Bait Properties in Turkey: How Buyers Are Misled by Low Prices

Almost every buyer who has searched for cheap property in Turkey has encountered this scenario: “Yes, the price is great. But unfortunately, the property has already been sold. However, there is a similar one, just slightly more expensive.”

This is not a coincidence or bad luck. It is a stable scheme that has been used for years by small agencies and private intermediaries. Let’s break down how bait listings work, why they are published, and how not to fall into the trap.

What a bait property is, in simple terms

A bait property is a listing that:

• is not intended for real sale;
• is used to capture a client’s contact;
• almost always has an underpriced value.

In practice, such a property:

• was sold long before any inquiry;
• never belonged to the agency;
• was taken from someone else’s portfolio;
• exists only in advertising.

👉 Its task is not to sell, but to hook. How to check an agency in 10 minutes

Why the bait price is always below market

Because the price is the hook.

If you set a real price:

• the client compares;
• asks questions;
• may walk away.

If you set a price 20–30% below the market:

• the client contacts you immediately;
• critical thinking switches off;
• the substitution scenario takes over.

The classic “sold, but there is a similar one” scheme

The sequence in most cases looks like this:

1. A very low price is shown in the ad.
2. The client writes or calls.
3. Response: “This property was sold literally today.”.
4. An alternative is immediately offered: “But there is a similar one, a bit more expensive, but better.”.

Important: real exceptions do exist

Of course, exceptions exist. For example, in the RestProperty portfolio there are more than 20,000 real properties, and indeed:

• attractive and liquid offers can sell very quickly;
• especially at market price and in high-demand locations.

Where the line is between an exception and manipulation

• Exception — when a property is truly sold and this is honestly stated immediately, without bait.
• Manipulation — when advertising is initially run for a property that is not intended for sale.

👉 This difference is exactly what determines whether an agency works on trust or on a substitution funnel.

Why small agencies cannot sell real cheap properties

Because they do not have their own portfolio. Small companies and private agents:

• do not work directly with owners;
• do not have a portfolio department;
• do not update property statuses daily;
• take listings from large agencies.

👉 Then they: add their commission; underprice the listing; use the property as bait.

How a real portfolio is formed at systemic companies

Large agencies have a different approach. For example, at RestProperty there is a dedicated portfolio department that:

• cooperates directly with owners;
• works with the company’s investors selling their properties;
• maintains a live secondary market database;
• updates status daily: available / reserved / sold.

👉 Therefore: properties exist; prices match the market; there is no substitution after contact.

📊 Real property vs bait property

Why owners do not give liquid properties to one-day operators

Ask yourself a simple question: If you were selling your property, whom would you give power of attorney to?

• an agency without a name?
• a company without an office and a portfolio?

Most owners choose:

• systemic agencies;
• companies with a steady client flow;
• those who bear reputational responsibility.

👉 That is why real properties are concentrated among large players, not those who lure with “super prices.”

How to quickly recognize a bait property

🚩 Red flags:

• price significantly below market;
• no confirmation of the property source;
• no contract with the owner;
• the property “disappears” after the first inquiry;
• the agent avoids specifics.

If 2–3 points match, it is almost certainly bait.

Is it possible to buy property in Turkey truly cheap?

Yes. But “cheap” means:

• without overpaying intermediaries;
• at a market price;
• with real documents;
• without property substitution.

Key takeaway

Bait properties exist not because the market is bad. They exist because:

• there is no portfolio;
• there is no reputation;
• there is no responsibility.