We had a wonderful experience here in Balat thanks to Layla and Erhan. Erhan met with us at the bus stop to show us the way, as well as help us get to know the neighborhood a little better. The flat itself is exactly as it is described. It housed 3 people really well. The room at the end was perfect - it was large enough for two suitcases and held all our clothing in the cabinets provided. The sofa bed was comfortable, but due to it being closer to the street, it was a little noisy. Summer is really hot here in Istanbul, so Erhan was nice enough to get us another fan - however, it would have been more comfortable for us if there was an AC. The internet was only strong in the living room/kitchen, so we did experience some problems with connection in the bedroom, but it wasn't that much of a problem for us.
Balat is a really nice area to stay in - We loved seeing and interacting with all the inhabitants and the shops that were close to us (only mins away!) It's really easy to get to the center once you get to know the bus system. Get an Istanbulcard and load it - Bus 99A took us to the tram which allowed us to get to our major stops. Definitely the way to travel!

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would be back in Balat if we visit Istanbul again. Layla and Erhan were really good to communicate with and were quick in their responses when a problem occur.
A wonderful stay!