In the United States, 4.06 million homes were sold last year, while Türkiye recorded 1,478,025 housing sales in the same period. In Europe, Türkiye was followed by the United Kingdom with 1.24 million sales, France with 750,000, Italy with about 720,000, Spain with 715,429, the Netherlands with 206,500, Portugal with 156,325, and Swedenwith 164,080 housing sales.
“Housing Is a Core Investment Tool in Türkiye”
Neşecan Çekici, President of the Real Estate Investors Association (GYODER), said that the strong momentum in housing sales continues this year. “In the January–September period, sales increased by 19.2% y-o-y, reaching 1,128,727 units,” she stated.
Çekici emphasized that housing in Türkiye is viewed not only as a means of shelter but also as a savings and investment instrument. “Being ranked first in Europe and second among OECD countries highlights the dynamic structure of our sector,” she said.
“Long-Term Policies Are Essential”
Çekici noted that the high volume of sales must be assessed carefully in terms of sustainability. “Rising costs and difficulties in accessing financing directly affect buyer behavior. The size of the sector shows the need for long-term policies to maintain supply-demand balance,” she said.
She also underlined that quality in housing production, urban transformation, energy efficiency, and urban planning have become as important as sales performance. “Therefore, social housing and green building projects should be prioritized,” she added.
“A 10-Year Housing Policy Should Be Established”
The GYODER President stated that despite high sales figures, homeownership rates remain low. “Reintroducing 1+0 apartment types, expanding social housing, and supporting urban transformation are key steps. However, a 10-year housing policy must be developed. Land, financing, and housing type planning should be addressed through a platform jointly created by the public sector, private sector, and civil society,” she said.
Çekici also touched on aesthetic and architectural identity, saying: “We must now focus on projects that enhance quality of life, not just meet basic shelter needs.”
“Earthquake Housing and 500,000 Social Homes Are a Major Success”
Ziya Yılmaz, Chairman of the Association of Housing Developers and Investors (KONUTDER), stated that second-hand sales have risen in recent years, but first-hand production must be supported. He said that lower interest rates and improved access to credit will further boost sales. “The housing sector remains one of the driving forces of Türkiye’s economy. The housing built in earthquake-hit regions and the 500,000-unit social housing project represent an unprecedented global achievement,” he stated.
Yılmaz stressed the need to improve production conditions to maintain a stable housing supply, noting: “High land costs and financing difficulties slow down production. If the public sector produces land under favorable conditions, housing accessibility could increase by 40%.”
“Türkiye Will Maintain Its Leadership”
Engin Keçeli, President of the Association of Builders and Real Estate Developers (İNDER), said that Türkiye will continue to lead in housing production and sales in the coming years. “Our young and dynamic population, combined with strong production capacity, creates a positive outlook for both demand and supply. With government support and the sector’s growth, we have achieved the position we deserve,” he stated.
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