Real estate fraud encompasses various deceitful practices aimed at exploiting individuals during property transactions. These can include fake property listings, title fraud, rental scams, misrepresentation, and more. The consequences of falling prey to such fraud can be devastating, leading to financial losses and legal complications. To safeguard against these risks, it is essential to adopt preventive measures and receive legal guidance from a trusted law firm.

Turkey has emerged as an appealing destination for living, working, and investment owing to its strategic geographical and commercial position, favorable climate, excellent education system, and luxurious offerings. This surge in popularity has led to an increase in foreign immigration. However, as demand rises, there are some who may attempt to exploit the situation and deceive others.

The process of finding the right property can be stressful, making it crucial to be informed about potential real estate scams to protect yourself from falling victim to them. It is essential to remain vigilant at all times, as scammers are adept at quickly adapting to market changes. Avoid feeling pressured into making decisions while searching for a house. Once you familiarize yourself with common scams, you will be better equipped to identify and steer clear of them. Rely on investigation and common sense as your most reliable guides in such situations.

What is Real Estate Fraud?

Real estate fraud refers to deceptive practices or schemes perpetrated in the context of real estate transactions or property dealings. It involves dishonest individuals or groups attempting to exploit others for financial gain or other advantages related to real estate. Real estate fraud can take various forms and can target buyers, sellers, investors, or even renters. Some common types of real estate fraud include:

• Misrepresentation: This occurs when a party involved in a real estate transaction provides false or misleading information about the property’s condition, value, or other crucial details.

• Property Flipping Fraud: In property flipping, a fraudster may artificially inflate the value of a property through misrepresentation or by making superficial improvements, and then quickly sell it to an unsuspecting buyer at the inflated price.

• Mortgage Fraud: This type of fraud involves providing false information to secure a mortgage, such as inflating one’s income, falsifying documents, or misrepresenting the purpose of the property.

• Foreclosure Fraud: Scammers may prey on distressed homeowners facing foreclosure by offering fraudulent foreclosure prevention services or convincing them to sign over the property deed under false pretenses.

• Rental Fraud: Fraudsters may advertise rental properties that do not belong to them or that do not exist, collecting deposits or rent from unsuspecting tenants.

• Identity Theft: Criminals may steal personal information and use it to fraudulently buy or sell properties without the owner’s knowledge.

• Title Fraud: In this type of fraud, someone forges documents to transfer ownership of a property to themselves fraudulently, allowing them to sell or mortgage the property.

• Straw Buyer Scheme: A straw buyer is someone who allows their identity and credit to be used to purchase a property on behalf of another person, often for illegal purposes.

Real estate fraud can have severe financial and legal consequences for victims. To protect against real estate fraud, individuals should exercise caution, conduct thorough research, verify information, and seek professional advice when necessary during any property transaction.

What are the most important methods and methods of real estate fraud in Turkey?

There are many ways and methods of real estate fraud in Turkey, some of which have become common to the public, and others remain vague and ambiguous and need more attention from the investor. Here are several common real estate frauds in Turkey to help you avoid being scammed:

Real estate scamming by impersonating the property owner

This method is based on the scammer impersonating the owner of the property that the investor wants to buy, or even that he may claim that he is the legal agent of the property owner in the sale process, by showing forged papers and documents to prove the validity of his ownership of the property or through a forged legal power of attorney, Perhaps this method is the most common and most dangerous real estate scam in Turkey. We have licensed team of attornies to follow up on legal matters in the process of selling and transferring ownership, in addition to the presence of a team capable of following up on matters related to concluding contracts in official departments so that the purchase process occurs legally, away from problems.

Cheap-priced real estate

With the intention of deceiving investors, real estate frauds in Turkey usually emphasize the very cheap price of the property with the possibility of obtaining Turkish citizenship by purchasing it. You must first note that there must be a reasonable reason why the property is cheap, otherwise what is the reason for selling the property to you cheaply?

You should also know that there is no real estate sold cheaply in Turkey and that the prices of all houses, apartments and shops in this country are determined under the supervision of the competent authorities. Recently, property inspection reports have become mandatory, and when buying and selling a property in Turkey, you must evaluate the property so that prices are determined based on the actual value of the property.

It is true that real estate prices in Turkey are cheaper than in European countries, but never be deceived by buying very cheap real estate in Turkey, as a cheap house in Turkey may have taxes or debts to the government, if you do not know about them, you may face many problems later.

High-priced real estate

On the contrary, by advertising exorbitant and astronomical prices for real estate, scammers urge customers to believe that by paying large sums, they can definitely buy real estate in Turkey and get residence in this country.

Promise of Obtaining Citizenship

Another important point that deceptive real estate sellers exploit from investors is to obtain Turkish citizenship. Note that the condition for obtaining citizenship in Turkey by investing in real estate in Turkey is that the property value should be at least 400 thousand dollars. Otherwise, you will get a one-year renewable property residency, not citizenship.

Fake Real Estate Photos

Luxurious homes, beautiful landscapes and pictures of luxury buildings offered by real estate brokers in Turkey are not necessarily real. And may not be close to the property they want to sell to you and are just a show to attract investment. For this reason it is recommended not to enter into any remote transaction and make sure to evaluate the property closely.

Companies Outside Turkey

There is another group of companies and organizations that are based outside Turkey and are trying to deceive people into buying real estate in Turkey with different advertisements.

The point to bear in mind is that companies operating in Turkey need to be licensed by the Turkish government to conduct their business. If the company is outside Turkey, it works in Turkey through real estate brokers for its clients and they do not have any license from the Turkish government. This is why, even if the company is not a fraud, buying real estate from these companies still carries great risks.

How to avoid real estate fraud in Turkey?

• Before taking any action or decision, be sure to see the property in person and ask for expert opinion on it.

• Avoid buying a property without research and experience and benefit from expert advice especially if you are not familiar with the Turkish language and law.

• If you go to a local Turkish real estate consultant to rent or buy a property, make sure they have a specific office and location and a business license.

• Remember that a contract to purchase the property must be prepared by a real estate lawyer in the presence of the owner and a valid ID, but the purchase will not be completed before the transfer of ownership (Tapu), so when signing the contract, pay only a percentage of the purchase price of the house, and settle the rest at the notary after the transfer of ownership.

• Before signing any contract, obtain legal advice and read all the clauses mentioned in it. If you are not fluent in Turkish, make sure that you have a reliable lawyer or translator with you. Another important point when choosing a lawyer or translator is that s/he should have relative knowledge of the conditions of buying a property in Turkey.

• The notary office and municipal authorities inquire about the property to ensure that the property does not have tax obligations or loans. Note that some properties in Turkey cannot be legally transferred to foreign nationals, so your lawyer should consult the TAPU office before purchasing a property.

• Do not pay money to brokers other than the construction company and the original owner of the property under any circumstances, as some brokers sell real estate without having a specific workplace, trade license and work permit.

• Remember that all documents must be registered at the official registration offices approved by the Turkish government, and only then will the documents be signed and registered, and the ownership is transferred.

• If you are planning to buy a property in different regions in Turkey, get enough information about the regions, get to know them, discover the characteristics of each region, and the real estate prices in them, then with any law firm or consultant you want to negotiate with.

Seeking adequate legal assistance

Turkey has become an attractive destination for real estate investments, drawing in both local and international buyers. However, with the increasing demand for properties, the risk of falling victim to real estate fraud has also risen. To protect your interests and investments in the Turkish property market, seeking adequate legal assistance is of paramount importance. Bicak Law Firm, with its expertise and experience in real estate law, offers a reliable and comprehensive solution to avoid real estate fraud in Turkey.

Your Shield against Real Estate Fraud

Bicak boasts a team of highly skilled attorneys with in-depth knowledge of Turkish real estate law. With a keen understanding of the local legal intricacies, the firm can help you navigate through the complexities of property transactions and identify potential red flags associated with fraud.

• Title Deed Verification: One of the critical steps in any property transaction is verifying the title deed. Bicak conducts thorough title searches to ensure that the property’s ownership is legitimate and free from encumbrances. This verification process is crucial in preventing title fraud and securing your investment.

• Due Diligence: The firm conducts extensive due diligence on the property and the parties involved in the transaction. This includes verifying the authenticity of property documents, checking the seller’s background, and ensuring that all legal requirements are met. Such diligence minimizes the risk of falling victim to misrepresentation or fraudulent schemes.

• Rental Property Assistance: If you are looking to rent a property in Turkey, Bicak can assist in reviewing rental agreements, identifying potential scams, and ensuring that your rights as a tenant are protected.

• Legal Representation: In the unfortunate event that you encounter real estate fraud, Bicak offers skilled legal representation to safeguard your interests and pursue appropriate legal remedies. Their team of experienced litigators will guide you through the legal process with diligence and tenacity.

As the Turkish real estate market continues to thrive, the risk of encountering fraudulent schemes also persists. To protect your investments and interests, seeking adequate legal assistance is imperative. Bicak stands as a reliable partner, offering comprehensive legal solutions to help you avoid real estate fraud in Turkey. With their expertise in Turkish real estate law, title deed verification, due diligence, and legal representation, you can proceed with property transactions confidently, knowing that your rights and assets are safeguarded. Embrace the services of Bicak and embark on a secure and successful real estate journey in Turkey.