About 12 weeks is normal for these checks but many people have posted that it has taken several months. They check if you are "known" to the Turkish authorities and whether your residence is within a militarised zone, Calis is not so don't worry.

Yes you can use your place but until the tapu ( deeds ) come through you are not the legal owner of the property, this may prove to be a problem trying to get insurance, tax number etc.

This part of the purchasing process is horrible, we have been there and done it so know how you feel, but to be honest, it rarely goes wrong, just check with your agent that the complex is not part of a co-operative which may cause you problems getting the tapu.

Good luck, by the way, where in Calis is your place.

Rimms

http://www.villa-fleur.co.uk

Hi

The process of buying property in Turkey can be confusing and stressful. Anyone looking to purchase property here, take a look at the document below it explains the whole process in detail. Hope it helps.

Denise

THE PROCEDURE OF THE
FOREIGN PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE İN TURKEY

The following is the process that should be followed when buying property in Turkey.
Please be aware that the fees quoted are approximate and that these procedures may change.

1.Once you have decided to purchase a property, you should ask for a photocopy of the deeds and g oto the Land Registry Office (Kadastro), which has the maps of the area, and check the deeds against the area map to see if everything is in order. The parcel number must correspond to the map. Maps cannot be photocopid so it is a good idea to do a rough drawing of the building, the land it is on, the properties and streets surrounding it and take it with you to compare to the map. It is important you do this so that you and up buying the property you want to buy and not some other less desirable property. The parcel should an outline of the building you are going to purchase. If there is no building shown on the land you will need to g oto the municipality and see if it is possible to get building permission (iskan) in the future, if the building permission isn't available it may be the case that the owner has just not bothered to get permission or that there are some illegalities regarding the land or building/s.

2. If all is in order at the Lands Registry Office and both parties agree on the price and conditions a deposit is then decided upon (usually 10 %). However if the price of the property has been reduced the seller may ask for a hıgher drposit or full payment. Foreıgners are often asked to pay a deposit as the seller has to wait three months for the buyer to get permission whereas if they sold to a Turk the transaction would be completed in a few days.
A contract (protokol) is then drawn up and authorised by the notary * see step 8 for another method of drawing up the contract. The real estate agent is paind their 3 % commission at this stage.

3. You then take out compulsory earthquake insurance on the house; the price depends on the size of the house. Cost: approximately $45 for a $100 000 house.

4. Following this the Land Registry Office will provide a document that gives the details of the land/property, this document will be sent to the military along with your other documents. Cost: approximately $50.

5. A notarised copy of your passport, 2 passport photographs, a copy of the earthquake insurance and the document from the Lands Registry Office İs then sent the military where they will check whether you are able to purchase land in Turkey. The 'reciprocity principle' must apply between the country of the person wishing to purchase the property. In other words, if a Turkish citizen can become the owner of real estate in your country, then the same right applies to you in Turkey. In addition they will check that the property is not near a military zone. This process can take up to 4 months. As of July 2003 foreigners are able to buy in areas that do not have mınicipality.

6. Whilst waiting for the permission to purchase or at some stage in step 1 you should get a tax number from the Tax Office, you will need this to open a bank account with a Turkish Bank (to transfer payment for the property to)

7. When the permission is given the agent or your lawyer will inform you. At this stage you should inform your agent of when you will be in Turkey to Exchange deeds they in turn will notify the relevant parties. You should remind your lawyer to check if there are any outstanding bills to be paid on the property and they insist on the payment of these by the owner. Your funds for the property purchase should be transferred into the country throught a Turkish bank at least a week before you Exchange deeds. The funds being transferred should be specifically identified, for example: transfer purpose for the purchase of Land in Gumusluk Title Deed No:3467. Keep all receipts to prove the original purchase.

8. Then you goto the municipality and they will give you a document that shows the price of the house.If you have drawn up your contract throught the notary the price shown will be the real price of the house. However most people draw up the contract through a lawyer so that when they go to the municipality the price paid for the house and theprice given by the municipality that will be written on the deeds will be different. As an example, a house for $30 000 will be written on the deeds as $12 000. The fees at the deeds Office will be 3%, which is $360. This is done in order to reduce the tax paid to the government.
A lot of foreigners don't feel comfortable with this as they feel it is something illegal. However this is commen practice in Turkey. It is up to the buyer whether they want to put a lower amount on the deeds or not. If you decide to do this you cannot have your contract authorized at the notary, in this case you can appoint a lawyer to draw up the contract.

9. You then go to the Deeds Office (a translator amployed by the deeds Office will be present) and the property will be transferred into your name. The fee at the deeds officeis round 3% of the price that is written on the property title. (The translator's fee is included in this). The usual process is that you go to the deeds Office on the morning of the day you intend to Exchange the deeds, pay the fees and they will then give you an appointment in the afternoon for Exchange of the deeds. Final payment for the property usually takes place after the deeds have been exchanged but this depends on your agreement with the seller.

10. After you have purchased the property you should put the electricity, water and telephone bills in your own name. This will cost approximately $60, $45 and $15 respectively.

11. Finally you should register with the local registar (muhtar).
The Real Estate fee does not include the payment of any of the above fees.
The agent is usually involved in steps 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8.

It is recommended that you appoint a lawyer to draw up the contract and carry out the research explained in steps 1 and 9. The list of lawyers below is provided by HM Consul at the British Embassy, Ankara. However neither Her Majesty's Government nor any official of the Consulates take any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list; or for the consequence of any legal action initiated or advice given.

Hi many thanks rimms and denise_e56,
It is all a bit much to take in but I assume because it is a new build and not part of a co-operative that it should not be too complicated. By the way our apartment is on the "Riverside" complex next to "Palm Beach" if that helps.
We are a few minites walk from the pink hotel I think it was called the Pelin.

Know exactly where you are, make sure you visit the Birlik Beach, it is lovely and sandy and Dermus is a great host who will become your friend for life.

Good luck with your house and welcome to turkey. just a little addition, the military now want 650 YTL about £260 for maps and checks!! the cheeky B......ds are getting on the bandwagon for extra cash. For those in the process now its 70 YTL !!!!!

It took us from May until September to actually get the tapu sorted so thats end of may start of september. But it's all worth it staying in your own apartment is so much better