Türkiye Home Sales Fall 9.3% in September, but Foreign Buyers Rise 9.9%Türkiye Home Sales Fall 9.3% in September, but Foreign Buyers Rise 9.9%

Türkiye's housing market was weaker in September than a year earlier, but not evenly so. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data released on 16 October, overall sales fell 9.3% year on year, while new-build sales rose and purchases by foreigners increased. For international buyers, the detail matters more than the headline.

The September figures

As reported by Bazaar Times from TurkStat data, total house sales came to 142,390, down 9.3% from September 2025. Existing-home sales fell 15.3% to 90,871, while new-home sales rose 3.9% to 51,519 and made up 36.2% of all transactions. Mortgaged sales rose 5.1% to 23,397, a 16.4% share.

The same report says that, in the first nine months of 2026, total housing transactions declined 7.2% to 1.09 million, and new-home sales edged down 0.6% to 359,913.

Foreign demand: a better month, a flat year

Sales to foreign buyers rose 9.9% year on year to 2,167 in September, or 1.5% of all sales, per the same TurkStat-based report. Russian citizens bought the most homes (388), followed by Iraqis (166) and Germans (162). Shafaq News, citing TurkStat, lists Iranians next with 159, then Ukrainians with 158 and Chinese buyers with 124.

One month does not make a trend. Over January to September, foreign purchases were 15,308 homes, 4.3% fewer than in the same period of 2025. Anadolu Agency reported that August foreign sales were up just 0.1% at 1,938. September's gain therefore narrows the year-to-date gap rather than reversing it.

The foreign share of the market has stayed at about 1.5% in both months. Foreign buyers are a small part of Türkiye's volume, and the national story of mortgages, rates and domestic demand drives most of the market.

Mortgages: still growing, but the share has slipped

Mortgage lending is the clearest change this year. Anadolu reported that mortgage-financed sales rose 27.6% to 188,813 in January to August, while other sales fell 12.7%. The monthly picture is calmer: in August, according to Tranio's summary of official statistics, 22,131 homes were bought with a mortgage, a 17.4% share. September's 23,397 sales and 16.4% share show the share easing slightly even as the count rose.

For a foreign buyer, this matters indirectly. Credit is supporting the domestic market, particularly for new builds, while cash-based resale transactions have weakened. Mortgage terms for non-residents differ by bank and are not set out in the TurkStat release. Tranio describes typical loan-to-value ratios of 50–75% and terms of up to 10 years, but treat that as a general guide, not an offer. Terms for your own case need confirming with a lender.

What the data suggests about the buyer's position

Three observations follow from the figures, none of them a forecast.

• Resale activity is soft. A 15.3% fall in existing-home sales points to a market where sellers may face less competition from buyers than a year ago. Whether that translates into negotiating room depends on the district and the property.
• New-build is holding up. Developers are selling slightly more than a year ago. Buyers of off-plan or new stock should weigh the developer's record, delivery terms and payment schedule carefully, as our budgeting guide sets out.
• Foreign demand is steady, not surging. The year-to-date decline of 4.3% is smaller than the national market's 7.2% fall, but the numbers do not describe a rush.

Prices and rates remain the missing pieces

Sales counts say little about value. Earlier this month we looked at house prices lagging inflation for a ninth month, and at the central bank's 22 October rate decision. The policy rate was last recorded at 37%, according to Trading Economics, and any change would feed through to mortgage pricing and the lira, both of which affect a foreign buyer's real cost.

Readers should also keep sales data and citizenship eligibility separate. A purchase made for a citizenship application must meet the programme's own rules on value, valuation and registration, and these rules change. Multi Mulk advises on Turkish citizenship by investment, and offers a free written eligibility review before any purchase decision.

Where to go from here

Buyers who are only exploring the market can browse listings through Multi Mulk's property pages, or review the due-diligence checklist first. Nothing here is investment advice, and past sales figures do not indicate future prices. For a decision tied to your finances, residency or citizenship goals, speak to an adviser.

Sources

• Bazaar Times — Turkiye's New Home Sales Rise 3.9% in September as Overall Market Declines (TÜİK data)
• Shafaq News — Iraqis buy 166 homes in Turkiye in September (TurkStat)
• Anadolu Agency — Türkiye sees over 127,000 home sales in August
• Tranio — Mortgages for overseas property in Turkey in 2026
• Trading Economics — Turkey Interest Rate

Cover photo: mostafa_meraji on Pixabay.