Monday, September 30, 2013

大马產业市场看俏

市场对全球经济发展动向持不同的见解,而大马房產投资者更关心欧美经济体的变化將如何影响大马经济,產业市场將会是持续走高?还是出现泡沫破裂的情况?
大马经济並未受欧美经济影响太深,因大马在97年金融风暴中吸取教训,將经济模式从高度依赖出口至欧美国家,转型至扩充內需经济模式。
同时,大马经济较为稳定的原因还包括,政府非常积极辅助经济发展之余,私人企业界也非常活跃,而大马也正从效能导向经济,转型至创新导向经济模式。
经济表现远比欧美国家好
“目前大马经济的表现远比欧美国家良好,最近8年內平均经济成长达5%,伴隨著通货膨胀率受控、低失业率及仍属健康的政府债务。”
“大马仍有很多进步空间,但目前所设定的方向绝对是正確的,而大马政府也为实现目標方面制定了许多妥善的计划。”
经济转型计划、多项基础建设工程、马新高铁以及依斯干达特区等,皆是政府一系列的改革计划,以推动大马经济发展。
这些计划可提振大马经济成长,然后產业领域將是首个受惠的领域,目前大马人民或正见证著大马產业发展歷史上最令人振奋的时期。
与此同时,大马人口成长率稳定,平均寿命增加,且国家財富分配状况均匀,促使中產阶级也在递增,这些也是大马產业领域看俏的原因。
“约有72.5%或2千100万大马人生活在大城市且有不断上升趋势,而其中有760万人居住在巴生河流域,未来或增至800万以上;柔佛依斯干达特区则有150万人口,未来可增至300万人。”
“產业领域以非常正面的步伐成长,因大马人收入走高,生活水准也相对提高,这意味著他们的偿还贷款能力將加强,进而促进產业市场的发展。”
稳定基贷率有利產业领域
另外,国家银行自2011年以来继续稳定基本贷款利率,也有利於產业领域。
然而,对於家庭债务高企,国家银行近期严打家庭债务一事,大马家庭债务虽然高,但不良贷款率却很低,这意味著大马人民仍然有足够的偿还能力。
“以融资投资房產为例,只要所获租金足够偿还每月贷款,那么债务高也不是问题。”
大马產业价格的可负担性相较於香港仍属健康,同时,大马產业建筑设计將往上发展,市中心外围將可看到更多越建越高的公寓,而有地產业將逐渐减少。
此外,衔接新加坡与吉隆坡的马新高铁使投资者可在巴生河流域以外的產业市场获利。

马来西亚12招买產业致富

1.向发展商购买,建成后脱售
投资者可在发展商推出產业计划之初,即先申请预订,隨后在建筑完工后脱售,通常可轻易赚取高达30%的利益,且一般鼓励订购2个单位以上,因售出2个单位后,所获盈利足以购买第三个单位。
“该策略以往在產业市场牛市之时广受採用,甚至投资者不计產业发展商素质、价格、地点等疯狂预订,並从中大赚一笔,惟如今却不能一概而论,因此若要採用此策略,仍需遵守一些原则。”
投资者必须向对的產业发展商购买,切勿向新手发展商购买,特別是在近三四年间,有许多的建筑商因產业发展有利可图,即开发產业发展业务,但其实產业发展与建筑工程是截然不同的专业技术,应谨慎避免向这类產业发展商购买產业。
要留意所购產业种类,因现在的租户或住户非常注重生活品质,因此一些必要的设施与方便还是需要的,如公寓至少要提供2个停车位、保安及其他设施。
“对的地点、对的时机及对的价格也很重要,一定要向產业发展商要求折扣,包括土著折扣及优先预定优惠等,如果產业计划具前景,可量购以要求折扣。”
此策略中,投资者主要面对选择產业计划及贷款方面的挑战,若能成功克服,即可轻鬆让產业发展商及通货膨胀率为自己工作挣钱。
2.买產业收租
若以购买约20万令吉的中低档房產为例,收租可轻易让投资获7至9%的回酬,擅长议价者甚至可获得10至12%回酬,惟通货膨胀或是该策略最大的挑战。
买產业收租策略的好处则是投资者无需忧虑购买时机且相对低风险,但地点却是最重要的考量。
“任何坐落在离轻快铁站有15分钟步行距离以內的中低档房產,可闭上眼睛购买,无需多作考虑,因需要租房子的人,一般上都同时需要公共交通便利。”
3.寻求10%增值潜能
有地房產较有增值潜能,惟此策略的回酬一般都不吸引,標准回酬为每年3至4%。
值得注意的是,过去3至4年间產业市场的回酬状况是“非正常”现象,而是產业市场的超级牛市,並可见价格平均飆升30至40%,惟该情况不是常有的,短期未来也不会再有超级牛市出现,投资者不可过度期望,而正常的上涨幅度为5至10%。
“但市场衰退期间却是採用此策略的最佳时机,可增加回酬潜能,千万不要在牛市购买。”
同时,若以最低首期投资有地產业,或会导致投资者陷入负现金流入的状况。
“若购买一间价值100万令吉的双层排屋,並付10%的最低首期,每个月的银行分期付款额大约为5千至6千令吉;就算以每月3千令吉出租,仍有2千令吉的负现金流入,若投资者以自己的薪金填补负流入,这將会是非常高风险的投资。”
“惟若投资者具有足够的资金维持,那就不会有问题。”
4.挑选地点上佳商业產业
投资商业產业是產业投资的终极目標,商业產业是真正可赚大钱的產业类型。
同时,该策略非常適合富裕人士,若投资者有200万令吉的充裕现金,即可忘掉住宅產业投资,以商业產业为主。
投资在上佳地点的商业產业,平均回酬可获4至5%,而较差的地点则可获得7至8%回酬;同时,租金较高使投资者不会陷入负现金流入的状况。
“上佳地点的商业產业回酬虽然相对低,但长期而言,增值潜能却比较高,而所增值的空间可弥补回酬较低的不足之处;当然,正常涨幅为5至10%。”
地点是投资商业產业非常重要的元素,即使在同一商业旺区,不同位置的兴旺程度也有所不同。
“这可能有很多因素造成,例如路况、设施、泊车位等,但有时也非常难以用常理解释,即使开发该区的发展商也未必能够准確知道,因此投资商业產业要求投资者在地点方面多加留意,多作考察。”
5.购买土地
不鼓励投资者购买土地作投资用途,因土地並不能带来固定收入,除非投资者有过剩现金却苦於没有適合投资选项,或作祖业传承用途。
6.种植地
若投资者有兴趣参与种植地投资,必须具备相关专门知识,同时切勿购买规模太小的种植地,因无法让生產享有规模经济效益。
另外,果园地也是一项有利可图的投资,有在90年代初投资榴槤园,收成后盈利可超过百万令吉,惟如今种植榴槤不再好赚。
7.购买二手屋,装修再脱售
以经验为例:“在数年前以250万令吉买下一栋老旧独立式洋房,装修重建花了100万令吉,再以450万令吉售出,从中赚取100万令吉。”
“只要每2至3年寻得一项这类计划,大概也足够安稳生活了。”
惟採取此项投资產业策略也有其挑战,他指出,某住宅旺区里有一废弃10年的旧独立式洋房,潜能良好,但却无法联繫上业主,因此至今仍无人购得。
“任何人若可联繫上业主,或能以5年前的价格买下该房產,盈利空间很大。”
8.拍卖屋
拍卖策略基本上是一项频率游戏,有一位於旧巴生路的1千400平方呎公寓被拍卖,底价为19万令吉,是非常具有吸引力的价格;然而,现场有15人竞標该產业,最终以30万3千令吉的价格成交售出。
“成交价格从具吸引力被拉抬至仅属合理的价位,更重要的是,有14人须空手而归,部份人士甚至感到不甘心,因拍卖之前投入了研究工作,而现在必须再次等待机会出击。”
拍卖策略是频率游戏,必须不断尝试至成功竞標为止,尝试得越多则机会越高,若投资者並没有足够的时间与精力,建议放弃採用此策略。
9.快速发展基建的產业
典型的例子为赛城,投资者或发展商钟情於赛城的主要因素为该区有Maju Express高速公路,使赛城前往吉隆坡的距离虽比蒲种更远,但需时较短。
“购买基本设施或道路便利受提昇的区域中產业,当设施完成后,通常价格会上扬。”
10.新旺区附近的產业
以马洛夫路(Jalan Maarof)为例,该区的商业產业租金可达每月2万令吉或以上,而售价为500万令吉或以上。
然而,该区5年前的价格与租金分別只有现在的一半,而倍增的原因主要还是主要道路变得越来越繁忙。
“若投资者在其他主要道路预见上述情况將发生,即可投资该区產业。”
11.大学附近的房產
投资者可精明地以商业角度出租房產,將房產间隔成更多房间出租,但千万別装修得过於豪华,因学生可能会弄损。
此外,儘量不要购买只有本地学生就读的大学附近的房產,选择拥有很多外国学生就读的大学为佳,因外国学生有能力负担比本地学生高约100至200令吉的房租,因此,只要產业中有5至6房,每月额外租金就相当可观。
12.翻动策略
翻动策略的操作一般持有產业不超过2年,甚至经常看见的操作是少过一年。
每年都毫无例外地买卖至少2项產业,所赚取的盈利超过100万令吉。
“然而,需要提醒大家的是,这是一门比较专业的策略,但依然是可行的。”

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Greater pressure on office rental seen in one to two years

Office rental is expected to come under greater pressure in about a year or two with landlords going as far as giving longer rent-free periods of up to six months and upon renewal of tenancy, said Sarkunan Subramaniam, managing director of real estate consultancy Knight Frank Malaysia. The other feature of the office space segment would be higher vacancies in older buildings as tenants opt for newer buildings with green and Multimedia Super Corridor status, he said. “This trend (of giving rent-free period) and older buildings being left vacant will grow in the next couple of years. “You have the sticker price remaining flat but the rent-free period trend increasing, even on renewal,” Sarkunan said at the Greater KL Office Space Connudrum: Winners & Losers forum organised by Malaysia Property Inc (MPI). An MPI statement said Klang Valley’s supply of office space had grown from 69.56 million sq ft 10 years ago to 104.66 million sq ft in the first half of this year, with another 21.96 million sq ft of incoming future supply. Sarkunan said overall occupancy rate hovered around 80%. However, despite the supply concerns, he said Kuala Lumpur would not see a property crash such as Dubai’s. “This is just an exaggeration and there is no real comparison between Kuala Lumpur and Dubai,” he said. Meanwhile, Khong & Jaafar managing director Elvin Fernandez, also a speaker at the event, said around 24 million sq ft of office space remained vacant out of the total existing supply. He said this was based on a National Property Information centre report. “This is close to 25% and now we have this new segment called green buildings, and the landlords of older buildings will suffer,” Fernandez said. He added that there was an incoming supply under construction of close to 20 million sq ft. Added together with current vacancies, this would mean a total of 44 million sq ft. The current supply of office space raised the question of various government mega projects being planned. Towards this end, 1Malaysia Development Bhd executive director Stephen Ashford, in a closed door session, said the Tun Razak Exchange, with its 9 million sq ft of office space, would be different from all other projects and property development in the country as the project would be the country’s financial centre. He said because of the difference, it would attract another type of tenants who may not have a strong presence yet in the country.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

房市重新聚焦巴生谷

物价涨房价起已成铁律,房地產专家认为,我国房市明年將回归基本面,基于人口成长优势,市场將重新聚焦巴生谷房產项目。
 安达曼產业管理(Andaman Property Management Sdn Bhd)董事拿督斯里张孙通认为,隨著柔佛州的大马依斯干达(Iskandar Malaysia)成为市场焦点,也掀起一股炒风。
 “大马依斯干达的房產项目售价已超越巴生谷,每平方尺逾1000令吉,现在大大小小约有近70个发展商都在大马依斯干达推出发展项目,估计建竣后將有逾3万个住宅单位。”
 他指出,现在除了新加坡买家,其他在大马依斯干达置產者多是吉隆坡人,一旦这股热潮冷却,市场还是会回到以基本面为考量,即基建设施、购物商场及捷运计划等便利。
 “巴生谷人口成长迅速,但与大马依斯干达相比,同期建设的公寓单位还不足6000个,明明新山人口就没有巴生谷多,这样一点也不合逻辑。”
 张孙通今日出席“2013年南洋產业展”座谈会时,这么说。“2013年南洋產业展”今年已迈入第4年,是由《南洋商报》、《中国报》及《家》杂誌联办。
 巴生谷一直都是我国一大房產热点,房价自是不低,但他说,巴生谷人口可谓我国人口分布最广的地区,房价仍存升值空间,回酬也较稳定。
 “这里还是有价格合理的房產项目,房价只涨不跌,就是因为如此才更要想方设法置產投资。”
巴生谷南部
未来发展可期
巴生谷以南的万宜、沙登、加影及赛城虽未有捷运计划,但大道公路衔接良好,屋价仍合理,房產基本面最佳,未来10年成长可期。
 张孙通指出,捷运计划虽好,但一般週边房价都不便宜,有意购屋的消费者或可把目光转往巴生谷以南房產。
 “举个例子来说,万宜出入方便,除了可以从蕉赖进出,还有加影外环大道(Kajang Silk Highway),因为这样进出便利,越来越多发展商先后涌向这个地区。”
 他说,万宜的市中心在万宜第9区,发展商都围绕市中心,以城镇发展模式推出房產计划,有地房產升值空间更大。
 “但在置產前一定要弄清楚置產用途,並从基本面思考,发展商一般在发展一项房產时,都会將概似比率(generalized likelihood ratio;简称GLR)纳入房价考量。”
 他说,GLR包括有关房產未来的出租率、学校、新公路、商业广场等潜在利好设施。
 “其实巴生谷房价並不算高,以吉隆坡城中城(KLCC)週边房產来看,最高纪录曾攀至每平方尺3000令吉,一旦攀至这个价位,吉隆坡城中城25公里以內的房產项目將会跟著升值,价格距离將愈发缩小。” - 
中国报

Thursday, September 12, 2013

巴生谷办公楼空间供应过剩



Sime’s City of Elmina first series almost sold out

THE first series of Sime Darby Property Bhd’s latest residential development project in the Klang Valley, City of Elmina, which comprises 255 units of double-storey link houses, is almost sold out after its soft launch recently.
Priced at between RM599,888 and RM828,888 each, they are the first series of homes offered for sale under the project and valued at RM188.18 million collectively.
“When fully completed, City of Elmina will be a comprehensive township dedicated to the pursuit of a healthy and balanced lifestyle,” said Sime Darby Property managing director Datuk Wahab Maskan.
“Judging by the response to the soft launch, it is clear that today, more Malaysian home buyers are seeking to live in an environment that provides these qualities,” he added.
City of Elmina will be built on 2,023.42ha located along the Guthrie Corridor Expressway in an area west of Kuala Lumpur.
Wahab, who is also group chief operating officer of Sime Darby Bhd, said the township will also feature a 70km cycling track, a well-marked marathon-distance (42km) jogging track and a wellness cluster of retail shops, facilities and amenities centred on health and well-being concept.
“In addition, safety and security of our residents will also be our priorities and they have been incorporated from the design stage of this township,” he said.
Sime Darby said the industrial component within City of Elmina had also been well received, where the group recently saw all 51 vacant lots amounting to 38.63ha with a sales value of RM370.07 million being completely taken up.
The group added that it is planning to unveil the next phase of homes in the existing township in the fourth quarter of this year.
The township is a part of the Selangor Vision City, where the entire Guthrie Corridor is set to be the growth centre and catalyst within Greater Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. - The Business Time

Sime Darby Property and UEM Sunrise launch Radia

Sime Darby Bhd and UEM Sunrise Bhd have launched Radia, a RM1.6bil integrated development with 2.7 million sq ft of floor area in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, on Tuesday.
The 50:50 joint venture by Sime Darby Property and Sunrise Bhd, a unit of UEM Sunrise, will be managed by Sime Darby Sunrise Development Sdn Bhd.
The new development – designed by French architecture firm J+H Boiffils and expected to be completed in 2018 – will comprise 640 units of serviced apartments, office spaces (400,000 sq ft) and retail space (880,000 sq ft), all set in the heart of the Bukit Jelutong township.
Radia is expected to host 25,000 residents and workers when it is completed.
Access to major urban centres like Shah Alam, Klang and Kuala Lumpur will be through such highways as the New Klang Valley Expressway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway, Federal Highway and the North-South Expressway Central.
“This development is aligned with Sime Darby Property’s journey of innovation, from a developer of townships to a developer of themed, integrated, transit-oriented developments and niche developments,” said Sime Darby Property’s managing director Datuk Abd Wahab Maskan.
“UEM Sunrise looks forward to this joint venture with Sime Darby Property,” added UEM Sunrise CEO, Datuk Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim.
“Our extensive experience in large-scale integrated development such as Solaris Mont’Kiara, Solaris Dutamas, Publika and Nusajaya, amongst others, along with Sime Darby Property’s market and development know-how will be key in transforming further Bukit Jelutong into thriving sustainable communities of the future.
“The development, comprising retail, commercial, office, lifestyle and entertainment centres such as Radia is timely as it will fulfil the immediate and long term needs of the Bukit Jelutong community and the wider catchment area of Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley,” he added - The Star

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

巴生河流多项庞大商厦计划造成商业办公室供应过剩

政府计划兴建包括敦拉萨金融区(TRX)与118层楼独立遗產大厦,同时大兴土木,在双溪毛糯发展集住宅、商业、休閒的综合產业计划。巴生河流域每年约需求200万至300万平方尺商业空间,未来供应则达每年500万至700万平方尺。 敦拉萨金融区为经济转型计划的部份,该区將建28栋大厦,耗时15年完成;首期工程(3栋大厦与1霸市)料於2016至2017年间完工,外国伙伴已投资35亿令吉。 2015年至2017年,独立遗產大厦、吉隆坡Eco城与第一期NazaTTDI KL Metropolis建竣,將增1千700万平方尺商业空间;即使需求倍增至每年400万至600万平方尺,也无法吸纳过剩供应。 

迪拜於2001年至2007年大事发展產业,商大与中央商业区林立,各主题如保健、教育城等名目城市纷纷设立,单在2005年就吸引10亿美元外来直接投资,7年內年均成长率17.9%,甚至超越伦敦与上海金融城之成长率。 2008年至2009年,全球金融风暴来袭,迪拜过剩商厦一半空城,很多业主无法摊还融资而纷违约;而且,经歷5至6年时间仍受產业供应过剩问题所困扰。 “如果以巴生河流域与迪拜相比,迪拜在高峰期各高楼商厦出租率还达97%至99%,即便现在迪拜受全球金融风暴洗礼后,也有80%的全球500强公司租用各高楼商厦办公空间。” 建筑业供应过剩可能衝击建筑业前景,商业办公室去年供应过剩,已使租金成长停滯。

过去5年至2012年,巴生河流域办公室空间需求成长至480万平方英尺,不过新供应超出780万平方英尺,此区出租率也挫1.2%至79.8%。 政府过度投资於產业市场,实际上將扭曲整个市场生態,造成更大的供需失衡现象;更严重的是政府相关公司的竞爭优势,对私人发展商处於被排挤的不利地位。 为了建敦拉萨金融区,一般相信是由外资出资,部份发债融资,倘若发债面临问题或蒙亏,將可能对政府债务水平承受压力。 儘管政府盘算藉建更多大厦吸引跨国公司进驻,然而大马在吸引外资仍缺乏正確政策,包括需在主要领域解除投资保护主义,这不仅嚇阻外资,国內投资也將远去。同期,大马也有很多公司往外移。 

联邦政府债务每年以10%增长,即由1985年杪的110亿令吉,提高至2012年杪的1千431亿令吉,或佔2012年国內生產总值的15.2%。 “若包括联邦政府担保贷款,公共债务將高达6千447亿令吉或佔去年GDP的68.5%,今年6月杪增至GDP的71%或6千666亿令吉;这些债务比已超越了其限制的55%。” 根据產业界的反应,政府提供具吸引力奖掖吸引週边租户迁往敦拉萨金融区,这势使目前计划建新办公大厦的发展商面临更严峻挑战,现有各商厦业主也將面临同样困境,当新租户迁往TRX后,原有办公间將呈真空,而造成租金下压。

“以吉隆坡中环广场(KL SENTRAL)来说,即使敦拉萨金融区未全面启动,租金已呈平平。” 各大型计划的贷款达170亿令吉、计划成本达810亿令吉(包括土地私有化计划),30%贷款来自贷款体系,余者全来自资金市场,或佔银行体系总贷款的1.6%。在违约而无法摊贷款的现象出现后,將造成银行拨备增加。 “假设因工程面临问题而面对20%贷款违约,银行业的摊销贷款將达14.4%或把总摊销贷款提高30基点至2.3%。”

Monday, September 9, 2013

Price of Condo Around KLCC

SINCE 2010, one trend stands out in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) area. Condominiums in this district are continuing to set pricing records in Malaysia.

Rehda shouldn’t have announced hike in house prices

The Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) should not have announced that the price of houses would increase by up to 10% before discussing the matter with the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Ministry. Its minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said he was disappointed with the announcement of the hike, purportedly due to the decrease in petrol and diesel subsidies announced by the government last Monday. "To me, this is an irresponsible statement. We have our own formula and we feel that the reduction in oil subsidy by 20 sen per litre cannot be translated into a house price increase of up to 10%. "I too know about cost structure - even if there is an increase of price of houses, we expect the maximum to be five percent. The people will be more worried as they are already facing rising cost of living, especially in the urban areas," he said after attending a community gathering, here, Sunday. Abdul Rahman was commenting on the reported statement by Rehda president Datuk Seri Michael Yam Kong Choy on Thursday that the fuel price increase of 20 sen per litre was expected to contribute to price increase of houses by up to 10%. On the housing lab held recently, he said the Ministry was compiling the facts and important input. "We are in the midst of preparing a report for the Prime Minister and we will be having a meeting this coming Thursday, specifically to discuss how to reduce the price of houses," he added. - Bernama

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Hot issues for consideration

OF late, there has been talks that the real property gains tax (RPGT) may be be reinstated in the coming Budget 2014 to be tabled next month. Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) has written to the authorities to state their views. Bank Negara is also studying the possibility of banning interest bearing schemes. The Developers’ Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS) is said to encourage speculation as buyers need only to pay 5% or 10% downpayment and need not pay anything until the property is completed. The return of RPGT and the possible removal of DIBS are signs to prepare the property sector for the challenging times ahead, as seen by the volatile stock markets in South-East Asia. While Malaysia has to tackle a number of issues in the greater framework of the economy, there are three issues befuddling the property sector – bubbles, speculative elements and affordability. Developers want a benign RPGT regime and the DIBS to be maintained while certain quarters want the return of the old tax structure of 30% tax on profits on disposal in the first year. The RPGT is both an anti-speculative and revenue-generating measure. RPGT will play its role to curb speculation, says property consultant Elvin Fernandez of Khong & Jaafar group of companies and the House Buyers Association (HBA). During the last two budgets, HBA had anticipated a tax regime with more bite and was sorely disappointed. There was a time when not all developers offer interest absorption schemes. Today, most are pressured to do so. Says Rehda president Datuk Seri Michael Yam: “It helps people get on the house-ownership ladder.” “It also nurtures speculative tendencies,” says Elvin. Incidentally, interest absorption scheme was the first to be banned by the Singapore government as early as 2009 in a series of measures to cool the property market. DIBS aside, the larger issue is transparency, says Elvin. When developers offer DIBS plus a host of other incentives – rental guarantee, cash back payment, free furniture, free stamp duty and legal fees – banks and lending institutions provide mortgage loans based on the larger headline figure inclusive of these discounts. A mortgage based on the real price, without discounts, would reduce the loan amount and lessen household debt. Discounts tend to bloat up the loan amount by another 10% and 20%, says Elvin. The provision of the real price, without the discounts, gives a true and real picture of the housing market. DIBS and discounts have also resulted in a buoyant primary market. In 2009, the National Property Information Centre recorded a total of 211,600 residential transactions, of which 12.24% were purchases from developers and 87.76% from the secondary market. Three years later, in 2012, out of 272,669 transactions, slightly more than a fifth (22.09%) were purchases from developers. “This has never occurred before. This is an extraordinary jump, and this is because of DIBS and the discounts given,” says Elvin. The shift in the market is clear and this represents risk, he says. On the issues of housing beyond the reach of many, about a third of housing in the country is below RM150,000. Some of them are in enviable locations, for example near Jalan Maarof in Bangsar Kuala Lumpur. But these are not well-maintained and young professionals do not want to live there. It boils down to an overall property management issue. PR1MA Corp Malaysia CEO Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias says more than 20,000 homes will be built under 15 affordable housing projects in Greater Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak in Phase 1. - The Star

Malaysia Property: Buyers of 1H 2013

Half of the buyers were first-time homeowners. Local buyers outnumbered foreign buyers at 95% against 5%. These locals bought predominantly for the purpose of self-dwelling (62%), followed by for investment (28%), for family members (7%) and for rental yield (35%). Some 55% of the developers reported unsold units, with 16% saying their cash flow were severely impacted as a result. These are the ones who had upwards of 21% unsold units, all the way to above 50%. The reason cited: unreleased bumiputera lots (30% respondents), low demand (20%) and odd units (15%).

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Malaysia Property: Price Range of Unsold Units

49% of the developers said they had unsold units above RM500,000 in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Friday, September 6, 2013

New homes to cost 10% more

People looking to own a house any time soon will have to pay at least 10% more for their dream home, according to developers. They said the increase was due to the double whammy that has hit the construction industry – higher costs of building materials resulting from the 20 sen rise in the price of RON95 petrol and diesel and absenteeism among foreign workers because of the nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants. Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Michael Yam Kong Choy said the failure of foreigners to turn up for work was causing delays, thus adding to costs which contractors were certain to push to consumers. He added: “The raids on construction sites have frightened even legitimate migrant workers who are staying away. “This also happened in past raids, Legitimate migrant workers simply did not turn up for work or delayed their return from their country until the storm blew over. “Because of the shrinking supply of workers, developers have to pay more for labour to meet contractual deadlines, failing which they will be penalised.” Developers are bound by the Sales and Purchase Agreement and will have to pay compensation to buyers for late delivery, Yam said, adding that contracts in the private sector were awarded with no provisions for price adjustments. While acknowledging the need to flush out illegal immigrants, he said any reduction in the number of workers would hurt developers. On the fuel price hike, Yam said it affected the supply chain of the construction industry, involving more than 100 types of business. Master Builders Association of Malaysia president Matthew Tee said members were complaining that their legal workers whose documents were being processed were staying away for fear of being arrested. “Our understanding is that all foreign workers will be detained unless they can prove that they have proper documentation,” he said. “This can be difficult as their documents may still be with their employer or immigration pending the affixing visa of stickers by the authorities.” He added that there had been cases in the past of legal workers being detained for up to 14 days. Tee hoped that there would be no recurrence of such instances, and warned against a repeat of the situation in 2002 when the construction industry was brought to a standstill due to a shortage of workers. In George Town, the Penang Master Builders and Building Materials Dealers Association says it expected construction costs to rise by 3% to 5%. Association president Datuk Lim Kai Seng said the cost of transportation was likely to rise 10% to 20%, and the prices of sand and cement by between 5% and 10%. - The Star He said that cement now cost RM17.50 per 50kg while sand sold for RM70 per cubic metre.

Commercial Property Launched Price in 2013

The majority of properties launched in the period surveyed were priced at around RM500,000-RM1mil throughout the Peninsula, with Kelantan and Perak being the exception. Perak had four developers launching property in the RM250,000-RM350,000 range; Kelantan saw four who launched property below RM250,000. This pattern will, more or less, hold in the second half. The most popular commercial properties among the developers are in the RM500,000-RM1mil range – 43% of the developers offered such property in the first half, with 50% expected in the second half. On a brighter note, the percentage of developers that is expected to increase prices in the second half dropped to 45% from 69%.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Malaysia Residential Property in 2013

To the prospective residential property buyers, the prices most popular among developers in the period surveyed were in the RM500,000-RM1mil price range (47% of developers sampled), above RM1.5mil (11%) and RM350,000-RM500,000 (11%). While the percentage of developers selling residential properties in the RM250,000-RM500,000 price range hovered at around 40% from the second half of 2011 through to the second half of 2012, it was at only 23% in the first half of this year. It is, however, anticipated to inch slightly higher to 25% in the second half.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Malaysia Property: The Most Popular Areas in the Klang Valley

The most popular areas in the Klang Valley are 1) Puchong, 2) Cheras, 3) Kota Damansara, 4) KLCC, and 5) Shah Alam. The Top 3 residential units by type were 1) 2-3-storey terrace houses (3,104 units), 2) serviced apartments (2,208), and 3) condominium/ apartments (1,863). However, condos/apartments (6,689) will nudge terrace houses (2,920) to second place in the second half, with serviced apartments in third (2,436). In terms of trends, the penchant right now is for 1) properties with smaller, affordable units, 2) more green features in housing, 3) higher density of high-rise development, and 4) niche developments with multi-use zones.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Malaysia Property: Future Launch in 2H 2013

The outlook for the second half of 2013 is positive, with more respondents launching projects and more units being launched. While the first six months saw a total of 10,985 units of property launched, the following six will see the number climbing to 18,181 units.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Malaysia Property: Number of Landed Property Launched in 1H 2013


Malaysia property prices are not getting cheaper, sales remain robust, locals far outstrip foreigners in purchases, and the number of landed property coming on the market is declining as strata properties trend upwards – these are some of the patterns revealed by a survey of the first six months of 2013 by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) indicated. According to the survey, which saw the participation of 150 out of the 1,030 Rehda members, 59% of respondents reported similar or improved sales in the first of 2013 compared to the second half of 2012.