Transportation infrastructure spending along these rail lines will act as property boosters for selected areas in Kuala Lumpur and Greater Kuala Lumpur.
The last time I was in KL was in January 2020 where I shared the growth areas along the different train lines at a property talk.
Despite not being able to physically be present in Kuala Lumpur now due to the Restricted Movement Control Order (RMCO), I wish to point out that there are growth areas that prospective home buyers and investors should watch out for.
Here are the eight growth areas along the different train lines ranked from the least to most affordable*:
*Note:
1. Property transactions are based on sale data captured on brickz.my (July 2019- May 2020)
2. Monthly mortgage is based on 90% loan financing, a loan tenure of 35 years with an interest rate of 3.5%.
3. Affordability is based on the Housing Cost Burden (HCB) approach, capped at 30% of a borrower’s monthly income of RM6,561 (median household income in urban areas in Malaysia as of 2019)
4. A monthly mortgage of roughly RM1,968 is considered affordable.
1. Bandar Utama
Monthly mortgage: RM3,292
Verdict: Moderately affordable. This could be an option for joint purchase (double-income couples, etc)
Bandar Utama needs no introduction. Home to 1 Utama Shopping Centre, The Curve, IKEA, AEON Bandar Utama, One World Hotel and KPMG Tower, this bustling township comprises mainly landed homes making it ideal for those who prefer a low-density living environment. Previously, Bandar Utama was very inaccessible. However, since the commencement of the Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line MRT (SBK Line) on 16 December 2016, accessibility to Bandar Utama has been greatly enhanced. In addition, a new 35-metre pedestrian link-bridge now connects the station’s Entrance B to One World Hotel near the newly relocated Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant and the Ground Floor of 1 Utama. By November 2023, Bandar Utama MRT Station will serve as an interchange station to the LRT Bandar Utama-Klang Line (Klang Valley LRT Line 3). Costing RM16.63 billion, this 37km line will span from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia station with a total of 19 stations. When completed, it is expected to serve 2 million commuters residing in the Western Corridor of Klang Valley.
READ: 4 things to consider before applying for a Joint Loan
2. Pusat Bandar Damansara
Monthly mortgage: RM10,601
Verdict: Very unaffordable
- Bukit Damansara located next to Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station. © Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Dubbed “the Beverly Hills of Malaysia”, Damansara Heights/Bukit Damansara is the most desired address in the country. This is a home among Malaysia’s who’s who. No surprise that the most expensive home sold in 2019 is located in Damansara Heights! Pusat Bandar Damansara is also a growth area as it is located next to Damansara City. Comprising Menara Hong Leong, Wisma GuocoLand, DC Residency, DC Mall and Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara, Damansara City is an Entry Point Project (EPP) which the Malaysian government had announced in September 2010 to take Kuala Lumpur to even greater heights under its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) roadmap. Soon, it will be home to Pavilion Damansara Heights, a mixed development comprising high-end residences, a mall and corporate offices. Set to open its doors soon, the Pavilion Lifestyle mall will feature 1.17 million sq ft of retail therapy. Amenities here are aplenty to cater to the discerning tastes of the affluent. From high-end grocers at Ben’s Independent Grocer to organic restaurants, the lifestyle choices to live the good life here are endless.
3. Sungai Besi
Monthly mortgage: RM2,027
- The Sungai Besi Highway. ©Khalil Adis Consultancy
Sungai Besi is located in a growth area in between Bandar Malaysia and Cyberjaya City Centre. There are still homes in the secondary market priced below RM500,000 here. Home to NSK Kuchai Lama and Terminal Bersepadu Bandar Tasek Selatan, Sungai Besi will be served by the upcoming Sungai Besi MRT station via the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya MRT (SSP Line). Meanwhile, Sungai Besi LRT station will be upgraded to an interchange station to connect commuters to this MRT station built adjacent to it. When completed, it will also serve as an interchange to the upcoming High-Speed Rail station. Sungai Besi is strategically located and is highly accessible up north to downtown KL and down south to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya via the Sungai Besi Highway.
4. Subang Jaya
Monthly mortgage: RM2,232
Verdict: Moderately affordable
- Subang Jaya City Centre artist rendering. © Sime Darby Berhad.
Before the advent of Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs), Sime Darby has been actively promoting this concept in its township development spanning from Subang Jaya to Ara Damansara. Subang Jaya is a bustling township that is served by the Kelana Jaya LRT Extension Line which became fully operational in 2016. This extension is part of the government’s initiative to extend public transportation to residents living in the southwestern part of Selangor such as Subang Jaya and to Puchong. Comprising 13 new LRT stations and covering a distance of 17.4 km, this new extension will bring the total length of the Kelana Jaya LRT Line from 29 km to 46.4 km. The LRT extension line spans from Lembah Subang to Putra Heights and costs RM8 billion to construct. Connectivity to the airport was recently enhanced in May 2018 via the Skypark Link service that you can catch from Subang Jaya LRT station to Terminal Skypark station. Costing RM533 million to build, the Skypark Link spans some 24km from KL Sentral to Terminal Skypark.
CHECK OUT: 17 properties in Kuala Lumpur within 1km from the LRT Kelana Jaya Line
5. Jalan Pudu
Monthly mortgage: RM1,265
- Berjaya Times Square is located next to Jalan Imbi and Jalan Pudu. © Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Smacked in between Tun Razak Exchange and Bandar Malaysia, Jalan Pudu is located within KL’s “Golden Triangle”. The former is almost completed and is served by the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) MRT station while the latter will be served by Bandar Malaysia (North) MRT station. TRX will be Malaysia’s first dedicated financial district with a gross development value (GDV) of RM40 billion and with a total gross floor area of 20 million square feet. This iconic project is part of the Malaysian government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to strengthen Kuala Lumpur as the country’s financial capital. Bandar Malaysia will have a gross development value (GDV) of RM150 billion. It will house the High-Speed Rail station and two MRT stations – Bandar Malaysia North and Bandar Malaysia South MRT stations. Bandar Malaysian North will be an MRT station on its own serving the huge mixed-use development. The site area is around 196 hectares and will comprise 27,000 quality and affordable homes. There will also be a dedicated commercial district to support new start-ups as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
6. Cyberjaya
Median transacted price: RM459,500
Monthly mortgage: RM1,709
Verdict: Affordable
- Cyberjaya Lake Gardens. © Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Located on the southernmost tip of Puchong, Cyberjaya is poised to enjoy the economic spillover benefits from three major government projects – KLIA Aeropolis, Malaysia Vision Valley and Cyber City Centre in Cyberjaya. The growth areas here will be near Sierra and Cyberjaya City Centre MRT stations. Being a relatively new township development, Sierra holds the most promise for capital appreciation of property values as many infrastructure projects (including the Sierra MRT station) are still underway. It also with 10 minutes drive to the bustling township of Puchong where it is home to many mega malls and trendy cafes. Sierra is home to only landed homes at the moment. Meanwhile, Cyberjaya City Centre MRT station is a transit-oriented development (TOD) project to be developed by Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB). With its experience in building the transport hub in KL Sentral, MRCB will be developing a new city that will be integrated with the MRT station. Phase one is expected to generate a gross development value (GDV) of RM5.35 billion. It will feature a 200,000 sq ft convention centre, a 300- to 400-room business hotel, low and high-rise office buildings and a retail podium. Cyberjaya City Centre will have a development plan spanning 20 years. The MRT station is located just opposite Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology.
7. Nilai
Monthly mortgage: RM837
Verdict: Very affordable
- The highway from Nilai towards Mantin. © Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Nilai is poised for further growth as it is located within the Malaysia Vision Valley. Covering Nilai to Port Dickson, this mega-project will have a proposed area of 108,000 hectares. Malaysia Vision Valley will be the business location for various upcoming industries such as tech, logistics, education, health, tourism and sports and is expected to create some 1.35 million jobs by 2035 and investments of more than RM417.6 billion by 2045. Nilai is a popular education hub as well – there are over a dozen universities and colleges in the area including Nilai University, INTI International University, Manipal International University, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Islamic University College of Malaysia. To support the Malaysia Vision Valley, the Seremban HSR station will be sited in Nilai within the Labu and Kirby estates. Seremban HSR station will also be an interchange station to the Seremban Komuter Line and KTM Electric Train Service.
8. Bandar Baru Nilai
Median Transacted Price: Not available
- Aerial view of Bandar Baru Nilai towards KLIA. © Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Bandar Baru Nilai is a new township within Nilai – it is a growth area as it is located near to upcoming economic drivers in the pipeline that will include the Malaysia Vision Valley, KLIA Aeropolis and Cyberjaya City Centre. It also close to KLIA and KLIA2 that is served by Express Rail Link (ERL) comprising KLIA Express and KLIA Transit. Soon, connectivity will be further enhanced via the Bangi-Putrajaya HSR station. The station will be located in the south of Klang Valley and within the state of Selangor at Kampung Abu Bakar Bagindar. There is also a proposed connection to the Putrajaya Monorail that will connect this station to Putrajaya Sentral MRT station. When completed, it will serve as an interchange station to Putrajaya Sentral Express Rail Link (ERL) and link commuters to KLIA and KLIA2.