Istanbul Property Prices Surge 6.8% as Citizenship Investment Drives Demand

Istanbul residential property prices rose 6.8 percent in the three months to June compared with the same quarter of 2025, according to transaction data compiled by local valuation firms.

The increase arrives as the Turkish citizenship program continues to draw buyers from the Middle East and Central Asia who must spend at least 400,000 dollars on property to qualify. That threshold has kept foreign purchases steady even as domestic mortgage rates remain above 25 percent, pushing cash buyers toward established neighbourhoods rather than new-build projects on the outskirts.

Premium districts lead the gains

Values in Besiktas along the Bosphorus waterfront climbed 9.2 percent year on year, with apartments on Sinanpasa Caddesi trading at an average 3,100 dollars per square metre. In Beyoglu, units near the Galata Tower posted a 7.4 percent rise over the same twelve months, supported by short-term rental yields that still exceed 6 percent annually despite new municipal licensing rules introduced in March.

Sisli recorded more moderate movement, with average prices reaching 2,650 dollars per square metre after a 5.1 percent quarterly lift. Kadikoy on the Asian side saw 4.9 percent growth, helped by improved ferry links and the ongoing renovation of the Moda waterfront promenade that opened to pedestrians in late May.

City-wide averages now sit at 2,500 dollars per square metre, up from 2,340 dollars recorded in the second quarter of 2025. Data from the Istanbul Chamber of Real Estate Agents shows 11,200 foreign-title transfers between April and June, a 14 percent increase on the equivalent period last year.

Outlook for buyers and sellers

Agents expect the third quarter to bring steadier but slower gains once summer holidays reduce transaction volumes. Prospective buyers are advised to review the latest land-registry valuations on the Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Mudurlugu portal before signing contracts, and to confirm that any citizenship application file includes the updated 2026 minimum investment threshold published by the Interior Ministry on 1 July.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.