Now is the ideal time to buy property in Turkey

According to data from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) published for May 2026, the Housing Price Index (Konut Fiyat Endeksi) is showing an interesting trend that opens up new opportunities for buyers. Experts, notably Hakan Şişik, Chairman of the Anatolian Side Contractors’ Association (AYİDER), emphasise that the real decline in prices against a backdrop of nominal growth makes this an opportune time to purchase property.

According to the TCMB report, the index rose by 1.7% in May compared with April, reaching 227.1 points. On an annual basis, the nominal increase stood at 24.5 per cent. However, taking inflation into account, real house prices fell by 6.1 per cent. This means that the purchasing power of potential homeowners has effectively increased. The picture varies across the three major cities: in Istanbul, prices rose by 2.1% over the month and 25.4% over the year; in Ankara, by 1.5% and 27.3% respectively; whilst in Izmir, there was even a slight monthly decline of 0.1%, alongside annual growth of 22.8%.

Hakan Şişik, citing these figures, notes that the current situation presents a rare opportunity for those who have long been planning to buy. High inflation and the stabilisation of the market following previous fluctuations have led to the real value of properties shifting in the buyer’s favour. The expert recommends carefully examining offers in regions with the most significant real-term price falls, where high-quality housing can be found on attractive terms. Furthermore, rental rates are rising in parallel (a new index for tenants showed a nominal increase of 30.4% over the year), making home ownership an even more sensible choice compared to long-term renting.

Analysts agree that the May data reflects a balance between supply and demand. Buyers ready to make a purchase now can secure a more favourable price before the nominal trend potentially recovers. Experts advise taking into account not only prices, but also infrastructure, the area’s development prospects and lending conditions. For many families and investors, this is a window of opportunity that should not be missed.

Overall, the TCMB’s May report confirms that, despite external challenges, the Turkish housing market offers real advantages for active buyers. Those who act prudently will be able to invest profitably in property during this period.