Everyone Is Moving to Albania — Here’s the Real Reason Why

I’ve been saying this for years, but now the world is finally catching up:
Albania is no longer a “hidden gem.” It’s becoming the place where people want to live.

Not just visit. Live.
And if you’ve spent any amount of time in the south — in Saranda, Ksamil, Borsh — you already understand why. But lately, I’ve been seeing something new. People aren’t just coming because of TikTok or cheap flights. They’re coming because life here feels different. Better, in many ways.

Let me explain.

The Moment Everything Shifted

I’ve had countless conversations with foreigners these last few years, but there was one moment in particular that stuck with me.

A family from Denmark was standing with me on a quiet hill above Saranda — one of those spots locals love but never talk about online — and after a few seconds of silence, the father just said:

“This… feels calmer than anywhere we’ve been.”

Calm.
Not perfect. Not glamorous. Just peaceful.

And I think that’s why so many people are moving here now.
Because the Albanian Riviera still has room to breathe.

The Lifestyle People Didn't Expect

Ask any foreigner who moved here why they came, and you’ll hear something surprising:

“It’s the small things.”

The morning espresso for €1. The sound of neighbors greeting each other in the hallway. The fresh fish sold straight from small boats near the old port. The way shop owners say “hajde, mos u turpëro” when you hesitate to try something new.

I’ve lived in Saranda long enough to see newcomers fall in love with these tiny moments. They expect beaches — sure. But they don’t expect the warmth, the familiarity, the softness of daily life.

And this is where Albania wins. Not with perfect infrastructure or polished international chains, but with something far more valuable: real community.

The Mediterranean Lifestyle (Without the Mediterranean Price Tag)

Let’s be honest for a moment.
If you tried to buy a seaview apartment in Greece or Italy today, you’d probably need to triple your budget. But here in the south of Albania, you can still find affordable properties with exactly the same — if not better — views.

This is why I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.

Homes with full panoramas. Beachfront property within walking distance.
New residences with swimming pools that don’t cost a lifetime to own.

There are still places where you can buy a home and not feel like you’re overpaying for a name on the map.

One example that always surprises clients is this seaview 1-bedroom apartment in Saranda.
High-end finishes, totally new residence, peaceful neighborhood, a private pool, and — the part people love most — a completely unblocked sea view from the living room. Try finding that in Spain without spending triple.

The Rise of the Remote Worker & Digital Nomad

This caught me off guard at first.

A few summers ago, I noticed more laptops on café tables than ever before. At first it was one or two. Then ten. Then whole groups of people working remotely from Ksamil and Saranda cafés as if they’d always lived here.

It happened quickly.
Internet improved. Cafés opened earlier. The vibe became international but still local. And suddenly, Albania turned into this quiet, sunny workspace where people could live comfortably without overspending.

I even had a client last month who chose an apartment simply because “the balcony felt like the right place to take Zoom calls.”
That’s a sign of the times.

Modern Residences That Match European Standards

People often ask me:
“Is the construction quality here good?”

My answer is always the same:
It depends on where you look.

But over the last few years, the standard in the south has risen dramatically — especially in areas like Ksamil, where new buildings are designed for comfort, privacy, and long-term living, not just tourism.

Take this new modern 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil.
Brand new 2025 building, elegant finishes, private pool access for all residents, and it’s tucked inside a quiet new neighborhood only 7 minutes from the beach. When clients see it in person, their reaction is always the same:
“This feels different. Softer. More refined.”

The “Quiet Luxury” Moving Trend

If you want to understand why foreigners are moving here permanently, go to Borsh on a weekday morning.
Not August — too crowded.
Pick a mild spring day instead.

You’ll find long roads lined with olive trees, the sea glowing calmly, and a sense of silence you can’t buy in most Mediterranean destinations.

That’s what buyers want now — not loud nightlife or busy promenades, but privacy, nature, and a peaceful kind of luxury.

Which brings me to the White Villas in Borsh — a project so many people ask me about precisely because it captures that exact feeling.

The White Residence Villas in Borsh were built by our construction company with over 15 years of experience and more than 150 professionals.
Each villa sits on 300m² of land, has three floors, private parking, a panoramic veranda, and a private swimming pool surrounded only by green hills and uninterrupted sea views. Just a short 7-minute drive from the beach, but far enough to feel like your own sanctuary.

If “quiet luxury” had a definition in Albania, this would be it.

Tangent: The Places Only Locals Know

Let me go off track for just a moment.
One of my favorite spots — and I rarely tell clients this unless they ask — is a small family-run grill on the way to Lukova. It’s so easy to miss from the road. They don’t even have a proper sign, just a wooden table with tomatoes drying in the sun.

It’s the kind of place you only discover by accident.
And somehow, these little corners of the south are part of the reason people never want to leave.

Anyway — back to the trend.

Ksamil: The New Real Estate Magnet

Everyone knew Ksamil would explode eventually, but the speed surprised all of us.
Once people saw those turquoise waters online, it became unstoppable. But the real shift came when higher-quality developments started rising — calmer, more private, more aligned with the lifestyle foreigners want.

A perfect example of this modern shift is this luxury 2025 duplex for sale in Ksamil.
Two private swimming pools (one exclusively for the duplex), underground parking, luxury finishes everywhere, located directly on the main road — only 300 meters from the beach and center.

And here’s the part investors love:
ROI can reach up to 16% per year.

You don’t get numbers like this in Italy or Croatia anymore.

Safety, Simplicity, and a Feeling of Being “Home”

It’s something foreigners mention a lot:
“I feel safe here.”

In Saranda especially, the neighborhoods around the hills and the quieter streets near the center give people a sense of comfort that’s hard to find in busy European cities.

Friendly neighbors. Late-night walks without stress. Kids playing outside.
It’s simple, but it matters.

And this feeling — this sense of home — is exactly why so many people end up staying.

Albania Feels Like It’s Just Getting Started

This is the part that excites me the most.

Albania is early.
Still growing. Still improving. Still discovering what it can become.

We’re not saturated like Italy.
Not overpriced like Greece.
Not overbuilt like Croatia.

We’re at the beginning of a long curve — and that’s what draws people.
Not just the beauty of the Albanian Riviera, but the opportunity to be part of something rising.

Final Thoughts

Every week, I meet someone new who tells me a version of the same story:
“We visited once… and we couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

And honestly? I get it.
Even after all these years, the south of Albania still surprises me — the hidden viewpoints, the warm greetings, the sound of the waves at night, the fresh food, the peace.

People are moving here because Albania still feels real.
Not curated. Not overly polished.
Just warm, beautiful, and full of possibility.

And if you ever decide to look for Saranda apartments for sale or explore beachfront property across the coast, I’d be happy to show you around.
There’s always something special waiting — sometimes just a few steps off the main road.