The construction of the Chukurov International Airport, the largest transport hub in Turkey, which will serve the provinces of Mersin and Adana, is being completed in Mersin. Our editorial staff learned about how its opening will affect the region from Alexandra Sokolova, director of the Income Mersin real estate agency.
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. Tell us, please, when will Chukurov Airport be opened?
— Hello. The opening date was postponed more than once, the last one was scheduled for January 15, 2024 with the participation of Turkish President Erdogan, but this did not happen. There is no other date yet, but work on the site is underway 24/7. We expect that the airport will be opened within one to two months. In addition, in June 2024, it is planned 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. Chukurov Airport was originally planned as the largest transport hub of the two regions: Mersin and Adana. Its passenger traffic is calculated 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. A tourist cluster is being developed in the suburb of Mersin, near the city of Tarsus, where Chukurov Airport is located. 17 large hotels will open on the coastline.
— Will property prices rise in Mersin?
— 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 in Turkey in terms of house 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?
— Chukurov Airport will provide new jobs. About 25 thousand people are involved in the work of the airport and the areas that serve it. Also in Tarsus is actively building warehouses and industrial facilities. They involve at least 100 thousand people.
The universities of Mersin and Tarsus also did not stand aside. Educational institutions are increasing the opportunities for more students to study. There are currently four universities in the region. The largest of them is located in Mersin, where about 50 thousand students study.
— Is it worth buying a house in Mersin, if so, in which area?
— Of course it’s worth it. Mersin is a top destination for buying a home or investing. The best areas for foreigners are considered to be Mezitli, Teje, Tomyuk and Arpachbakhshish.
Due to the high demand, Mersin today resembles a large construction site, and apartments here are sold out at the start of sales before the start of the excavation. For purchase, developers offer interest-free installments of up to three years and with an initial payment of 30%.
Ready-made objects can only be bought from investors or from the secondary market.
I would like to note that many areas are gasified or with the prospect of gasification. The proximity to sandy beaches is no more than 600 meters, but in the coming years areas far from the beach will be built up due to 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 these is Income Mersin. We will analyze the offers on the market for free and accompany the client to the purchase and sale transaction.
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish