Turkish investors reduce overseas real estate purchases

According to balance of payments data from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, overseas real estate purchases fell by 18% year-on-year in March, reaching $187 million—the lowest level in the past 13 months.

Despite the overall slowdown, the early months of the year began with strong momentum. In January, purchases increased by 44.4% to $208 million, while February saw a further year-on-year rise of 18.4%, reaching $225 million. The reversal of the trend in March is attributed to increased geopolitical uncertainty.

Market participants note that developments surrounding tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have affected investor sentiment, leading to reduced appetite for overseas property investments.

Particular attention is given to the Dubai market, which in recent years has been one of the main destinations for Turkish buyers. According to Bayram Tekçe, recent developments in the region have led to a significant slowdown in activity, with transactions decelerating noticeably in March.

Greece among popular destinations
He also noted that Greece remains among the popular destinations for Turkish investors; however, demand has been affected by the deterioration of the political climate in bilateral relations. Market participants attribute part of the decline to heightened tensions and a broader atmosphere of caution.

According to analysts, these developments highlight the strongly geopolitical nature of cross-border real estate investments, as even traditionally attractive destinations such as Dubai and the Mediterranean are directly influenced by regional instability.

The overall picture indicates that the international real estate market remains sensitive to external risks, with investment flows adjusting more rapidly to geopolitical developments than in previous years.