The characteristics of those major Turkish cities where Russians are most interested in purchasing real estate have been addressed in detail and on multiple occasions, including the nuances of buying a home in those areas and priority regions, etc. However, the TurkEstate platform offers residential real estate in lesser-known towns around Turkey. It is worthwhile to think about the choices of purchasing an apartment, relocating to those areas or buying real estate for investment purposes. Join us in discussing opportunities for investment in other cities where our developments are featured.
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The first and probably most essential point of interest is that neither tourists nor investors are particularly aware of these areas, which means two things:
- housing costs are lower (sometimes much lower than in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, and other well-known cities); and
- Obtaining a residency permit is much simpler.
Thus, in the future, Turkish citizenship will be available without the requirement to make an initial investment of $400,000 or more which is needed to apply for the so-called "citizenship by investment." When purchasing a home in these cities for at least $75,000, the opportunity to become a citizen in a few years for approximately six times less investment becomes possible.
As described below, several cities are appreciated by the Turks themselves for their stunning scenery, luxurious accommodations, and well-developed infrastructure.
Bursa
Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa are Turkey's four largest cities. Bursa differs from the other cities in that it is in the interior of the country with no access to the sea. The social and transport infrastructure is well developed, there are universities and numerous other educational institutions including colleges, and it is bustling with life and areas of interest.
Bursa is only about two hours' drive from Istanbul, three hours' drive from Izmir and four hours’ drive from Ankara, the capital of the Turkish Republic. Eskisehir, an interesting city is nearby.
Situated in Anatolia’s northwest, is the capital and administrative centre of the province, with the same name, Bursa. One million people are living in this metropolis and that number is growing quickly toward two million. In the years 1326 to 1365, Bursa served as the Ottoman state's capital, although not for long. The future metropolis was nevertheless affected and Bursa is now regarded as a "polite," "developed," and "cultural" city.
Although there are earthquakes here and throughout Turkey, severe underground shocks are significantly less frequent due to their location in the interior of the country. When compared to Istanbul and Izmir, which have earthquakes quite often, Bursa suffered its most catastrophic damage in 1855.
Since the Republic of Turkey's proclamation (1923), the industry in Bursa has been actively growing causing the city's population to expand quickly resulting in several vehicle plants being located here.
Bursa is one of the few Turkish cities with a subway system which has been operational since 2002. There is also a highly extensive and convenient tram network.
Bursa has no local airport, however, citizens and visitors use the nearby Sabiha Gokcen International airport in the city's Asian area. Other types of transport such as trains and buses are also available.
Returning to the field of education, Bursa is home to two public universities and one private institution. The oldest institution in the city is Uludag University, which was established in 1975.
Bursa does not have direct access to the sea as just a few parts of the province border the water, however, there are lovely lakes close by. Bursa is often regarded as one of Turkey's most picturesque cities because of its abundance of parks and natural beauty.
Some of the best areas in the metropolis are Gemlik, Mudanya, Osmangazi, and Nilüfer.
Bursa has seen real estate investment popularity rise significantly in recent years, resulting in prices increasing rapidly. Bursa is therefore a wise and profitable choice for an investment.
Konya
Konya, situated in central Anatolia, is among the wealthiest and most conservative cities in Turkey. There are more than two million residents in Konya.
Although it does not border the sea, it takes a little over an hour by high-speed train to reach Ankara. Interior weather prevails here and Konya is situated very high above sea level (about 1,000 metres). For those who are worried about missing the winter snow we have good news: it consistently lasts between 15 and 45 days. In contrast to the "rainy season" and the "hot season" on the same Anatolian coast, all four seasons are clearly distinguished here.
The costs for goods, food and cafes and restaurants are substantially lower than in many other cities, even though, as previously indicated, this city has a wealthy population.
The city is well-known for its history and has significant religious and cultural significance. It is here that Mevlana's centre was situated. Konya radiates antiquity because Chatal-Hyuk, one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, is situated only 50 kilometres south of the city. Chatal-Hyuk was "inhabited" as early as 7500 BC so it is not surprising that there are many architectural landmarks, given that the city endured the Roman and Byzantine eras. Another area of interest that is offered is the museums.
Omar Khayyam, a well-known poet and mathematician of the Seljuk era, resided in Konya, as did Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi, whose works are employed in the Mevlevi rituals today. Therefore, this Sufi dwelling is still regarded as a sacred location.
Konya's summers are pleasant with temperatures rarely rising above 35 degrees.
There is great infrastructure as not only is there a railway, but also Konya Airport, located only 18 kilometres from the city, which serves both the military and the civilian population.
There is no need to worry about your children's education because Konya is home to four universities.
Kayseri
At the northern foot of the Erciyes volcano, the city of Kayseri acts as the administrative hub of the Kayseri vilayet. The beautiful region of Cappadocia is easily accessible from Kayseri because of nearby ski slopes and flights that carry tourists to Cappadocia in Kayseri and Nevsehir.
The city of Kayseri is inland, there are majestic mountains nearby as has already been noted. One of the nation's winter resorts is located in this area.
The Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk influences on the city are clear. Even if you choose not to visit Cappadocia, Kayseri itself has a variety of things to do. For instance, the Byzantines constructed the 1,500-year-old Kayseri Castle, which the Seljuks and Ottomans later added to, as well as the Hunad Khatun Mosque, Kili Arslan Mosque, Great Mosque and Govar Nesibe Hospital.
It is also a major industrial hub in the country, particularly for the manufacture of carpets and furniture.
There are plenty of schools, colleges and universities. The three universities that make up the Kayseri university system provide more than 60 distinct academic options.
The city has a population of approximately 1.5 million people.
Trabzon
Trabzon is a seaside city. It is located on the Black Sea, making it very appealing to someone who is extremely fond of the climate and nature of Sochi, Gelendzhik and Krasnodar. Trabzon has a subtropical climate with infrequent snow.
The administrative core of the province of Trabzon is located in Trabzon, which is at the mouth of the Machka river and along the Black Sea coast of Turkey.
The population is growing and is close to one million (according to the census of 2021 - more than 816,000 people).
There are two universities in the city with the University of Eurasia being the more well-known.
Trabzon boasts beautiful scenery and numerous intriguing architectural landmarks, notably the Panagia Sumela Monastery carved out of a rock close to the city. The Russian consulate is located in Trabzon, which is significant given the unpredictability of the current scenario.
As well as an airport within the city there are also more than a dozen and a half hospitals in the area, in addition to many private doctors.
Despite its “resort area”, Trabzon is renowned for having residential real estate costs that are far lower than those of other Turkish provinces.
These cities deserve careful consideration for investment. Please contact Turk.Estate experts for information on the specifics of living in other places in Turkey that have not been covered in this article.