We continue to talk about noteworthy (in the investment sense) cities that are located not far from Istanbul and not so densely populated, which is a plus. After all, it is the overpopulation of the largest Turkish metropolis, coupled with a very high percentage of old buildings, that increases the risks in the event of new strong tremors that are predicted in this area in the next decade.
Those interested in housing in Turkey are understandably concerned. In this respect, a good compromise option would be to buy a residential property within a radius of 100–150 km from Istanbul, so that if you wish, you can literally get to the metropolis and back in a couple of hours.
In our previous article, we talked about Silivri, Yalova, İzmit, and Şile; this article will cover Tekirdağ, Çorlu, and Sakarya.
Content:
Tekirdağ and Çorlu
We grouped them together, because both cities are located in the same Tekirdağ Province.
The province’s namesake capital, Tekirdağ, is a city in the north-west of Turkey, in its European part, located on the north coast of the Sea of Marmara. It is a little less than 140 km away from Istanbul. The population is about 200,000 people.
Tekirdağ has a rich history that began 6,000 years ago: the Greeks, Venetians, and Romans managed to “be in charge” of the city back in the day. From the 14th century, it became first Ottoman and then Turkish. For some time, it was Bulgarian; so, along with an impressive heritage, it also has a certain “European touch.”
Getting to Tekirdağ from Istanbul is very easy: regular intercity buses to Tekirdağ depart from bus terminals every hour. Travel time by bus is a little over two hours, and by car an hour and a half. You can also get there by plane.
The city itself has a well-developed transport infrastructure: there are many buses, both municipal and private, available across a variety of routes.
Since Tekirdağ is a coastal city, it is great for those who enjoy seascapes. But it cannot be called a tourist destination, which is more an advantage than a disadvantage: life in the city is comfortable, the industry is developed, and prices are much lower than in popular Turkish resorts, especially in Istanbul. Nevertheless, there are good hotels (inexpensive, too), wonderful cafes and restaurants famous for fish dishes. To get to know the city, you can rent an apartment for a few weeks: the locals willingly rent them out. Switching areas every few days will let you decide which location you prefer.
Tekirdağ is a nice Turkish city, which is not oversaturated with foreigners (as, for example, Fethiye with its big British community). We can’t say there are many attractions, including architectural ones, but the city is enjoyable and very well-groomed. You will definitely find places to take a walk, including several blocks, where the majority of buildings date back to the 19th century. The city has several museums.
Many who have moved there enjoy the local climate, which is a combination of Mediterranean and continental climates. That is, it is very warm there in summer, even hot—like in most regions of Turkey, while there are frequent rains in fall, and snow falls every now and then in winter. This is great for foreigners who miss snow but do not want or cannot travel to ski resorts or their home country. You can swim in Tekirdağ until November: the fall is mild and warm here.
Tekirdağ is one of the prettiest cities in the Marmara Region with its amazing nature, well-developed industry, and friendly people. Many residents of Istanbul have their holiday homes here, as it is only two hours’ drive from Istanbul. The city isn’t only about tourism. It is also a hub of several manufacturing plants and a port for agricultural products. Today the people of Tekirdağ are very proud of their nature, delicious regional food, history, and culture. The city has become more vibrant thanks to urban transformation projects. It attracts many people who are looking for affordable new property in Turkey.
People find Tekirdağ very beautiful. For those moving here—or buying residential property for investment purposes—it is also very important that Tekirdağ is well-developed. The nearest international airport, Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport, is located in Çorlu and is about 30 km away.
That is why many of those who want to work in Istanbul but do not want to live there permanently choose Tekirdağ or Çorlu. The latter also has a population of about 200,000 people; it is a rapidly developing industrial city.
By the way, a lot of foreigners of various ethnicities settled here: they are Greeks, Bulgarians, and other Slavs . The Turks themselves also love this city; they even call it “Little Istanbul”. Çorlu is very attractive for investors in the Turkish real estate market.
Decent residential lots under TRY1 million are hard to come by. It is possible though, but if you do come across properties at TRY0.8-0.9 million, they are usually tiny 1+1 or 2+1 apartments, most likely on the lower floors, which are not in much demand.
Adequate residences in good houses, 3+1 properties, duplexes, etc. start at TRY1.7-1.8 million; in branded projects, they are even more expensive.
However, the number of options is pretty vast, including in multi-story buildings, especially in Çorlu. There are not only low-rise buildings in Tekirdağ Province.
Sakarya
In our previous article, we talked about Kocaeli; so, if you go from Istanbul, then Sakarya is a little further, beyond Kocaeli. The distance from the largest Turkish metropolis to Sakarya is 123 km in a straight line.
Sakarya Province is divided into 16 districts, and three of them are included in the large city of Adapazarı, which is also the central administrative district of the province. Foreigners know little or nothing about Sakarya (even those who often vacation in Turkey), even though it has been a million city since 2000. It’s an ancient land, a remnant of the Ottoman civilization, and a “treasure trove” from a historical point of view. Sakarya boasts amazing nature; it’s an incredibly beautiful city with a very well-developed transport and social infrastructure. Life here is pleasant and peaceful, and the climate is much more comfortable than in many other areas. In January, the average air temperature is 5 °C and in the summer months about 25–27 °C. The temperature almost never rises above 32 °C, but in winter, the same air temperature as on the Antalya coast, 12 °C, is not uncommon.
Although Sakarya is clearly not a tourist destination, tourists still come here. And they do often: after all, the city is famous for its natural hot springs, just like Yalova from our previous article. Sakarya also has a famous beach with curative “antirheumatic” sand.
Sakarya is home to Lake Sapanca, one of the most beautiful lakes in the country and even beyond. There is a river and a magnificent park with a large number of endemics. The Turks themselves love coming to Sakarya for vacation.
There is no airport in Sakarya, but there is no need for one: it is easy and convenient to get there from Cengiz Topel Airport in Kocaeli, which is about 30 km away. Or you can get here directly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, located in the Asian part of the metropolis—it is just over 100 km away. Thus, if you come from abroad, you don’t have to spend time and money on a domestic flight.
It is convenient to get to Sakarya by bus or car: rented car, private transfer or taxi. A journey from Istanbul will take a couple of hours, even with traffic jams. By the way, there is a third option: a train stop at Sakarya on the way between Istanbul and Ankara.
Residential real estate here is available for every taste and budget. The prices of very tiny options start at only TRY600,000; you can find decent apartments at TRY1.5 million and higher. By the way, developers here embrace the local natural beauties and build duplexes and even triplexes, i.e. two- and three-story apartments, which are in pretty high demand in Sakarya.