Buying guide
How to buy property in Malaysia, step by step
Every guide on this site in the order you need it: whether you can buy, what it costs, choosing a project, the purchase itself, and owning, renting out or selling afterwards.
Step 1
Can you buy, and from what price?
Start here. The answer depends on your nationality, the state and the title of the unit.
Can you buy, and from what price?
Who may buy, the minimum prices states set for foreign buyers, and which titles are closed to them.
Check one project in two minutes
Answer a few questions about a specific unit and see whether a foreign buyer can take it.
The rules state by state
Each state hub lists its own foreign-buyer threshold, consent route and the projects on this site.
Step 2
Work out the full cost and the loan
Know your total budget, including fees and the loan, before you view anything.
Buying costs calculator
Stamp duty, legal fees, loan costs and consent fees on one screen, before you commit.
Getting a home loan as a foreigner
What Malaysian banks ask foreign buyers for and how the loan process works.
Personal, joint or company name?
How the name on the title changes tax, financing and what happens on resale or death.
Budget 2027 for JB buyers
The proposed first-home stamp duty exemption up to RM750,000 from 2027, worked out for JB prices.
Your first home in Johor Bahru
Stamp duty relief, RMMJ, SJKP, EPF withdrawals and the cash you need, worked out for a RM450k home.
Home loans for JB property
OPR, the third-loan cap, tenure, LPPSA and how JB valuations affect your loan.
Step 3
Choose the project
New launch or completed, freehold or leasehold: compare projects with their recorded prices and rents.
All projects, filterable
Every new launch and completed project on this site, by state, status and tenure.
Completed projects by state
Finished homes you can view, rent out straight away and check against recorded prices.
Johor projects for foreign buyers
Johor Bahru projects that sit above the foreign-buyer threshold and are open to non-Malaysians.
Buying a subsale property
The steps, costs and checks for buying a second-hand home: title search, SPA, consent and handover.
Feng shui in Johor Bahru homes
What local buyers check, from Straits views to Causeway traffic, and why it can matter at resale.
Johor Bahru market outlook 2026
Sales, overhang, prices, the RTS Link and the SEZ: what the data says and who the market favours.
Subsale or new launch in JB?
Price per sq ft, the condo pipeline, loans and timing risk compared with real JB numbers.
Rental yield by JB area
Gross and net yields from JB city to Kulai, and the costs that cut what landlords keep.
RTS Link 2026 update
The February 2027 opening, fares, getting to Bukit Chagar and what it means for JB homes.
Buying a shop lot in JB
Ground vs upper floor rents, yields, commercial loans, Bumi lots and the tenancy you inherit.
Pasir Gudang & Masai guide
Prices, rents, jobs, the highway upgrade and what to check before buying in the east of JB.
Step 4
The purchase, from booking to keys
The order is the same in every state; the consent step and its waiting time are what differ. Read the subsale guide or the new property guide for each step in detail. For Johor, see the legal steps and title types in Johor.
Step 5
Owning, renting out and selling
What to plan for once the keys are yours.
Renting out your property
Tenancy agreements, tenants and what to sort out before you rent a unit out.
Why your property needs a will
How a will makes it easier for your family to inherit your Malaysian property.
RTS Link and the Johor–Singapore SEZ
What the rail link and the economic zone mean for Johor Bahru homes and rents.
Guides by country
Buying from your country
Money transfer, documents, tax at home and the questions buyers from each country ask most.
Reference
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy property anywhere in Malaysia?
Yes in most states, but each state sets its own minimum price for foreign buyers and closes some titles to them, such as Malay reserve land, bumiputera lots and many low-cost units. A foreign purchase also needs state consent. The state pages list the threshold for each state.
How long does a purchase take?
A subsale with a loan and no consent usually takes a few months from booking to keys. State consent for a foreign buyer or a leasehold title adds time, and the wait differs by state. Your lawyer gives you the timetable once the title search is done.
What does buying cost on top of the price?
Stamp duty on the transfer, legal fees for the sale and the loan, stamp duty on the loan, and any consent fees. Put your price into the buying costs calculator to see the total.
Do I need to be in Malaysia to buy?
Not always. Documents can often be signed abroad before a notary or at a Malaysian embassy, and the loan can be arranged remotely, but banks and lawyers each have their own rules. Ask before you book.
Is this guide legal or tax advice?
No. It explains the usual process so that you can ask the right questions. Rules change; confirm the current position with a Malaysian lawyer before you sign.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Checked October 2026.
Video
Watch Jason explain
From the Smart Asset with Jason YouTube channel.
5 questions to ask before you buy
New launch or subsale?
The biggest first-time buyer mistake
Not sure which step you are at?
Tell me your nationality, budget and the state you have in mind. I will tell you what applies and what to do next.