We've all heard this one before: the would-be investor who spends years 'thinking about it,' only to never buy a single property. That's not a mistake this Malaysian real estate investor made: if anything, he jumped in almost too fast. This week, we sat down with John to talk about what he's learned from investing (and working as a property...
August 02, 2025 7:30 AMWe've all heard this one before: the would-be investor who spends years "thinking about it," only to never buy a single property. That's not a mistake this Malaysian real estate investor made: if anything, he jumped in almost too fast.
It worked out; mostly. But there was one hard lesson: the bank's valuation came in lower than the purchase price, and he had to cough up a big down payment to make up the difference.This is, by the way, similar to what a buyer might encounter in Singapore: the valuation does not always match the selling price. But do be aware that the bank which accepts the highest valuation may not have the lowest interest rates.
John is also confident about JB's long-term prospects. With the RTS link under construction, he sees increased economic activity and stronger cross-border demand ahead. "I think Iskandar is going to shine in the next five years," he adds. This is in contrast to previous years, when cross-border arrangements were more unilateral.
The Airbnb option is possible in JB but not in Singapore, as Singapore requires a minimum tenancy of three months.John uses Malaysian bank loans to finance his purchases, leveraging rental income to qualify for more.
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