Karr Wei

Living in a big house is suitable for big families, but once children leave the nest, the house might be too big for just the old folks. We will look at things to consider when you want to downsize to a smaller property.

Looking for a place to stay in a new country can be quite daunting if you are not familiar with the area and the local regulations regarding property rental. Here, we break down the basics of property rental for expats in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, it is very common to buy a property before it has been built. This is also known as the sell-then-build (STB) concept. This concept poses a risk to buyers because there is no certainty that a project will be completed on time or at all.

Klang Valley, public transportation might be a better, and more cost-effective, way to commute to work. However, last-mile connectivity and walkability issues can cancel out the benefits of public transportation. Here, we have narrowed down the list of residential properties that are easily accessible from an LRT or MRT station - either via a covered walkway, an overhead bridge or being located right next to the transit station itself.

In the Malaysian residential property market, you will sometimes hear the term semi-D houses. So what exactly is a semi-D house? While it sounds slightly intricate, it really is just an abbreviation for “semi-detached”.

Owners of strata property in Malaysia are required to pay a monthly property maintenance fee. These funds are utilised for the upkeep of common areas in the property. We will also find out why owners have to pay maintenance fees and how it is calculated.

Green buildings have become a buzzword in the Malaysian property market in recent years, with many developments marketed as being Green Building Index or GBI certified. We will explore the green building concept and what it means to live in a sustainable building.

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, a tenancy agreement or a rental agreement protects the rights of both parties. This document comprises various terms including the tenancy period; deposit and rental amount; mode of payment; option to renew agreement; obligations of both parties; and something that is often overlooked – a termination clause.

If you are applying for a home loan, one of the things you need to know about is your credit record on CCRIS or CTOS because these are what the banks will be checking before they approve or reject your application.

Whether as an investment or for own use, there are different types of properties and houses in Malaysia for buyers to choose from. We detail the differences between terrace homes, bungalows, condominiums, studio apartments and more.