I’ve been working in Albanian real estate long enough to see it change shape more times than I can count. From the quiet Saranda streets of the early 2010s to today’s Riviera, where cranes and conversations about square meters fill every café, one thing hasn’t changed — people come here looking for value. And, truth be told, they still find it.

2025 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years for property investment in Albania. Prices are climbing, but yields remain strong, especially in the south. If you’ve ever wondered what kind of ROI you can expect here — or how we compare to places like Greece or Montenegro — you’re in the right place.

 

How Much ROI Can You Expect in 2025?

Let’s talk numbers first.
In Saranda and Ksamil, the average gross rental yield ranges between 6% and 10% annually, depending on property type, location, and how actively it’s managed during the tourist season. For context, Greece averages around 4–6%, Montenegro hovers near 5%, and Italy’s coastlines are often below 4%.

Now, I’m not just throwing stats at you — this is something I see every day. I recently met a German investor who bought a seaview apartment in the Skënderbeu neighborhood of Saranda. It’s in a peaceful area, with a pool and panoramic views — this one, actually. He told me, after his first summer renting it out on Airbnb, that he covered nearly a third of his annual mortgage. That’s the beauty of this market — the season may be short, but the demand is intense.

 

Why the Albanian Riviera Still Offers the Best Value

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.
There’s still a sweet spot here — between affordability and long-term appreciation. You can still find beachfront property at half the price of Corfu, even though it’s just a 30-minute ferry ride away.

In Ksamil, prices have grown faster than anywhere else in Albania, but even there, high-end developments offer strong returns. If you want to see what I mean, take a look at White Residence in Ksamil. It’s a new 2025 building, just completed, with a private swimming pool for residents and a quiet, elegant neighborhood only seven minutes from the beach. I’ve shown those apartments to clients who have invested in Spain, Croatia, even Portugal — and every single one of them said the same thing: “You can’t find this kind of quality at this price anywhere else in Europe.”

And honestly, they’re right.

 

The Hidden Hotspots You Might Overlook

Saranda and Ksamil grab the spotlight, but if you’ve ever driven down the coast, you know what I mean when I say the real magic happens a little further out.
Take Borsh, for example — a village wrapped in olive trees, with a beach that seems to stretch forever. Most tourists don’t realize that just a few minutes from the main road, luxury villas are quietly rising.

We’re actually building some of them ourselves — White Residence Villas in Borsh. Four exclusive villas, each with its own private pool, three floors, big veranda, and sea views that honestly make every morning feel like a painting. They sit on 300m² of land each, surrounded by nothing but nature. It’s peaceful, elegant — what I like to call quiet luxury.

A 7-minute drive from Borsh beach, and yet you’re in your own world. I can easily see these becoming some of the best rental investments in the country over the next few years.

 

Tourism Keeps Everything Moving

Real estate in southern Albania isn’t just about walls and square meters. It’s about tourism.
The 2024 season broke records again — over 10 million visitors crossed the border — and 2025 looks set to top that. Every summer, I see more travelers staying in Airbnb apartments instead of hotels, looking for that “local home” experience. That’s where the big opportunity lies for investors.

In Ksamil, a well-designed 1-bedroom apartment can rent for €150–200 per night in July and August, and still get solid bookings in May and September. Meanwhile, Saranda’s off-season has quietly started to stretch — digital nomads, retirees, and remote workers are now staying until November.

I’ve met guests who came here for two weeks and ended up staying for two months. One of them even bought a property the following year. That’s how this cycle works — tourism feeds investment, and investment keeps tourism evolving.

 

Living the Numbers

But ROI isn’t only about percentages.
It’s also about the life that comes with it. The first time I took a couple to see a Ksamil apartment, we stopped for coffee at a small bar with plastic chairs and the kind of view you only find here. They looked at each other, smiled, and said, “We could actually live here.”

Moments like that remind me why I do this job.

And it’s not all perfect. Sometimes the paperwork can feel slow, or a notary might take an extra day to prepare a translation. But once you hold those keys, once you walk onto your balcony and see the Ionian shining — it all makes sense.

 

Comparing Albania to the Rest of Europe

So where does Albania stand compared to its neighbors?
Greece: Great infrastructure, but much higher prices and taxes.
Montenegro: Similar nature, smaller economy, slower growth.
Croatia: Stunning coast, but property prices now rival Spain’s.
Albania: Still growing, still affordable, still undiscovered enough to give you that “first-mover” advantage.

It’s not a question of if prices will rise — they already are. The question is how long this window of opportunity will stay open.

 

What Kind of Properties Perform Best?

In my experience:
Seaview apartments in Saranda have the most consistent ROI — tourists will always pay for that view.
Beach-access properties in Ksamil bring the fastest returns during peak season.
Luxury villas in areas like Borsh offer long-term capital growth and flexibility — you can rent them or keep them for family vacations.

I’ve seen investors diversify — a 1+1 in Saranda for quick rental income, a villa in Borsh for long-term appreciation, maybe even a Ksamil apartment for hybrid living. It’s a smart mix.

 

Looking Ahead: Why 2025 Is the Year to Act

If you’re reading this wondering whether you’ve “missed the moment,” you haven’t. Albania is still early in its growth curve. Infrastructure is improving, tourism keeps expanding, and every year more airlines add direct routes to Tirana.

But the real secret is this: the south of Albania — Saranda, Ksamil, Borsh — is evolving faster than anyone expected.

Just ten years ago, most of these roads were narrow village paths. Now, there are entire new neighborhoods of high-quality buildings, swimming pools, and panoramic apartments. It’s not mass tourism — it’s a slow, elegant rise.

And if you walk along the promenade in Saranda in April, before the crowds arrive, you’ll feel it — that quiet anticipation that only locals recognize. The sense that this place is about to bloom again.

 

Final Thoughts

I’ve spent half my life showing people the corners of the Albanian Riviera that don’t make it to travel magazines. The coffee spots hidden behind lemon trees. The fishermen who wave when you pass by on your morning drive to Borsh.

This isn’t just a market for investors — it’s a place to fall in love with.

Whether you’re looking for a Saranda apartment for sale, a luxury beachfront property, or an affordable seaview home, there’s still room to find your space here — and make it a part of your story.

And if you ever decide to come see it for yourself, I’d be happy to show you around. Maybe we’ll grab a coffee overlooking the sea — and talk about how far Albania has come, and how much further it’s going.


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