Second-Home Investment in Albania: Why So Many Buyers End Up Staying Longer Than Planned

I’ve been working in real estate in Saranda for many years now, long enough to recognize a certain look on people’s faces.
It usually happens after the second or third viewing. Sometimes after coffee. Sometimes after a slow walk along the promenade at sunset.

It’s the moment when a “holiday idea” quietly turns into a second-home plan.

And Albania has a way of doing that to people.

What a “Second Home” Really Means Here

When international clients first talk to me about buying a second home in Albania, they often imagine something very specific.
A place they’ll use for a few weeks in summer. Maybe rent it out the rest of the year. Simple.

But then they arrive.
They feel the pace of life.
They realize dinner doesn’t start at six.
They notice how people still greet each other by name at the bakery.

Suddenly, the idea of a second home shifts. It becomes a place to return to. A base. Sometimes even a long-term plan.

That’s the part you won’t find in market reports.

Why the Albanian Riviera Is Attracting Second-Home Buyers

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.
Not because it’s cheap — but because it’s still reasonable.

Along the Albanian Riviera, you can still find seaview apartments, beachfront property, and even villas with private pools at prices that disappeared years ago in Italy, Spain, or Greece. At the same time, the lifestyle is unmistakably Mediterranean.

Morning espresso.
Fresh fish grilled simply, with olive oil and lemon.
Evenings that stretch longer than planned.

And yes, there’s growing international demand. But it hasn’t erased the local character. Not yet.

A Quick Story From Ksamil

A few weeks ago, I was showing a couple a property in Ksamil. They’d originally planned to view one apartment, then head back to Corfu the same afternoon.

We ended up staying almost three hours.

Not because I was pushing.
But because they sat quietly on the balcony, listening to the cicadas, watching people walk back from the beach with towels still over their shoulders.

That’s when second-home buyers usually stop asking about square meters and start asking different questions.
“Is the neighborhood calm in August?”
“Can we walk to dinner?”
“Do people live here year-round?”

In Ksamil, especially in the newer residential pockets, the answer is often yes.

Places like this 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil (65 m²), finished in summer 2025, sit in a quiet, newly developed neighborhood, about a seven-minute walk from the beach. Nothing loud. Nothing flashy. A shared private pool for residents, modern finishes, and the kind of calm that feels intentional rather than accidental.
You can see it here, if you’re curious.

Saranda: Not Just a Summer Town Anymore

There was a time when Saranda emptied out in winter.
That’s no longer true.

More cafés stay open year-round. More international owners spend spring and autumn here. Some even winter.

This shift has changed how people look at Saranda apartments for sale. Buyers aren’t just asking about rental income anymore — they’re asking about comfort, privacy, and livability.

A good example is this 1+1 seaview apartment on Skënderbeu Street.
Quiet, safe neighborhood. New residence. High-end work. A private swimming pool and uninterrupted sea views that never get old — trust me, I’ve stood there more times than I can count. It works beautifully as a second home, but also as a serious investment when you’re away.
Here it is.

Sometimes I tell clients: This is the kind of place you buy thinking you’ll visit twice a year… and end up staying two months.

A Small Local Detail You Won’t See Online

There’s a stretch of road just outside Saranda where locals stop for grilled corn in the late afternoon. No sign. No Google pin. Everyone knows it.

I’ve taken clients there after viewings more than once.
It’s not about the corn.
It’s about understanding how the area actually feels when no one is filming it.

Second-home investments make the most sense when you connect with the rhythm of the place — not just the photos.

Ksamil Duplexes and the “Quiet Luxury” Mindset

Lately, more buyers are asking for space. Privacy. Security.

That’s where newer duplex developments in Ksamil come into play. Properties like this luxury duplex near the beach, completed in 2025, feel very different from older holiday apartments. Two swimming pools (one private, one shared), underground parking included, and only a few residents in the building. It’s about 300 meters from both the beach and the center, yet surprisingly calm.

Some investors like it for the lifestyle. Others for the numbers — ROI can reach up to 16% per year. Most appreciate that it doesn’t look like an investment at all.
You can explore it here.

A Short Tangent About Time

One thing second-home buyers often underestimate is time.

In Albania, lunch might turn into coffee.
Coffee might turn into rakia.
And suddenly it’s evening.

At first, people resist that. Then they embrace it.

This slower pace is one of the main reasons second homes here don’t feel like “vacation properties” for long. They become part of a different life rhythm.

Private Villas: A Rare Kind of Peace in Saranda

Finding a private villa with space, privacy, and a pool inside Saranda itself is becoming rare. That’s just the reality.

That’s why new developments in very quiet residential areas stand out. Villas with generous layouts, private gardens, and swimming pools — designed for families who want comfort without isolation.

This private villa in Saranda, located in a calm, low-density neighborhood, offers exactly that. Space to breathe. A pool that feels like your own world. And a level of privacy that’s increasingly hard to find in coastal towns.
Here’s the listing.

For many second-home buyers, this is the final step. Apartment first. Villa later.

For Those Thinking Even Bigger: Land by the Sea

Not everyone wants a finished home.

Some clients come to me with sketches. Ideas. Long-term visions. Boutique hotels. Small villa collections.

In places like Porto Palermo or Borsh, that’s still possible.

There are seaview land properties where the sea is literally steps away — first line, no exaggeration. Porto Palermo, for example, has plots just meters from the water, ideal for building something special rather than big.

This land in Porto Palermo is one of those rare opportunities.
And if you prefer something slightly more open and natural, land in Borsh offers space, views, and long-term potential along one of the longest beaches in the country.

These aren’t impulse purchases. They’re slow decisions. The good kind.

Why Second-Home Investment Still Makes Sense Here

The truth is simple.

Albania is no longer unknown. But it’s not saturated either.
Prices have risen, yes — but affordable properties still exist compared to the rest of the Mediterranean.

More importantly, the emotional return is real.

Second-home buyers don’t just invest in square meters. They invest in mornings without alarms. In neighbors who say “mirëmëngjes” even if they don’t know you yet. In places that feel genuine.

Final Thoughts From Someone Who Lives This Daily

I don’t believe in overselling Albania.
It doesn’t need it.

If you’re looking for polished perfection, this might not be your place.
But if you’re looking for authenticity, balance, and long-term value — especially along the Albanian Riviera — second-home investment here makes more sense than most people realize.

And more often than not, it starts with a short visit…
and ends with a set of keys you didn’t expect to own so soon.