I’ve lived and worked in Saranda long enough to remember when most foreigners couldn’t find Albania on a map. Back then, people would pause after I said “I’m from Saranda” and ask, “Is that near Greece?”


 

Now? They pause for a different reason—usually to pull out their phones and show me a villa listing they saw on Instagram.


 

And I get why. The word is slowly getting out.


 

Southern Albania—especially Saranda, Ksamil, and the surrounding Riviera—is starting to remind people of what Portugal was 15 or 20 years ago: beautiful coastlines, laid-back Mediterranean life, low cost of living, and property prices that feel like a secret.


 

But let me give you the local version of the story, the one you won’t find in glossy articles or big-name travel blogs.


 


 

The Comparison That Makes Sense


 

When people say “Albania is the new Portugal,” I know what they mean.


 

Portugal has become a favorite for retirees, digital nomads, and property investors. It offers good weather, access to the EU, and relatively affordable real estate—though less and less every year.


 

But here’s the thing: Portugal got expensive. Fast.


 

Southern Albania today still offers everything people love about Portugal—beachfront property, mountain-meets-sea landscapes, locally grown food, simple pleasures—but at a fraction of the cost.


 

I’m not saying Albania will follow the exact same trajectory. We’re not part of the EU (yet), and our infrastructure still has catching up to do. But that’s part of what makes it special.


 

It’s raw, in the best sense. And investors who come now are getting in early.


 


 

What Foreigners Are Starting to See


 

Just last month, I had a couple from the Netherlands visit. They were in their 50s, tired of the crowded coastlines in Spain, and wanted somewhere new—somewhere still authentic.


 

We walked through a new 1+1 apartment in Saranda with a wide sea view and a quiet street just behind the promenade. Not even two minutes in, the woman turned to her husband and said, “This reminds me of Lagos in 2003.”


 

I smiled. That’s exactly it.


 

There’s this sense of possibility here. You walk through the markets and everyone still says “mirëdita.” A neighbor will wave you into their garden to try a fig straight from the tree. You order grilled fish at a seaside taverna and the waiter brings you homemade raki before the meal, not even asking.


 

It’s not curated. It’s just… real.


 

And yet, these places aren’t far off from becoming investment hotspots. Properties like the ones at White Residence are already seeing strong demand from foreigners looking for affordable propertieswith rental potential. And yes, they’re still affordable. But I don’t think that will last much longer.


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