Why Americans Are Choosing Albania — A View from the South

Over the last few years, something interesting has been happening here in Saranda.
The conversations have changed.

I used to hear mostly Italian, Greek, maybe some Scandinavian languages during property viewings. Now, more and more often, I hear American accents. Sometimes curious, sometimes surprised. Almost always followed by the same sentence:

“I didn’t expect Albania to look like this.”

And honestly, I understand the reaction. Because what people see online or hear from friends rarely prepares them for the reality of the Albanian Riviera — the light, the coastline, the pace of life. It feels familiar to them, but different enough to be exciting.

I’ve lived and worked in this region for years, and lately I’ve been asking myself the same question many clients ask me:

Why now? Why Albania?

The First Visit Changes Everything

Most Americans don’t arrive here planning to buy property. They come as travelers first. Someone recommends Saranda. Or they see a photo of Ksamil’s water that looks almost unreal. Then they visit.

And something shifts.

A few weeks ago, I was showing a couple from Florida a seaview apartment late in the afternoon. The sun was dropping behind Corfu, boats moving slowly in the bay, that quiet golden hour Saranda has in September when the season calms down. They stopped talking for a moment. Just looking at the view.

That silence told me everything. I’ve seen it many times. That’s usually the moment when a holiday turns into a long-term idea.

Value — The Word That Comes Up Every Time

Let’s be honest. Americans understand value very well.

When they compare what they can buy here versus other Mediterranean destinations, the difference is obvious. Seaview apartments, beachfront property, new buildings with modern standards — all still priced in a way that feels almost unreal to them.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. And I don’t say that as marketing. I say it because I see what buyers compare every day.

In places like Greece or Italy, similar properties are often two or three times the price. Here, you still find affordable properties that feel modern, comfortable, and investment-ready.

For example, I recently showed a client a 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil. Brand new, finished in 2025, located in one of the newer quiet neighborhoods. Nothing flashy — just clean design, a shared private pool for residents, and about a seven-minute walk to the beach. The kind of place where mornings start slowly. Americans tend to appreciate that simplicity.

Lifestyle Over Luxury

This part is important. Americans coming here are not always chasing luxury in the traditional sense.

They’re looking for lifestyle.

Morning coffee with a sea view. Walking to the beach instead of driving. Knowing the waiter remembers your name after two visits. Albania still has that human scale that many places have lost.

There’s a small bakery near the old part of Saranda where locals line up early for fresh byrek. Nothing special from the outside. But when I take clients there after viewings, it changes their perception of the place. Suddenly it feels real, not just a destination.

And that connection matters more than marble floors.

Saranda: The Comfort Zone for American Buyers

Saranda has become the natural starting point for many American buyers. It’s lively in summer, calm in winter, and practical year-round. Shops stay open. Cafés don’t disappear after September. Life continues.

Properties like this seaview apartment on Skënderbeu Street often attract attention because they combine comfort and investment logic. Quiet and safe neighborhood, new residence, private swimming pool, uninterrupted sea views. High-end finishing, but still usable as a real home — not just a holiday space.

And Americans tend to think long term. They ask about rental potential, but also about where they would live if they stayed three months instead of two weeks.

Ksamil and the New Generation of Buyers

Ksamil is different. Younger energy. More seasonal, but growing fast.

Social media has played a role, of course, but what keeps people interested is the evolution of the area itself. New constructions, better planning, and properties designed with privacy in mind.

The luxury duplexes in Ksamil are a good example of where the market is heading. Two private swimming pools — one exclusive to the duplex — underground parking, only 300 meters from the beach and center. Everything brand new. Secure. Quiet. For families or investors, the potential ROI reaching around 16% annually makes sense without needing aggressive marketing.

It feels effortless. And that’s exactly what many buyers want.

A Small Tangent About Time

One thing Americans notice quickly here is time. Or maybe the lack of urgency.

Lunch lasts longer. Coffee breaks turn into conversations. People greet each other on the street even if they don’t know each other well.

At first, some clients find it slow. Then after a few days, they relax into it. I’ve had people tell me they sleep better here. Less noise. Less pressure.

Anyway — back to real estate.

Because that slower rhythm actually affects property demand. People don’t just buy square meters here. They buy a different pace of life.

Villas, Privacy, and Long-Term Living

Another trend I’ve noticed with American buyers is the interest in privacy. Not isolation — but space.

The private villa in Surra, Saranda fits that idea well. Quiet neighborhood, spacious layout, private swimming pool. Ideal for families who want to stay longer periods or use the property as a seasonal home while renting it the rest of the year. Villas like this are still relatively rare in Saranda, which makes them interesting from an investment perspective.

And honestly, waking up surrounded by greenery while still being minutes from the sea is something people don’t expect here.

Americans Thinking Bigger: Land and Business Opportunities

Not everyone comes looking for an apartment.

Some arrive with bigger ideas. Boutique hotels. Small villa complexes. Hospitality concepts. The Albanian Riviera still offers opportunities that disappeared elsewhere years ago.

I’ve had conversations recently about land like this seaview property in Porto Palermo, literally first line, about ten meters from the beach. Places like that are increasingly rare along the Mediterranean. The same goes for land in Borsh, where development is still respectful of nature and space.

And occasionally, business-minded clients look at commercial spaces too — like a first-line commercial shop in Saranda, close enough to the promenade to benefit from foot traffic but still practical year-round.

The interesting part is that Americans often think in ecosystems. Property plus business. Lifestyle plus income.

Why This Moment Matters

I say this often to clients, and I mean it.

Albania is still early in its growth cycle. The infrastructure is improving, tourism is increasing, and international attention keeps rising — but prices have not fully caught up yet.

That window doesn’t stay open forever.

What attracts Americans today is exactly what made places like Croatia or parts of Spain explode years ago: authenticity, affordability, and timing.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes after a long day of viewings, I drive up toward Lëkurësi just before sunset. You see Saranda from above, lights slowly turning on, ferries crossing toward Corfu. It’s quiet for a moment.

And I think about how many people are discovering this place for the first time now.

Americans included.

They come for the views, yes. For the affordable properties, the beachfront locations, the seaview apartments. But they stay — or return — because Albania still feels genuine. Not overbuilt. Not overpolished.

Just real.

And as someone who has watched Saranda grow year by year, I can say this with confidence: the interest we’re seeing now is only the beginning.