In Mersin, the construction of Cukurova International Airport is being completed – the largest transport hub in Turkey, which will serve the provinces of Mersin and Adana. Our editors learned about how its opening will affect the region from Alexandra Sokolova, director of the real estate agency Income Mersin.
Alexandra Sokolova is the first Russian-speaking realtor in Mersin and a speaker at international business conferences, radio stations “Silver Rain”, “Echo of Moscow”, “Moscow Speaks” and others.
— Hello, Alexandra. Please tell us when Çukurova airport will open?
– Hello. The opening date was postponed more than once, the last one was set for January 15, 2024 with the participation of Turkish President Erdogan, but this did not happen. There is no other date yet, but work at the site is ongoing 24/7. We expect that the airport will open within one to two months. In addition, in June 2024 they plan to completely close the airport in Adana, and the entire load will fall on Mersin.
— How will the new airport affect the real estate sector?
— It will give a powerful impetus to the development of the region. Çukurova Airport was originally planned as the largest transport hub of two regions: Mersin and Adana. Its passenger flow is calculated to be up to 30 million per year. Accordingly, the number of tourists will increase, and hence the demand for real estate.
Now hotels, modern residential real estate, shopping and business centers are being built near the airport. In the suburbs of Mersin, near the city of Tarsus, where Çukurova airport is located, a tourism cluster is being developed. 17 large hotels will open on the coastline.
— Will prices for real estate in Mersin increase?
— The airport has not yet been launched, and the cost of real estate has already increased by at least 30% compared to last year. Recently, Mersin has been leading Turkey in terms of housing price growth, ahead of Istanbul and Antalya, while remaining an affordable region of the Mediterranean Sea. The cost of an apartment in Mersin starts from 33 thousand euros at the construction stage. Both individuals from all countries and large financial institutions invest in the region.
— How will the social and economic spheres change?
— Cukurova Airport will provide new jobs. About 25 thousand people are involved in the operation of the airport and the areas that serve it. Warehouses and industrial facilities are also being actively built in Tarsus. They involve at least 100 thousand people.
The universities of Mersin and Tarsus are also not left out. Educational institutions are increasing their opportunities to educate more students. There are currently four universities in the region. The largest of them is located in Mersin, where approximately 50 thousand students study.
— Is it worth buying housing in Mersin now, and if so, in which area?
— Of course it’s worth it. Mersin is a top destination for purchasing a home or investing. The best areas for foreigners are Mezitli, Teje, Tomyuk and Arpachbakhshish.
Due to high demand, Mersin today resembles a large construction site, and apartments here are sold out at the start of sales before the foundation pit begins. For purchase, developers offer interest-free installments for up to three years and with an initial payment of 30%.
Ready-made objects can only be purchased from investors or from the secondary market.
I note that many areas are gasified or have a future gasification. The proximity to sandy beaches is no more than 600 meters, but in the coming years, areas remote from the beach will be built up due to a lack of land.
— Is it possible to buy an apartment on your own?
— There are a lot of offers on the market now, so contact a reliable developer. One of us is Income Mersin. We will analyze the offers on the market for free and accompany the client to the purchase and sale transaction.
Published: 01/24/2024