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Investing in Istanbul Real Estate is one of the best decisions you can make.  Due to the central and unique location of Istanbul, the history, the cosmopolitan nature of this vibrant and much sought after city, owning a property here is a guaranteed investment success.  However, thereafter comes a dilemma – in which area of Istanbul should you buy?

It’s a well known and often repeated fact that Istanbul straddles two continents – Europe and Asia, and is therefore one of the most popular cities to visit.  It is a lesser known fact though that Istanbul is actually known as Istanbul Province, and comprises 39  neighbourhoods, each with it’s own local government, and complete with necessary facilities such as housing, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, shopping malls.

Why Invest in …….Sisli is one of the 39 districts of Istanbul.  Located on the European side of the city and covering around 35Km², it is bordered by Besiktas to the east, Sariyer to the north, Eyup and Kagithane to the west and Beyoglu to the south.

Developed as a middle-class centre during the Ottoman period, Sisli boasts wide avenues with large buildings and was home to Armenians, Jews and Greeks (and a few Turks).  Following the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923 the area became a favourite of poets and writers and Sisli acquired theatres and cafes.  The Hilton Bosphorous Istanbul was built here in the 1950s, the first Hilton outside of USA, and was quickly followed by other presitigious hotel chains.

Nowadays the elite of Istanbul have moved further out of the city and their large homes have become banks, offices and large retail units.  Sinc the 1970s a period of renovation has taken place and most of the grand buildings have been demolished, to be replaced by modern high rise apartment blocks.  Sisli is known as a centre for shopping, and Europe’s biggest (and the world’s second largest) shopping mall Cevahir, is situated here.  The charming area of Nisantasi is known as the home for high fashion in Istanbul, and you can find many designer studios within the narrow back streets.

Şişli also has a reputation for education with some well-known high schools and a great number of dersane (preparatory courses for the annual university entrance exams), evening and weekend schools where people come to cram for university or high school entrance examinations, or to learn English.

Due to it’s central location Sisli is once again known as an up and coming area of Istanbul, and residential properties here are at a premium.  We are proud to present a number of exquisite apartments in this desirable location, complete with every modern facility and amenity for your family.

Why Invest in …….Bomonti?

Being  part of the Sisli neighbourhood, Bomonti is best known as being one of the first light industrial zones in Istanbul, and was later home for the brewery, the first one of the Ottoman Empire, which takes it’s name.

Following the construction of the Bosphorous Bridge, during the 1970’s, urban accessibility was improved and gradually the factories closed and the area became a dead zone.  Recently however, the area has been the subject of mass transformation, due to the central location within Istanbul and high land prices, and is now an area of large scale multi-storey projects.

Modern tower blocks offer stunning views of this amazing city, and being just a short distance from the shopping areas of Sisli, together with a rise in entertainment venues in Bomonti itself, properties here are in great demand.

Why Invest in …….Kagithane

Kagithane is formerly a working class district, covering an area of 14.52km² on the European side of Istanbul, which has recently become one of the largest real estate development areas of the city.  The area takes it’s name from the former paper factories and flour mills which were prominent in the area.

Nowadays, following the introduction of new intra-city networks and urban regeneration plans, Kagithane is transforming into one of the smartest addresses in Istanbul.  New developments include a wide range of mixed use, shopping mall, hotel, campus, office and residential units.  One of the most prominent buildings in the area is Istanbul Sapphire, boasting 54 floors and rising 238 metres, Sapphire was once the tallest building in the city, and the 4th tallest building in Europe.

Why Invest in …….Esenyurt

On the European side of Istanbul, Esenyurt is a ‘new’ area of Istanbul, with lots of recent development.  Bordered by Kucukcekmece Lake on the east, Buyukcekmece to the west, Arnavutkoy and the new Istanbul airport to the north and the major E5 highway to the south, Esenyurt is becoming a favourite residence amongst Istanbulites.

Esenyurt is a developed area, with good infrastructure and transport links – the new Istanbul airport is just over 40 Km from Esenyurt.  There are four new cultural centres and four new parks in Esenyurt which add to the impressive list of facilities in the area such as shopping malls, hospitals and health facilities, Universities, conference centres, nature park and other leisure activities.

Due to land prices in the area, property here is quite affordable and it is possible to buy a brand new, modern apartment for less than $50,000.

Why Invest in …….Maslak

Maslak is the main business area of Istanbul, located on the European side of the city and is home to Turkey’s Stock Exchange – Borsa Istanbul, and also the huge, green leafy Belgrad Forest.

Maslak gets it’s name from the water pools brought through channels from the Buyukdere River, but it is now known as Skyscraper Central, due to the proliferation of tower blocks, some of which offer tantaslising glimpses of the iconic Bosphorous Strait.

Maslak is quite close to the centre of Istanbul, with Taksim Square being just a few stops away by Metro, from where you can easily reach all parts of the city.  In the other direction, you can find the beaches of Kilyos or watch the fishing boats at the picturesque port of Sariyer, and hardly believe you are in Istanbul at all.  The new Istanbul airport is easily reached via the new D020 road and is approximately 34 Km away.

Due to the central location, and being close to many businesses, shopping and leisure outlets, apartments in Maslak is in great demand, and are thus perfect for investors looking for buy to let property.

Why Invest in …….Eyup

Eyup, or Eyupsultan, is a district of European Istanbul, on the shores of the Golden Horn, which takes it’s name from the magnificent and imposing Eyup Sultan Mosque.  There is a gondola ride, rising up from behind the mosque, up to the historial Pierre Loti Coffeehouse, named after the French writer who was a frequent visitor in the late 19th Century.  Being the highest point of European Istanbul, you can soak up the panoramic views of the Golden Horn, whilst enjoying a refreshing drink.

Being in a central Istanbul location, and having good infrastructure and transport links to the city, this is a favoured development area and property values are rising quickly.  Apartments here are proving popular with investors seeking entry level opportunities with scope for capital growth, and a steady income from tenants who prefer the easy commute into the city.  However, it is still possible to find a modern apartment, with good views, from as little as $65,000.

Real Estate Investment In Istanbul

One question everyone asks, when thinking about investing in Istanbul, is ‘how much return can I expect to receive?” and so this article sets out to explain how real estate investment works, and how to get the best return on your investment.

First of all, there are two ways in which you can get a return on your property investment.  These are rental income and capital appreciation.  Such returns are generally tied in with the security of a country, therefore the safer the country (in terms of policital and financial stability) the lower the risk, thus the lower the income, compared to a more volatile country, where the risks may be higher, and thus returns too are higher.

It is thus important, when buying in Turkey, to recognise the stability and security of the country, which is classed as “an upper-middle income country, with an impressive economic and social development performance since 2000.” (*World Bank).

As most investment properties in Turkey are in Istanbul, we shall focus our attention there.  Over the past 5 years, house prices in Turkey have increased, on average, by around 15% annually, however new properties in Istanbul have increased by around 25% in the same period.

Properties in Istanbul generally offer more social and leisure facilities than those in traditional Turkish cities, which increase their rental income and resale value, coupled with ongoing Governmental capital investments such as new transport links, retail facilities, education and health establishments etc., all of which combine to increase property values.

Another factor to consider when buying property for investment is property size.  In Istanbul, families tend to be smaller, with many people living alone – having left their birth city for the improved life and employment opportunities Istanbul offers.  Property maintenance fees are calculated based on the size of a property, plus of course, running costs increase according to property size, thus we advise that you focus on 1 or 2 bedroom properties, when buying for investment.

When it comes to rental income, of course this can fluctuate enormously, depending on the quality of the property, facilities nearby etc, but we can say that, on average, rental income in Istanbul is around 6% of the property price, per year.  In order to maximise your rental income, we advise that you should choose a project with proven highly sought-after properties.  Usually these can be close to a university or hospital, or similar, and almost always within a modern complex which offers leisure facilities, leading to a healthy and more relaxed lifestyle.

We can therefore conclude by saying that, in order to obtain the most return on your investment, you should make an informed choice, by having the most comprehensive and up to date information at hand and by dealing with a recognised Property Specialist who has a unique relationship with proven builders and who are able to guarantee the best price.  Choose wisely – choose UD Turkey!

UDTurkey (United Developers of Turkey) is a unique concept and Turkey’s only real estate portal for International buyers.

Working as a joint venture, in partnership with the most established and respected builders in Turkey, we strive to offer the best investment options to foreign buyers.  Our aim is to create a direct sales channel between developers and investors and, due to our unique arrangement, we can guarantee the best prices in the market without any hidden agenda or cost implications.

Investors can buy with confidence, direct from the leading developers, in the most preferred and beautiful parts of Turkey.  From Istanbul to Izmir, from Bursa to Bodrum, from Ankara to Antalya – and all places in between.  We provide real property names and locations so it’s never been easier to find your ideal property in your preferred location!

We offer a direct communication channel between customers and construction companies, and are always on hand to offer assistance, advice and support to both parties.

Whether you are looking for a commercial enterprise in Istanbul or a family holiday home in Antalya, UDTurkey is your one-stop shop.  If you are planning to buy a property in Turkey in order to apply for Turkish Citizenship our dedicated legal team and property advisors can help you every step of the way.