Turkey has taken a major step toward modernizing and securing real estate transactions with a new regulation published in the Official Gazette of Türkiye (Resmî Gazete). The regulation introduces a mandatory secure payment system for property sales, aiming to increase transparency, reduce fraud risks, and protect both buyers and sellers during title deed transfers.

The new system will become mandatory on July 1, 2026, although the government retains the authority to extend the deadline by up to three months. Until then, the system may be used voluntarily.

What Is the New Secure Payment System?

Under the new regulation, payments in real estate transactions will no longer rely on direct cash transfers between parties. Instead, funds will be processed through a secure escrow-based payment infrastructure operated by banks and authorized financial institutions.

The system is designed to synchronize two critical elements of a property sale:

The transfer of the property title deed (tapu)
The transfer of the purchase payment

The buyer’s payment will be temporarily held in a protected account. Once the official title deed transfer is completed at the land registry office, the system will automatically release the funds to the seller.

This “simultaneous exchange” mechanism significantly reduces the risks commonly associated with real estate transactions, including fraud, payment disputes, and incomplete transfers.

Why Is Turkey Introducing This System?

The Turkish government aims to establish a more secure and transparent property market by ensuring that all financial flows in real estate transactions are documented and traceable.

The new framework is expected to provide several benefits:

Increased Transaction Security

Buyers and sellers will gain additional protection because funds cannot be accessed until the transfer of the title deed is legally finalized.

Reduced Fraud Risk

The system minimizes risks such as fake transfers, unrecorded payments, and title deed manipulation.

Transparency

Since payments will move through regulated financial institutions, all transactions will be officially recorded, making them easier to audit.

Modernization of the Real Estate Sector

The regulation aligns Turkey’s property transaction practices with international escrow and secure payment standards commonly used in developed real estate markets.

End of Cash-Based Property Transactions

One of the most significant implications of the regulation is the practical end of large-scale cash payments in real estate transactions, including:

Residential property sales
Land purchases
Commercial real estate transfers

All payments, whether full or partial, must be processed through the authorized secure payment system.

This means payment flows will become fully traceable through the banking system.

How Mortgage Transactions Will Work

The regulation also clarifies how financed purchases will be handled.

If a buyer uses a mortgage loan or other financing method:

The loan-financed portion can continue to be processed directly by the financing institution.
Only the remaining balance not covered by the loan must pass through the secure payment system.

This ensures complete documentation of all payment components within the transaction.

Service Fees and Operational Details

A transaction service fee will apply when using the secure payment infrastructure. According to the regulation:

The fee will be deducted from the seller’s payment.
The amount is not yet fixed.
Pricing and operational procedures will be determined later by the relevant authorities.

Banks and authorized financial institutions will play a central role in operating the system.

Regulatory Oversight and Technical Implementation

The implementation of the new payment system will be supervised by the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change of Türkiye will determine the technical procedures, monitoring mechanisms, and operational standards of the system.

Further regulations are expected to clarify:

Technical integration processes
Transaction monitoring
Dispute resolution procedures
Compliance requirements for financial institutions and real estate professionals

New Compliance Obligations for Real Estate Businesses

The regulation also introduces additional responsibilities for licensed real estate businesses.

Companies operating in the sector will now be required to:

Report changes in business address
Notify changes in the company name
Declare modifications in business activity
Update authorization certificates within legal deadlines

These measures are intended to strengthen regulatory oversight and improve professionalism within the Turkish real estate industry.

What This Means for Property Buyers and Sellers

For both domestic and foreign investors, the new secure payment system represents a major structural change in how real estate transactions will be completed in Turkey.

Buyers Will Benefit From:

Safer payment transfers
Reduced risk of fraud
Greater legal protection
More transparent transaction records

Sellers Will Benefit From:

Guaranteed payment release after title transfer
Faster and more secure fund collection
Reduced transactional disputes

Conclusion

Turkey’s new mandatory secure payment regulation marks a significant transformation in the country’s real estate sector. By introducing an escrow-style payment mechanism tied directly to title deed transfers, the government aims to create a safer, more transparent, and institutionally secure property market.

Although the system remains optional until July 1, 2026, real estate professionals, investors, buyers, and sellers should begin preparing for the transition now. As additional technical details and implementation guidelines are released, the new framework is expected to become a central pillar of property transactions across Turkey.

Turkey Introduces Mandatory Secure Payment System for Real Estate Transactions