Today we’d like to introduce you to Zeynep A. Talu-Balci.
Zeynep A., we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I often say that my career began long before I ever sold a property. My journey started in Istanbul, where I spent nearly two decades helping Turkish exporters enter international markets. I was organizing trade shows across the Gulf long before globalization became a buzzword, and I learned that every successful deal begins with a story. You don’t just sell a product; you communicate trust, emotion, and vision.
That experience shaped how I see business today. I moved to Miami in 2013, a city that, to me, mirrors Istanbul’s rhythm: dynamic, layered, and full of possibility. I wanted to bring my background in international strategy and my love for design, architecture, and human connection into one place. That’s what led me to real estate.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has the path been smooth?
Not exactly, but that’s what made it meaningful. Starting over in a new country is humbling, you rebuild everything from the ground up. I arrived in Miami knowing no one, with my five year old twins and an unshakable belief that I could start over. It wasn’t easy, but reinvention rarely is. Over time, through persistence and study, I earned a real estate brokers license as well as two master’s degrees in Real Estate (Finance and Development) and began to merge data-driven analysis with the art of storytelling.
Today, my clients come to me because I make complex things simple. I break down preconstruction opportunities, market cycles, and neighborhood shifts in a way that helps people make smart, timely decisions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Tell us about your work today.
I specialize in preconstruction and resale properties with built-in equity. I love finding those deals!
I work with buyers who want more than listings, they want insight. Whether they’re international investors looking for long-term value or local professionals ready to secure a home in Miami’s most dynamic neighborhoods, I help them identify opportunities before the rest of the market catches on.
My background in real estate development gives me an edge: I understand how projects are conceived, financed, and positioned. That helps my clients see beyond the brochure, what’s truly worth investing in, and what’s just marketing.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
What motivates you now?
Brickell inspires me every day. It’s where culture, design, and capital meet, where Michelin dinners share a zip code with morning espresso walks, and where the skyline is a living storyboard of what Miami becomes next. I study it block by block: the rhythm on Brickell Avenue, the calm on the bay, the pipeline that keeps reshaping demand.
And then there’s North Bay Village, my “Brickell 2.0.” on the bay.
Three small islands with big potential: waterfront on all sides, easy access between Miami Beach and the mainland, and a rare chance to shape identity from the ground up. It has the ingredients Brickell had early on, limited land, rising design standards, and early-mover advantages for buyers who want both lifestyle and upside. You can feel the momentum: new projects, better F&B, marina energy, private clubs, a clear story forming around “island living, city access.”
I’m currently pursuing my Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) to deepen how strategy and communication shape investor confidence and city growth. My focus is simple: help people make better real estate decisions by bridging the numbers with the narrative behind them.
Each city I’ve lived in gave me a different strength: Istanbul gave me depth, Dhahran gave me courage, London gave me perspective, and Miami gives me purpose. I use all of it to help clients build wealth, connection, and legacy in one of the most exciting markets in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makosre.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeynep.talubalci/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeynepaslitalubalci/
- Other: https://theheartofthebay.com
