What to check in a listing

• Net area, floor, orientation and view of the specific unit, not only the project
• Monthly service charge and what it covers
• Title type (full condominium title or construction-servitude title) and occupancy permit
• Building age and construction standard, particularly earthquake resilience in older stock
• Walking distance to public transport and everyday services

Prices and costs

Prices on the site are starting prices in US dollars based on current price lists, and they are confirmed in writing before any reservation. On top of the price, buyers pay official and third-party costs such as the title deed fee, valuation report, notary and translation fees and earthquake insurance. Our advisory service is free for buyers; these third-party costs are separate, and our guide to costs and taxes when buying property in Turkey explains each one.

Start your search

Filter by budget, rooms, district and delivery in the apartment search, or answer five questions in the property finder. If you prefer, request a tailored shortlist and an adviser will compare suitable apartments for you.

Frequently asked questions