Why Your Next Investment Property Should Also Be Your Favorite Holiday Spot

There’s something I always tell my clients before we even step foot into a property:

“Don’t just look at this like an investment. Imagine if you’d actually want to spend your summers here.”

Because the truth is, when it comes to buying property in Albania — especially in places like Saranda, Ksamil, or Borsh — the smartest buyers aren’t just chasing return on investment.

They’re buying a feeling. A lifestyle. A little corner of the world where they can come back to, year after year.

And honestly? I think that’s the way it should be.

Your Property Should Work for You — But Also Inspire You

Let’s be real. Everyone loves the idea of a beachfront property that pays for itself. Passive income. Airbnb rentals. ROI that makes the accountant smile. It’s a no-brainer, right?

But what about when you’re the one walking through that door?

What if, instead of thinking “I bought this for the returns,” you walk in and think:

“I can’t believe I get to call this place mine.”

That’s the difference between a good investment… and a great one.

It’s something I’ve seen over and over again here in the Albanian Riviera. People come looking for seaview apartments with rental potential — and end up falling in love with the lifestyle instead.

Let Me Tell You About Tuesday Morning in Borsh

It wasn’t even a workday, technically. I’d just finished a showing at our Vila 1 & 2 project — two modern homes tucked away just off the main coastal road, each with their own pool and mountain-meets-sea views.

On my way back, I stopped at a roadside stand where a local woman was selling honey and olive oil. She offered me a spoonful of fig jam, homemade, no label. “Vetëm për miqtë,” she said with a smile — only for friends.

It reminded me why so many foreigners choose to invest here, not just for numbers, but for things like this. That kind of slow, human connection you don’t get in busy resort towns or cities built around tourists.

When your investment feels like your own retreat, you’re far more likely to keep it, care for it, and grow its value over time.

Familiarity Builds Value — Emotionally and Financially

Here’s something a lot of first-time investors in Albania don’t realize:

Your personal attachment to the place often makes the property more valuable.

I don’t mean sentimental value (though that matters too). I mean actual market value. Because when you get to know the area — the cafés that open early in spring, the back roads that avoid traffic, the beach that locals actually go to — you know exactly how to position your property on the rental market.

You’ll know that tourists love a balcony that catches the golden sunset over Corfu.

That a 10-minute walk to the beach sounds better in the listing than “300 meters.”

And let’s be honest — when your property is your holiday home too, you’re more likely to maintain it well. That’s what attracts repeat renters and higher nightly rates.

We’ve seen this clearly with units in our White Residence complex — the ones owned by people who use them seasonally themselves?

They outperform others in the same building.