Johor Bahru · Neighbourhood guide
Forest City property
A township built on reclaimed islands off Gelang Patah, at the western tip of Johor Bahru beside the Second Link to Singapore. Forest City is a duty-free zone and Malaysia’s Special Financial Zone, and most units in its completed towers are freehold, with subsale prices far below the original launch prices.
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For sale now · updated 17 Oct 2026
263 subsale houses (median asking RM548,000) and 82 condos and apartments (median RM258,000) are for sale across Johor Bahru through the IQI agent network right now. See JB houses → · See JB condos →
Iskandar Puteri overview
Forest City is on the edge of Iskandar Puteri. Compare it with Medini, Puteri Harbour, Bukit Indah and Gelang Patah, with the homes for sale now: Iskandar Puteri property guide and homes for sale →
2 projects on this site
Projects in Forest City
Each has its own page with layouts, prices on record, rents and the rules for foreign buyers.
FREEHOLD📷 5Johor · Forest City, Iskandar Puteri
Country Garden Forest City (Phase 1)
Freehold · Studio to 4 bedrooms · Special Financial Zone
Finished island with school and golf · Special Financial Zone
RM658 psf median, 48 monthsCompleted
View project →Johor · Forest City, Iskandar Puteri
Nigella Park
Freehold · about 3,000–7,300 sq ft · Jalan Forest City
Unusually large homes · Sea-facing and low density
Completed 2017
View project →The numbers
Prices and rents in Forest City
One line per project, as cited on its page: recorded transactions where published, otherwise asking prices or the price band on the developer’s advertising permit, with the source and date.
| Project | Tenure | Status | Price | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Garden Forest City (Phase 1) | Freehold | Completed 2018 | RM658 psf · typical RM488–1,062 psf EdgeProp Forest City record, Oct 2026 | From RM850 a month (127 listings) PropertyGuru building page, Oct 2026 |
| Nigella Park | Freehold | Completed 2017 | None found EdgeProp and iProperty, viewed Oct 2026 | About RM5,800–15,000 a month (7 listings) PropertyGuru rental listings, Oct 2026 |
Living here
What to know about Forest City
Getting around
Most residents drive. The Second Link checkpoint to Tuas is about 15 minutes away by car, and Singapore is about 2 km across the strait. The developer runs daily shuttles to the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ complex at the Second Link. A ferry terminal to Singapore and Batam has been proposed but is still awaiting approval (The Edge, October 2026).
Everyday life
The first island has a hotel, an international school, a golf resort, a water park and a beach. The Edge reported in October 2026 that about 20,000 residents live in 66 completed blocks. Bukit Indah, Gelang Patah town and the Johor Bahru city centre are a drive away.
Before you buy
Supply is very large: about 26,000 homes have been completed, and occupancy has fallen short of expectations. Price on recorded transactions rather than launch prices, expect resale to take time, ask for the maintenance fee and sinking fund, and do a title search, because the developer says most units, not all, are freehold.
Why Forest City is different
Special zone status in Forest City
Special Financial Zone
The government announced Forest City as a Special Financial Zone in August 2023. Tax incentives announced on 20 September 2024 include a 15% income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers, 0% tax for 10 years for qualifying single family offices with at least RM30 million in assets, and 5% for global business services and fintech firms.
Johor–Singapore SEZ
Malaysia and Singapore signed the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone agreement in January 2025. Forest City is Flagship G, the zone’s financial-services flagship.
Duty-free island
Forest City holds duty-free island status (The Edge, October 2026). Ask the management office which goods and purchases it covers before you count on it.
MM2H SEZ/SFZ route
The MM2H SEZ/SFZ category gives a renewable 10-year pass. It needs a fixed deposit of USD65,000 (aged 21–49) or USD32,000 (50 and above), and a home bought in the zone directly from the developer and kept for 10 years. I coordinate with a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent.
Sources: Skrine, September 2024; The Edge Malaysia, October 2026; MM2H portal and MOTAC SEZ/SFZ terms, 2026. See also MM2H SEZ/SFZ in Johor and the Johor–Singapore SEZ.
Foreign buyers
The Johor rules that apply in Forest City
Minimum price: RM1 million
Foreigners generally need to pay at least RM1 million for a residential property in Johor, and cannot buy Bumiputera lots, low-cost or affordable units, Malay Reserve land, or single and one-and-a-half-storey terraces.
State consent and 3% levy
Every foreign purchase needs Johor state consent. Since 1 July 2025 the consent levy for foreigners is 3% of the price or RM30,000, whichever is higher.
8% stamp duty
From 1 January 2026, stamp duty on the transfer of a home to a foreign buyer is a flat 8% of the price or market value, whichever is higher.
Confirm the current position with your lawyer. See also Can a foreigner buy it? and the buying costs calculator.
Nearby
Other Johor Bahru neighbourhoods
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest City property freehold?
Both projects on this site are shown as freehold on the property portals. The developer says most units in Forest City are freehold but not all, so do a land title search before you pay a deposit.
Can a foreigner buy property in Forest City?
Yes, subject to the Johor rules: generally at least RM1 million per home, state consent with a consent levy of 3% of the price or RM30,000 (whichever is higher), and 8% stamp duty from 1 January 2026. Most subsale asking prices in the Phase 1 towers are below RM1 million, so few of those units meet the price floor. The MM2H SEZ/SFZ route has its own rules, set out in the question on MM2H.
What do units in Forest City rent for?
Examples from the project pages: Country Garden Forest City (Phase 1): From RM850 a month (127 listings) (PropertyGuru building page, Oct 2026); Nigella Park: About RM5,800–15,000 a month (7 listings) (PropertyGuru rental listings, Oct 2026).
Is Forest City a duty-free zone?
Yes. Forest City holds duty-free island status, and it is also Malaysia’s Special Financial Zone, with lower tax rates for eligible knowledge workers, family offices and some financial firms.
Can I get MM2H by buying in Forest City?
The MM2H SEZ/SFZ category is tied to buying a home in the zone directly from the developer and keeping it for 10 years, plus a fixed deposit of USD65,000 (aged 21–49) or USD32,000 (50 and above). Subsale homes bought on the open market do not qualify for this route. I coordinate with a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent.
Can you find me a unit in Forest City?
Yes. Send me your budget, size and timing on WhatsApp and I will shortlist units, with prices on record for each building.
Looking in Forest City?
Tell me your budget, size and timing. I will send a shortlist with prices on record and rents for each building.