From YB, a viewer who wrote in by email
YB marries in January 2026 and the couple want to move out of their parents' homes. His fiancée owns a completed condo in Cyberjaya, rented out at a small loss on a tenancy that runs through 2026; his own unit is under construction and due in 2027. He nets RM7,000 a month and together they earn about RM11,000. He has also found a new condo whose second phase he could just afford, at the cost of their lifestyle.
Should they end the tenancy and move into her condo, rent a place, live with the in-laws for a year or two, or buy the new condo?
“I think that living with the in-law first will be the best”
Don't buy a third home for themselves now. Taking back her condo is acceptable, but Sean's choice is to live with her parents until his unit is ready in 2027, paying towards bills, and to keep the cash for the wedding, a baby and renovation.
Why
The years around 30 burn cash
A wedding, a home and a first child come close together. A private delivery can cost RM10,000 to RM15,000, a confinement centre about RM15,000 to RM30,000, then childcare. Spare cash gives options; a stretched loan takes them away.
Move in with her parents, not yours
Sean found that tension usually runs between a mother and a daughter-in-law, so a husband moving in with his wife's family tends to be easier. Her mother can then help her with a newborn, which Sean found invaluable.
Family under one roof shares the load
Extra adults at home mean someone can watch the baby, and shared costs make help such as a cleaner affordable. Sean says the first three to six months with a newborn test everyone's energy.
Keep the tenanted unit earning
Ending a tenancy early means paying the tenant compensation under the agreement, typically about two months' rent. Sean also sees rents in Cyberjaya rising strongly, so the unit is worth keeping let.
What to do
- Hold off buying another own-stay home until your current one is ready.
- Offer to pay utilities and treat the family to meals while you live with them.
- Agree a move-out date with your spouse, such as when your own unit is handed over.
- Set aside RM50,000 to RM80,000 to renovate an own-stay home for handover.
- Price out childbirth, confinement and childcare before taking on any new commitment.
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 #278 | STAYING WITH FAMILY IS MORE SENSIBLE
Sources & Verification Data
Summarised from Sean's full English captions for Asking Sean #278. The quoted answer is verbatim; everything else is paraphrased. Figures are as stated in March 2025. The episode is sponsored by The Makeover Guys, a renovation company.
