What I Learned Showing Property to 100 Foreign Buyers in the Last Year

It’s been a wild, rewarding, sometimes chaotic year.

If you told me last spring that I’d sit down with more than a hundred foreign buyers in twelve months—some in beach cafes, others in dusty construction sites, even one inside a half-finished villa in Borsh while it was pouring rain—I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

But here we are. And I’ve learned a lot.

1. Everyone’s Dream Starts Differently

Some people arrive in Saranda with a 3-year plan, spreadsheets, and ROI calculations. Others land here by accident—literally. I once met a couple from Poland who had planned to buy in Montenegro but made a last-minute detour south. They stumbled across our listing for White Residence while sipping macchiatos on the promenade. The next day, they made an offer.

That’s how it goes here sometimes. The sea, the light, the stillness—it grabs people before they know what’s happening.

But every buyer has a “why.” Some want rental income. Others want a second home. A few just want a place to escape cold winters.

And almost all of them?

They’re amazed by how much value they can get here—especially when they see the price of a seaview apartment compared to Italy, Spain, or Greece.

2. Yes, the Prices Are Still Lower—But It’s Changing Fast

I don’t say this to pressure anyone, but I do say it a lot: “If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.”

The Albanian Riviera is still one of the last corners of the Med where you can buy a beachfront property without draining your life savings. But in Saranda, the prices are moving up every year. Especially in areas like Kodër and along Rruga Butrinti.

Just this month, I showed a 2-bedroom apartment near the new port project to a woman from Sweden. She had visited Saranda three years ago and remembered prices around €1000/m². Now that same building is asking €1800+.

She still bought.

Because she knew what she was looking for—and the view sealed the deal.

3. Buyers Are Smarter Than Ever—And They Do Their Research

I’ve had clients walk into my office quoting zoning codes, VAT laws, and Airbnb occupancy rates. Seriously.

Which I love, honestly. It shows how far Albania has come in the eyes of international buyers. People are no longer just “discovering” this place. They’re choosing it. Comparing it. Planning around it.

Of course, some of the online info is outdated or flat-out wrong. That’s where I come in—explaining why a villa in Borsh might not need property tax for the first 5 years, or how new builds like Vila 1–2don’t require a transfer tax at all.

Transparency matters. So does local knowledge.

4. The Saranda Smile Works Every Time

There’s something about the light here. The way it hits the water in the afternoon. Or how the sound of the waves fills the silence when you step onto a balcony.

I’ve seen it so many times: the moment when someone walks into an apartment and just… pauses. Smiles. Breathes in.

Last week, I showed a client a stunning unit above Mango Beach—full sea view, floor-to-ceiling windows, you could hear the waves even with the doors shut. He turned to me and said, “I’ve seen 20 properties in Greece. This one makes me feel something.”

That’s the moment. It’s not about square meters anymore. It’s about emotion.