Seremban, Nilai and other towns outside Kuala Lumpur have become popular with buyers escaping city prices, and many commute daily. With about RM700,000, a buyer can choose a 1,000 sq ft condo in Petaling Jaya or a double-storey terrace of 1,600 to 2,800 sq ft in a gated township further out.
Which is the better buy: a high-rise in the city or a landed house in the outskirts?
“I fancy time and convenience way more than space currently”
For Sean at that stage, the city condo, because time and convenience mattered more than space and it rents far better. A landed house in the outskirts suits families who value space and gardens and whose work hours are flexible enough to avoid the daily commute.
Why
Commuting costs hours
From outlying towns, rush-hour commutes take about an hour each way; a friend in Kota Kemuning leaves at six to reach the city. Flexible hours and working from home make the outskirts more workable.
City condos rent far better
A RM700,000 condo in PJ or Mont Kiara rents well when fully furnished. Landed houses outside the city fetch lower rents and cost more to furnish, so owners usually top up the instalment every month.
Doubling landed prices are history
With more developers building landed homes, a terrace bought at RM700,000 rarely doubles any more. For a condo, 10% to 15% over five years is a good result.
Each suits a different family
Landed homes are easier with young children and groceries, with fewer trips between car and door. Condos offer layered security and shared facilities, which some families move into landed-to-high-rise for.
What to do
- Time the commute from each option at rush hour before deciding.
- Decide whether the purchase is to live in, for rent, or for capital growth.
- Compare realistic rents for each option against the instalment.
- Weigh maintenance fees and how often your family would use the facilities.
- Treat claims that landed houses always double with caution.
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.
LANDED HOUSE OUTSKIRT VS HIGHRISE IN THE CITY
Sources & Verification Data
Summarised from Sean's full English captions for this October 2019 video, recorded in Seremban. The quoted line is verbatim; everything else is paraphrased. Rental figures in the captions were unclear and are left out.
