Investor’s Guide: How to Identify High-Potential Properties in Albania Before They Boom

If you’ve followed the Albanian Riviera over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed something: prices don’t stay low for long. One area gets discovered, a few videos go viral, the infrastructure improves just a bit — and suddenly everyone wants to buy there.

I’ve watched this pattern repeat itself in Saranda, Ksamil, Borsh, Qeparo, even tiny villages that most travelers still can’t pronounce. And after so many property tours, meetings with developers, and late coffees with clients overlooking the Ionian, I’ve learned something important: there’s always a way to spot the next hotspot before it explodes.

This guide is my honest take — not from a textbook, but from living and working here every single day.

What Makes a Property “High-Potential” in Albania?

There are a few indicators I always pay attention to. Some are obvious.
Others… only locals usually notice.

I’ll walk you through each one — with the same approach I use when scouting properties for my own clients.

Infrastructure: The First Real Signal of Growth

Let me tell you something I’ve seen again and again:
The moment new roads, lighting, and utilities come into an area… prices follow. Quickly.

In the south of Albania, infrastructure is the quiet engine of appreciation.
When a road gets paved or a new gas station appears, locals know something is happening long before investors do.

A few years ago, I was walking with a client near the upper hills of Saranda. At that time, the road wasn’t perfect — still dusty, a little uneven — but I noticed new electric lines being installed. I told him, “This area will change fast.”
And it did. Today that same road has new residences, cafés, and families walking to the promenade.

Infrastructure is like a whisper. If you listen carefully, it tells you where value is moving.

Land Structure (Trungu i Tokës) and Build Quality

Here’s something many international buyers don’t consider enough:
the stability and structure of the land itself.

South Albania is a mix of flat beachfront areas and gentle hills that offer panoramic views. The structure of the land affects everything — the building quality, long-term value, even rental performance.

For example, in Ksamil, the higher land towards the entrance of the village has a firmer structure. Buildings there tend to be more stable, the views better, and the noise lower. That’s why new luxury developments get approved in those parts — including the 2025 residences that feature modern finishes and pools.

A great example is this modern 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2

It’s in a quiet, well-structured part of Ksamil — not the chaotic center. The residence offers a private pool and it’s just 7 minutes from the beach. These details matter. And as locals, we notice them instantly.

Distance From the Beach: A Small Detail With a Huge ROI Impact

In abroad markets, “beachfront property” is often priced out of reach.
But in Albania, being close to the sea — even 300 to 500 meters — still gives you massive value.

The sweet spot?
Close enough to walk in a few minutes, far enough from the crowds.

I’ve shown properties just 250–350 meters from the coast that perform incredibly well on Airbnb and Booking during the season. You’d be surprised how many tourists prefer a quiet walk to the sea rather than being directly in front of the bars.

Take this luxury duplex in Ksamil, part of a brand-new 2025 project:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

Two private swimming pools — one exclusive for the duplex.
Underground parking.
Located right on the main road.
And just 300 meters from the beach and center.

This is what I call perfect distance. Enough privacy, enough convenience.

And with ROI climbing up to 16% yearly, you can see why distance from the sea is more than a number. It’s a strategy.

Seasonal ROI: The Real Test of a High-Potential Asset

If there is one metric investors should pay attention to in Albania, it’s seasonal ROI.

Not annual — seasonal.

Because summer here changes everything.

Saranda and Ksamil have one of the highest seasonal occupancy rates in the entire region. Some apartments rent from €120 to €350 per night depending on view and finishes. And properties with pools or sea views? They can outperform everything else.

Let me be honest — I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast when it comes to ROI. Especially compared to places like Corfu, Croatia, or Italy.

A property like this seaview 1-bedroom apartment on Skënderbeu Street is exactly the type that overperforms:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished

Unblocked panoramic sea views.
Luxury finishes.
Private swimming pool.
Quiet, safe neighborhood.

This is the kind of apartment tourists book instantly, especially when the photos hit Airbnb.

 Local Energy: Something Algorithms Can’t Measure

There’s something about the south of Albania that investors feel when they visit.
It’s hard to explain unless you walk the streets at golden hour — kids playing with scooters by the promenade, fishermen cleaning their nets at the small port, the smell of fresh byrek drifting from the bakery near the hospital road.

This energy matters.

Because buyers don’t invest only with numbers. They invest with emotions… with lifestyle.

And lifestyle is why places like Borsh are rising fast.

Let me mention something personal here: Whenever I take clients to Borsh, I always stop by a small viewpoint just before entering the village. It’s not marked, no sign, just a curve on the road where the sea looks endless. People always gasp.
That’s how you know an area will boom — when even locals still get impressed.

Upcoming Luxury Developments (The Quiet Luxury Wave)

Another strong indicator of future value is the type of developments entering the area.

When projects start incorporating:
– private pools
– underground parking
– panoramic verandas
– landscaped surroundings
– modern façades

… it means the market is maturing.

One of the clearest signs of this is the White Villas in Borsh:
👉 https://www.vivaview.al/en/projects/white-residence-villas-borsh

Built by our construction company with over 15 years in the field and a team of 150+ professionals, these villas are a new chapter for Borsh.
Three floors, private pools, sea views, big verandas, private parking, all surrounded by pure nature. Seven minutes from the beach.
And — something investors love — 0% commission.

These villas are not loud luxury. They’re quiet luxury — the kind that ages well and appreciates consistently.

A Small Tangent: The Coffee Rule

Sometimes I joke with clients that the best way to measure a property’s potential in Albania is to look for good coffee within walking distance.
It sounds funny, but it’s true.

When cafés open early, when the locals gather, when the owner knows everyone’s order — the area has life.
And life drives value.

Anyway, back to the serious stuff.

The View: A Non-Negotiable Factor

I could write a separate guide entirely about views.

Seaview apartments on the Albanian Riviera have a magic that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. The combination of mountains, bright blue water, and island silhouettes is something foreigners instantly feel connected to.

Properties with unblocked sea views are the first to appreciate — always.

Even older apartments with simple finishes can become incredibly valuable if the view is strong.

The Right Neighborhood (A Local’s Secret)

In Saranda, not all neighborhoods grow at the same pace.

There’s an area behind the old cinema — quiet, safe, slightly elevated — that consistently surprises me with how quickly values rise.
And in Ksamil, the part closer to the main entrance (before reaching the beach chaos) is becoming a favorite for year-round living.

These are things you only notice when you live here long enough.

Conclusion: How to Spot the Next Boom

If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this:

High-potential properties in Albania show signs long before their prices explode.
You just have to know what to look for.

– Infrastructure starting to improve
– Solid land structure
– 250–500 meters from the beach
– Strong seasonal ROI potential
– Emotional “local energy”
– Quiet luxury developments
– Unblocked seaview
– Safe and emerging neighborhoods

Follow these indicators, and you’ll always stay ahead of the market — whether you’re investing in Saranda apartments for sale, Ksamil duplexes, or beachfront properties anywhere along the Albanian Riviera.

As someone who walks these hills, talks to the builders, and watches the city grow year after year…
I can tell you with confidence: the next big opportunity in Albania is already taking shape. You just need to look a little closer.