Property market in Turkey after EU membership

Published on Mar 17, 2025
Kourosh Soleymani

Will EU Membership Really Boost Turkey’s Property Market? Think Again!

Many people believe that if Turkey joins the European Union (EU), the Turkey Property market will boom, foreign investment will increase, and property prices will rise. But is this true?

The reality is quite different. In fact, EU membership could harm Turkey’s real estate sector rather than help it. If you’re considering buying property in Turkey, you need to understand the risks.

Foreign Buyers Will Face More Restrictions in Turkey Real Estate

Right now, buying property in Turkey is easy for foreigners, making it a top destination for real estate investment in Turkey. Investors from Europe, the Middle East, and other regions can purchase property without complicated rules and even get Turkish residency or citizenship.

However, if Turkey joins the EU, things will change:

No more Turkish Citizenship by Investment – The EU does not allow citizenship-for-investment programs.
Restrictions on non-EU buyers – Many EU countries limit foreigners from buying real estate, and Turkey will have to follow similar policies.
Complex legal procedures – Buying a villa in Turkey, an apartment in Istanbul, or real estate in Antalya will involve more paperwork and financial checks.

This means Turkey could lose a massive part of its foreign buyers, especially investors from the Middle East, Russia, and China, who currently purchase a significant share of property for sale in Turkey.

European Buyers Will Invest Less in Turkish Property

Some argue that European property buyers will rush to invest in Turkey property market once it joins the EU. This is a myth.

Here’s why:

Europeans don’t need Turkish citizenship or residency – They already have the right to live and work in any EU country.
Many Europeans buy property in Turkey to avoid tax scrutiny
- In the EU, cash transactions are highly restricted.
- Turkey doesn’t report real estate purchases to European tax authorities, making it a popular place for Europeans to invest without financial oversight.
- If Turkey joins the EU, it will be forced to report transactions, reducing European demand for Turkish real estate for sale.

So instead of attracting more buyers, Turkey’s EU accession could push European investors away from the real estate market.

High Inflation Will Keep Turkish Buyers in Turkey

Turkey already struggles with high inflation, and joining the EU won’t fix this issue overnight. In fact, it could make things worse:

Higher costs of living will prevent Turkish citizens from moving abroad.
If salaries remain low while prices rise, local buyers will struggle to afford homes.
Less migration to Europe means Turkey’s real estate demand won’t decrease, keeping property prices inflated.

Right now, foreigners love buying property in Turkey because it’s affordable and offers high value. If inflation stays high and Turkey becomes more expensive, what’s the incentive for foreign buyers to invest?

Middle Eastern Investors Will Disappear

Middle Eastern investors currently buy a large portion of Turkey real estate properties. But if Turkey joins the EU, these buyers may disappear.

Look at what happened in Spain:

Spain allows foreigners to buy property but requires proof of legal income and tax records.
Many Middle Eastern buyers cannot meet these strict financial requirements.
If Turkey joins the EU, it will have to follow similar rules, blocking a major segment of buyers from investing in Turkish real estate.

Without Middle Eastern buyers and fewer European investors, who will buy property in Turkey?

Turkey Will Lose Its Competitive Advantage in Real Estate

Right now, Turkey is one of the best places for real estate investment because:

It’s cheaper than Europe.
It offers easy residency and citizenship options.
It doesn’t require strict financial background checks.
It has a fast-growing real estate market in cities like Istanbul, Antalya, and Bodrum.

But if Turkey joins the EU, all of these benefits disappear:

Turkey will no longer be a cheap real estate market – With rising inflation, taxes, and new EU regulations, the country will lose its pricing advantage.
Stricter investment rules will slow down property sales – Buyers will need more legal and financial documentation.
Less travel means fewer property buyers – If Turkey becomes expensive, Europeans won’t visit as often, reducing interest in buying vacation homes.

EU Membership Will Hurt, Not Help Turkish Real Estate

Many people assume that EU membership will boost Turkish real estate prices, but the reality is different.

Foreign buyers will face new restrictions, especially from the Middle East and Asia.
European investors will have less motivation to buy property in Turkey.
Turkey’s real estate sector will struggle with inflation and rising costs.
Strict EU financial rules will block many buyers, just like in Spain.
Turkey will lose its appeal as an affordable and easy investment destination.

Instead of expecting a real estate boom, Turkey should prepare for a decline in foreign investment if it joins the EU.

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