Press Release: iProperty.com.my Reveals 10 Most Searched Areas in Malaysia By Homebuyers in 2021
KUALA LUMPUR, DECEMBER 15, 2021 – iProperty.com.my has released a list of the top 10 most searched areas among property hunters in the country. These areas recorded the highest number of searches by visitors who browsed a “For Sale” property listing on iProperty.com.my from January to November in 2021. The search term is defined as when a property consumer searches for a property in a certain location and lands on a search result page on iProperty.com.my. The top 10 areas are ranked in ascending order and the weightage of searches are displayed in terms of percentages (%).
The general theme of 2021 had been one of improving confidence in the Malaysian property market as the country works towards transitioning to the endemic phase. Shylendra Nathan, Country Manager, Malaysia (PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my) comments, “Now that people have developed a better feel for living with the Covid-19 pandemic, more property seekers are keen to take advantage of the low interest rates for home loans imposed by Bank Negara Malaysia. Overall, the consumer sentiment has been improving in H2 2021 and we hope it will continue to do so next year as the country’s economy steadily recovers.”
Here is a rundown of the areas that have made the year’s list:
10. CYBERJAYA
Percentage of searches: 6.67%
Cyberjaya is synonymous with the Multimedia Super Corridor. When it comes to MSC status buildings, Cyber Jaya is unrivalled – MSC-status buildings allow for unrestricted employment of local and foreign knowledge workers. Prima, Century Square, Enterprise Building, Quil, SME Technopreneur Centre and Emerio are among an extensive list of big, international names who have subsidiaries based in Cyberjaya.
There is an upside to the COVID-19 pandemic and that is the adoption of technology. It is unsurprising that Cyberjaya has seen a mushrooming of start-ups in its vicinity. There has been enough property interest in Cyberjaya to push it into this list in 2021. It signifies that people are considering moving here in anticipation of job opportunities and investors are looking to leverage on a potential boom of the expatriate rental market.
9. AMPANG
Percentage of searches: 6.77%
Despite sliding three notches down this list from the year before, Ampang remains popular among property hunters. With its location adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Ampang is a great alternative for those looking for a vibrant night life in the city and then to retire to an abode in a quiet area.
Although generally lighter on the wallet, Ampang boasts various high-end residential developments whose price per square footage top RM720 to RM750 – about RM300 less than Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Ampang is also home to a number of established gated and guarded developments such as Laman Oakleaf, Taman Andaman Ukay and Taman Saujana.
8. KOTA DAMANSARA
Percentage of searches: 7.05%
Kota Damansara fared better in 2021 compared to the previous year with a commendable climb from 10th spot to 8th. A driving factor could be the recently completed first-of-its-kind in Malaysia e-commerce hub, EmHub. Its 669,000 square footage of space has evidently reached the ears of investors who anticipate demand for housing from the emerging workforce in the area.
Home buyers and investors are keeping their eyes peeled for the many planned residential developments in Kota Damansara as well, such as The Estana and a mixed development by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
7. KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE
Percentage of searches: 7.62%
Having last appeared on the list in 2018, Kuala Lumpur City Centre garnered 7.62% of the searches on this top 10 list. This area is special as it is home to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers that are surrounded by a number of luxury serviced apartments such as The Grid, 6 Stonor, The Binjai, One Stonor, The Oval, Desa Kudalari, Binjai 8 and Le Nouvel KLCC. Rentals for these units can go up as high as RM15,000 per month.
More high-end projects have entered the market recently. These include Ascott Star KLCC and Eaton Residences. Prices per square footage of luxury residences in KL City has slightly reduced from RM1,005 – RM1,056 in 2020 to RM1,000 – RM1,040 in 2021, which could be the reason for its emergence in this list. Now that various business sectors have reopened, interest in high-end homes in strategic locations in the city is inching back up.
6. SUBANG JAYA
Percentage of searches: 9.07%
Subang Jaya was on this list in 2018 and 2019, but not in 2020. Garnering 9.07% of the total searches, this suburb has made a comeback into the hearts of homeowners and investors. Subang Jaya offers a wide variety of property types, from gated and guarded communities to high-rises and SoHo units and is serviced by iconic malls such as Sunway Pyramid, Empire Subang and Subang Parade.
The area reverberates with youthful energy with the presence of popular universities and colleges such as SEGi College, Inti International College and Monash University.
5. PUCHONG
Percentage of searches: 9.21%
Puchong’s performance on this top 10 list is rather erratic. In 2018, it occupied second place and in 2019, it came in last. Meanwhile, it did not make the cut last year.
There is an assortment of property developments in Puchong that cater to all levels of income. To quote 2020 data from brickz.my (a site that supplies transacted data sourced from the Valuation and Property Services Department of Malaysia or JPPH), a particular leasehold flat in Puchong was sold for RM40,000 while on the other end of the spectrum, a leasehold bungalow was let go for RM3.4 million.
This is just scratching the surface of what the property market looks like in this self-sufficient township and property enthusiasts would do well to dig deeper for a better understanding.
4. JOHOR BAHRU
Percentage of searches: 9.39%
Once the darling of the Malaysian property market and occupying the top spot in 2020, Johor Bahru fell to fourth in 2021. Nevertheless, Johor Bahru (JB) will always be on property hunters’ radars as it presents endless opportunities from the millions of people crossing the Johor Causeway daily for work, leisure or travel in Singapore. In 2020 following the pandemic and a closure of the border with Singapore, the JB property market suffered a slight decline. According to Q3 2021 data from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), Johor is still facing considerable property overhang with 16,343 units of unsold serviced apartments.
However, demand is still steady for some residential property sectors – based on iProperty.com.my’s H1 2021 Portal Demand Analytics, there is considerable interest in spacious landed property (>2,000 sq ft) in Iskandar Puteri priced up to RM1 million.
3. CHERAS
Percentage of searches: 14.56%
Cheras is a mature neighbourhood known for its many old restaurants and new shopping malls such as Sunway Velocity Mall, IKEA Cheras and MyTOWN Shopping Centre, giving its inhabitants the charm of the old and the novelty of the new. To top it off, commuting has been made so much easier with the MRT line – there are a total of 11 MRT stops within Cheras alone!
In the past two years, there have been 30 new high-rise residential buildings that have sprung up in Cheras. While the area was previously known for its many housing estates and landed property inhabited by mostly couples and families, it is now set to cater to young professionals working in the city as well.
2. SHAH ALAM
Percentage of searches: 14.64%
Runner-up Shah Alam is a borough that has undergone significant urbanisation while keeping nature intact. Developments in the area adhere to the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172) where section 21B states that development proposals shall include measures for the protection, preservation and improvement of its physical environment and natural topography, unlike a few other locations in the Klang Valley which have been a hit and miss on this.
Shah Alam offers a wide range of residential property, from high-rise condominiums to landed property, by noteworthy developers such as Mah Sing Group Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd and Gamuda Bhd. These homes are complemented by public parks, local attractions as well as various private schools and public universities.
1. PETALING JAYA
Percentage of searches: 15.02%
Fondly called PJ by the locals, Petaling Jaya has grabbed the top spot in this year’s list. This comes as no surprise, as PJ has steadily been climbing the ranks over the years. It finished in the sixth spot in 2019 and second in 2020.
PJ is especially popular among the family types for its suburban lifestyle, with local eateries, hipster cafes, family parks, neighbourhood malls and schools. The city also has the distinct advantage of being situated right next to Kuala Lumpur – making it a favourite among young couples who work in the city too.
An upcoming development to keep an eye on is PJ’s enhanced public transportation connectivity. The LRT 3 line which is slated for completion in 2024 will provide PJ with five new LRT stations, namely One Utama (MRT 1 Sungai-Buloh Kajang Line interchange), Kayu Ara, BU11, Dataran Prima and Kelana Indah.
DISCLAIMER: The analytics captured on iProperty.com.my is based on the data available at the date of publication and may be subject to revision as and when more current data becomes available. Readers are encouraged to seek independent advice prior to making any investment.
– – End Of Press Release —
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