Istanbul real estate investment shifts toward transportation corridors

Real estate and land investment patterns in Istanbul are shifting as focus moves from proximity to the city center toward accessibility via transportation networks, employment hubs, and infrastructure projects. Mustafa Hakan Özelmacıklı, Chairman of Altın Emlak Global, notes that travel time to metro, railway, and highway projects is becoming a primary driver of property value.

Key development corridors include:

- Arnavutköy and Taşoluk: Increased accessibility due to the Halkalı–Arnavutköy metro line and proximity to Istanbul Airport are driving residential and commercial demand. - Western Axis: The Halkalı–Ispartakule–Çerkezköy–Kapıkule railway project is boosting interest in Halkalı, Ispartakule, and Bahçeşehir for housing, while Çatalca, Silivri, Çerkezköy, and Çorlu are emerging as industrial and logistics hubs. - Anatolian Side: Pendik, Kurtköy, and Tuzla remain significant due to integrations with the airport, Marmaray, High-Speed Train (YHT), and major highways. Gebze and Darıca continue to attract interest through industrial capacity.

Investors are advised to look beyond major projects like Kanal Istanbul and instead conduct parcel-level analysis of zoning plans, water basins, and expropriation risks.