The conflict all but destroyed the region’s tourism industry but in 2009, Albania joined NATO, officially became recognised as a potential EU candidate country, and within a few years, has transformed into an increasingly popular holiday destination, bursting back onto the resort scene in 2010 with the announcement of the new luxury 5* residential development, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, located just north of Durres.

Critics of this pioneering project pondered the reasoning behind building holiday homes in Albania during turbulent economic times across Europe, with some concerned that Albania was almost ‘too emerging’ for investors.

However these, often uneducated, objections only cemented the British development team’s belief in Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa further and spurred them on to make it a success. Now some 3 years later, the team led by Sales & Marketing Director Peter Walshe, a chartered marketer with a background in international property, is proud to announce that over 70% of the apartments and villas have now been sold off-plan to buyers from all over the world, proving the critics wrong.

Walshe comments, “Having worked in overseas property for almost a decade before being invited to join the team at Lalzit Bay, I had seen my fair share of successful and not so successful projects. I quickly learnt the fundamentals of what second home buyers and investors look for in international resort developments and applied them to Lalzit Bay, building a team of the best in the UK with the best in Albania.

“Admittedly the recession has made investors more cautious about buying second homes but I think this is true across the board in all holiday home destinations and actually we prefer our buyers to take their time and only purchase when they hold 100% belief in both Albania and Lalzit Bay. Many people said I was mad to take on this project, but here we are, 3 years later and the off-plan sales figures speak for themselves.”

So what is Lalzit Bay’s magic recipe?

Albania is indeed an emerging market but as tourism figures show it is also a holiday destination to be reckoned with; it has the winning combination of being both affordable and undiscovered.

Just 2.5 hours direct flight from the UK and numerous other European capitals, Albania boasts a wonderful year round climate and 200 days of sunshine. Besides the famously stunning beaches with every kind of water sport you could imagine, there are other attractions to be enjoyed by the whole family such as national parks, exciting mountain trails and ancient roman amphitheatres. However, what’s more important is that by the end of the day, the kids and the other members of the family have a secure and relaxing place to go back to. Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa offers just that and with 70% of all properties sold off plan already, is proving extremely popular.

The team at Lalzit Bay are working with the best to deliver what home owners want and have partnered with Woods Bagot, a world-class, award-winning British architectural practice with extensive experience designing luxury resorts that combine cutting-edge design using sustainable, environmentally friendly materials.

Above all other things, accessibility, function, design and attention to detail is what makes these frontline properties stand-out. Indeed, Gerard Mizrahi, Lalzit Bay’s main financial backer and founder, has 25 years’ experience in a wide range of asset classes and investment types and makes sure absolutely everything in the resort is thought through from dedicated parking spaces and layout of the properties through to the smallest of fittings, interior design and the optimum position to build swimming pools.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa offers a premium, exclusive product to buyers who want the benefits of property ownership including private gardens and terraces, exclusive services, and more privacy. They are also including additional services available to villa owners including membership of the Adriatic Club, priority access to facilities, concierge service for cleaning, home-delivery, airport pick-up and access to private beach areas.

Albania remains relatively inexpensive, at least by European standards. Everyday prices are up to 50% cheaper than neighbouring Croatia, Greece or Italy so in these times of unsettled economies, Albania is a bargain!

Living comes thrifty in this gem of the Balkan, for just over £10 you will be able to have a three course meal for two and with wine costing just under £5! Property prices are competitive too with apartments boasting direct sea views starting from just €30,000 at Lalzit Bay.

Rising tourism levels spurred by new regional road and air infrastructure continue to increase the demand for accommodation especially in coastal areas. British Airways’ commitment to the country with up to 5 flights a week from the UK into Tirana suggests this is a promising area for both savvy travellers and investors to explore. This in turn is generating considerable potential for buy to let investors in Albania and with the nation receiving a record 4.7 million visitors last year there is huge potential to grab a slice of the action.

There will no doubt be strong rental demand in Lalzit Bay based on the exclusivity of the resort, the facilities on offer and the quality of the finished properties. We have estimated that a 2 bed apartment costing €70,000 will generate a rental income of €500 per week over the peak summer months at 75% occupancy giving an annual gross rental income of €6,000 – an overall healthy rental yield of 8.57%.

So if you are thinking about investing in a second home, look no further than Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa. Only moments away from the shore, the stunning resort properties are designed to be the ultimate beach properties in Albania affording private swimming pools, BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants priced from just €30,000. For more information please contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa today on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.