I’ve lived in Saranda long enough to see the city transform. From a sleepy coastal town where you could still park your car right by the promenade in August (yes, that actually happened back in the early 2000s) — to the buzzing, cosmopolitan place it is today. And through all these changes, one thing has remained steady: properties by the sea in Albania not only keep their value, they grow. Especially when everything else in the world feels uncertain.
That’s why I often tell my clients: waterfront properties in Albania are one of the safest hedges against inflation you can find. Not just numbers on paper, but bricks, balconies, and views you can step into.
Let me start from the obvious — the sea never goes out of style. Prices of cars, electronics, even gold, go up and down. But a seaview apartment in Saranda, or a beachfront property in Ksamil, has something that inflation can’t touch. Every summer, when thousands of tourists pour into the Albanian Riviera, that view turns into cashflow. Airbnb bookings, seasonal rentals, long-term tenants — demand keeps rising, and so does the value.
I remember showing a client a 2+1 apartment overlooking the Ionian last summer. She paused at the balcony, listened to the waves, and simply said: “This is priceless.” And she was right. That’s the beauty of owning property by the sea. It’s not just about money. It’s about security, stability, and lifestyle.
Each coastal town tells a different story, but they all share the same truth: demand outpaces supply.
I once brought a couple from Sweden there for a viewing. On the way back, we stopped at a small roadside taverna. No menu, just the owner grilling fish he had caught that morning. The couple whispered to each other, “This feels like Greece twenty years ago.” Exactly. That’s Borsh.
Now, let’s get practical. Inflation eats at savings. You keep money in the bank, and in five years it buys less bread, less petrol, less everything. But a property by the sea in Albania? Not only does it hold value, it generates income.
The numbers speak clearly:
Of course, you can’t eat percentages. But you can live in a home that not only pays for itself but protects your money. And when you walk down to the sea in the morning, coffee in hand, you realize that’s a better hedge against inflation than any financial instrument.
One thing foreigners sometimes forget is that Albania is not only coastline. Drive 40 minutes inland from Saranda, and you’ll find yourself in Përmet, among thermal baths and mountains that still feel untouched. Or take the road north and discover hidden lakes where time seems to stand still.
There are villages up there where people still bake bread in stone ovens, and neighbors bring you figs from their garden just because you showed up. Communities that have preserved their identity in a way that feels rare in Europe today.
Why mention this in a blog about real estate and inflation? Because lifestyle matters. Investors want security, but also authenticity. And Albania still has both.
Sometimes clients ask me, “How do I know I’m not just buying into hype?” My answer is simple: go where the locals go.
For example, most tourists in Saranda stick to the big promenade restaurants. But if you walk 15 minutes uphill toward Lekursi Castle, there’s a tiny family-run place where the owner serves you wine from his own vineyard. That’s where I like to take clients after viewings. It changes how they see the city.
Or in Ksamil, everyone rushes to the main beaches. But the real charm is in the quieter coves just south of town, where you can still hear silence at dusk. Buy a property nearby, and you’re not just investing in bricks and ROI — you’re investing in peace.
Speaking of locals, let me say this: Albanians are serious about their coffee. Deals happen over tiny espresso cups, not boardrooms. I’ve signed agreements, shaken hands, and closed sales in cafés where the sugar still sticks to the table.
I think that’s why the real estate market here feels human. It’s not just contracts and ROI. It’s relationships. And those relationships, just like waterfront properties, hold their value.
Inflation is scary. Markets go up and down. But some things are steady. The Ionian Sea. The Albanian Riviera. The way the sunset paints Saranda pink every evening in July.
I’ve watched apartments double in value in less than a decade. I’ve seen investors turn one seaview unit into an entire portfolio. And I’ve also seen families buy a modest apartment just for summers by the sea — only to realize, years later, that they had made the best financial decision of their lives.
If you’re thinking about investing, don’t wait too long. Waterfront properties are not endless. They’re finite. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.
So, whether it’s a luxury villa on Panorama Street, a furnished apartment in Ksamil, or a Mediterranean-style villa in Borsh, know this: you’re not just buying property. You’re buying protection, lifestyle, and a future that inflation can’t take away.
Curious? Take a look at some of our projects:
And if you ever find yourself in Saranda, give me a call. Maybe we’ll grab a coffee, and I’ll show you the hidden side of this city — the side where real estate is not just about numbers, but about life by the sea.
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