Buying a home in Turkey can be straightforward when the legal and technical steps are sequenced correctly, yet foreign buyers commonly encounter avoidable risks that stem from assumptions and rushed timelines. This guide explains, in practical legal language, how to avoid the most frequent property purchase mistakes Turkey buyers face: incomplete title-deed verification (TAPU), overlooked encumbrances and restricted zones, skipping the mandatory appraisal report Turkey foreigners must obtain, underestimating hidden costs like DASK insurance Turkey and post-closing maintenance, and relying on unlicensed intermediaries instead of independent counsel. We also address contract drafting, payment and escrow accounts Turkey real estate safety, translation and POA accuracy, seismic compliance and iskan occupancy permit Turkey issues, and residence/tax residency assumptions that backfire. Throughout, we note where desk practices differ—practice may vary by province/authority and year—and link to deeper checklists so your file is evidence-led from offer to keys. If you need a coordinated file, engage a diligent law firm in Istanbul working with an experienced English speaking lawyer in Turkey to stage documents, protect funds, and keep deadlines realistic. Seasoned Turkish lawyers treat closing as a workflow, not a one-day event, and a reputable Turkish Law Firm will align counsel, survey, insurer and bank so signatures reflect verified facts. For complex negotiations, many readers prefer to assign a lead lawyer in Turkey to run due diligence while your commercial terms are finalized with the seller or developer under the oversight of an ethical Istanbul Law Firm.
Why Pitfalls Matter for Foreign Buyers (Reality Check & Goals)
A purchase agreement in Turkey binds you to a physical asset embedded in a regulatory map—zoning records, condominium plans, land registry annotations, building control, and seismic obligations. Cutting corners on any of these items creates a stack of post-closing work that costs more time and money than careful preparation. The goal is simple: build a clean evidence pack and timeline so the registry officer, bank, insurer and utilities desks all see consistent data, and so you can prove what you bought at the TAPU with documents, not promises. Our baseline workflow pairs technical and legal checks: verify the title, scan for encumbrances and restricted zones, confirm iskan (occupancy permit) and building-code posture, obtain the appraisal, and assemble insurance and payment rails that make settlement frictionless.
Many risks flow from mismatched expectations about who does what. Agents market properties; they do not replace independent legal review or structural diligence. Banks focus on collateral sufficiency, not on your family’s long-term use case. Municipal desks verify compliance, not deal economics. That is why a buyer-side case manager—often a dedicated lawyer in Turkey—is the best antidote to information gaps. Where language and document formats differ, sworn translations prevent clerical loops; see legal translation Turkey real estate for seals and formatting. If you are financing or setting up utilities immediately after transfer, pre-build an insurance and utilities folder that includes your DASK number and standardized address string so counters accept your pack without ad-hoc edits.
Finally, treat your contract as the map that guides every desk. Align terms with verifiable milestones (title extract, appraisal delivered, iskan confirmed, encumbrances cleared), escrow conditions for releases, and a defects/hand-over clause that ties payment to lawful possession. Link the contract to watchpoints we cover below and embed a simple checklist in the annex. When disputes surface, courts and arbitrators favor agreements that speak the language of compliance, not aspiration. The posture that wins is the one a well-run Turkish Law Firm uses daily: evidence first, money second, signatures last. A calm, bilingual brief from an English speaking lawyer in Turkey also shortens vendor resistance when you ask for missing documents.
Pitfall #1: Skipping a Full Title Deed (TAPU) & Chain-of-Title Check
The TAPU (title deed) is the single source of truth for ownership, parcel identifiers, and annotations that can enhance or restrict your rights. A photocopy or agent screenshot is not diligence. Ask your counsel to pull the current land registry extract directly from the system or at the counter and to verify the chain of title—how ownership moved to the seller—together with condominium plans and independent unit identifiers. Cross-read those entries with the physical door number and the building’s signage; misnumbered units are a classic source of disputes. Our primer on title deed check Turkey explains how to read the extract and which fields trigger deeper questions.
The chain-of-title review should flag red flags such as abrupt flips at improbable prices, pending inheritance matters, or missing corporate authority where the seller is a company. In older buildings, compare the condominium establishment deed with today’s internal layout; walls shift, balconies are enclosed, and “bonus rooms” multiply—none of which alter legal boundaries unless recorded. If discrepancies appear, insist on rectification before you sign or price the risk explicitly. Where sellers offer explanations without documents, pause and escalate to your lawyer in Turkey; practice may vary by province/authority and year on how quickly registry corrections are processed.
A clean extract is the beginning of comfort, not the end. Attach it to the contract, cite its date, and copy key fields into your escrow instructions so fund release depends on the same facts you verified. If you will rely on the title for mortgage or utilities in short order, keep a certified copy in your closing pack and ensure spellings and diacritics are consistent across every document. Seasoned Turkish lawyers make TAPU accuracy the first line in the closing checklist because every other desk you meet downstream depends on that data.
Pitfall #2: Ignoring Encumbrances, Liens and Military/Restricted Zones
Encumbrances (annotations such as mortgages, liens, usufructs, easements, attachment orders, or court bans) travel with the property unless they are removed at or before transfer. Do not assume a generic “free of encumbrances” promise will magically clear the registry; require documentary releases and make escrow conditional on filings that remove the entries. Read the “takyidatlar” section of the extract carefully and ask counsel to translate and interpret each item against your intended use. Our warning note on title deed fraud in Turkey shows how forged or stale releases create litigation months after buyers move in—and how simple escrow and registry conditions prevent that outcome.
Certain parcels or areas trigger national-security controls (historically referred to as military clearance) or sit within protected/strategic zones where foreign ownership or use is restricted. While the practical footprint of “military clearance property Turkey” issues has narrowed over the years, case-by-case checks remain prudent in sensitive districts and near borders. Your counsel should confirm the current regime for your province and the precise parcel and, where needed, stage applications or written confirmations before you commit. If a restriction applies, contracting around it rarely ends well; your options are to alter structure (e.g., use a local company in narrow scenarios where lawful) or to pivot to a compliant parcel under candid advice from a reputable law firm in Istanbul.
Buyers also overlook easements and right-of-way notes that affect parking, terraces, or rooftop usage. These annotations are not “clerical”—they can change how you live in the unit and the service charges you pay. Align your expectations with the registry: if you plan a renovation, your architect should read the condominium plan and the easements before sketching. A measured memo from an English speaking lawyer in Turkey that lists each encumbrance and its remedy (release, price adjustment, or walk-away) turns an amorphous risk into a decision point you can track to closing.
Pitfall #3: Skipping the Mandatory Appraisal (You’ll Overpay & Delay)
For foreign buyers, a licensed appraisal is not optional; it is required at transfer and by lenders, and it anchors taxes, lending, and—for better or worse—negotiation psychology. Treat the appraisal as a decision tool, not a box-tick. A reputable valuer will confirm market comparables, net/gross area, legal conformity to plans, building age and materials, and occupancy status. If the report exposes mismatches with registry or municipal records, you have leverage to seek corrections or re-price the deal. Our overview on real-estate due diligence for foreigners shows how appraisal dovetails with technical checks so you are not paying for square meters that do not legally exist.
Low valuations do not “doom” a transaction; they clarify who carries which risk. Lenders size loans to the lower of price or valuation, so a shortfall means more equity or revised terms. If you are a cash buyer, the report gives you an anchor to resist inflated asking prices that target foreign purchasers. Conversely, if the appraisal confirms value and legal hygiene, it accelerates bank and registry desks and reduces last-minute surprises. Either way, skipping the report invites hidden defects and a fragile paper trail—precisely the opposite of best practice.
Time the appraisal intelligently. Order it after preliminary title checks but early enough that you can renegotiate or walk if necessary without sunk costs. Confirm identity details (owner names, parcel IDs) in the valuer’s order so the report matches registry data on first draft—clerical mis-keys waste days. Where a developer sells multiple units, compare your report to others in the block; outliers flag issues to interrogate. Counsel at a methodical Turkish Law Firm will stage these steps so appraisal, contract conditions and escrow releases point in the same direction.
Pitfall #4: Underestimating Hidden Costs (Taxes, DASK, Notary, HOA, Maintenance)
A realistic budget goes beyond price and furniture. Closing involves taxes, registry fees, notary costs for specific acts, compulsory DASK insurance, and—where financed—bank charges. After handover, expect recurring items: HOA dues, maintenance, utilities deposits, and annual DASK renewal. Amounts vary by province/authority and year, so we avoid fixed figures; what matters is sequencing and documentation. Obtain written estimates from desks that will charge you, calendar renewals, and keep proof of payment in your property folder. Our DASK explainer—compulsory earthquake insurance Turkey—details why utilities and lenders will ask for a current policy number.
Hidden costs also hide in assumptions. Buyers often believe contents insurance is included with DASK (it is not), that HOA fees are trivial (they are not in amenity-rich sites), or that “small renovations” are risk-free (they are not if they alter common elements or require permits). Ask the building management for last year’s service-charge schedule and any extraordinary assessments. In older buildings, budget for elevator, façade or roof works. Align insurance to reality: DASK for structure and a separate contents/comprehensive policy for belongings and loss-of-use. A clear memo from an English speaking lawyer in Turkey ties these threads into a predictable calendar.
Finally, be wary of casual cash payments “to save time.” Registry and tax payments should flow through traceable channels. Use escrow accounts with release conditions tied to documents, not dates, and keep bank proof aligned with the contract schedule. If a counterparty insists on off-book sums, that is a red flag to escalate to your lawyer in Turkey. Clients of a disciplined law firm in Istanbul close on schedule because every lira is documented, every desk sees the same file, and every promise is backed by a record.
Pitfall #5: Relying on Unlicensed Intermediaries Instead of Independent Counsel
Real-estate agents help find properties and facilitate viewings; they are not a substitute for legal, technical, or tax advice. Unlicensed “fixers” promise speed and shortcuts that evaporate at the registry or bank. Your interests are protected by a buyer-side team that reports to you alone: counsel to manage legal risk and contract language, an independent valuer and—when appropriate—an engineer. That team builds the audit trail you will use to resolve disputes, refinance, or sell. When a seller refuses to share documents with your advisors, assume there is a reason; change pace or change counterparties.
Align incentives. Pay advisors for defined deliverables—title extract analysis, encumbrance remedies, contract drafting, appraisal coordination, escrow and payment rails—rather than a percentage of price. A transparent scope keeps everyone focused on compliance milestones. If you need a bilingual point of contact to coordinate utilities and translations after closing, appoint one early and give them a narrow mandate that does not authorize title transfers without your countersignature. Our primer on power of attorney property Turkey explains safe scopes for abroad-issued POAs.
If you must work with a seller-recommended intermediary, verify licensing and references and keep all communications in writing. Require that every assertion be supported by a document you can place in the closing folder. A straightforward stance—“if it’s not in the file, it doesn’t exist”—is how a reputable Turkish Law Firm prevents surprises. For language barriers, use sworn translators rather than friends; see legal translation services for standards desks accept.
Pitfall #6: Signing Problematic Contracts (Missing Escrow, Ambiguous Terms)
Contracts that look “standard” often omit the very protections foreign buyers need: clear pre-conditions to completion, documentary deliverables tied to payment, and remedies that bite if delivery slips. A buyer-friendly agreement anchors each step to verifiable evidence: clean title extract on a specified date, written releases for encumbrances, appraisal delivered to the buyer, iskan (occupancy permit) status confirmed, and utilities handover coordinated with a valid DASK number. Payment should never get ahead of documents; structure deposits through a bank trail and final sums through controlled rails so money and evidence move together. If a seller’s template ties everything to a calendar date rather than facts on the ground, revise it to condition releases on milestones you can print and file. A disciplined approach—typical of a reputable Turkish Law Firm—turns the contract into a project plan that registry, bank, and utilities desks can all follow without improvisation.
The safest payment rail is an escrow structure that releases funds only when agreed conditions are met. Escrow can be implemented by bank escrow products or by notarial/bank instructions that specify the documents required for release, such as the signed transfer deed, proof of encumbrance removal, and issuance of compulsory earthquake insurance aligned to the correct TAPU identifiers; our guide to escrow accounts Turkey real estate explains practical models. When sellers resist escrow, the fallback is a split-payment schedule that still ties each tranche to objective deliverables rather than bare promises. Keep the wording precise: “seller to provide evidence X” is weaker than “bank escrow to release upon receipt and verification of X by buyer’s counsel,” and in a dispute the latter is easier to enforce. A methodical lawyer in Turkey will also align contract clocks with registry and lender workflows so weekends and public holidays do not create avoidable defaults.
Ambiguity around handover, defects, and snagging creates post-closing friction. If a unit is handed over before registry transfer, specify insurance, risk, and access rules during that interim; if a developer promises remedial works, define scope, materials, inspection dates, and what happens if deadlines slip. For furnished sales, annex an inventory signed at key exchange. Where parties rely on bilingual contracts, make one language authoritative and keep sworn translations of all annexes to avoid “version drift”; the desk-facing Turkish version is what the registry and utilities will read. A proactive law firm in Istanbul will embed a short annex checklist that lists the closing folder contents—title extract, releases, appraisal, iskan proof, DASK policy PDF, utilities applications—so everyone knows what must be on the table before funds move.
Pitfall #7: Translation & POA Errors (Mismatched Names, Unclear Powers)
Name mismatches and loose powers of attorney derail otherwise clean deals. Turkish desks expect exact identity tokens across the TAPU, bank, insurance, and utilities records; diacritics and token order matter. A foreign-language passport or corporate document should be translated by a sworn translator into Turkish, and the same house glossary should be used consistently across the entire file; our page on legal translation Turkey real estate explains seals and formats that desks recognize. When a buyer signs remotely, powers of attorney issued abroad must follow apostille or consular legalization chains and should state narrow, deal-specific powers rather than blanket authority. Vague mandates invite questions at the counter; precise mandates speed signatures and protect the buyer from actions they did not intend. These are not cosmetic steps; they determine whether the file moves in one visit or three.
A practical test for a safe POA is whether a neutral reader can tell exactly which acts are authorized, for which property, and subject to which conditions. Include parcel identifiers, independent unit references, and a clear scope (e.g., file and receive documents, sign at registry, pay taxes and fees from a specified account) while excluding the ability to change price or accept deeds with unresolved encumbrances. If a representative will also handle utilities and post-closing tasks, a second, narrower mandate for those items keeps risk compartmentalized; our primer on power of attorney property Turkey illustrates model scopes. Maintaining separate mandates for registry and for utilities reduces the blast radius of any error and reassures counterparties who must check signatures quickly under time pressure.
Transliteration hygiene protects everything downstream. Keep a one-page “identity sheet” in the closing folder: passport scan, standardized Turkish transliteration of your name, tax number, full municipal address string, and the exact way your name appears or will appear on the TAPU and bank accounts. Share this with the valuer, insurer, and utilities desks so their forms align. When in doubt, let an experienced English speaking lawyer in Turkey speak with the desk before the appointment to confirm what the clerk will type. Clients of a careful Turkish Law Firm rarely face clerical loops because names, addresses, and parcel identifiers match before anyone touches a keyboard.
Pitfall #8: Overlooking Occupancy Permit (İskan), Code Compliance & Seismic Risk
An attractive apartment can conceal legal and structural gaps that cost far more than the bargain price suggests. The occupancy permit (iskan) confirms that the building was completed in accordance with the approved project and that it may be used for its intended residential purpose; buying into a block without iskan can complicate utilities, financing, insurance, and future sale. Ask for the iskan document or municipal confirmation and compare it with the condominium plan and the physical unit; closed-in balconies and informal lofts are a common source of non-conformity. If iskan is pending, be precise about who will obtain it, by when, and what happens if issuance fails; price and escrow should reflect the risk rather than hand-wave it into the future. Align these checks with the technical items your appraisal already covers to avoid duplicated site visits.
Seismic compliance is not a paperwork exercise in Turkey. A building’s age, structural system, and maintenance history determine how it will perform when the ground moves. Commission independent engineering assessments in higher-risk districts, ask for reports on past retrofits, and understand condominium decisions about structural works. Insurance is not a substitute for safety; DASK provides a structural payout floor after an insured event, but it does not prevent harm. Our earthquake insurance explainer—compulsory earthquake insurance—shows how DASK fits into utilities and bank workflows; pair that policy with real mitigation where needed. A seasoned lawyer in Turkey can coordinate engineering and legal timelines so you do not miss contract windows while doing the right checks.
Compliance issues ripple into utilities and resale. Without iskan or with unresolved code breaches, you may face obstacles at subscriber desks or valuation discounts at appraisal. Some municipalities are stricter than others on legacy deviations; practice may vary by province/authority and year, which is why a local desk call matters before you sign. If a developer offers to “handle” iskan or retrofits after handover, insist on measurable milestones, retainage in escrow, and inspection rights tied to payment. Buyers advised by a responsive law firm in Istanbul treat iskan and seismic posture as closing conditions, not post-closing hopes, because unsolved compliance is the single fastest way to turn a good price into a long project.
Pitfall #9: FX Payments, Timing and Bank Compliance (AML, Source-of-Funds)
Real-estate payments in Turkey pass through a banking system that applies anti–money laundering (AML) and source-of-funds controls. Buyers who attempt to settle with informal transfers, hand-carried cash, or third-party remitters discover late that registries, lenders, and even counterparties will not proceed without a clean, traceable path. The safer posture is to move funds through your own account, keep bank advices and SWIFT copies, and mirror the contract schedule exactly. If price is denominated in TL but your funds are in FX, plan the conversion timing with your bank and reflect it in the contract so neither side is surprised by rate movements on key days. When a developer proposes payment to an affiliate or “collection” account, pause until your counsel verifies ownership and purpose and inserts that account into the agreement with precision.
Compliance is not merely bank-facing. Tax and residency rules may affect how you hold the property, where you receive rental income, and how you report. If your immigration goal includes address registration or utilities activation, align your closing with the administrative steps explained in our guide to residence permits in Turkey. If you are transitioning to or from Turkish tax residency, map reporting duties before you sign—our overview on tax residency for foreigners explains principles and typical triggers. Treat these strands as part of one timeline so the bank’s questions, the registry’s format, and your personal filings never conflict; practice may vary by province/authority and year, which is why written desk confirmations help.
Finally, never let FX or AML logistics undermine contract discipline. Even when a bank needs one more page or a signature slips to the next business day, keep escrow conditions intact so money moves only when documents do. A short memo from a meticulous English speaking lawyer in Turkey that lists payment proofs to be delivered at each stage keeps everyone honest. Clients working with a steady law firm in Istanbul minimize friction because every transfer is supported by the same evidence set the registry and utilities desks will later read—precisely how seasoned Turkish lawyers build files that close cleanly under scrutiny.
Pitfall #10: Off-Plan/Developer Risks (Delays, Insolvency, Title Delivery)
Buying off-plan magnifies information asymmetry: you are asked to fund construction against the promise of a future title. The antidote is documents tied to milestones. Demand the project approvals, building permits, land registry status (who owns the land today), and the developer’s track record on comparable projects. Your contract should stage payments to inspected progress, backed by escrow or a bank mechanism that releases only upon verifiable milestones—structure, shell, finishing—and should state what happens if delivery slips. Tie delivery to the issuance of iskan (occupancy permit) where relevant and to defect-cure periods with measurable standards. Ambiguous “best efforts” clauses are not remedies; timelines and retainage are.
Insolvency and title delivery must be addressed directly. If apartments are sold as independent sections in a condominium that is not yet established, specify when the condominium will be formed and how your unit will be identified in the deed. If the land is encumbered or pledged, require documentary releases as closing conditions. Where a developer touts bank guarantees, read the instrument and confirm the beneficiary and triggers—marketing terms do not cash at counters. If you cannot obtain acceptable structural assurances, consider a different unit or a delivered building with clean records; price rarely compensates for years of administration.
Communications discipline also matters. Keep minutes of site meetings, save dated photo sets, and request written answers to key questions; when changes occur (materials, layouts), record variation orders with prices and dates. Use sworn translations for bilingual sets and keep the Turkish desk-facing version authoritative. Buyers advised by an experienced lawyer in Turkey within a reputable Turkish Law Firm are patient at the front end so that handover and title are administrative, not adversarial, events. If disputes emerge, your evidence file—not optimistic brochures—will decide outcomes.
Putting It Together: A Clean Closing Timeline & Evidence Pack
A calm closing is engineered, not wished for. Sequence your steps: preliminary title extract; encumbrance analysis and remedies; restricted-zone checks; appraisal ordered with correct parcel data; contract that ties payments to deliverables; escrow instructions mirroring those deliverables; DASK issuance aligned to TAPU identifiers for utilities; iskan and seismic posture verified; translation and POA chain confirmed; bank transfer plan with proofs. Each item should generate a file you can print, stamp, and show to a desk that asks “why should I proceed?” If a step cannot produce a printable record, it is not yet a step—treat it as a conversation, not evidence.
Your evidence pack needs a captain. Designate one person—often your counsel at a disciplined law firm in Istanbul—to maintain the canonical folder: identity sheet; standardized municipal address; TAPU extract and condominium plan; encumbrance releases; appraisal PDF; iskan or municipal confirmation; DASK policy; escrow confirmations; payment proofs; utilities submissions; and a short bilingual cover note. This is the pack you will carry from registry to bank to subscriber desks, and the same pack that underwrites resale or a mortgage later. Experienced Turkish lawyers keep versions controlled so statements across desks never contradict each other.
After keys, keep the discipline. Calendar renewals (DASK, contents insurance), set reminders for HOA dues, and schedule a twelve-month snag list for newly built units. If your immigration path depends on address registration, sync move-in with the steps in our residence-permit guide. Should your tax status change, update address and contact data with banks and insurers to avoid missed notices—see tax residency for foreigners. A pragmatic English speaking lawyer in Turkey will provide a one-page “aftercare” checklist so compliance stays routine.
How Counsel Helps: Deal Hygiene, Negotiations and Dispute Prevention
Counsel is not an expense line; it is a control system. A seasoned team will run title and encumbrance checks, stage remedies, draft a buyer-side contract with escrow and documentary milestones, coordinate appraisal and iskan confirmations, and rehearse closing so each desk sees the same facts. Where language or distance complicates matters, counsel arranges sworn translators and narrow POAs so signatures happen once, correctly. When counterparties press for shortcuts, your lawyer in Turkey explains—politely but firmly—why evidence precedes money. That posture is how a reputable Turkish Law Firm keeps clients out of disputes they would otherwise inherit.
In negotiation, counsel converts risk into numbers: price adjustments for encumbrance releases, retainage for pending permits, and variation schedules for changes. In off-plan deals, counsel ties payments to progress and insists on instruments that survive insolvency rather than promises that do not. When an impasse surfaces, a bilingual, facts-first memo often resolves it faster than calls; sellers move when they see the registry page and the escrow clause on the same sheet. Clients working with a methodical law firm in Istanbul secure better terms because their requests are documented, proportionate, and desk-readable.
If conflict becomes unavoidable, your evidence pack is your leverage. A clean chain—from title extract to escrow release—shortens litigation, supports urgent measures, and invites settlement on favorable terms. With correct POAs, translations, and bank proofs already archived, your counsel can act immediately. In every scenario, the winning habit is the same: file first, pay second, sign last. It is the habit experienced Turkish lawyers teach and enforce from the first viewing to the final utilities email.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I verify the TAPU? Obtain a current land-registry extract and condominium plan directly from the registry or via counsel, then cross-check unit identifiers with the door number and building signage. Our guide on title deed check Turkey shows what to read and why.
Do foreigners need an appraisal report? Yes. Licensed appraisal is mandatory in foreign-involved sales and anchors lending, tax, and timing. Order it early, with correct parcel data; practice may vary by province/authority and year.
What is DASK and why is it mandatory? DASK is compulsory earthquake insurance covering structural damage from earthquake and specified ensuing perils; utilities and many desks request a current policy number. See our explainer on DASK insurance Turkey.
What is iskan (occupancy permit)? The document confirming a building’s lawful completion and use. Without it, utilities, lending, and resale may be affected. Confirm iskan status or reflect risk in price and escrow.
How do I avoid escrow risks? Use bank or notarial escrow that releases funds only when documentary conditions are met—title releases, appraisal, DASK, handover inventory. Our page on escrow accounts outlines workable models.
How can I check liens and encumbrances? Read the “takyidatlar” section of the registry extract and obtain documentary releases for mortgages, attachments, usufructs, and easements. Do not rely on verbal assurances; attach releases to the contract.
Can I pay in FX? Yes, but plan conversions and bank compliance. Keep a clean source-of-funds trail and mirror the contract schedule. Align with immigration and tax timelines where relevant.
What about POAs executed abroad? Use narrow, deal-specific powers; follow apostille/consular legalization and sworn translation. See our primer on power of attorney property Turkey for model scopes.
How should I budget closing and recurring costs? Obtain written estimates for taxes, fees, appraisal, translations, DASK, HOA, and maintenance; amounts vary by province/authority and year. Build an annual renewals calendar for DASK and contents cover.
What if the seller is a company? Verify corporate authority (signatories), check for corporate liens, and ensure the contract names the correct legal entity. Ask for board resolutions when needed.
Who checks military/restricted areas? Your counsel should confirm whether the parcel lies in a restricted zone and whether any special procedures apply; treatment is case-by-case and may vary by province/authority and year.
What if defects appear after closing? Use your contract’s defect and snagging clauses; document issues with dated photos and engineer notes. Escrow retainage or specific remedies in the agreement determine leverage post-handover.