Why So Many Foreign Buyers Come Looking for Small Homes in Saranda—But End Up Buying More Than They Planned

There’s a funny pattern I’ve seen over the years working in real estate here in Saranda.  

A client reaches out from Germany, Sweden, or the UK. They say they’re just “curious,” looking for a small seaview apartment—nothing big, nothing fancy. Just a place to spend the summer. Something easy.  

They land in Saranda, we have a coffee near the port, and by the end of the week… we’re walking through a 2-bedroom with a terrace twice the size of what they imagined. Or worse (or better?)—they’re considering a villa in Borsh.  

So, what happens? What changes between the inbox and the in-person visit?  

Let me explain. And if you’ve ever been to Saranda, you’ll probably get it before you reach the end.  

It Starts Small: “We just want a 1-bedroom, close to the sea”  

Most foreign buyers come in with modest expectations. They’re used to the high prices of Spain, Greece, or even Montenegro. So when they hear about affordable properties in the Albanian Riviera , their first instinct is to be cautious.  

“Let’s see if it’s real,” they tell me.  

They look at Saranda apartments for sale —usually a 1-bedroom around 55–65m². They want something low-maintenance. Maybe to use for the summer, maybe rent out short-term.  

One of my clients from Denmark came with exactly this mindset. “We’re not ready for a big investment,” they told me. “We just want something small with a balcony.”  

Three days later, we were going back to see a 90m² apartment with two bedrooms and a sea-facing terrace that caught them completely off guard.  

Why? Let’s break it down.  

The Sea View Is Bigger Than the Plan  

Something happens when people actually see the Ionian Sea for the first time from a Saranda balcony.  

Photos don’t do it justice. The air is warm, the light hits the water in a way that makes you feel like you’re somewhere much more expensive.  

Buyers start to think…  

“If I’m already here, why not have space for guests?”  

“What if I spend more time here than I thought?”  

“Maybe I do want that second bedroom after all.”  

And honestly, I get it.  

When you’re standing on the balcony of an apartment just above the port, watching the ferries from Corfu roll in and the sky turn soft pink at sunset, 15 extra square meters start to feel like a very small price to pay.   

A Small Budget Goes a Long Way—Sometimes Too Far 

In most of Western Europe, you can’t even get a studio in a city center for under €200,000. 

Here? With that same budget, you can get a spacious seaview apartment with a finished kitchen, marble-style floors, and a furnished balcony. 

This changes the psychology of the buyer. 

What began as a €90,000 plan becomes, very naturally, a €120,000 investment. Especially when they realize that prices in the newer developments—like White Residence or other beachfront property zones—are still reasonable by Mediterranean standards. 

Culture Plays a Role Too 

In Albania, homes are meant to be shared. We don’t buy houses for just ourselves. We buy them with the idea that family and friends will visit, stay, gather, eat together. 

Foreign buyers, whether they realize it or not, start to pick up on that energy. 

Suddenly, a second bedroom isn’t just for guests—it’s for kids, grandkids, or that cousin who always talks about visiting “next summer.” 

There’s also the way life flows here. In Saranda, you don’t just go home and lock your door. You stop by the bakery down the road. You chat with the neighbor about the sea temperature. You have friends over without too much planning. 

When buyers start imagining themselves living that life, a small, closed-off space doesn’t feel quite right anymore. 

The “Oops, I Bought a Villa” Phenomenon 

This is real. 

Just last month, a couple from the Netherlands came to look at apartments. On the second day, I suggested we take a quick drive to Borsh—not far, just to see something different. 

They’d never heard of the village. But when we got there, walked through the olive trees, and I showed them this villa with a private pool and sea view , they both went quiet. 

They didn’t say much until we got back in the car. Then one of them said, “It just felt right.” 

They hadn’t come planning to buy a villa. But the silence, the view, the idea of privacy, of building something long-term—not just a holiday base—shifted their whole perspective. 

Tangent: The Real Problem Is Often the Elevator 

This might sound unrelated, but stay with me. 

A lot of the older buildings in Saranda don’t have elevators. It’s something I always tell foreign buyers—because unless you’re 25 and fit, walking to the 5th floor in 35-degree heat is no joke. 

So when they realize that for just a little more, they can get something newer, more accessible, and better built, the decision becomes easier. 

And usually, the “something newer” is also larger. 


When Bigger Feels Smarter

It’s not about luxury or ego. Most buyers don’t walk in wanting “more.”

But when the value is this good, when the lifestyle is this relaxed, and when the possibilities for rental income or multi-use space are so clear, going a bit bigger just makes sense.

You get flexibility. Room to grow. Space to host.

And let’s not forget—larger units hold value better, especially in markets like Saranda where demand is rising but land is limited.

Final Thoughts

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

The lifestyle is slow, the prices are still affordable, and the views? Better than anything I’ve seen in Spain or Greece—without the noise.

So if you’re thinking of coming here to “just look” at something small… I’ll still show you that cozy 1-bedroom with the cute balcony. But don’t be surprised if you leave considering something a little bigger.

Not because you need it. But because life here gently convinces you that you deserve it.

If you’re curious, feel free to check out a few options here or here. No pressure. Just ideas.

And if you’re ever in town, drop by the office. We’ll talk views, space, and what really matters—over a strong Albanian coffee, of course.