Even if you’re not a parent, purchase a property near thriving higher educational institutions anyway – your cash flow will thank you.
In the last two decades, higher educational institutions have been mushrooming all over Malaysia thanks to a booming student enrollment. As of November 2018, there are 20 public universities, 47 private universities, 34 university colleges and 10 foreign university branch campuses to choose from! In fact, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (July 2014), Malaysia ranked 12th on the list of top countries which attract the most international students to their universities.
Most Malaysians will already be familiar with names such as Taylor’s University in Subang Jaya, UCSI University in Cheras, and Sunway University in Bandar Sunway. Some of the newer education establishments include Xiamen University Malaysia in Sepang and Educity in Iskandar, Johor. Educity is a large education hub comprising 6 world-class universities including the University of Reading Malaysia and Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia.
Education providers are really upping their game in terms of their campus building’s architecture and design. The University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) is one example of an innovative masterpiece and is also the first university in Malaysia to achieve a “Platinum Index” rating under the Green Building Index (GBI).
Let’s dive into the 4 reasons why purchasing the right student accommodation is a solid move:
#1 Student accommodation is basically inflation-proof
You have to admit that even when times are tough, the tertiary education business continues to fire on all cylinders. As long as Malaysians continue to have children, this trend will continue to persist. Regardless of how the economy is performing, most Malaysian parents these days will opt to send their kids to college and/or university.
To showcase how resistant the education industry is to economic fluctuations, consider the following instance: Despite Malaysia’s stagnant economy in 2011 at a GDP growth rate of 5.3% versus 7.5% in 2010, talks to build Xiamen University Malaysia in Sepang was held between Malaysia and China in 2011. A consensus was reached sometime after and the university construction began in 2014 – it opened its doors 2 years later.
#2 The right product in the correct location will have strong tenant demand
Investors are also becoming increasingly interested in student accommodation as an investment as good (student) rental properties in an ideal location is able to yield strong rental returns.
Student accommodations nearby reputable universities in Malaysia can generate an ROI of at least 6-8%, significantly higher than the 3-4% yield produced by other residential products in the market. –Prof Max Shangkar, Founder of Max Capital Management & global property investment expert-
Meanwhile, a recent 2018 study conducted by UK credit report company, Totally Money UK, revealed that university towns like Liverpool and Middlesbrough offer rental yields up to 7 times higher than London’s city centre.
In pinpointing the right investment product, investors will want to ensure the following boxes are ticked:
- It is easily accessible, preferably with connecting public transportation such as buses, LRT and MRT
- Availability of amenities including convenience stores, restaurants and retail shops
- Low crime rate area
Both safety and comfort rank highly on a parent’s checklist. Due diligence is especially important here, investors should scout out the neighbourhood beforehand instead of depending on past trends.
For example, many of the students who were enrolled in the universities and colleges within Bandar Sunway preferred to rent a unit within a neighbouring residential area as the housing there was very affordable. However, in recent years, an influx of foreigners and unsavoury foreign students residing in one of the apartment complexes there has rendered the area unsafe for students to live in. This once student-friendly neighbourhood is now filled with brothels, sleazy bars and massage parlours and thus is no longer a consideration among student tenants.
#3 Savvy parents will realise that Buying > Renting
Should parents do the maths themselves, they will clearly see why buying trumps renting. Taking Bandar Sunway as an example, student accommodations located nearby universities such as Sunway University and Taylor’s Lakeside University average at RM1,000 per room. A real-life example: My colleague’s parents are forking out RM1,300 per month for her younger sister’s room at U Residence in Taylor’s.
Her parents are willing to pay such a substantial sum each month as they would not want to compromise on the convenience and safety of their child. I don’t blame them – they will have a peace of mind knowing that their child goes to sleep each night in a safe and sound environment.
Putting things into perspective however and considering the girl’s 3-year course, that sum equals to (RM1,300 X 12 X 3) RM46,800 total in rental payments, over a span of 36 months.
This sum is equivalent to the 10% downpayment for a RM468,000 property!
Now if my colleague’s parents had invested in a property within the price range above instead, they would now be the proud owners of an appreciating asset.
#4 It is definitely a great long-term plan
Using the example above, imagine if you had purchased a unit instead of renting, your children would be the co-property owners throughout their stay there. This helps instil a sense of responsibility within them as they would have to take on minor obligations such as paying the utility bill each month as well as property maintenance and upkeep.
Let’s not forget, that your child will only need one room, therefore the remaining room(s) could be rented out to your child’s friend, thus offsetting your costs for the home even further. If you are savvy enough, you will be able to cover the monthly instalment payments and service charges through the roommates’ rental rates.
According to the latest figures from iPropertyiQ.com (as of June 2018), condominiums in Bandar Sunway recorded an above average YoY rental yield figure of 6.8%. The area’s overall residential landscape performance is very promising too as Bandar Sunway’s properties experienced an anuual price appreciation of 4.8%. This positive capital growth goes to show that there is more demand than supply in the area at the moment.
Best of all, your child will have a place to continue living in once they graduate and start working. They could then take over the monthly instalments from you once they are more financially capable. Essentially, it is a form of the rent-to-own scheme, where the parents will be locking in a great property deal at the current market value, and where the child can also enjoy living in the home and they have the option of purchasing from their parents in the future.
Should your child decide to live somewhere else instead, you could easily rent out the unit to the next incoming batch of students or sell it off and recoup your investment. Either way, it is a win-win situation.
If you are sold by the idea of investing in a great student rental property or is looking for a place for your college-going child, then you might want to consider Aera Residences by Chin Hin Property which is located right next to the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and just 3km away from Bandar Sunway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=59&v=_5Nqj6GdpOI
With convenient linkages to the LDP, Federal and Kesas Highways, AERA Residences is a mere 10 minutes drive from Sunway University, Taylor’s University, Monash University and The One Academy. Similarly, conveniences such as Sunway Pyramid Mall and SS15 (a popular commercial hub that offers numerous food and beverage options, grocery stores, banks and gymnasiums) are 10 minutes away too.
Expected to be completed in 2021, the practically sized units are affordably priced at roughly RM522 per sq ft, with a price range from RM410,000. Residents will get to enjoy a gorgeous landscape view as the condominium will sit beside a 0.8ha lake, along with comprehensive facilities that include a 500m jogging track, swimming pool, gym and futsal courts.
AERA Residences is not just for investors, it is also perfect for first-time homebuyers and young families who are looking for an affordably-priced home located in a strategic location. First-time purchasers especially would want to take advantage of the government’s latest housing incentive under the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) 2019 – those who purchase a new launch property (RM300,000 – RM 1 million) from 1, January 2019 to 30, June 2019 will be exempted from paying stamp duty charges! First-time buyers will be eligible for a 90% home loan margin too. Aera’s Residences low monthly instalment of roughly RM2,000 per month makes it all the more attractive for first-time purchasers.
There are only 80 units left, so make your move now. Find out more about AERA Residences here.
Edited by Reena Kaur Bhatt