Iraqis top list of property-buying foreigners in Istanbul, Russians in Antalya

Umut Erdem - ANKARA

Iraqis bought more properties in Istanbul last year than any other foreign buyers, while the biggest foreign buyers of property in southern Antalya province were Russians, according to Turkish Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Fatma Sarı.

A total of 14,670 immovable parcels were sold to foreigners in 2015, Sarı said in response to a question in parliament by Erkan Akçay, the parliamentary group deputy chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

“A total of 10,789 immovable parcels were sold to foreigners in 2014. In 2015, foreigners bought around 4.6 million square meters of land or building plots. This figure was around 3.6 million square meters in 2014,” said Sarı. 

According to the latest data, the largest parcels were sold in Istanbul, Antalya, Muğla, Aydın, Yalova and Bursa.

Some 8,550 foreigners bought 3,621 units of parcels in Istanbul. The largest number of parcels was owned by Iraqis and Saudi Arabians in Istanbul. A total of 1,428 Iraqis bought 953 units and 1,157 Saudis bought 454 parcels. In Antalya, a total of 1,790 Russians bought 716 units, 608 Germans bought 448 units and 515 Iraqis bought 328 units.