Real Estate in Malaysia

Malaysia Real Estate

First Published Date: Apr 2010

One of the fastest growing and most dynamic countries on Earth is Malaysia. Once thought of as a country that was nothing more than developing, this country is becoming a financial force to be reckoned with. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is close to some of the most important cities in the world, including Singapore, and the city itself boasts 6.9 million within its region, giving it plenty of opportunities for investment, and as a place to move to.

In fact, many individuals in the Western World are looking at Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur as a place for retirement residential property. The coastal area of Malaysia to the west of the country boasts some excellent coastal resorts and properties that are quite affordable.

In addition, Malaysia is very open for tourists and if you want to visit somewhere beautiful in your very own condo or house, then you should look to this country as a place to own property.

Thankfully, Malaysia makes this very easy thanks to the My Second Home Program (MM2H). This program allows foreigners to own residential property within Malaysia, with a limit of two properties. This program tests an applicant to make sure that only serious buyers come to the country and those who own property through the MM2H program are not allowed to work within Malaysia, but they are more than welcome to take their vacations there. That doesn’t mean you can’t own property and work in Malaysia. To that, all you need is to get a loan from a bank.

In order to put down money on property there are two stages that must be followed. First, three percent of the worth of the property must go with the letter of offer. After this, another seven percent of the purchase price must be presented with when the full sale agreement is signed. Some other benefits to living in Malaysia also include the fact that there is no capital gains tax on property deals as of April 2007. At one point the tax was as high as 30 percent, but it does not exist anymore.

It should also be pointed out that Malaysia has a very benign taxing structure. This means that you do not pay much for taxes when you live in Malaysia. This helps you save more money that you can use to put towards buying a home in Malaysia.

Currently, homes and condos are cheaper in Malaysia than ever before due to the financial meltdown that has been experienced all over the world. As a result, you can save a lot of money by buying in Malaysia right now. You will typically pay more within Kuala Lumpur than you will outside the city. No different than in the United States, Canada or Europe, some homes will be more expensive than others depending on where they are. Make sure you do your research before buying a condo or house within Malaysia to ensure you get what you want, where you want, for the price that you want.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the realestateexpedition.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Apr 11, 2010.

Toronto Real Estate – A World Class City Is Still Surprisingly Affordable

Real Estate in Toronto

First Published Date : April 24, 2010

In a study done in 2010 by the Economist to find the most liveable cities in the world, Toronto ranked in at number four, joining Calgary and Vancouver as the three Canadian cities in the top 10. Toronto joined places like Sidney, Australia and Vienna as places where it is great to live. However, unlike most of the cities on the list, Toronto is not far out of the reach of many individuals. Vancouver is one of the most expensive places in the world to live, but Toronto still has real estate, in prime places like downtown and North York, that is affordable. This means that you can live in a world class city, without having to go into deep debt in order to pay for your new home.

Buying a condo in New York or Paris will cost you a small fortune, but you can get the same type of condo, with an amazing view, in a world-class city like Toronto, for as much as you would pay for a home in the country. That is amazing to think about because you can live in what many consider to be the premier city of Canada (although Vancouver is close on the list) for a decent price.

As of January 2010, Toronto had an average home price of $409,000, only $18,000 more than Calgary but a whopping $229,000 below the highest priced city in Canada; Vancouver.

In terms of the entire world, Toronto has a comparable amount of services, culture and population to many of the greatest cities on the planet, but it ranks 31st in terms of the most expensive cities to live in. So, you have a city that ranks fourth in terms of being the best place on Earth to live, but 31st in terms of price. That is an amazing combination that you should take advantage of if you are going to move anywhere in Canada.

One big plus for Toronto is its surging real estate market. Toronto has out-performed nearly every Canadian city, and most of the American cities, in terms of real estate market recovery. Since April 2008, the average home sales have gone up over 100 percent a month for several months in a row. This not only shows that Toronto is a popular place to live, but that it is weathering the storm of the economic crisis that swept around the world quite nicely.

In terms of neighbourhoods, where you live will depend on how much you end up paying. The most popular neighbourhood in Toronto is Riverdale, which comes with an average home price of just $480,000, quite reasonable for where you are within the city. Riverdale is considered to be one of the trendiest and most artful neighbourhoods in all of Toronto. This just shows how you can get a home in one of the best, if not the best neighbourhood in Toronto, without having to pay more than $500,000. Riverdale itself features several art galleries, film studios and some beautiful homes that are built in the style of Georgian and Victorian architectural style.

Now, if you want to live in what may be the most beautiful part of Toronto, as well as one of the hottest areas for real estate, then you could think about The Beaches. Sitting on the shores of Lake Ontario, you get a lake view property in within the limits of Canada’s biggest city. That is pretty amazing, especially considering that the property price within this area is only around $571,921, more expensive than Riverdale but very reasonable considering the high-class style of this neighbourhood. The beaches has a very colourful history with its residents, which have included from time to time Academy-award winning director Norman Jewison, pianist Glenn Gould, Miley Cyrus, John Candy, Keanu Reeves, Kiefer and Donald Sutherland, as well as Alex Trebek. It is like living in an affordable Beverly Hills within a beautiful city.

The most expensive area of Toronto to live is Leaside, which is where many local celebrities live, and the home prices in this area fall around $650,000. That may seem expensive but it is important to remember that this high price is only slightly higher than the average price of homes in Vancouver. Try buying prime real estate in Paris, London or New York for only $650,000. You will be lucky to get a condo in a rough neighbourhood for that price anywhere but Toronto!

Toronto is a beautiful city to live in. In Toronto, what many call the Center of the Universe, you can live in a world class city for prices that you will not find anywhere. Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Vancouver, London, or Paris would never be affordable to the tune of $650,000 in the best neighbourhood in the city. The argument may be made that it’s cheap because it is not a good place to live, but then explain how Toronto can rank fourth in the world for the best places to live? A young family can buy a home in the best neighbourhoods of Toronto, while at the same time being in an area where there are plenty of services, cultural hotspots and more.

If you are going to buy a home in Toronto, look to some of the neighbourhoods that we have mentioned here. They are the best neighbourhoods in the city, yet highly affordable. They feature everything you could want, including some amazing people who call the neighbourhoods home. Not to mention the beautiful homes, the history and the views you get in these neighbourhoods are a bargain at the price you are paying. Anywhere else in the world and you would be paying over $1 million for the homes you get in Toronto for half of that.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the realestateexpedition.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Apr 24, 2010.

Canada Cottage Country Real Estate – Part Two

Cottage Country Canada – Part 2

First Published Date: Jan 16, 2009

Some of the hottest and most sought-after real estate properties in Canada at the moment, both residential and commercial, are in the region just north and east of Toronto, Ontario, in what is known as cottage country or ‘the Muskokas’ to the locals. While summertime traffic can often make the trip there a brutal one, it’s well worth it once you get there to enjoy everything the region has to offer.

The area is teeming with freshwater lakes, woodlands, wildlife, hiking trails, scenic cliffs, and quaint little towns. It’s no wonder that so many people are seeking property there. It’s a virtual playground all year round and a decent sized waterfront home or cottage can often fetch well over a million dollars. The area has started attracting the who’s who of North American society and many financiers, athletes, and film actors now own or rent property there.

While many Canadian entertainers and sports stars have known about the place for years, it appears Hollywood types have finally been let in on the secret and it’s not uncommon to run into Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Martin Short, Tom Hanks or many others on the streets or at the local stores as they own cottages in the region.

A real estate boom hit the area about 10 years ago and many of the smaller lakeside cottages in the Muskoka’s  were bought up and then torn down, only to be replaced, by larger, luxury homes. However, while the area is definitely seen as a paradise by many, there are still quite a few real estate deals to be found on homes, cottages, and properties.

Lakefront lots are obviously at a premium, but there are so many of them, they can still be bought and built on quite easily. The region is also home to hundreds of private islands and thousands of kilometres of shoreline with many properties being pretty secluded. 

The regions of Haliburton, Collingwood, Huntsville, and Peterborough are also ideal for those who are looking to retire or to invest in some property. These towns are almost as popular in the middle of the winter as they are in the summer and there’s an endless supply of visitors looking to rent accommodations on a weekly basis. You can easily cover your mortgage by renting out your property.  The properties in these areas are typically less than in the Muskoka’s, but the locality is just as nice.

Some people have sold their homes in cottage country by necessity instead of choice though, as property taxes continuously seem to rise in Ontario. But there definitely wasn’t a shortage of buyers and that’s why country living is now more high-end than ever before.

There are many real estate agents in and around cottage country who can help you if you’re interested in residential and/or commercial properties in the area. There are also many websites that feature most available real estate properties. These will give you a good idea of the types of homes that are available and the price range that they come in.

It is believed the average price of a lake house in the Muskoka region was about $225,000, about 15 years ago, and according to the Muskoka and Halliburton Association of Realtors, that price is now closer to $1 million. However, there are still some hidden gems and prime real estate still available for considerably less.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the realestateexpedition.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Jan 16, 2009.

Cottage Country Canada – Part 3

Why Ontario Cottage Country Is So Popular

First Published Date : Jan 17, 2009

It is often considered one of the most beautiful areas in the world, with crystal clear lakes, prime fishing areas, thick and plentiful forests, luxury resorts, and some of the most amazing sunsets you’ll ever witness. It’s the choice of home to several millionaires as well as a summer playground to the rich and famous.  In Ontario, Canada, the area is known as cottage country and it consists of a large area of land that consists of several popular towns such as Muskoka, Peterborough, Bracebridge, Haliburton, Huntsville, Orillia, Minden, and Collingwood.

It is an ideal area to purchase real estate as there are thousands of waterfront cottages, homes, and condos available for those who are interested in residential properties. There are also quite a few commercial properties available in the area. Many people have owned homes and cottages in the region for years and they are passed down from generation to generation. However, there are still many of them for sale on the market. These properties are an excellent investment and they are often rented out for extra income.

One of the most attractive things about cottage country is that it’s almost just as popular in the winter as it is in the summer. While people swim, water-ski and boat on the lakes in the summer, they snowmobile, fish, and play hockey on them during the winter. This is ideal for those who want to purchase real estate with the intention of renting it out. It is also known as one of the best areas in Canada to retire to.

The real estate prices vary greatly in cottage country as cottages are sold as low as about $100,000 and can reach as high as millions of dollars. If you have a price range in mind as well as a specific location , there are hundreds of real estate agents in the area that are more than willing to help you out. You should be able to find something suitable for just about any budget.

It is also possible to by land, such as waterfront properties, to build your own dream home or cottages on. This will also take a little bit of time and research and the help of a qualified real estate agent. There are many websites to help you in your search. These sites will give full details of the properties and buildings that are for sale and generally come with a series of photographs and contact information for the seller. While some property and homes are sold privately, you will find that most of them involve real estate companies.

The options are endless in cottage country because of the size of land it encompasses. If you do decide to look for residential or commercial property in the area, it’s a good idea to do some homework so you know what to expect when it comes to pricing. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, you may want to enlist some professional help. If you decide on using a real estate agent, it’s recommended to ask for some referrals or testimonials as it’s important you get a good agent to help you out.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the realestateexpedition.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Jan 17, 2009.

Canada Cottage Country Real Estate – Part Four

Collingwood Cottage Country RealEstate Is The Place To Be For Peace that Surpasses Understanding

First Published Date: Jan 20, 2009

Collingwood, located on the southern shores of the Muskokan Georgian Bay, is a recreational heaven just outside of the largest population in Canada.  It is known for its natural beauty and untouched wilderness and has real estate offerings at prices that are providing great opportunities for real estate investors.

This region is known for its’ skiing activities and is in fact titled the capital of Ontario skiing.  Set in a mountainous region the area boasts both beaches and mountains offering an endless list of possibilities when it comes to things to do.  From snowmobiles to beaches, this area has you covered if you are an outdoor enthusiast.  There is something fun to do here for the entire family.

The farmers market, which was originally started in the Old Town Hall building back in the 1890’s, features farmers, butchers, bakers, feed and wood sellers among others.  If you enjoy getting natural rations of fresh fruits, meats, vegetables and the like then you are in for a treat.

The Blue Mountain Resort is a world-renowned ski resort hosted in Collingwood.  Condos and cottages are available here for rent or purchase and you will have access to some of the most prestigious lands in all of Canada.  It features spa baths with entirely outdoor bath areas with a mix of hot and cold both available.  Dry saunas and eucalyptus steam rooms are an incredible way to rejuvenate your energy.  The cafes are surrounded by amazing landscaping weaving visual pleasures with great aromas to fulfill your senses.

Real estate here is available for every style taste and all budgets.  Single-family homes, condos, real estate rentals, Blue mountain chalets, farms, acreage, vacant lots to build a dream home, and waterfront properties are among the choices you have in Collingwood and the Blue Mountain region.  Known for its’ small-town charm it is the perfect blend of rural and urban settings with people that know how to make you feel at home.  Perfect for retirement or vacations this area boasts a wide offering of commercial and residential real estate properties that can be affordable for renters or multi-millionaires looking to make a home away from home.

Real estate professionals in the area are plentiful and they have the knowledge and understanding of the area with a desire to know your needs.  They can assist you in finding properties within your budget and answer any specific questions you have about the surrounding areas.  This area is an affordable way to get a little piece of heaven for those of you who enjoy the peace and tranquillity of preserved natural wilderness combined with urban activities not too far away!

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the realestateexpedition.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Jan 20, 2009.