The Truth About Albania’s Real Estate Boom: What Investors Need to Know Before It Explodes

If you’ve been watching Albania pop up everywhere lately — on your Instagram feed, in travel magazines, in those “hidden gems of Europe” videos — you’re not imagining it. Something big is happening here. And as someone who has walked these hills, shown hundreds of Saranda apartments for sale, and spent half my life talking to investors from all over the world… I can tell you with confidence:

Albania’s boom hasn’t even started yet.
At least not the real one.

Let me break it down the way I explain it to clients when we sit for a coffee near the promenade — the honest version, not the marketing version.

The Real Reason Behind Albania’s Real Estate Boom

People like big explanations — “EU potential,” “strategic location,” “Mediterranean climate.”
All true.
But the real reason is much simpler:

10+ million tourists a year.
Yes, ten million. And that number keeps climbing.

Every summer I see more French couples wandering around the Saranda marina asking about beachfront property. More Germans exploring Borsh. More Dutch families falling in love with Ksamil’s quiet neighborhoods outside the promenade.

And the international media?
They’re pouring fuel on the fire.

Travel + Leisure, Forbes, YouTubers with millions of followers… everyone is calling Albania “Europe’s hidden gem.” I once met a couple from Chicago who told me, “We didn’t know Albania existed until we saw a TikTok of Ksamil.” Two months later, they were sitting in my office signing for a seaview apartment.

This is the power of global exposure.
And it’s driving the boom more than anything else.

Prices Are Still Shockingly Low (Compared to the Mediterranean)

Every time I show properties to foreigners, they react the same way:

“Wait… this costs how much?”

To put it into perspective:

• South Albania: €1,800–€2,500 per m² for a modern seaview apartment

• Greece: €6,000–€12,000 per m² for the same view

• Croatia: €5,500–€9,000 per m²

• Montenegro: €4,500–€7,500 per m²

When you compare the views — Albania often wins.
When you compare prices — Albania wins every time.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. Not because I work here… but because I watch people’s reactions when they realize what they can get here for the price of a small studio in Crete.

And the truth is: these prices won’t last.

Demand Is Exploding Faster Than Supply

Let me be honest: in some parts of the south, especially Ksamil, there’s simply not enough property to sell.

• Very limited land

• Very few new constructions with panoramic views

• Locals rarely sell because they use their apartments during season

• Inventory disappears faster than we can list it

Saranda is a bit better, but even here, good-quality seaview apartments — the ones in quiet, safe neighborhoods — don’t stay on the market long. Sometimes I take a client to see an apartment in the morning and by afternoon another buyer wants to place a deposit.

This is not hype.
It’s what happens when demand grows faster than supply.

No wonder southern Albania is officially one of the fastest-growing markets in Europe.

Tourism Is the Engine of the Boom

Here’s the formula every investor eventually understands:

Tourists → Airbnb demand → High ROI → More investment

Our season used to be June–September.
Now it’s May–October, and every year it stretches a little more.

Ksamil is fully booked.
Saranda is full even in shoulder months.
Borsh is getting attention from people who want peaceful, natural landscapes.

I’ve met investors who bought an apartment here, rented it out for a single season, and made more than they expected for the entire year.

That’s why these areas are outperforming parts of Greece in ROI.
Not because Albania is cheaper — but because demand is real and growing.

The Rise of “Quiet Luxury” in South Albania

This is something only someone living here notices.

There’s a new type of buyer coming:
The quiet luxury buyer.

People who don’t want noisy beachfront bars.
They want:

• Villas with private pools

• Residences with panoramic views

• Calm neighborhoods

• Nature, privacy, and a touch of elegance

Buyers from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands love this lifestyle.

A good example?
The new modern 1-bedroom residence in Ksamil — quiet neighborhood, brand-new 2025 building, and a private pool for residents. I mentioned it casually to a Dutch client recently, and here is the link if you want to see it too:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2
It’s exactly the kind of discreet, modern comfort people are now looking for.

Infrastructure Projects Fuel the Growth

Investors always ask me, “What’s coming next?”

Quite a lot.

• Vlora Airport (opening soon) → expected to double tourist numbers in the south

• Riviera Road upgrades → smoother coast-to-coast travel

• Saranda Cruise Port improvements → more international arrivals

• Kardhiq–Delvinë Road → already cut travel time significantly

These projects don’t just make vacations easier.
They make investments safer and property values stronger.

Every time a big infrastructure upgrade happens, seaside real estate surges.
It’s happening again.

Why Albania Is Safer Than Many Think

This surprises a lot of people.

Albania’s real estate market is unique because:

• People buy almost exclusively in cash

• There are no risky subprime loans

• There’s no bubble risk like Spain in 2008

• Albanians traditionally buy with savings, not debt

• Political and economic stability is better than the news makes it seem

That’s why prices rise steadily, not aggressively.
It’s a healthy market, not a speculative one.

Where the Biggest Opportunities Actually Are

Ksamil is amazing. Saranda is booming.
But the real hidden opportunities?

Borsh, Qeparo, Lukovë, and the hills of Saranda.

Borsh

A 7 km beach — the longest on the Albanian Riviera.
Views unlike anything else.
And still undervalued.

If you want a perfect example of quiet luxury in Borsh, look at the White Residence Villas we’re building on the main road — three floors, private pools, private parking, surrounded only by nature. You’ll understand immediately why investors love them:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/projects/white-residence-villas-borsh

Qeparo

Panoramic views that feel cinematic.
Still affordable properties.

Lukovë

The future eco-luxury zone.
Investors who value nature are already watching it carefully.

Saranda Hills & Panorama Road

The premium zone.
I’ve walked these streets hundreds of times — the breeze, the silence, the view… everything is designed by nature for long-term value.

The Risks Investors Need to Be Aware Of

Since I live and work here, I’ll tell you the truth — not everything is perfect.

Here’s what to watch out for:

• Land without proper documentation

• Agricultural land (foreigners cannot buy unless converted)

• Buildings without final permits

• Older constructions lacking certification

Work only with verified developers, licensed agents, and certified properties.
Quiet luxury doesn’t come from cutting corners — it comes from doing things right.

 Should You Buy Now or Wait?

I’ll be honest:
Some investors are waiting for “the right moment.”

But every year I watch the same pattern:

• Prices rise gradually

• Inventory shrinks

• Developers raise costs due to demand

• The best apartments disappear first

The real window is 2025–2027.
After that, with Vlora Airport operating at full capacity, everything changes.

You don’t need to rush.
Just don’t wait until the market becomes like Croatia or Crete — where a seaview apartment costs €600,000.

A Few Real Examples From the Ground

To keep things real, here are a few properties I’ve shown recently that represent exactly what today’s buyers are looking for — mentioned casually, the way I’d describe them over a coffee:

• A quiet, fully furnished 1+1 apartment in one of Saranda’s safest new neighborhoods — complete seaview, private pool, perfect for living or investment. Here’s the link if you want a reference:
  https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished

• A new 2025 duplex in Ksamil — two private pools (one only for the duplex), underground parking included, 300m from the beach, main road access, and ROI up to 16% annually. Exactly the type of property that sells before it even hits the website:
  https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

These aren’t promotions.
They’re examples of the new standard investors expect — quiet luxury, strong ROI, and security.

Final Thoughts: Why This Boom Is Just the Beginning

If you’ve ever walked along Saranda’s promenade at sunset, or driven down the Borsh coastline early in the morning when everything is silent… you understand why people are starting to pay attention.

Albania is not trying to become the next Greece.
Or the next Montenegro.
It’s becoming its own version of Mediterranean luxury — more natural, more authentic, more personal.

And the truth?

The real boom hasn’t exploded yet.
But it’s coming.

Investors who understand this early — who look beyond the noise and see the fundamentals — will be the ones who benefit the most in the years ahead.

If you ever come down to the south, send me a message. I’ll happily take you for a drive along Panorama Road, show you where the wind hits just right, and explain things the way only someone who lives here can.

The next chapter of the Albanian Riviera is about to be written.
And it’s bigger than most people think.