The apartment is located in Fatih, the old heart of Istanbul with an ancient history and its own flavor. It's close to the Marmara Sea, which makes the air fresher and cooler. And you can easily reach any other place in Istanbul, especially if you don't mind taking the bus instead of the metro or tram (their stops are farther).
Mahmut is excellent host. He is always ready to help you. But he's delicate enough not to bother you. You can really benefit from being friendly with him.