As of September 2025, Malaysian households owe RM54.9 billion in credit card and BNPL debt, with 90% being credit-related. Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying considers this manageable, averaging RM4,500 debt per working individual. However, while BNPL can aid affordability, excessive debt poses risks, emphasizing responsible usage and debt management.
In Kuala Lumpur, renting a fully furnished condominium for RM2,000 monthly is increasingly accessible due to a soft rental market with ample choices. Target tenants include those not ready to buy, such as working professionals wanting proximity to offices. Various locations like Rawang, Semenyih, and Shah Alam offer different living spaces suiting diverse needs.
The article discusses how millionaires primarily accumulate wealth through property investments. It highlights challenges faced by homeowners in cities like Hong Kong, Sydney, Vancouver, and Toronto due to high mortgage-to-income ratios. Despite affordable options in Malaysia, many potential buyers prioritize luxuries over property. Ultimately, property serves as a hedge against inflation, influencing financial stability.
The article emphasizes that successful property investment should begin with purchasing a home for personal use, rather than aiming for quick profits. It advises against overstretching finances and highlights the importance of thorough due diligence. Slow and steady investment builds wealth while reducing risk, contrasting with the pitfalls of speculative buying.
In Malaysia, Transport Minister Anthony Loke suggests reducing parking space requirements for new developments near public transport, potentially lowering property prices. This approach aligns with trends seen in cities like Melbourne and Hong Kong, where high parking costs drive up real estate prices. Residents may need to adapt to a bit more walking.
How do we know if a certain city has a housing crisis? Note, this is not a term dreamt up by me yeah. This is a term from the media on Australia’s property market. Let’s just look at Melbourne which is one major city. The below are the ‘lowest priced’ and ‘new property’ in Melbourne. Data as at 2nd December 2025. Source: realestate.com.au
Once upon a time, I had to wait to catch an express bus from Johor back to KL and it was delayed. I waited for many hours until wee hours in the morning at the bus station. It was so tiring, yet I could not really sleep as I have my luggage with me and I do not feel safe enough to sleep. Walking is not an option, I was tired. Sitting is not an option, I was tired. Sleeping is not an option because sleeping while being seated is so rough and tough.
I do wonder why this is needed because if I was the tenant, I would have already seen the place. So, when I signed, I am fully aware what I was signing myself into. Well, if the tenant is now able to provide a two months’ notice versus having to pay until the end of the contract, what would be the avenues available to the landlord? Can they also give the same two months’ notice and tell the tenant to leave?
Yes, inflation should be a worry for all of us. It does not stop even in the BEST governed countries of the world. In the property investment world, many people are saying that a fully paid RM500,000 priced property bought today will actually give the owner a lot less in actual purchasing power from the property, even if the price at the end of 30 years have risen to RM1,000,000. Plus the fact that many personal finance experts (who owns no property) are also saying the same.
If the home was not tenanted and you are still paying for the monthly mortgage, a delay of 6 months would have been thousands or even tens of thousands of loss in potential income. You are paying both the principall and the interest payment and yet the house is not yielding anything at all. If the house is tenanted, then it could delay your selling the house and this selling will take a very long time. If we really intend to sell the house, give notice to the tenant so that you will have an empty home and the property agent could bring people to view easily without the need to coordinate with the tenant.
Briefly, en bloc sale meant the collective sale of all the units within the development to one developer / new owner and all the owners will collectively get a portion of the sale of the whole block or blocks. For many developed property markets, en bloc sale also meant that as long as a certain majority number of owners willing to sell is reached, then sale becomes a certainty.
I would love for foreigners to appreciate our property market enough that they actually chose to buy properties here. However, I would not want the property market to be so attractive that the buying becomes rampant or over double digits in some countries. When someone super wealthy buys a property in another country, chances are, they will be willing to pay more and this will inevitably lead to higher property prices if every transaction is showing an increase in price. So, which are the countries buying a lot of Malaysian properties? Is it C, I and S? Haha. Read on: