Article 14: How Real Estate Sales Trips Work – What to Expect and How to Stay in Control
Many Turkish real estate companies offer foreign buyers a welcoming introduction to the market – airport transfer, hotel stay, and a schedule of viewings. Understanding how these trips are structured helps you get the most from them and make decisions at your own pace.
14a. The free airport transfer and hotel stay
Many Turkish real estate companies offer foreign buyers a free package: airport transfer, hotel accommodation for 3-5 nights, and a full schedule of property viewings. This sounds generous – and it is designed to. It is worth knowing that the cost of this hospitality is typically built into the property prices shown. There is no obligation to purchase – The trip is an introduction, and the best buyers use it as exactly that.
The practical reality: you arrive after a journey, you are in a new place, and the schedule is full. Good decisions about property take time. Use the trip to gather information – and make the actual decision back home.
If you accept a free trip package, understand clearly: you have no obligation to buy anything. The trip is an introduction to the market, and the best use of it is exactly that. You are free to spend three days viewing properties, thank the company, and go home to think about it. Any company that respects buyers will understand this completely. Good developers and agents welcome informed, unhurried buyers – they make the best long-term clients. Any company that applies pressure is showing you something important about how they operay from them.
14b. The show apartment technique
Show apartments in Turkish developments are always the best unit in the building – best floor, best view, fully furnished with high-end fittings, perfectly lit. The apartment you actually purchase will typically be on a lower floor, with a different view, and delivered unfurnished or with basic fittings. Always ask to see the specific unit number you are purchasing, not just the show apartment.
14c. The limited time offer
“This price is only valid until tomorrow.” “Another buyer is interested in this unit.” “If you do not sign today, the price goes up by 5,000 EUR next week.” These statements are almost always false. Property prices in Turkey do not change overnight. If a sales agent creates artificial urgency, walk away – this is a recognised manipulation tactic, not a genuine market condition.
14d. Gifts, upgrades and add-ons — What to expect
Some developers offer gifts at signing: a furniture package, a free car park space, a kitchen upgrade, free management for the first year. These offers are designed to create positive emotion at the moment of commitment and make backing out feel costly. Calculate the actual cash value of any gift against the property price – it is almost always less than 2% of the purchase price, while the decision itself is worth 100%.
14e. The citizenship urgency pitch
Sales agents frequently warn that the citizenship investment threshold is “about to rise” or that the programme is “at risk of ending.” As of 2026, the threshold has been at USD 400,000 since 2022 and no credible announcement of an imminent change has been made. This claim is a sales tactic, not market intelligence.
14f. Hidden costs not disclosed at signing
Common costs that are mentioned vaguely or not at all during the sales process:
- VAT on new builds – up to 18% of the purchase price, which may or may not be included in the quoted figure
- Title deed tax (4%) – sometimes presented as shared but often loaded onto the buyer
- Site management setup fee – A one-time charge on top of ongoing aidat, often 5,000-15,000 TL
- Utility connection fees – electricity and water meter installation can cost 3,000-8,000 TL per subscription
- Furniture package “obligation” – some developers’ contracts include a mandatory furniture package that significantly increases the total price
14g. How to protect yourself
- Never sign anything on a first viewing or during a developer trip
- Always take the contract away and have it reviewed by an independent lawyer before signing
- Ask for a full itemised cost breakdown in writing before any verbal agreement
- Research the developer independently before the trip – look for completed projects, court cases, and buyer reviews
- Remember that any genuine property will still be available next week
| Tactic | What It Looks Like | What It Actually Is |
|---|---|---|
| Free trip package | Generous hospitality | Time pressure and social obligation tool |
| Show apartment | Best unit in the building | Not what you are actually buying |
| Limited time offer | Genuine market urgency | Almost always false |
| Gifts at signing | Added value | Emotional commitment device |
| Citizenship urgency | Market intelligence | Standard sales script |
Questions buyers ask
Reddit r/expats: “I received a WhatsApp message from a Turkish real estate agent offering free airport pickup and hotel. Is this a scam?”
It is a high-pressure sales approach — The outcome can be financially similar to making a rushed decision without independent advice. The WhatsApp approach is increasingly the first contact point for the VIP service model. The company is using social media to identify potential buyers before they arrive and begin the control process before you even land. The correct response: decline politely, book your own accommodation and transport, and visit the company — or any company — on your own terms and schedule. An agent who opens with a free hotel offer is an agent whose business model depends on you being in a controlled environment. That is not the environment in which good property decisions are made.
Quora: “I accepted VIP treatment and now feel pressured to buy. What are my rights?”
You have the right to leave at any time and to make no purchase. No viewing agreement, no preliminary contract, and no payment of any kind creates an obligation to complete a purchase — unless you have signed a formal sales contract with a lawyer present and transferred funds. The social pressure of having accepted hospitality is not a legal obligation. The correct sentence: “I need to have all documents reviewed by my independent lawyer before I sign anything.” A legitimate company will accommodate this. A company running a pressure operation will become visibly uncomfortable. That reaction is your answer.
Facebook expat group: “The company put me in a 5-star hotel for 3 days and I felt terrible saying no. I ended up signing something. What should I do?”
First: determine exactly what you signed. A viewing agreement (gayrimenkul gösterim sözleşmesi) is not a purchase contract — it records that you were shown properties but does not obligate you to buy. A preliminary sales contract (satış vaadi sözleşmesi) is more binding but can still be challenged within certain timeframes. A full sales contract with tapu transfer is the only document that transfers ownership. Have your independent lawyer review whatever you signed immediately — today, not next week. The earlier you seek advice, the more options you have. Do not contact the company again until your lawyer has reviewed the document.
EXPERT ADVICE: The most effective approach is a simple rule – never sign anything during a developer trip or on a first viewing. Any property that is right for you will still be there in two weeks after your lawyer has reviewed the contract. Any company that tells you otherwise is demonstrating exactly why you should not trust them. Sources: T.C. Ticaret Bakanligi – https://www.ticaret.gov.tr | T.C. Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Mudurlugu – https://www.tkgm.gov.tr
P.S. — Rent a car. Visit every estate agency independently, in your own vehicle, on your own schedule. Never let an agent or developer pick you up, drive you around, or control your itinerary. The moment you are in their car, you are on their terms. Your own car means you leave when you want, think when you want, and decide when you want. It costs 30-50 EUR a day and is the best money you will spend on your entire property search.
