Malaysia property questions buyers ask first.

Most buyers pay a 10% down payment, because banks can finance up to 90% of the price for your first two residential home loans. On top of that, budget roughly 3-5% of the price for legal fees, stamp duty and disbursements unless the developer absorbs them. New launch packages often rebate part of the 10%, so the real cash needed varies by project.

Stamp duty on the transfer (MOT) is tiered: 1% on the first RM100,000, 2% on the next RM400,000, 3% on the next RM500,000 and 4% above RM1 million. The loan agreement carries a further 0.5% of the loan amount. On a RM500,000 home with a 90% loan, that works out to RM9,000 MOT duty plus RM2,250 loan duty.

Under the Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023, conveyancing fees are 1.25% of the first RM500,000 of the price (minimum RM500) and 1% of the next RM7 million. A RM500,000 purchase is about RM6,250 before disbursements and tax, and the loan agreement has its own fee on the same scale. Many new launch developers absorb the SPA legal fee as part of the package.

Yes. First-time buyers currently get a 100% stamp duty exemption on both the transfer and loan agreement for first homes priced up to RM500,000, extended until 31 December 2027. On a RM500,000 purchase that saves over RM11,000, so confirm your eligibility before you book.

Plan for roughly RM75,000-80,000 all-in for a subsale: RM50,000 down payment, about RM11,250 in stamp duty (MOT plus loan), RM10,000-12,000 in legal fees for both agreements plus disbursements, and valuation costs. First-timer stamp duty exemptions and new launch rebate packages can cut this to around RM50,000 or less.

Banks can lend up to 90% of the price for your first and second residential property loans; from the third onwards, Bank Negara caps the margin at 70%. Your actual approval depends on your DSR, income type and age, so two buyers of the same unit can receive very different offers.

DSR (debt service ratio) is your total monthly debt commitments divided by your income. Most Malaysian banks approve up to roughly 60-70% of net income, with stricter caps at lower income bands. Clearing a car loan or credit card balance before applying is often the fastest way to raise your approval odds.

As a rule of thumb, a gross household income of about RM7,000-8,000 a month supports a RM450,000 loan (90% of RM500,000), which costs roughly RM1,950-2,100 a month over 35 years at current rates of around 3.9-4.4%. Existing commitments like car loans push the required income up.

Home loan tenure is capped at 35 years, and the loan must usually end by age 70. A 30-year-old can take the full 35 years, while a 45-year-old may be limited to about 25 years, which raises the monthly installment for the same loan amount.

Both are life insurance tied to your home loan. MRTA is a one-off premium (often financed into the loan) with cover that reduces along the loan balance; MLTA has fixed cover with cash value, is transferable between properties, and costs more. MRTA is not always compulsory — some banks simply price the loan differently without it.

Yes — foreigners can own Malaysian property in their own name, subject to state minimum prices. The common floor is RM1 million, which covers Kuala Lumpur and Johor high-rise units (Johor landed is RM2 million). Selangor allows foreigners strata units only, from RM1-2 million by zone; Penang island is RM3 million landed and RM1 million strata. New Medini (Iskandar Puteri) units from developers are exempt. Every purchase also needs state consent, typically 1-3 months.

From 1 January 2026, foreign individuals and foreign-owned companies pay a flat 8% stamp duty on residential property transfers, replacing the tiered local rates. On a RM1 million condo that is RM80,000 — versus RM24,000 for a Malaysian buyer — so factor it into your entry cost before comparing projects.

Yes, but at lower margins — non-resident foreigners typically get 50-70% financing, while MM2H visa holders can reach up to 80% with selected banks. Expect to document foreign income, and note that some banks only finance foreigners on selected projects.

No — foreigners can buy without any visa, subject to state minimum prices. MM2H is a long-term residence visa with three tiers: Silver (USD150,000 fixed deposit, buy a home of RM600,000 or more), Gold (USD500,000, RM1 million or more) and Platinum (USD1 million, RM2 million or more). Buying a property is mandatory under the current federal tiers.

RPGT is Malaysia's tax on your profit when you sell. Citizens and PRs pay 30% in years 1-3, 20% in year 4, 15% in year 5 and 0% from year 6 onwards. Foreigners pay 30% within the first 5 years and 10% after that, while companies follow their own schedule that never drops to zero.

Not always. Freehold suits long-term holding, but leasehold (usually 99 years) can perform better when the location, entry price and rental demand are stronger. Watch the remaining lease: below about 60 years, financing gets harder and value growth slows, and renewing the lease costs a premium set by the state.

Bumi lots are units reserved for Bumiputera buyers under state quotas, usually priced with a 5-15% discount. A non-Bumi buyer can only purchase one after the state consents to release the quota — possible, but slower, and the release is not permanent: the next resale to a non-Bumi must repeat the same process.

Under a master title, the developer still holds the parent land title and your ownership rests on the SPA and deed of assignment. Individual titles (landed) and strata titles (high-rise) register the unit in your own name. Buying a subsale unit still under master title is common and safe, but adds legal steps when the strata title is eventually issued.

Serviced apartments sit on commercial land, so utilities, assessment and quit rent follow higher commercial rates, and maintenance fees are often higher too. Loan margins are usually the same 90%, but check whether the project is sold under a Schedule H-style HDA contract, because buyer protections can differ on commercial titles.

New launch needs less upfront cash — rebates, absorbed fees and progressive payments while it is built — but you wait around 3-4 years and buy off-plan. Subsale lets you inspect the actual unit and move in within months, but needs the full 10% plus transaction costs in cash. The right choice depends on your cash position, timeline and risk comfort.

Check the nett price after rebates, loan package, layout and orientation, car park allocation, estimated maintenance fee per square foot, completion date, developer track record and your exit plan. Compare at least two similar projects before committing — the first sales gallery visit is rarely the best deal.

You typically sign the SPA within 2-3 weeks while your loan is processed. Note that under HDA rules, developers are not supposed to collect payments before the SPA, so any booking sum should be fully refundable — get the refund terms in writing. If your loan is rejected after signing the SPA, the statutory schedules let you terminate with a deduction capped at 1% of the purchase price.

For high-rise new launches, you pay 10% at the SPA and the bank releases the rest in stages tied to construction milestones until completion. Loan interest is charged only on the amounts drawn down, so your monthly payment starts small and rises as construction progresses — you do not pay the full installment from day one.

Under Schedule H, the developer must deliver vacant possession within 36 months of the SPA (24 months for most landed homes under Schedule G). Miss the deadline and late-delivery damages (LAD) run at 10% per annum of the price. After handover, you get a 24-month defect liability period to report defects for free repair.

A standard subsale completes in about 3-4 months from SPA signing under the usual 3+1 completion clause. If the property is leasehold or needs state consent, the clock only starts after consent is obtained, so the full timeline typically runs 5-6 months.

Employees need their IC, latest 3-6 months of payslips, 6 months of bank statements, EPF statement and latest tax form (BE/EA). Self-employed buyers need SSM registration, 6-12 months of company and personal bank statements, and 2 years of tax returns. Preparing these before viewing lets you lock in approval faster.

Yes. Share your preferred project, budget, timing and purpose (own stay or investment). Lewis will check unit availability, prepare the price and loan numbers, and arrange the viewing — or a video walkthrough if you are overseas.