How to Buy Property in Albania: A Local Expert’s Guide

Buying property in Albania has become one of those things people talk about at dinner tables, on flights, in group chats. Sometimes even in the middle of a coffee at the promenade here in Saranda. And honestly, I understand the excitement.
Albania is changing fast — but it hasn’t lost its soul. That combination is rare.

I’ve lived in Saranda for years, long enough to see buyers arrive with a mix of curiosity and doubt, and leave with sunburn, a bag of fresh figs, and a signed reservation contract.

This guide is for you if you’re thinking of joining them.
Not a technical manual — more like a conversation with someone who knows the roads, the neighborhoods, the shortcuts, even the little cafés where we often stop between property viewings.

So let’s start from the beginning.

Why Buy in Albania? (And Why Now)

People always ask me why the Albanian Riviera has become so attractive.
I usually smile because the answer depends on who’s asking.

Some buyers want seaview apartments.
Others look for affordable properties.
Some want beachfront property for their retirement, while others are investors chasing ROI.

But the truth?
Albania offers value that’s almost impossible to find elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. It’s not just about prices — it’s about the combination of climate, culture, and opportunity. And timing. Timing matters.

Step 1 — Understand the Buying Process (It’s Simpler Than You Think)

The good news: foreigners can buy property in Albania freely, and the process is surprisingly straightforward.
If you’re coming from the UK, Italy, Scandinavia, or the U.S., you’ll probably find the procedure easier here than back home.

Most deals follow three main steps:

1. Reservation / deposit (to secure the unit)

2. Pre-contract (when buying new constructions) or Full Sale Contract (for completed properties)

3. Notary signing & registration

No complicated bureaucracy.
No extra taxes on new-builds.
No tricks hidden between the lines.

Just be sure you’re working with a serious company and a notary who explains things clearly. I’ve sat through countless signings — the notaries in Saranda, Ksamil, and Himara are professional and used to foreign buyers.

Step 2 — Choose Your Location (This Part Really Matters)

Let me say something honestly:
Albania may be small, but the Riviera has many different “personalities.”

Saranda is the heart — lively, social, walkable, full of seaview apartments and quiet luxury residences.

Ksamil is the jewel — smaller, softer, and probably the most desired beach village in the entire country.

Borsh is the escape — seven kilometers of uninterrupted coastline, ideal for privacy, nature, and high-end villas.

People often think properties here are all the same. But if you’ve ever spent a morning walking from the port of Saranda to the top of Kodër, you know how dramatically the energy changes with altitude, sunlight, and road access.

Last month, while showing a place in Ksamil, the client turned to me and said, “I didn’t expect this little street to feel so peaceful.”
And I knew exactly what they meant. There are corners here that don’t show up on Instagram — quiet, elegant, lived-in. The kind of places where neighbors greet you with a head nod, or bring you basil from their garden.

Those are the spots that sell fastest.

Step 3 — Look at Properties That Match Your Lifestyle (Not Just Your Budget)

Let’s talk about real examples because that’s more helpful than theory.

If you want a modern, quiet-luxury home near Ksamil’s beaches…

Have a look at this brand new 62m² 1-bedroom apartment finishing in summer 2025:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2

It’s located in a new neighborhood — calm, well-planned, and only 7 minutes from the beach. The private swimming pool for residents adds that “soft luxury” people expect nowadays. Nothing loud, just thoughtful design.

If you prefer a stylish, close-to-everything option inside White Residence Ksamil…

Take a look at this 65m² apartment:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-ksamil-65m2

Same completion year (2025), same peaceful atmosphere. Quiet streets, new infrastructure, and again, a private pool for residents. Whenever I pass by this area, I always see families walking with beach bags early in the morning — it’s that kind of neighborhood.

If you’re more of a Saranda lifestyle person…

This beautiful 1+1 seaview unit on Skënderbeu Street is one of the best examples of high-end seaside living:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished

The view is completely open — no future construction blocking it.
Pool access, quiet area, luxury finishing, and honestly, the feeling of being above the city without being too far from the promenade… priceless.

I’ve shown this residence to clients from Finland, Poland, Dubai — their expressions are always the same when they see the view: a small breath in, followed by silence.

Step 4 — Explore High-End Options (If You Want Privacy or Big ROI)

Some people want a simple apartment.
Others want something special — a property that becomes a long-term legacy.

For them, I always mention two categories: villas and duplexes.

The villas in Borsh — quiet luxury defined

👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/projects/white-residence-villas-borsh

Built by our construction company (15+ years of experience, a team of over 150 professionals), these villas are designed for those who appreciate nature, space, and elegance.
Each villa sits on 300m² of land, includes three floors, a private pool, sea views, private parking, and the kind of silence that you can’t imagine until you stand there yourself.

Only a 7-minute drive from Borsh beach.
Whenever I visit the site, I hear nothing but cicadas and the wind moving through the olive trees.

For investors who want something with very high ROI (really high)…

👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

This duplex is impressive.
Two pools — one just for the duplex, one shared with the residence.
Underground parking included.
300 meters from the center of Ksamil and the beach.
Everything brand new, with a design that feels modern yet warm.

It’s not marketing — it’s simply the truth: duplexes like this in Ksamil can generate up to 16% ROI annually. No bank in Europe can match that.

Step 5 — Learn the Costs (People Love This Part)

One reason buying property in Albania is so attractive is that the extra costs are minimal. Especially for new constructions.

Here are the basics:

• 0% property transfer tax for new builds

• Notary + registration fees are usually low

• Maintenance fees vary (pool buildings slightly higher)

• Property taxes are extremely affordable

When I tell clients about the 0% tax for new constructions, they usually repeat it back to me:
“Zero? Like… nothing?”
Yes. Nothing.

Step 6 — Work With Someone Local (It Will Save You Time & Stress)

Buying abroad can feel overwhelming.
But when you work with someone local — not just a salesperson, but someone who has walked these roads a thousand times — the entire experience becomes easier.

I always walk clients to places most agents don’t show.
Like a small family-run bakery hidden behind the port road where they make fresh byrek at 6 a.m.
Or that café near the new marina where builders gather for morning coffee — a place where you can overhear the real pulse of the city. (I once learned about an upcoming development months before it became public just by listening.)

These details matter.
They tell you more about the community than any brochure could.

Step 7 — Make Your Decision With Your Heart and Your Head

Buying property isn’t just numbers and contracts. It’s a feeling.
And Albania has a way of getting under your skin.

You might come for the seaview apartments.
Or the affordable properties.
Or the calm lifestyle the Albanian Riviera offers.

But what makes people stay is something deeper — the warmth of the culture, the sunlight on the balconies, the slow mornings with mountain tea, the neighbor who brings you tomatoes from their garden.

Last week, while showing a property in Ksamil, a client looked at the sea and whispered, “I think I could build a life here.”
That’s when I know we’ve found the right place.

Final Thoughts — Is Buying in Albania Worth It?

Absolutely.
Not because I work in real estate — but because I’ve seen the transformation with my own eyes.

Albania today is what Greece was 30 years ago.
What Croatia was 20 years ago.
Early. Beautiful. Full of opportunity.

If you choose wisely, you’re not just buying a home.
You’re buying into one of Europe’s most promising coastlines at exactly the right moment.

And if you ever come to Saranda or Ksamil to explore options, I’ll probably take you to one of those little hidden cafés between viewings — the ones tourists never find — so you can feel the rhythm of this place the way locals do.

Because buying property in Albania isn’t just a transaction.
It’s the beginning of a story.