Knight Frank: Residential market to make slow comeback in 2020

PETALING JAYA (Jan 8): The residential property market in Malaysia is expected to make a comeback in 2020, evident from the higher number of launches in the second half of 2019 (2H2019), said Knight Frank Malaysia managing director Sarkunan Subramaniam (pictured) in a press statement in conjunction with the launch of the real estate consultancy’s Real Estate Highlights 2H2019 today.

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“The Kuala Lumpur high-end residential market is believed to have bottomed out mid-last year and this has set the right mood for the segment to make its way back, albeit slowly.

“Furthermore, we have observed an increase in foreign buyer interest in Malaysian properties from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China, Singapore, USA, Australia, UK, Germany and other European countries,” said Sarkunan.

He foresees more new launches and transactions in 2020 in the prime areas of Kuala Lumpur City such as Bukit Bintang, Ampang Hilir/U-Thant, Mont’ Kiara, Bangsar and Damansara Heights/Kenny Hill.

“In addition to these prime areas, there are also other established neighbourhoods as well as upcoming hotspots in Kuala Lumpur that are drawing the attention of the upper-income population and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). They include Desa ParkCity, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and the upcoming financial district of Imbi/Pudu-Tun Razak Exchange (TRX),” Sarkunan explained.

The TRX is taking shape with the completion of Menara Prudential and Exchange 106. Complementing these commercial developments is Core Previous Development Sdn Bhd’s (a joint-venture between China-based China Communication Construction Group (CCCG) and Malaysia’s WCT Holdings Bhd) launch of Core Residence @ TRX.

Other notable residential projects unveiled during 2H2019 include Conlay, a joint development by Eastern & Oriental Bhd and Mitsui Fudosan Group, and Agile Embassy Garden, the third project of Agile Group Holdings with unit selling prices averaging between RM1,900 and RM2,200 psf.

In addition, several key policies were announced under the Budget 2020 such as lowering of foreign buyer minimum price threshold from RM1 million to RM600,000 for unsold high-rise properties in urban areas, the introduction of Rent-to-Own financing schemes, revising the base year for the Real Property Gains Tax to Jan 1, 2013 for assets acquired before the date instead of Jan 1, 2000 previously. These measures are expected to further stimulate the market, said the firm.