From Mr G, a viewer who wrote in by email
Mr G and his then-girlfriend bought a home in Puncak Alam in joint names for own stay, with an SPA price of about RM738,000 after discounts. They have since broken up on bad terms. The unit is now worth about RM650,000 against a loan balance of about RM656,000, so selling means covering a RM6,000 shortfall and about RM10,000 in legal fees. She wants to rent it out unfurnished for about RM1,500 to RM1,700 and sell in five years; he wants to sell now and is considering legal action to exit.
From an investment point of view, is selling now the right choice?
“Own it. Own the mistake and move on.”
Sell. Holding might work out better on paper, but not for him: two people who can't talk will fight over tenants and costs for years. About RM16,000 is a fair price for a clean slate, even if he pays her share as a farewell gift.
Why
Numbers won't settle a feud
Both are accountants, but a spreadsheet won't persuade an ex who wants him out of her life. Each will expect the other to deal with tenants while the rent is split equally, and every conversation will start with blame.
He made the choices
They paid above nearby prices because it was a dream home, and the slow-growing location was there from the start. Accepting that the property and the partner were his choices is the quickest way out of the trouble.
Discounts were money from the future
A heavy discount lets you buy without the 18% in cash a subsale needs, but it means paying more than the market's price. Making that back over three to five years, as his friend in an earlier phase has, is a normal result, not a failure.
Unfurnished units rent cheaply
An empty unit only attracts tenants with very low rent. Owners who plan from the start to spend RM70,000 to RM80,000 furnishing it can rent for more, and the furnishing serves tenant after tenant, but that has to be planned before the keys, not after.
What to do
- Get quotes from lawyers for the sale costs and budget the shortfall to the bank.
- Sell, even if you end up covering the full RM16,000 yourself.
- Never buy a home in joint names with a boyfriend or girlfriend; if you must buy together, put it in one name.
- If a couple can't afford a home in one name, rent, and each buy a unit of RM400,000 to RM500,000 whose rent covers the instalment.
- If you buy to rent out, plan and save for furnishing before key collection.
Editorial Note: Summarised from Sean Tan's full episode. The quoted answer is in his own words; the rest is our paraphrase. Figures reflect the recording date, so check current rates and rules before acting on them.
ASKING SEAN #297 | PAINFUL HOME PURCHASE WITH EX
Sources & Verification Data
Summarised from Sean's full English captions for Asking Sean #297. The quoted answer is verbatim; everything else is paraphrased. Figures are as stated in September 2025. Sean mentions he works with The Makeover Guys, a furnishing company, on his own unit.
