What I Learned Showing Property to 100 Foreign Buyers in the Last Year

It’s been a wild, rewarding, sometimes chaotic year.  

If you told me last spring that I’d sit down with more than a hundred foreign buyers in twelve months—some in beach cafes, others in dusty construction sites, even one inside a half-finished villa in Borsh while it was pouring rain—I probably wouldn’t have believed you.  

But here we are. And I’ve learned a lot .  

1. Everyone’s Dream Starts Differently  

Some people arrive in Saranda with a 3-year plan, spreadsheets, and ROI calculations. Others land here by accident—literally. I once met a couple from Poland who had planned to buy in Montenegro but made a last-minute detour south. They stumbled across our listing for White Residence while sipping macchiatos on the promenade. The next day, they made an offer.  

That’s how it goes here sometimes. The sea, the light, the stillness—it grabs people before they know what’s happening.  

But every buyer has a “why.” Some want rental income. Others want a second home. A few just want a place to escape cold winters.  

And almost all of them?  

They’re amazed by how much value they can get here—especially when they see the price of a seaview apartment compared to Italy, Spain, or Greece.  

2. Yes, the Prices Are Still Lower—But It’s Changing Fast  

I don’t say this to pressure anyone, but I do say it a lot: “If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.”  

The Albanian Riviera is still one of the last corners of the Med where you can buy a beachfront property without draining your life savings . But in Saranda, the prices are moving up every year. Especially in areas like Kodër and along Rruga Butrinti.  

Just this month, I showed a 2-bedroom apartment near the new port project to a woman from Sweden. She had visited Saranda three years ago and remembered prices around €1000/m². Now that same building is asking €1800+.  

She still bought.  

Because she knew what she was looking for—and the view sealed the deal.  

3. Buyers Are Smarter Than Ever—And They Do Their Research  

I’ve had clients walk into my office quoting zoning codes, VAT laws, and Airbnb occupancy rates. Seriously.  

Which I love, honestly. It shows how far Albania has come in the eyes of international buyers. People are no longer just “discovering” this place. They’re choosing it. Comparing it. Planning around it.  

Of course, some of the online info is outdated or flat-out wrong. That’s where I come in—explaining why a villa in Borsh might not need property tax for the first 5 years, or how new builds like Vila 1–2 don’t require a transfer tax at all.  

Transparency matters. So does local knowledge.  

4. The Saranda Smile Works Every Time  

There’s something about the light here. The way it hits the water in the afternoon. Or how the sound of the waves fills the silence when you step onto a balcony.  

I’ve seen it so many times: the moment when someone walks into an apartment and just… pauses. Smiles. Breathes in.  

Last week, I showed a client a stunning unit above Mango Beach—full sea view, floor-to-ceiling windows, you could hear the waves even with the doors shut. He turned to me and said, “I’ve seen 20 properties in Greece. This one makes me feel something.”  

That’s the moment. It’s not about square meters anymore. It’s about emotion.   

 

5. Everyone Worries About Legal Stuff (And Rightfully So) 

Let’s be honest—foreigners are nervous about buying in Albania. 

It’s normal. 

New country. New system. Different language. Some headlines don’t help. 

But once we explain how VivaView handles everything—clear title, ownership certificate, full transparency—it becomes a lot easier. And when I show them that we’re also the builders , not just agents, that confidence grows. 

A British couple once told me: “We trusted you because you walked us through the process step by step. And because you called when you said you would.” 

That meant more to me than any commission. 

6. The Small Details Matter (Even the Olive Trees) 

One thing I’ve realized: foreigners care about how something feels just as much as what it is. 

I had a buyer ask specifically if the garden would have olive trees instead of palms—“because it feels more real.” Another loved the local stone detail on a villa facade. One woman said she could tell the apartment was built “with love” just by the layout of the kitchen. 

That’s why, in projects like White Residence or the villas we’re building in Borsh, we focus not just on specs, but feeling . Morning sun. Open terraces. Views that pull you outside. Quiet neighborhoods close to everything but not in the middle of it all. 

7. Not Every Property Is Right for Every Buyer 

I used to try to show everyone everything . Now I know better. 

Some people want a full sea view. Others care more about parking. Some fall in love with the idea of Ksamil, but get overwhelmed by the summer crowds and end up preferring something quieter—like a unit tucked behind the Saranda port, or a duplex near the synagogue ruins. 

The key is listening. 

Real estate isn’t about pushing. It’s about guiding. 

8. Many Buyers Become Friends 

Maybe it’s an Albanian thing. Maybe it’s just how this business works in a small town. But I’ve had buyers invite me to dinner, send me birthday wishes, or return months later just to say thank you. 

A German client who bought a seaview penthouse now brings me beer every time he visits. A Belgian woman who invested in one of our projects in Saranda now texts me weekly updates on her Airbnb bookings. 

These connections? They matter. 

It’s part of why I love this job. 

 

9. The Albanian Riviera Is Still Underrated – But Not for Long

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

I’ve seen it through the eyes of 100 different people.

Some skeptical. Some starry-eyed. All of them curious.

And once they feel the rhythm of life here—slow mornings, seafood by the sea, that subtle feeling of freedom—they get it.

Final Thoughts

Showing property to 100 foreign buyers in one year isn’t just a number. It’s 100 stories. 100 perspectives. 100 reminders of why I do what I do.

If you’re one of the people still thinking about it—wondering if now’s the right time, or if Albania is “ready”—I get it.

But come visit. Walk the promenade. Have a coffee with me. I’ll show you the good, the bad, the honest. And maybe—just maybe—we’ll find a place where your story begins too.

If you’re curious, you can browse some of our current listings here:

➡️ White Residence – Seafront Apartments in Saranda

➡️ Vila 1–2 – Private Villas with Pool in Borsh

➡️ All VivaView Projects

Doors always open. Coffee’s always hot.