Verify first. Commit second.
A well-presented property can still carry ownership, title, construction, contract, occupancy or payment risks. Legal and technical review should therefore take place before a significant or non-refundable payment.
1. Confirm the registered owner
Verify that the seller is the registered owner or has valid authority to complete the sale. When the seller is a company or developer, review the corporate identity, authorised signatories, relationship to the landowner and authority to sell the exact independent unit.
2. Review the title record
The title review should identify the property type, block and parcel, independent section, ownership share, mortgages, liens, court measures, third-party rights, restrictions, annotations and any registered promise of sale.
The property shown during the viewing must match the exact independent section and associated rights in the official records.
3. Match the physical property to its documents
- Floor and unit number
- Approved use
- Area and ownership share
- Parking and storage rights
- Balconies, terraces or additional spaces
- Any material alteration to the approved layout
An attractive renovation does not establish that structural or layout changes were officially approved.
4. Review construction and occupancy status
Depending on the property, review may include zoning, construction permits, the approved architectural project, occupancy documentation, condominium easement or full condominium status, municipal notices and any urban-transformation process.
5. Check debts, tenants and possession
- Property-related municipal debts
- Building-management balances and special assessments
- Utility obligations
- Existing tenant, occupant or lease
- Tenant deposit and payment history
- Pending building works or disputes
- The agreed date and condition of vacant possession
6. Review the contract independently
The written agreement should identify the exact property and explain the total price, currency, payment dates, deposit treatment, title-transfer deadline, delivery condition, included fixtures, delay remedies, termination rights, refund mechanism, responsibility for costs and dispute provisions.
For an off-plan property, also review technical specifications, completion standards, substitutions, common facilities, construction milestones and conditions for title delivery.
7. Control the payment path
Payments should be traceable, made to the correct authorised recipient, connected to written contractual milestones and supported by receipts and banking records. Informal instructions sent through a messaging application should never be treated as sufficient authority for changing the recipient account.
8. Use a clear and limited power of attorney
When purchasing remotely, the power of attorney should define the authorised actions clearly. Certification, apostille, consular and translation requirements depend on where and how the document is issued. Avoid granting broader authority than the transaction requires.
Common red flags
- The seller refuses to provide title information
- The advertised unit does not match official records
- A large payment is requested before review
- The payment account belongs to an unexplained third party
- Independent legal advice is discouraged
- Delivery promises are absent from the contract
- Returns are described as guaranteed without clear contractual support
- Pressure is created to sign before documents are available
Brand Invest legal coordination
Brand Invest does not replace independent legal advice. We organise the transaction file, coordinate qualified specialists and help keep the commercial, legal, payment and handover stages aligned.
Official reference: Invest in Türkiye—Acquiring Property and Citizenship.
