Buying Off-Plan in Antalya: Benefits, Risks and Your Legal Protections

Buying off-plan means buying a home before it is finished, often before construction has even started. In a growing city like Antalya, many of the newest complexes are sold this way. It can offer real advantages, but it also carries risks you do not have with a finished home. This guide explains both, and the legal protections Turkish consumer law gives you.

Why buyers choose off-plan

• Price. Early buyers often pay less than buyers of the same unit once it is finished.
• Payment plans. Developers commonly offer staged payments during construction instead of the full price upfront.
• Choice. Early buyers get the best pick of floors, views and layouts.
• A brand-new home built to current regulations.

The risks

• Delays. Completion dates can slip, sometimes by a long time.
• Changes. The finished building may differ from the brochure in materials, layout or facilities.
• Developer problems. In the worst case, a developer runs into financial trouble before the project is complete.

Your protections under consumer law

When a developer sells a home that is not yet built to a private buyer, Turkish consumer law treats it as a pre-paid housing sale and adds specific protections:

• Building permit first. The developer may not sign such a sale with a consumer before obtaining the building permit.
• Pre-information. You must receive a written pre-information form before signing, setting out the property, price, payment plan and delivery date.
• Formal contract. The contract must be made in the legally required form, at the land registry or before a notary. An informal agreement signed in a sales office does not give you the same protection.
• Cooling-off period. You can withdraw within 14 days without giving a reason and without penalty.
• Later cancellation. In some circumstances you can cancel later, with the developer's compensation limited by law.
• Completion guarantee. Developers are required to provide completion insurance or an equivalent guarantee for projects covered by the rules.

The exact rules and amounts depend on the contract and how the law applies to it, so have a lawyer review the contract before you sign.

Checks before you sign

• The developer's track record. Visit their finished projects and talk to owners if you can.
• The land and permits. Confirm the land title, zoning and building permit.
• The deed. Ask whether a construction servitude (kat irtifakı) has been registered for the project. Our title deed guide explains what that means.
• The payment plan. Link payments to construction milestones where possible, rather than only to dates.
• Delay clauses. The contract should say what happens, and what you receive, if delivery is late.
• The specification. Attach a detailed list of materials and finishes to the contract.

Citizenship and residence permits

If you are buying for citizenship or a residence permit, confirm with a lawyer that an off-plan purchase meets the conditions for your application and when you can apply. See our guides to citizenship and residence permits.

Rules and fees in Türkiye change from time to time. This article reflects the situation as of September 2026 and is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the details for your own case with a licensed lawyer or accountant.

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