Turkey: Overview

RENTAL YIELDS

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2009

6.22% average across Istanbul districts

The average sale price of high-end used apartments in Istanbul is €1,591 per sq. m.

Istanbul’s gross rental yields average 6.22% (in the districts of Bakırköy, Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Kadiköy, Sariyer, and Sisli).  Unusually, bigger apartments in Istanbul do not have lower yields, and apartment of 275 square metres (sq. m.) have higher-than-average yields, at 6.52%.

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TAXES AND COSTS

Last Updated: Dec 22, 2008

Rental income tax is high in Turkey

Effective Tax Rate on Rental Income
Monthly Income	€1,500	€6,000	€12,000
Tax Rate	14.6%	21.7%	24.8%
Click here to see a worked example
Source: Disclaimer

Rental Income: Net rental income is taxed at progressive rates, from 15% to 35%.

Capital Gains: Capital gains from sale of real estate are tax-exempt provided that the holding period is longer than five years (four years if the property was acquired before 01 January 2007). For properties held less than five years (four years if the property was acquired before 01 January 2008), normal income tax rates apply.

Inheritance: Inheritance tax is imposed on the value of the inheritance at progressive rates, from 1% to 10%.

Residents: Residents are taxed on their worldwide income.

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BUYING GUIDE

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2007

Total transaction costs are moderate in Turkey

Closing costs are moderate in Turkey. Total roundtrip transaction costs amount to 9.85% -10.75%. Real estate agent’s commission (6%) and title deed charge (3%)are shared equally by both parties. Other costs include stamp duty (0.75%) and registration fees (max of around 1%)

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LANDLORD AND TENANT

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2006

Turkish rental market generally favours tenants

Turkish laws are pro-tenant

Rents: Rents may be freely agreed at the beginning of rental contracts. There is no other form of rent control in Turkey.

Tenant Security:The parties of the lease may specify any duration period they wish. The lease is automatically extended for one more year, unless the landlord informs the tenant in writing at least fifteen days before the expiration date of the lease that it cannot be renewed.

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ECONOMIC GROWTH

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2008

Economic slowdown looms for Turkey

Turkey is literally at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. As the only predominantly Muslim country in Europe (almost all of the 69 million population), Turkey has a mixed flavor of Islamic culture and Europe’s ancient and medieval civilization.

Turkey was home to the Ottoman Empire, which once ruled much of Europe and Asia. Modern Turkey arose from its ashes with a secular state, the product of the nationalistic fervor that swept the country in the wake of World War I.

The Islamist-based Justice and Development (AK) Party, which won a landslide victory in November 2002 and July 2007, has resolved many of Turkey’s long-standing economic problems. Led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government has improved services and boosted economic growth. It has identified EU entry as a key priority.

The economy, expanding for the sixth consecutive year, grew by 4.5% in 2007. Average growth from 2002 to 2006 was 7.2%. GDP per capita rose from US$3,560 in 2002 to US$9,630 in 2007.

The unemployment rate improved to 9.6% in 2007 from 10.3% in 2002. The budget deficit was down to 1.6% of GDP in 2007, the lowest in 30 years.

For decades, Turkey has suffered annual inflation of 25% to 106% per annum. Runaway inflation was successfully brought down to manageable levels. Since 2004, inflation has been below 10%, a significant improvement from the 104% inflation rate registered in 1994. Inflation was 8.7% in 2007, the lowest in more than two decades (however, it still one of the highest in Europe).

Although things have already improved, much more has to be done. Total external debt stood at US$218 billion in 2007, around 44% of GDP. Economic growth is expected to slow to about 3% - 4% in 2008.

Inflation rose to 9.66% in April 2008 and is expected to exceed 10% once more due to rising oil and food prices. The budget deficit is seen to rise once more to 3% of GDP in 2008 and 2009.