22.07.2025 14:00
Following the decision of the Ministry of Trade that prohibits unjustified price increases in real estate listings, a real estate agent in Antalya, who was unable to raise the price of a property listed due to a penalty, stated that the price was 400,000 lira higher than what was written in the advertisement when contacted by phone for information, explaining that they could not reflect the actual price due to the penalty.
After the decision of the Ministry of Commerce stating that unjustified price increases cannot be made in real estate listings, some real estate agents claim that the prices listed on advertisement sites are different when called by phone. A real estate agent, who could not increase the price due to a penalty related to a property listed in Antalya, stated that the price was 400 thousand lira more than what was written in the advertisement when contacted by phone, and that they could not reflect the real price due to the penalty.
DIFFERENT PRICE GAME BY REAL ESTATE AGENTS ON THE PHONE
The Ministry of Commerce published a regulation in the Official Gazette last May stating that "no price increase that is not in line with general economic data and not based on a justifiable reason can be made in real estate listings provided on the internet, and businesses cannot mediate these listings." Following the publication of the regulation, property owners and real estate agents found to have made exorbitant price increases on the internet have occasionally faced fines. However, despite this, some advertisers and real estate agents are looking for ways to hide price increases. A real estate agent contacted for information about an apartment listed for sale at 2 million 500 thousand lira in Antalya stated that the price was different from what was written in the advertisement. The real estate agent on the phone said they indexed the price of the advertisement to euros, that they could not reflect the real price due to the penalty, and that the actual price of the apartment was 2 million 900 thousand lira.
PENALTIES FOR BOTH REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS
Ismail Çağlar, President of the Antalya Chamber of Real Estate Agents, Auto Dealers, and Business Followers, stated, "Our tradesmen were being fined by the Ministry of Commerce for exorbitant price increases. We explained that this was due to the property owners. Now, both property owners and real estate agents face fines if they make exorbitant price increases. This application has been beneficial. We warn our tradesmen, 'Do not increase prices without obtaining a declaration from the property owner.' Price increases should not be made without obtaining a declaration," he said.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS ARE OBLIGED TO COMPLY
Çağlar also addressed complaints about various issues, saying, "There are many complaints about these issues, but there is nothing real estate agents can do. The property owner can demand whatever they want, and the real estate agent is obliged to comply. Fines are imposed due to the price differences in the listings posted on sites, but now fines are not only imposed for this reason. Fines are now also being imposed for properties whose real value is not stated during the sale," he said.
PENALTIES ARE IMPOSED FOR UNJUSTIFIED PRICE INCREASES
Halit Mert, who works in the real estate sector in the city, stated, "The Ministry of Commerce is conducting serious efforts to control the price imbalances in the real estate sector and to prevent fake listings. Sanctions are being imposed on companies and property owners that increase prices uncontrollably. Previously, fines were only imposed on real estate agents for price increases, but now they are also being applied to property owners. Penalties are being imposed for price increases that are not based on any justification," he said.
COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE MADE
Mert pointed out that individuals without authorization certificates provide misleading information to consumers, saying, "We recommend that people who claim that the price written in the advertisement is different from the real price should not be trusted. Unfortunately, we see that such situations occur. If a different price is encountered than the listed amount, it should definitely be reported. Most of the increases are due to the property owner. Each property has its own number. When listings are made on sites, this number must be entered. If a property was listed and then removed, and later it is intended to be listed again at a different price, this number can be tracked by the ministry," he said.
News: Semih ERSÖZLER- İrem GÜNEYBAZ- Camera: Mehmet YILMAZ/ANTALYA,