After a two-year slowdown, the real estate market recorded a return to growth during 2025. The number of property sales contracts increased, while Tirana continued to account for the largest share of transactions nationwide.

According to data from NAREA provided to Monitor, a total of 36,027 property purchase and sale contracts were registered with the State Cadastre Agency (ASHK) in 2025.

Compared to 2024, the number of contracts increased by 15%. Growth was also recorded in the Tirana market, where property purchase and sale transactions rose by 9% compared to the previous year.

In 2025, property sales in Tirana accounted for approximately 37% of all purchase and sale contracts registered across the country.

Data from the past six years show that the real estate market has gone through several phases. In 2020, a total of 22,986 transactions were registered nationwide, while in 2021 the number increased to 33,156, representing a 44% rise compared to the previous year.

Growth continued in 2022, when the market reached its highest level with 37,900 transactions.

After that peak, real estate sales activity began to decline. In 2023, the number of contracts registered with the State Cadastre Agency fell by 6% compared to the previous year. The slowdown continued throughout 2024, with the total number of contracts declining by 13% compared to 2023.

The trend was similar in Tirana. In 2023, when nationwide property sales began to decline, the number of transactions in the capital fell by 12% compared to 2022.

The decline continued during 2024, when the number of contracts registered with ASHK in Tirana dropped by 20% compared to 2023.

According to experts, the actual real estate market is larger than the number of property sale contracts registered with ASHK, as the vast majority of properties in Tirana are sold through pre-sale contracts signed during the early stages of construction.

In such cases, the buyer signs a pre-sale contract with the developer and makes payments in several installments before the building is completed and before the property receives its ownership certificate.

In some cases, according to notaries, buyers have even paid 100% of the apartment's value before construction is completed and before the property is issued an ownership certificate.

Despite the legal obligation, not all buyers register their purchase contracts with the Cadastre, creating the risk of double sales of the same property.

Notaries explain that the developer is the first party legally required to register the building permit with the Cadastre.

Afterward, the apartment buyer is also required to register the purchased property with the Cadastre through a notary. Failure to register on time results in a penalty of up to 500 lek per day of delay.