Where To Start Looking For A Home
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There is just something special about having a place to call your own. However, like all great milestones, getting to that point comes with its own set of challenges that every Malaysian will have to face.
For example, when would be the right time to consider buying a home? Is it even the right decision to consider looking for one? What do your finances look like? Do you have enough saved up to pay off to consider a mortgage? Do you even qualify for a loan in the first place
With so many things to consider, it is understandable why people might be intimidated by the idea of owning property. To help you get started, we have compiled the top sites and apps that you can use to search for your dream home.
Is it cheaper to buy or rent?
The simple answer is that there is no correct answer to the question. As mentioned previously, those who are looking to invest in property need to ask themselves some questions before committing their name to the dotted line. Depending on how you answer these questions, you will have to decide whether renting or buying property would be better for you.
Read more:
Renting Or Buying: Which Makes More Financial Sense?
Are You Financially Ready To Buy A House In Malaysia?
How Affordable Are Malaysian Homes?
Popular services for property hunting
There are a number of resources available to look up property in Malaysia. These can prove invaluable when you are ready to start researching a place to call home.
iProperty is a website and app that offers a wide range of tools for people on the house hunt. Be it for purchase or rent, iProperty has you covered. The website also has a number of guides available with useful tips on how to pick your properties. It is also worthy to note that iProperty has recently been acquired by the PropertyGuru Group, a very well-established brand.
Additionally, iProperty also offers its LoanCare home loan eligibility indicator to calculate and compare your options with up to 17 banks. This is especially helpful in determining your chances of securing a home loan.
Even if you don’t keep up with property that often, chances are you might still know about PropertyGuru. With roots in Singapore, the organization has expanded to become a leading brand in the South East Asian property market. Not only does it have an extensive library of properties on sale and for rent, it also provides easy access to agents, should you find the need for clarification or a more personal touch.
In addition, there are also a number of useful tools available for free on their website. These include home loan calculators, affordability calculators, mortgage comparison tools, and more.
SPEEDHOME offers a sleek and intuitive experience for house hunters. While it does provide listings for both buy and rent, it does lean more towards the rental side of things. The website has very specific features to ease the renting process, especially plenty of support for both tenants and landlords looking to list their properties.
The service also offers a number of perks, which include a zero deposit upfront when renting units, earnable points and rewards that include the possibility of free rent for up to a month, as well as tenancy and landlord protection.
With a presence in 5 ASEAN countries, iBilik has made a name for itself as a great room rental website in the region in terms of daily traffic and number of listings by landlords. Besides room rental, it also has a short stay rent listing. The website is straightforward and easy to use. Considering that iBilik only offers listings, you might have to do a little research and cost calculation on your own.
Mudah.my is one of the largest online marketplaces you can find in Malaysia. You can get almost anything here, from cars to electronics to pets, and yes, even property! Under Mudah’s property section, you can find all sorts of listings for rent or sale throughout Malaysia. Listings are divided into a wide variety of categories, including price range, property type, and even ownership type. The website even comes with a convenient mortgage loan calculator and some helpful guides on investing in properties.
Regardless of which resource you pick to assist in your property hunt, remember to always do your homework and calculate your finances. Renting and buying a home are both tough and costly investments, so it is best to be as prepared as possible before committing.
Nextsix has a rather interesting way of doing things. Its website and app works like any other listing website, with the option to browse listings and contact agents directly. However, its app offers a rather unique service known as “GPS Your Agent”. This feature instantly connects homebuyers with the suitable estate agents within preferred vicinity via the use of GPS. House hunters can easily enquire first hand information regarding the properties they are looking for within a specific area. The app also includes direct video showcases and 3D Home Tour viewing features, so homebuyers can have a quick preview of the property before making any further decisions.
Property Hunter is one of the largest property media networks in East Malaysia and is wholly owned by Maxx Media (S) Sdn Bhd. While it does list properties within Peninsular Malaysia, it is definitely one of the go-to listing apps/websites for those in East Malaysia. Being a media network, Property Hunter offers much more than just price listings or property. Not only do they publish a bi-mothly property-focused magazine, the company also offers an array of articles, videos, and online events designed to educate, encourage and inspire activity in the local real estate market. The company also tends to hold regular property exhibitions across major cities in East Malaysia, offering a more hands-on experience for homebuyers.
PropSocial’s unique selling point is that the majority of its property listings are review driven. The company aims to add more value to listing searches by bridging the gap with consumer reviews of properties and locations. As such, the best reviewed properties on their website are the ones that will be pushed the most, ensuring that homebuyers are the most well-liked listings. Though, it is still important to keep in mind that people base their reviews on different factors. For PropSocial, the most important aspect of the company is building a community.
If you are still not sure about which listing website to use, then how about a more recognisable brand? As a part of the Star Media Group, StarProperty is a property listing platform that is bringing you the ins and outs on property, from the latest and upcoming real estate news, property ownership tips, guides, and lifestyle and neighbourhood reviews that can be extremely helpful to first time property buyers, investors, and even to an extent, foreign investors. Its listing website even offers a very easy to use financing estimator that gives you a quick rough estimate of how much you can expect to afford based on your monthly salary.
