Why Your Next Investment Property Should Also Be Your Favorite Holiday Spot

There’s something I always tell my clients before we even step foot into a property:  

“Don’t just look at this like an investment. Imagine if you’d actually want to spend your summers here.”  

Because the truth is, when it comes to buying property in Albania — especially in places like Saranda, Ksamil, or Borsh — the smartest buyers aren’t just chasing return on investment.  

They’re buying a feeling . A lifestyle. A little corner of the world where they can come back to, year after year.  

And honestly? I think that’s the way it should be.  

Your Property Should Work for You — But Also Inspire You  

Let’s be real. Everyone loves the idea of a beachfront property that pays for itself. Passive income. Airbnb rentals. ROI that makes the accountant smile. It’s a no-brainer, right?  

But what about when you’re the one walking through that door?  

What if, instead of thinking “I bought this for the returns,” you walk in and think:  

“I can’t believe I get to call this place mine.”  

That’s the difference between a good investment… and a great one.  

It’s something I’ve seen over and over again here in the Albanian Riviera . People come looking for seaview apartments with rental potential — and end up falling in love with the lifestyle instead.  

Let Me Tell You About Tuesday Morning in Borsh  

It wasn’t even a workday, technically. I’d just finished a showing at our Vila 1 & 2 project — two modern homes tucked away just off the main coastal road, each with their own pool and mountain-meets-sea views.  

On my way back, I stopped at a roadside stand where a local woman was selling honey and olive oil. She offered me a spoonful of fig jam, homemade, no label. “Vetëm për miqtë,” she said with a smile — only for friends.  

It reminded me why so many foreigners choose to invest here , not just for numbers, but for things like this . That kind of slow, human connection you don’t get in busy resort towns or cities built around tourists.  

When your investment feels like your own retreat , you’re far more likely to keep it, care for it, and grow its value over time.  

Familiarity Builds Value — Emotionally and Financially  

Here’s something a lot of first-time investors in Albania don’t realize:  

Your personal attachment to the place often makes the property more valuable.  

I don’t mean sentimental value (though that matters too). I mean actual market value. Because when you get to know the area — the cafés that open early in spring, the back roads that avoid traffic, the beach that locals actually go to — you know exactly how to position your property on the rental market.  

You’ll know that tourists love a balcony that catches the golden sunset over Corfu.  

That a 10-minute walk to the beach sounds better in the listing than “300 meters.”  

And let’s be honest — when your property is your holiday home too, you’re more likely to maintain it well. That’s what attracts repeat renters and higher nightly rates.  

We’ve seen this clearly with units in our White Residence complex — the ones owned by people who use them seasonally themselves?  

They outperform others in the same building.    

 

ROI Feels Better When It Smells Like Salt Air  

There’s nothing wrong with cold, calculated investing. Some clients are purely numbers-driven. And yes, Saranda apartments for sale often offer 6–9% net annual returns when managed well on Airbnb.  

But when the ROI comes from a place you love — when you get to sit on that balcony yourself in July, with a glass of white wine and grilled seabass from the market down the road — that’s a different kind of win.  

I truly believe that Saranda offers the best value on the Mediterranean coast right now . It’s still underpriced compared to Greece and Croatia. Yet the coastline? Jaw-dropping. The culture? Authentic. The taxes? Surprisingly low.  

And if you browse around, especially on our website , you’ll see properties that don’t just promise a return… they promise a lifestyle.  

A Quick Tangent About Tomatoes  

There’s a man in Ksamil — Nikolla — who sells tomatoes from the back of his van near the main roundabout. No sign, no fixed schedule. But they’re the kind of tomatoes that remind you what food is supposed to taste like.  

Every summer, I see the same tourists — Germans, Italians, even a couple from Dubai — stop at his van like it’s a scheduled pilgrimage.  

It’s small things like this that make people want to come back.  

And when people come back, your property stays booked.  

Emotional Value Adds Long-Term Value  

Another thing that gets overlooked: when your property brings you joy, you’re more patient with the market.  

Let’s say you buy something today and the resale value takes 3–5 years to rise.  

If it’s just a cold investment, you’ll stress every quarter.  

But if you’re vacationing there every summer, enjoying it with your family, watching your kids grow up running barefoot along the Riviera — you’ll hold onto it longer.  

And you’ll probably exit with more profit and more memories.  

Not to mention — who says you ever have to sell?  

So… Should Your Investment Be Your Holiday Spot?  

Honestly, I think it has to be.  

We live in a world where too many people work for decades and still don’t get to enjoy what they build. Real estate in Albania flips that script.  

You can buy affordably. You can rent smartly. You can enjoy deeply.  

Whether it’s a seaview apartment in Saranda , a quiet villa in Borsh, or a holiday rental in Ksamil — the best investments are the ones you don’t just own …  

you live .   

Ready to Find Yours? 

If this sounds like the kind of investment you’re looking for — equal parts lifestyle and logic — I’d love to show you around. 

We’ve got some new listings live now on VivaView — feel free to explore, or just reach out directly. 

Even if you’re not ready to buy yet, we can share advice, coffee, or both. 

Either way, I promise: this coastline has a way of convincing you. 

(This photo on this blog is captured in an Albanian river)