House sales increased by 32.4 percent in March, reaching 116,030 compared to the same month of the previous year, according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) on Friday. Istanbul has the highest share, as usual, with 18.9 percent of house sales with 21,911 houses sold. Ankara and Izmir followed Istanbul with 12.2 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

In March, 45,315 house ownerships changed in terms of mortgage sales. The mortgaged house sales throughout Turkey increased by 85.2 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Moreover, house sales with a mortgage had a 39.1 percent share of all house sales in Turkey. "This increase is not an extra improvement, the sector is just returning back to normal," said Burhan Özdemir, chairman of Optimal Project Management. "When comparing the numbers with the previous year, we need to remember the situation at that time," he added, referring to the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 operations and political turmoil. After December 2013, the Turkish lira lost value against major currencies and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) intervened in the situation by increasing interest rates. "The following months have been difficult for the construction sector. Mortgaged house sales generally account for 40 percent of total sales; however, it decreased to 25 percent during that period since people were not willing to buy houses through credits with high interest rates," Özdemir explained. He stressed that housing loans' interest rates have reduced since August 2014, and the sector is just getting back to normal. Additionally, it is following an increasing trend like it did before December 2013.

First house sales increased by 22.6 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, hitting 51,487. First house sales had a 44.4 percent share of all house sales in Turkey, while second-hand house sales were 64,543 in March, increasing 41.4 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Regarding house sales to foreigners, Istanbul ranked first with 548 sales in March, followed by Antalya with 451 house sales, Yalova with 119 house sales, Bursa with 103 house sales, Aydın with 72 house sales and Sakarya with 65 house sales.