8 Types Of Residential Houses In Malaysia. Which One Is for You?

UPDATED 04 OCT 2021 – BY TEAM LOANSTREET

*This article was translated by Farhana Adli from "Ada 8 Jenis Rumah Kat Malaysia. Mana Satu Paling Sesuai Dengan Korang?".

Graduated from college? Check. Getting the dream job? Check. Purchasing a car? Check. So, what else is on the list? What more do I need? The answer is… *insert drum roll sound* a house.

As we’re going to talk about a house in this article, we’re sure that you’ve been dreaming of owning them one fine day. I mean, come on! You wouldn’t want to live with your parents forever, right? So, let’s dream big and work towards it!

Okay, back in the game! There are 2 categories of houses in Malaysia - landed and high-rise (apartments), but there are actually a lot more to be listed down, so you can go to iProperty for more info regarding residential properties. 

So, in this article, we’re going to discuss 8 types of residential houses in Malaysia and which of those is your cup of tea based on your budget and its size. 

More info: Head over to brickz.my for more info regarding the current median price of properties (January 2020 - December 2020) based on the data from the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH).

 

1. Condominium 

The median price in 2020: RM494,280

Estimated size of the units: 650 sqft – 1,500 sqft 

The condo is a large property complex comprising strata individual units. Each unit is owned separately with, at least, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. As it’s a strata property, each parcel is owned by the purchaser who buys/rents it from the developer, while the common areas like parks or a swimming pool are recognised as general parcels which belong to the developer itself.

So, basically, the pricier the condo is, the larger the size of square feet, as it consists of more over-the-top facilities such as a spa, sauna area, and pool. However, some condos are often associated with more limited spaces than a landed house, but not for the elite high-rise though.

On top of that, a parking space of 24-hour supervision will also be given to homebuyers, but, of course, it’s not free lah. Everything requires money, so all of the facilities need to be paid monthly for maintenance purposes. 

So, if you’re looking for a high-rise property with more facilities, you would want to go for a condominium. 

 

2. Apartment

The median price in 2020: RM250,000

Estimated size of units: 550 sqft – 1,200 sqft 

If you guys are wondering what’s the difference between a condo and an apartment, it’s basically the same - both are high-rise residential properties, yet it’s more affordable and has fewer facilities. As it’s a stratified property as well, it consists of basic facilities such as an elevator, parking spaces (outdoor/covered/multi-level parking garages) with 24-hour supervision, and recreation spaces. 

If you’re a first-time house buyer, we recommend purchasing an apartment instead, as the price is more affordable. Some of the properties, like in Selangor and Penang, are old buildings with strategic locations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be gold as they’re well-maintained.

Bayu Apartment Damai in Selangor is a good case in point for a low-cost apartment. It consists of 3 bedrooms per unit (more than a condo) and basic facilities are also given, for instance, covered parking space, public pool, and BBQ space. All of these cost you RM280,000 only, guys! Let me tell you one thing, it ain’t easy to get a 3-bedroom apartment for less than RM300,000 in such a developed area so you wouldn’t want to miss it out, kan? 

Also for those who’re looking for a reasonably-priced apartment in Selangor, try to look into Residensi Wilayah (RUMAWIP) - an affordable housing scheme that provides comfortable, quality, and affordable homes for everyone. Take Lily Apartment for an example of RUMAWIP which is located in Kuchai Lama for RM300,000. 

Therefore, we recommend you to give an apartment a go if you’re looking for an affordable yet spacious high-rise with complete basic facilities. 

 

3. Flat 

The median price in 2020: RM118,000

Estimated size of the units: 400 sqft - 900 sqft 

In Malaysia, a flat refers to a more economical unit that's accessible to the low-income and middle-income groups, hence, suitable for those with tight budgets. A flat usually consists of two categories - a 5-floor unit (as shown in the picture above) or a high-rise government-built unit which is also known as PPR.

FYI, flats are popular amongst workers for the moderate median price of a unit, for instance, a flat in Subang costs only RM156,500 which is half the price of a single apartment unit.

Even so, there’s no designated parking space for tenants (unlike the apartment and condo), thus be prepared to go balls for the space as it’s a “first come first serve” rule. Also, flats’ facilities tend to be limited, such as no tight security is allotted within the area, thus prolly not suitable for families with kids. Nevertheless, mini markets are accessible on the ground floor, so your groceries will always be at hand.

All is good, but a flat is often under-maintained thus leading to a bad reputation for some people. But, if you're not a toffee-nosed with a tight budget, then maybe you wouldn’t want to cross it out. 

 

4. Service residential/SoHo

The median price in 2020: RM500,000

Estimated size of the units: 400 sqft – 1,200 sqft 

Now, let’s move to a different type of property, SoHo (Small office, Home office), which is slightly different from what we’ve mentioned above. It’s a strata-titled property on commercial lands which functions for both homes and offices, whereas a condo is designated under residential property only. See the difference there? 

This type of residential area is suitable for the business/corporate person who needs a small yet casual workspace to turn into a house, so you’ll be able to make yourself at home while doing your work - what a way of killing two birds in one stone! 

Most of the units in Klang Valley are connected to the malls, convenience stores, and offices as the result of a convergence of economic and lifestyle considerations. Let’s take KL Gateway as an example of SoHo. It’s a combination of shopping malls, residential units, and offices in a big building as you can see. 

However, although the SoHo units are commercial lands, the initial purpose of the development is for residential, thus they are regulated under the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (HDA).

You may think that it’s too overpriced considering the limited size of a unit, but why not forking out some monies for the top-notch services and facilities. Everything is at your fingertips so it'll be worth your money. 

 

5. Terrace/Link House

The median price in 2020: RM275,000

Estimated size of the units: 750 sqft – 1,600 sqft 

A terrace a.k.a a link house is a combined unit where the walls in between two houses are shared. The middle units of the terraces have similar sizes (square ft.) but not for the corner lots - this unit is slightly bigger and higher in price compared to the others. 

The designs and sizes of all the terrace units are mostly cut from the same cloth, yet it has different floor plans - either one-storey or two-storey terraces. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for the one-storey terrace whereas 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms for the double-storey terrace. All in all, only 10 to 12 units are aligned in a row. 

So, if you think you fancy the landed house, we recommend you to go for a terrace/link which is the top property choice in Malaysia for its moderate price (in the outskirts of big cities). As for the developing areas like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru, the living cost is skyrocketing and so does the property. 

Nonetheless, it’s the most affordable landed house amongst all. For instance, you can get a sub-sale property for RM500,000 in a suburban area in Selangor - yay or nay?  But, if you’re looking for a new property, try to probe into residential areas like Bangi, Sepang, Klang, Rawang, and Semenyih where the gated and guarded (G&G) housing schemes are in development. 

 

6. Bungalow 

The median price in 2020: RM368,000

Estimated size of the units: 2,000 sqft – 12,500 sqft 

Okay, earth to all gentlemen out there! We can assure you that you’ll be on the top list to marry one’s daughter if you own a bungalow unit, as it’s an “orang kayangan” status symbol.

This is because the sale value of a luxury one can hit millions. For instance, a 6-storey bungalow of 4,944 sqft in Country Heights, Kajang costs RM5 million with RM296 per square ft! Insane amount, innit? But, whatever it takes to get your dream girls, dudes!

Now, if you’re still vague about what kind of landed house is it, it's a category of the landed house (a.k.a detached house) built in the middle of a plot of land thus the price of a unit depends on the per square size and the quality of property land. 

According to the law of diminishing marginal return, the median price per square foot will drop as the size is increasing, for instance, the land in Petaling Jaya, Selangor is procurable at only RM224 (per square foot). 

Having said that, not all bungalows of the same size will have the same market price as it depends on the location, the quality of land, and the period of the property - Semenyih and Bestari Jaya, in particular. The bungalows in both suburb areas only cost an estimation of RM300,000 due to their locations and period properties. 

 

7. Semi-D

The median price in 2020: RM420,000

Estimated size of the units: 2,300 sqft – 5,600 sqft

Okay, let us tell you something that you may not know. A Semi-D a.k.a semi-detached house is almost similar to the terraces - the common wall is shared with the neighbouring house. The layout design of a Semi-D mirrors the other and isn’t much different from a bungalow - it has a small outdoor garden attached to the sides, front, as well as back of the unit. 

Similar to the terraces and bungalows, this kind of landed house is the Malaysians’ all-time choice as well. Why so? The living proof would be an exclusive 2-storey Semi-D housing area of 2,417 to 4,849 sqft per unit (RM500 per square ft) in Klang - Ambang Botanic was sold like hotcakes with 26 transitions - how impressive!

And so, if you’re looking for a big landed house with a fair price, you may want to go for a Semi-D instead of a terrace. 

 

8. Townhouse

The median price in 2020: RM380,000

Estimated size of the units: 560 sqft – 7,000 sqft 

As the name is given, a townhouse in Malaysia is often built in the big cities area. Basically, townhouse complexes have the same styles as terraces, yet it was designed vertically - one house is stacked on top of the other in the same building. Each unit tends to have a single or double-storey, depending on the whole unit itself. 

Even so, a main door to the front is designed for the lower property while the upstairs owner will have a private door to the side/back of the property for the privacy purposes of the tenants. 

However, a private garden isn’t attached to a townhouse (unlike a terrace or a bungalow) thus the facilities such as parks and security need to be shared within this gated and guarded (G&G) community. So if you’re interested in this kind of landscape, do look into a townhouse area in Cahaya SPK Premier Townhouse, Shah Alam which has a clubhouse facility as well as 3 thematic gardens. 

Although it was designed like an ultra-rich elite housing area in London, the price is quite affordable where a unit in Klang Valley only costs from RM388,000, so in short, it’s suitable for those who are looking for a landed house with a variety of facilities. 

 

So, which one of those do you fancy? 

It’s not like you can just go “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” and pick whichever was pointed. Everything depends on your budget and the property that’s suitable for you and your family. On top of that, the location, the neighbourhood, and the purpose of purchasing the property should also be taken into consideration. 

And once you think everything fits into the picture perfectly, only then you can proceed to the next step which is applying for the housing loan. Oh, before that, do make a quick check for the amount you’re eligible to receive and make a comparison to see which of those houses fits you best, ya! 

*The above article is intended for informational purposes only. Loanstreet accepts no responsibility for loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.