Johor Bahru is the most searched location among Malaysian homebuyers looking for landed and high-rise residential properties in the year 2020, according to the H1 2020 Portal Demand Analytics by iProperty.com.my.
The list, capturing 10 areas in Peninsular Malaysia looks at data for the highest number of searches among homebuyers who visited the property site from January to December 2020.
The percentage of views for Johor Bahru is 16.24 per cent based on the overall traffic recorded.
The site revealed that the terrace house category in Johor is the only one that remained steady in terms of median prices.
For H1 2020, the terrace house segment recorded year-on-year (YoY) capital gains of +4.97 per cent and the median price was RM360,000.
Coming in second is Petaling Jaya, popularly known as PJ, at 15.6 per cent.
According to iProperty.com.my, PJ levelled up from the sixth spot last year to second in 2020.
"It's also one of the most search areas among renters in 2020. The reason PJ makes it into the list year after year is because of its proximity to Kuala Lumpur and the endless amenities readily available in the area. As far as shopping is concerned, there are a few shopping malls within its vicinity. Besides 1 Utama, there are smaller neighbourhood malls such as Paradigm Mall, Atria Shopping Gallery, and Starling Mall in Damansara Uptown," it said.
The property portal said that the LRT Bandar Utama-Klang Line or LRT 3 will further alleviate the public transportation service in PJ as it allows seamless commuting to Bandar Utama, Shah Alam, and Klang.
Under the LRT 3 development plan, linking Bandar Utama to Johan Setia in Klang, there will be five stations within the PJ area.
Third place is Shah Alam, Selangor's state capital, with the percentage of views standing at 10.66 per cent.
Shah Alam recorded a positive YoY residential property demand, standing at +7.63 per cent.
The median price for a condominium is RM390,000.
Shah Alam is attractive for many reasons including its family-friendly attractions like i-City, public parks and shopping malls.
The property portal said the LRT 3 will not only alleviate travelling time to other parts of Klang Valley but will also boost the capital growth of properties in Shah Alam especially those projects nearby the train stations.
The new LRT line will be extending the connectivity of two million people in the Western Corridor to other parts of the Greater Klang Valley. There are at least four property developments in Shah Alam located near the LRT 3.
Next is Cheras, recording 10.6 per cent in terms of the percentage of views in 2020.
Cheras has remained in the top five for the most searched areas among Malaysian homebuyers and renters.
"Even though it went down one spot to the number four position in 2020, Cheras is still popular among homebuyers and potential buyers. Cheras isn't only one of the townships with the easiest access to the main rail lines, it is also one of the most searched areas to rent in Malaysia in 2020.
"The readily available public transportation services and amenities, as well as a range of houses and price spectrum, make it favourable among house hunters and investors. The median price for a condominium in Cheras (KL) is RM350,000."
Number five is Damansara Heights with the percentage of views standing at 9.67 per cent.
The enclave neighbourhood of Damansara Heights or Bukit Damansara is dubbed the Beverly Hills of Malaysia as it is sprawling with bungalows, villas, and other luxury residences. Its immediate affluent neighbours are Bukit Kiara, Sri Hartamas, and Bukit Tunku.
The median price for a bungalow in Damansara Heights is RM3.5 million.
Other than upper-class Malaysians, expatriates are flocking to this area for its trendy nightlife and entertainment, as well as a selection of bars and restaurants. It is also surrounded by a network of highways and main roads.
Next is Ampang at 8.22 per cent.
Ampang has been long known for its exorbitant real-estate prices and wealthy residents. Besides Mont Kiara, Ampang is also favoured by the expatriate communities due to its amenities like international schools, private healthcare facilities, and entertainment.
Ampang is also home to a large Korean community in the Klang Valley.
The median price for a condominium in Ampang is RM1.15 million.
Ipoh, the capital city of Perak takes the seventh spot at 7.71 per cent.
This former mining town is located about 200km from Kuala Lumpur and 150km from Butterworth (mainland Penang). It charms its visitors with attractions like Concubine Lane and Birch Clock Tower, and it is also the gateway to Cameron Highlands.
Based on the property portal listings, terrace houses in Ipoh range from three to five bedrooms with built-up sizes ranging from 1,200 sq ft to 4,550 sq ft.
The median price for a terrace house in Ipoh is RM220,000. Ipoh is also number one for the top five areas in Malaysia for properties below RM500,000, according to the data available.
Tropicana Golf & Country Resort is next with the percentage of views standing at 7.57 per cent.
This golf resort is home to residents who enjoy the convenience and comfort of resort facilities right on their doorstep. This township offers a mixture of link, semi-detached homes, and bungalows overlooking the charming landscape and surrounded by lush greeneries.
The median price for a bungalow at the golf resort is RM2.3 million.
At number nine and 10 is Rawang and Kota Damansara respectively.
Rawang, with the percentage of views at 6.93 per cent, has undergone nearly 200 years of change since the British Malaya era.
"Today, Rawang is flourishing and has never looked more promising. It has progressively developed by transforming an ordinary old town into an urbanised township. The fast-growing property development and demand has opened the residential property market in Rawang," said the property portal.
Landed houses are in an affordable range compared to other parts of Klang Valley.
According to Brickz, the median price for a terrace house in Rawang is RM289,000.
The affordable prices, coupled with the 60 metres tall Rawang – Serendah bypass had led to buyers becoming less hesitant to the idea of moving to Rawang.
Kota Damansara at 6.79 per cent offers properties from all ends of the price spectrums. The median price for a condominium is RM600,000 whereas the median rental price for a fully furnished three-bedroom 1,237 sq ft condominium unit is RM2,300.
The improved amenities and infrastructure coupled with enhanced connectivity make this township attractive for homebuyers.
