Turkey’s housing market is showing the first signs of a possible stabilization in foreign demand following a prolonged period of decline. According to Hurriyet Daily News, market participants expect a gradual recovery in activity among foreign buyers, although statistics remain weak for now. In March 2026, foreigners purchased 1,353 residential properties in Turkey, a 20% decrease from the previous year, and the share of transactions involving foreigners in total housing sales amounted to only 1.2%.
Expectations for a recovery in demand are linked not so much to a sharp turnaround that has already begun, but rather to the fact that the market appears to be approaching the bottom of the cycle. Over the past two years, foreign activity in Turkey has declined significantly amid changes in the price environment, currency fluctuations, adjustments to the rules regarding residence permits and citizenship through investment, as well as a general cooling of interest from some traditional buyers. At the same time, market participants themselves believe that after such a sharp decline, the sector may begin to return to a more stable level of demand.
For Ukrainian buyers, Turkey remains one of the most prominent foreign housing markets. Over the past few years, Ukrainian citizens have been among the most active foreign buyers of real estate in the country. This is confirmed by official TurkStat statistics: in January 2023, Ukrainians ranked fourth among foreign homebuyers in Turkey; in March 2024, they ranked third; and in December 2025, they were once again among the top three, following citizens of Russia and Iran.
This trend shows that even against the backdrop of a general decline in foreign demand, Ukrainians maintained a significant presence in the Turkish market. For Ukrainian buyers, Turkey traditionally combines several attractive factors: a relatively wide selection of housing, a purchase process that is straightforward for foreigners, a high volume of supply in resort areas and major cities, as well as the opportunity to use real estate as a means of residence, recreation, or capital preservation.
The U.S. administration has so far approved only one application under the new Trump Gold Card immigration program, despite earlier claims of potential revenue in the billions. This was stated by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Latnik.
The program, launched in December 2025, offers the opportunity to obtain residency in the U.S. under a scheme similar to a green card, in exchange for a $1 million investment following a security check. An additional fee of $15,000 is also required for expedited processing. At the same time, Latnik claims that hundreds of applicants are currently in the review process.
The modest current results stand in sharp contrast to the authorities’ initial expectations. Reuters notes that at the program’s launch, Latnik spoke of high interest and thousands of potential participants, as well as the potential to generate billions of dollars through the sale of such visas. AP also notes that the program was initially presented as a potential replacement for the EB-5 visa and as a tool for attracting wealthy foreigners and capital into the U.S. economy.
Thus, at this point, the program remains more of a politically significant initiative than a truly substantial source of revenue for the U.S. budget.
Ukrzaliznytsia plans to receive its first Alstom UA8AC electric locomotive in the first quarter of 2027, and by the end of 2029, the company expects to receive a total of 55 such locomotives, said Volodymyr Shemaiev, director of the international projects office at Ukrzaliznytsia.
“This will be a modest overhaul of the freight electric locomotive fleet, which will serve as a foundation for the fleet in the coming years,” Shemaev noted during the 8th International Conference “Railways of Ukraine: Development and Investment” in Kyiv.
Oleksiy Balesta, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, reported at the conference that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 300 locomotives have been damaged, with about 50 destroyed beyond repair.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, 9 diesel locomotives were damaged in the first half of 2025, 119 in the second half, and 81 in the first quarter of 2026.
As previously reported, Ukrzaliznytsia signed a EUR473 million contract with Alstom Transport following an international tender organized by the World Bank. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development subsequently joined the project.
Among other international projects that Ukrzaliznytsia plans to implement, he mentioned the cooperation agreement signed between the governments of Ukraine and Spain regarding the creation of a gauge-changing bogie capable of changing track gauge without stopping. According to him, the first stage involves developing design documentation for such a bogie.
“In about two years, such a bogie will be manufactured in Ukraine, after which testing will begin. If the results of these tests are positive, we can then discuss the commercial production of such bogies and, accordingly, railcars, both for the Ukrainian market and for European markets,” noted the director of Ukrzaliznytsia’s International Projects Office.
Shemaev also reported that a meeting was recently held with Korean partners, with whom Ukrzaliznytsia plans to prepare a feasibility study over the next three years for a high-speed railway from Kyiv to Lviv and onward to the Polish border.
Separately, the director of Ukrzaliznytsia’s International Projects Office told Interfax-Ukraine that Ukrzaliznytsia has joined a project to build decentralized gas-fired power generation facilities at the government’s request. Specifically, 40 MW of equipment has already been delivered, and preparatory work for its installation is currently underway.
In addition, a tender under the rules of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for an additional 160 MW has been completed; its results are in the process of being signed, and equipment delivery is expected within 8 months.
Shemaev noted that Ukrzaliznytsia is implementing this project in partnership with the EBRD and the European Commission; it is supported by a EUR41 million grant, with an additional 20 million pounds worth of equipment provided by the United Kingdom.
On April 24, PJSC “National Energy Company (NEC) ”Ukrenergo“” announced a tender for voluntary motor vehicle insurance (CASCO) services.
According to the Prozorro electronic public procurement system, the estimated cost of the services is UAH 6.991 million.
The deadline for submitting bids is May 4.
During a government visit, Azerbaijan provided Ukraine with five passenger buses as humanitarian aid for community needs, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced.
“Since 2022, Azerbaijan has repeatedly contributed to supporting the Ukrainian people. In particular, it has provided humanitarian aid worth over $45 million, including powerful generators, transformers, and critical equipment that helps maintain the operation of our energy system amid constant attacks,” he wrote on the social media platform X.
The minister noted that the country is also providing support to Ukrainian children.
“More than 500 Ukrainian children have participated in rehabilitation programs in Azerbaijan—this is especially valuable in the context of war. We deeply appreciate this solidarity, as it helps Ukraine stay on its feet and move forward,” Sibiga noted.
Greek authorities are tightening controls on fraudulent schemes in the Golden Visa program following the issuance of a new circular, No. 1/2026, by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. According to explanations regarding the circular and reports in industry publications, Greek authorities will now forward information about misleading advertising and fictitious investment deals to the AADE tax authority and the Greek anti-money laundering agency, and confirmed violations may result in sanctions up to and including the revocation of the investor’s residence permit.
The reason for tightening controls was schemes in which investors were formally shown a property that met the program’s minimum threshold, but part of the funds was then effectively returned through hidden discounts, prepaid lease agreements, compensation for furniture, or cash payments. Industry experts note that following the increase in program entry thresholds in September 2024, the market saw a rise in advertising offers for properties priced below the legally established minimum, which drew additional attention from the authorities.
The new circular is broader in scope than mere anti-fraud measures. According to explanations from lawyers and the industry press, the document also resolves discrepancies in the application of rules among regional offices, clarifies the application submission process, and establishes stricter oversight of whether properties and applicants meet program requirements. This is intended to simultaneously increase the predictability of administration and intensify pressure on questionable schemes.
This tightening comes amid continued high demand for the Greek Golden Visa. According to data cited in industry publications, the number of approvals reached 8,879 in 2025, nearly doubling from 4,535 the previous year. This makes the program one of the most sought-after in Europe, thereby increasing incentives for abuse in the real estate market.
