- Published on
By Khalil Adis
The Malaysian flag, also known as Jalur Gemilang ("Stripes of Glory") against the backdrop of the recently completed Sungai Buloh - Kajang Line (SBK Line) which is a project of national importance. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
Since 1957, it had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
However, the high cost of living, falling Ringgit, the lack of affordable homes in the market, high unemployment among fresh graduates, the unfettered check on power and the 1MDB scandal proved to be the undoing for BN as Malaysians far and wide casted their protest vote in the ballot box
The message from Malaysians is clear - they have had enough and want a new, clean government to lead the way.
With the Pakatan Harapan government now in power, all eyes are on the newly elected old Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and his team to solve the pressing bread and butter issues.
Here are the top five property market roundups for 2018 and our top five outlooks for 2019.
Roundups
#1: Demand-supply mismatch has resulted in an increasing number of unsold homes
Luxury condominium developments surrounding the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia is facing a housing glut in the medium to the high-end segment and a severe undersupply of affordable homes. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
In comparison, 130,690 units were unsold during the same period last year.
"Imbalances observed in the property market continue to persist," Bank Negara had said in a statement.
#2: Rent-to-own scheme being rolled out
Bukit Puchong Sales Gallery by Ayer Holdings. The developer is among one of the few offering a rent-to-own scheme for their Foreston and Epic Residence projects. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
Some private developers like Ayer Holdings have introduced a ‘Stay & Own' scheme for their Epic Residence and Foreston projects whereby part of the rent will be converted to the downpayment.
This not only provides a temporary solution for those who urgently need a home but also a form of security.
Meanwhile, Maybank has rolled a similar initiative called HouzKEY which they have called as "a rent-to-own solution that helps you to own your dream home."
The scheme involves zero per cent downpayment with the monthly rental forming part of the home financing.
#3: Ministry of Housing and Local Government studying Singapore's HDB model
A Built-to-Order (BTO) project in Punggol, Singapore by the Housing & Development Board (HDB). Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Singapore has succeeded to build demand driven homes under its Built-to-Order (BTO) scheme to house 80 per cent of the Singapore population.
This is especially useful in Malaysia where there is currently a demand-supply mismatch as in point number one.
#4: Malaysia looking into having a single housing government agency
The HDB Hub located in Toa Payoh. The HDB is a government housing agency that aims to provide affordable homes for all Singaporeans. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
This confuses the public.
The Malaysian government is currently looking into having a single housing agency to streamline the whole process much like the HDB model.
If implemented, this could solve the current Malaysian housing woe.
#5: More help for the B40, M40 and first-time homebuyers under Budget 2019
Malaysians shopping for fresh produce at Pudu Wet Market in Kuala Lumpur. Budget 2019 will provide financial assistance to the targetted groups. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
The measures included the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) agreement to cut prices by 10 per cent for new launches, the exemption of the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) for properties that are priced below RM200,000 and the stamp duty exemption for properties priced in the first RM300,000 up to RM500,000 as well as those priced from RM300,000 to RM1 million.
Outlook for 2019
#1: Affordable homes to continue driving the market
Low cost housing near to Cochrane MRT station. There continues to be strong pent-up demand for affordable homes in Malaysia. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
As such, the affordable home segment will continue to be in strong demand for 2019.
However, there needs to be concerted efforts from both the government and private developers.
Under Budget 2019, the federal government has pledged to spend RM1.5 billion on such homes via the 1Malaysia People's Housing (PR1MA) and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB).
Meanwhile, Rehda has agreed to cut prices as stated above.
#2: South KL to be the growth area
The Leafz condominium located next to the Sungai Besi Highway. Southern KL is the next growth area in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
One such project is Bandar Malaysia will serve as the terminus station for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (KL-Singapore HSR) project linking both cities in 90 minutes flat.
The development for the project has been postponed to two years and will now commence construction in 2020 instead of 2018.
Meanwhile, the express service will only commence by 1 January 2031 instead of 31 December 2026, as originally planned.
Bandar Malaysia has been designated as a site for the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) initiative by Jack Ma. Home to the Satellite Services Hub, DFTZ is expected to create some 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. It will also possibly serve as the interchange to the MRT Line 3, which has now been postponed.
Another economic driver in the vicinity is Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).
TRX will be a mixed-use development comprising a Grade A office space as well as residential and commercial precincts.
To be developed in several phases over a period of 15 years, the first phase will comprise four investment grade A office towers, a lifestyle retail mall, two 5-star hotels and up to six luxurious residential towers with a target completion date by 2019.
In addition, Bandar Malaysia will house two MRT stations - Bandar Malaysia North and Bandar Malaysia South which will form part of the alignment for the Sungai Buloh - Serdang - Putrajaya Line (SSP Line).
#3: Properties along Sungai Buloh - Serdang - Putrajaya Line (SSP Line) will be sought after
The alignment of the station along the SSP Line. Map: MRT Corp.
Bandar Malaysia will house two MRT stations as stated above and located a few stops away from Tun Razak Exchange MRT station.
Meanwhile, Sungai Besi MRT station is an interchange station to the Sungai Besi LRT station.
It will serve as an interchange to the upcoming High Speed Rail station located in Bandar Malaysia, also in Sungai Besi.
Last but not least, 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.
#4: Penang to get a boost from Phase 1 of Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP)
Ferry service from Georgetown to Butterworth. Soon, there will be more transportation options on the island. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
Just this month, Phase 1 of PTMP was approved.
It will comprise the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) project and several main highways.
The proposed Bayan Lepas LRT line will be about 30 km in length with 27 stations running from KOMTAR to the future reclaimed islands in the south.
There will be three interchange stations - KOMTAR, Sky Cab Station linking it to the Sky Cab line across the Malacca Straits and The Light Station linking it to the George Town-Butterworth LRT line.
The LRT Line will also be integrated with the Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal at the Sungai Nibong Station.
Meanwhile, PIL 1 is a new 20km highway that will be aligned along the mountainous terrain of the island and will take around 15 minutes from between Gurney Drive to the Second Bridge.
There will be six interchanges in all - Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (LCE), Awang, Relau, Paya Terubong, Utama and Gurney.
#5: Johor Bahru to get a boost from the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link
View of the Woodlands Checkpoint from the KTM service playing the Johor Bahru - Woodlands route. Soon, commuters can take the MRT from Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North MRT station instead. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.
The RTS Link will link Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North MRT station in Singapore when completed in 2024.
There are also plans for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system within Bukit Chagar station to link it to the different areas of Iskandar Malaysia.
The BRT will feature a dedicated bus lane with three lines - BRT Line 1 will span from Bukit Chagar to Tebrau, BRT Line 2 from Bukit Chagar to Senai and finally, BRT Line 3 from Bukit Chagar to Iskandar Puteri.
However, based on market talk in the ground, there is a possibility that the BRT system will be upgraded to an LRT system instead.
- Published on
By Khalil Adis
One Cochrane is located in one of KL's fast developing areas boosted by infrastructure developments such as the Cochrane MRT station that runs along the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK Line), IKEA Cheras and MyTOWN Shopping Centre. Photo: Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd
Previously an area dedicated for government quarters comprising mainly landed terraces and semi-D types, Cochrane, upon redevelopment is now slowly buzzing with life since the opening of Cochrane MRT station last year.
For the longest time, this part of KL has been largely ignored as a property investment destination, save for the local attractions such as the Pudu Wet Market and Flea Market.
However, all that changed when the construction of Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK Line) was announced in September 2010 under Budget 2011.
Costing an estimated RM23 billion with 51km of train track and 31stations developments in this part of Cheras suddenly started gaining momentum when Cochrane MRT station was confirmed.
First was the opening IKEA Cheras by the Ikano Group in November 2015 followed by the opening of MyTOWN Shopping Centre by Boustead Ikano Sdn Bhd in the first quarter of 2017.
Quality condominium developments are a rare find here with recent launches in the area being One Cochrane.
Located just next to the upcoming dedicated financial district of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) and the recently completed vibrant entertainment enclave of TREC, Cochrane is set to become one of KL’s hottest areas as it is just a stone throw’s away from the future Bandar Malaysia project which is currently being reviewed.
We list down eight things we love about living in Cochrane.
#1: Located just next to Cochrane MRT station
Enjoy enhanced connectivity to the Klang Valley and Greater KL with Cochrane MRT station situated just 150 metres away from One Cochrane. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
#2: SBK Line as a property booster
Developments around Cochrane MRT station have gathered pace since the opening of the station. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
As One Cochrane is located just next to the MRT station, the impact will be felt even greater as it is surrounded by other property boosters such as IKEA Cheras and MyTOWN Shopping Centre. As such, we can expect the property prices in the near future to hover at around RM1,400 per sq ft and beyond, similar to Bukit Bintang’s average per sq ft price.
#3: Direct access to IKEA Cheras and MyTOWN Shopping Centre
Shopping at IKEA Cheras and MyTOWN Shopping Centre is now a breeze as you can hop onto the MRT and then use the underpass link to access both malls. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
IKEA Cheras boasts 56 showrooms, a 780-seat restaurant and over 1,700 parking bays in two underground carparks while MyTOWN Shopping Centre is a 1.1 million sq ft lifestyle shopping haven with five floors of retail space. Some of MyTOWN Shopping Centre’s anchor tenants include Uniqlo and Parkson, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.
#4: Located within the growth area in Southern KL
There are many economic drivers and infrastructure projects being planned near to One Cochrane. Image: Khalil Adis Consultancy
#5: Party away at TREC
#6: Next door to the financial district of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX)
The Tun Razak Exchange MRT station is located just next to the upcoming Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Malaysia's first dedicated financial district. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy
When fully completed by 2027, TRX is expected to raise the country’s Gross National Income per capita to USD15,000 and investments of US$444 billion by 2020. Some 500,000 jobs will be created directly and indirectly once TRX is completed. In addition, Tun Razak Exchange MRT station will serve some 3.3 million workers providing further potential quality tenants for investors.
#7: Hop on to the High Speed Rail nearby
One Cochrane is located a few MRT stops away to the Bandar Malaysia North and Bandar Malaysia South MRT stations. Image: MRT Corp Sdn Bhd
#8: Next door to the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ)
Last but not least: Two stops away to the shopping belt of Bukit Bintang
Forget the dreaded traffic jams along Jalan Bukit Bintang as the SBK Line has made travelling to the shopping district an enjoyable experience now. Image: MRT Corp Sdn Bhd
Investment talk by Khalil Adis
Date: 29 September 2018
Time: 11 am
Venue: One Cochrane Sales Gallery, Jalan Cochrane, Lot 1246, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
RSVP here
*First 10 to RSVP will receive a copy of Khalil Adis's best-selling book 'Property Buying for Gen Y