Is right now a good time to buy a property in Albania? (2026)

Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Albania Property Pack

Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Albania Property Pack

Is it smart to buy now in Albania, or should I wait as of 2026?

Do real estate prices look too high in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, property prices in Albania look stretched relative to local incomes, with a typical two-earner household in Tirana facing a price-to-income multiple of 7 to 10 times their annual earnings for an average apartment, which is well above what most housing markets consider affordable.

One clear signal from the market is that the gap between asking price and final sale price in Albania sits around 6% to 8%, meaning buyers are successfully negotiating discounts, which typically happens when sellers are setting prices higher than what the market will bear.

Another telling sign is that premium areas like Blloku in Tirana now command 4,000 to 5,000 euros per square meter, yet rental yields have compressed to around 5% to 6%, suggesting prices have outpaced what rents can justify for new investors.

You can also read our latest update regarding the housing prices in Albania.

Does a property price drop look likely in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the likelihood of a meaningful price drop in Albania over the next 12 months is low to medium, because while affordability is stretched, the market has strong stabilizers like growing tourism and steady remittance flows.

We estimate the plausible price change range for Albania in 2026 is somewhere between minus 5% in oversupplied secondary areas and plus 12% in the most desirable prime locations, meaning the national average could land anywhere from flat to plus 8%.

The single biggest macro factor that could trigger a price drop in Albania would be a sharp tightening of credit conditions, because many recent buyers have relied on mortgages and developer financing schemes that would become much harder to sustain if lending dried up.

However, this scenario looks unlikely in the near term since the Bank of Albania's policy rate remains at 2.5% as of late 2025, and the regulator has chosen targeted mortgage limits rather than aggressive rate hikes to cool the market.

Finally, please note that we cover the price trends for next year in our pack about the property market in Albania.

Could property prices jump again in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the likelihood of another price surge in Albania is medium, because while the extreme growth of 2024 and 2025 is unlikely to repeat, strong tourism and infrastructure projects could still push prices higher in specific areas.

We estimate the upside price range for Albania in 2026 could reach 10% to 15% in the best-performing micro-markets like Sarande waterfront or central Tirana, particularly if new airport openings and highway completions boost accessibility.

The single biggest demand-side trigger that could drive prices to jump again in Albania is a surge in foreign investor interest, especially if EU accession negotiations accelerate or if neighboring markets like Greece and Croatia become too expensive for budget-conscious buyers.

Please also note that we regularly publish and update real estate price forecasts for Albania here.

Are we in a buyer or a seller market in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Albania's property market is seller-leaning in prime locations like central Tirana and premium coastal spots, but closer to balanced or even buyer-leaning in secondary areas where new developments have created more competition among sellers.

While Albania doesn't publish a formal months-of-inventory metric, the rapid price growth of 17% to 24% in Tirana suggests that available stock has been absorbed quickly, which in most markets indicates fewer than 4 months of supply and strong seller leverage.

The fact that buyers in Albania typically negotiate 6% to 8% off asking prices shows that sellers don't have complete control, and this discount rate suggests a market that's hot but not overheated to the point where sellers can refuse any negotiation.

Are homes overpriced, or fairly priced in Albania as of 2026?

Are homes overpriced versus rents or versus incomes in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, homes in Albania appear overpriced when measured against local incomes but look closer to fair value when measured against rents, creating a mixed picture where the market works better for investors than for first-time local buyers.

The price-to-rent ratio in Albania sits around 15 to 20 years for typical apartments in Tirana, which is above the 12 to 15 year range often considered balanced, suggesting prices have run ahead of what rental income alone can justify.

The price-to-income multiple in Tirana has stretched to around 14 to 20 times a single earner's annual gross salary, far above the 3 to 5 times benchmark common in affordable European markets, making homeownership a real struggle for average Albanian workers.

Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Albania.

Are home prices above the long-term average in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, property prices in Albania are clearly above their long-term trend because housing costs have risen roughly 90% to 140% over the past decade while wages and general inflation grew far more slowly.

The recent 12-month price change in Albania of around 18% is dramatically faster than the pre-pandemic pace of perhaps 5% to 8% annually, suggesting the market has entered an accelerated phase that cannot continue indefinitely.

When adjusted for inflation, Albania's current price levels appear to be at or near their cycle peak, since consumer prices have risen only by low single digits while housing prices have surged by double digits year after year.

What local changes could move prices in Albania as of 2026?

Are big infrastructure projects coming to Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the single biggest infrastructure project likely to move property prices in Albania is the new Vlore International Airport, which opened in 2025 and is already boosting demand for real estate along the southern Albanian Riviera.

The Vlore airport is now operational, and a similar airport project in Sarande is expected by 2027, meaning the infrastructure catalyst is already in place for the south coast, with property values in these areas projected to rise 25% to 40% as accessibility improves.

For the latest updates on the local projects, you can read our property market analysis about Albania here.

Are zoning or building rules changing in Albania as of 2026?

The most important zoning story in Albania is the Tirana General Local Plan (TR030), which shapes where new apartment towers can be built and which neighborhoods will see densification over the coming years.

As of early 2026, these planning changes will likely have a mixed effect on prices: areas designated for high-rise development may see supply waves that moderate price growth, while protected or already-built neighborhoods will maintain their scarcity value and price premium.

The neighborhoods most affected by planning changes in Albania include the expanding edges of Tirana (like Kombinat and Selite), as well as coastal zones in Vlore and Durres where new construction zones have been approved for tourism-related development.

Are foreign-buyer or mortgage rules changing in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, mortgage rules in Albania have tightened meaningfully after the Bank of Albania introduced formal loan-to-value and debt-service caps in May 2025, which will likely cool demand at the margin and moderate price growth over time.

The most significant mortgage rule change is the introduction of upper limits on how much banks can lend relative to property values and borrower incomes, similar to macroprudential tools used across Europe to prevent housing bubbles.

For foreign buyers, the rules in Albania remain relatively open because foreigners can freely purchase apartments and houses, though they cannot directly own agricultural land without forming a local company, and apartments remain the simplest option for non-professional buyers.

You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Albania.

Will it be easy to find tenants in Albania as of 2026?

Is the renter pool growing faster than new supply in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the balance between renter demand growth and new rental supply in Albania favors landlords in prime areas because urban migration to Tirana, growing tourism, and the expat community are all expanding faster than quality rental stock can be built.

The strongest renter demand signal in Albania comes from tourism arrivals, which exceeded 10 million visitors in 2023 and continued growing through 2025, creating robust short-term rental demand especially along the coast and in central Tirana.

On the supply side, INSTAT building permit data shows construction activity remains strong, but permits don't equal finished units, and many new developments target buyers rather than renters, keeping the rental market relatively tight.

Are days-on-market for rentals falling in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, we cannot cite an official days-on-market figure for rentals in Albania because no national statistics office publishes this metric, but rising rents and strong tourism arrivals suggest well-priced properties in good locations are letting quickly.

The gap in rental speed between best areas and weaker areas in Albania is significant: a modern apartment in Tirana's Blloku or near Liqeni Artificial might let within days, while a similar unit in a less connected suburb could sit for weeks.

One common reason rental days-on-market tends to fall in Albania's hot spots is the combination of limited quality stock in central locations and strong demand from young professionals, students, and the growing digital nomad community.

Are vacancies dropping in the best areas of Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, vacancy trends in Albania's best rental areas like Blloku, Komuna e Parisit, and Liqeni Artificial in Tirana, as well as Sarande waterfront, appear to be stable or falling because these locations have strong demand from multiple tenant types.

While no official vacancy rate exists for Albania, the best areas likely have effective vacancy rates well below 5% given that rents in these neighborhoods have risen 15% to 20% year over year, which only happens when landlords have pricing power.

A practical sign that tightening is happening first in Albania's best areas is that landlords in Blloku are increasingly able to demand 6 to 12 month prepayments from tenants, something that would not be possible if vacancies were rising.

By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current rent levels in Albania.

Am I buying into a tightening market in Albania as of 2026?

Is for-sale inventory shrinking in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, it's hard to say definitively whether for-sale inventory in Albania is shrinking because the country doesn't publish centralized listing statistics, but the extreme price growth suggests effective inventory (well-located quality units at realistic prices) remains tight.

We estimate that months-of-supply in desirable Albanian markets is likely below 4 months, based on how quickly prices have risen, though this varies dramatically between central Tirana (very tight) and secondary locations (more balanced).

The most likely reason inventory feels tight in Albania's best areas is that existing owners are reluctant to sell into a rising market when they expect further gains, while new construction takes time to deliver finished units to the resale pool.

Are homes selling faster in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, homes in prime Albanian locations appear to be selling faster than a year ago because price growth has accelerated rather than slowed, which typically happens when buyer demand is absorbing available stock quickly.

While there's no official median days-on-market statistic for Albania, market reports suggest premium properties in areas like Blloku and along the coast are selling within 30 days, compared to what would have been 60 to 90 days in less heated times.

Are new listings slowing down in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, we cannot confidently say whether new listings are slowing in Albania because there's no national listing feed to track, though the combination of tighter mortgage rules and strong price expectations could be encouraging some owners to hold rather than sell.

The seasonal pattern for new listings in Albania typically sees more activity in spring and early summer, with quieter periods around holidays, so current levels should be evaluated in that context rather than compared to mid-year peaks.

One plausible reason new listings might slow in Albania is that the May 2025 mortgage tightening makes it harder for would-be sellers to qualify for financing on their next purchase, creating a lock-in effect similar to what other markets have experienced.

Is new construction failing to keep up in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, new construction in Albania does not appear to be failing to keep up in absolute terms since building permits remain active, but delivery in the most desirable locations seems to lag behind demand given how fast prices have risen there.

INSTAT building permit data for Q3 2025 shows ongoing approval activity, though the agency notes some quarter-to-quarter comparability issues as reporting systems evolve, making precise trend analysis challenging.

The biggest bottleneck limiting new construction in Albania's prime spots is land availability, because central Tirana and established coastal waterfronts have limited undeveloped plots, pushing new supply to peripheral areas that don't command the same prices.

Will it be easy to sell later in Albania as of 2026?

Is resale liquidity strong enough in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, resale liquidity in Albania is strong in a handful of prime locations but weak in many others, making location choice the single most important factor for anyone worried about being able to sell later.

In the most liquid neighborhoods like Blloku, Komuna e Parisit, and Liqeni Artificial in Tirana, or waterfront Sarande, a well-priced resale home can move within 30 to 60 days, which is acceptable by most European standards.

The property characteristic that most improves resale liquidity in Albania is location within walking distance of central amenities like cafes, shops, and public transport, because both local and foreign buyers prioritize convenience over size.

Is selling time getting longer in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, selling time in Albania does not appear to be getting longer in prime areas since prices are still accelerating, but secondary markets with more competition from new builds may see listings sit for 90 days or more.

The realistic range for selling time across most Albanian listings spans from about 30 days for well-priced prime properties up to 120 days or longer for overpriced units or those in less desirable locations.

One clear reason selling time could lengthen in Albania going forward is affordability pressure: as prices outpace wage growth, the pool of qualified local buyers shrinks, leaving sellers more dependent on foreign buyers who may take longer to decide and transact.

Is it realistic to exit with profit in Albania as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the likelihood of exiting with a profit in Albania is medium to high for buyers who purchase in prime locations at fair prices and hold for at least 5 years, but much lower for those who overpay or buy in oversupplied secondary areas.

The minimum holding period that typically makes exiting with profit realistic in Albania is around 5 to 7 years, which gives enough time for price appreciation to cover transaction costs and provides a buffer against short-term market fluctuations.

The total round-trip cost drag in Albania, including buying costs (transfer tax around 3%, notary fees, legal fees) and selling costs (agent commission, capital gains tax at 15% on profits), adds up to roughly 8% to 12% of the property value, or about 12,000 to 24,000 euros on a 200,000 euro purchase (approximately 20,000 to 26,000 US dollars).

The single factor that most increases profit odds in Albania is buying in a neighborhood with deep resale liquidity like Blloku or waterfront Sarande, because these locations attract consistent buyer interest from both locals and foreigners regardless of market conditions.

What sources have we used to write this blog article?

Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Albania, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.

We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.

Source name	Why it's authoritative	How we used it
Bank of Albania Real Estate Survey	It's the central bank's official housing market survey and Albania's closest equivalent to a national price index.	We used it as our primary anchor for price direction and overheating signals. We also relied on its definitions to ensure consistency with official Albanian market terminology.
Bank of Albania Monetary Policy (Dec 2025)	It's an official central bank decision, providing the cleanest source for interest rate conditions.	We used it to describe the financing backdrop as of the first half of 2026. We referenced the 2.5% policy rate as baseline for mortgage pressure.
Bank of Albania Mortgage Limits (May 2025)	It's the regulator's formal decision on mortgage risk limits including LTV and debt-service constraints.	We used it as evidence the regulator saw risk worth containing. We explained why credit-fueled price spikes may cool versus the earlier no-limits phase.
INSTAT Wage Statistics Q3 2025	It's the national statistics office's official wage release for Albania.	We used it to estimate household purchasing power and calculate price-to-income ratios. We compared wage growth to house price growth for affordability trends.
INSTAT Building Permits Q3 2025	It's an official construction pipeline indicator from Albania's statistics office.	We used it to gauge whether supply is ramping up or constraining. We supported inventory and new-build arguments around market tightening.
INSTAT Tourism Movements (Sep 2025)	It's an official tourism and entries dataset based on border and police sources.	We used it as a demand driver proxy for short-term rentals and coastal markets. We showed whether the visitor base supporting rentals is expanding.
INSTAT Consumer Price Index	It's Albania's official inflation framework used for real versus nominal comparisons.	We used it to anchor inflation-adjusted price analysis. We sanity-checked rent growth claims against broader price dynamics.
Bank of Albania Exchange Rate	It's the official foreign exchange reference used for statistics in Albania.	We used it to keep lek-to-euro conversions consistent when discussing affordability. We triangulated all currency calculations against this official source.
Global Property Guide Rental Yields	It's a long-running international housing data publisher with transparent yield methodology.	We used it as a secondary check for rent-versus-price sanity. We framed what a normal gross yield band looks like for Albania.
Global Property Guide Rent Trends	It's a structured rent index series that references national statistics inputs.	We used it to corroborate rental trend direction over time. We checked whether rents are rising enough to justify price growth.
World Bank Remittances Data	It's the World Bank's standardized macro dataset used by governments and researchers worldwide.	We used it because remittances support household buying power in Albania. We treated it as a background demand signal for cash buyers and family support.
Reuters World Bank Growth Outlook	Reuters is a reliable wire service and clearly attributes forecasts to the World Bank.	We used it to frame the macro direction heading into 2026. We applied it only as context rather than a housing price predictor.
Colliers Albania Market Overview	It's a major international real estate consultancy with professional market focus.	We used it cautiously for qualitative context on active sectors and construction themes. We did not use it as the sole source for any hard numbers.
World Bank Tirana Urban Planning	It's World Bank documentation on Tirana's planning framework and development strategy.	We used it to understand zoning and densification patterns. We connected planning changes to supply dynamics in specific neighborhoods.