This is with reference to media reports on calls to review housing loan criteria for potential buyers of affordable houses. The comments made by some parties had caused confusion and were not based on facts and accurate information. If the issue of affordable housing is to be resolved, all parties must be clear on the root cause of the matter and honestly strive to help those affected by it.

Eligible home buyers will continue to have access to financing. In the first five months of 2017, RM40 billion of housing loans were approved to more than 152,000 borrowers. Three quarters of these borrowers were first time house buyers. The approval rate for housing loans has also been stable at 74%.

Banks have also introduced more flexible financing solutions to improve affordability, such as that offered for PRIMA homes. Outstanding housing loans has continued to outpace overall loan growth, increasing by 8.6% y-o-y to RM493 billion as at end-May 2017.

The responsible financing guidelines are in place to protect the interests of borrowers by ensuring that those who borrow are within their capacity to honour their financial obligation. Financial institutions will offer financing to all eligible borrowers and only reject loan applicants who are clearly over-extended in terms of the ability to take on more debt and have adverse credit repayment histories. It is worth reminding that banking institutions’ core business is to provide financing.

Based on engagements with banking institutions, housing loans rejected by banking institutions mostly involved borrowers with high levels of pre-existing debt obligations that would expose them to severe financial risk if further debt is extended. For such borrowers, the risk of foreclosure is significantly higher and they are much more likely to fall in financial hardship in the event of income shocks or large medical expenses.

Solutions to affordable housing need to address the shortage of affordable houses and the high house prices relative to income. Based on National Property Information Centre’s data, less than 30% of new housing launches in 2015-2016 were for houses priced less than RM250,000, compared to 70% during the 2008-2009 period. Housing affordability has not improved significantly where average national house prices remained at 4.4 times of median income (affordable range is 3.0 and below), with lower affordability recorded for some major states and urban cities. Housing developers, working together with authorities and relevant stakeholders, should therefore intensify efforts to reduce costs and accelerate supply.

Source: BNM

So it’s true — Klang Valley folks are less happy living in the city compared with those living in Penang and Johor Bahru. That is according to TheEdgeProperty.com-Lafarge Happiness in the City Index 2017 survey.

The survey showed that as many as 49% of respondents in the Klang Valley found city life merely “tolerable” while another 9% and 3% were unhappy and very unhappy, respectively.

That’s hardly surprising, but what will probably make us sit up more is that only 3% of Penang and Johor Bahru respondents were unhappy/very unhappy living in their respective cities.

Penang seems to have gotten the happiness formula right as 47% of respondents from the state said they were very happy while another 30% said they were happy. As for Johor Bahru, about 24% of respondents from there were very happy and 37% were happy.

Why are Penang and Johor Bahru folks so much happier than those in the Klang Valley?

Could it be something in the air? Or could it be that they are living in a less stressful environment?

TheEdgeProperty.com-Lafarge Happiness in the City Index 2017 survey found that 54% of Klang Valley respondents felt stressed out living in the city compared with only 7% and 17% Penang and Johor Bahru respondents, respectively.

“Generally, people living in urban areas especially big cities such as Kuala Lumpur face a lot of stress. Stress could come from dealing with traffic congestion, higher cost of living, and demanding jobs and workplaces,” says Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) secretary-general Datin Ang Kim Teng.

Ang tells TheEdgeProperty.com that stress is essential to keep one moving forward, but too much stress can lead to mental illness.

Citing a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health in 2015, she points out that 39.8% of KL folks have different levels of mental illness, such as stress, anxiety and depression. The figure was lower in Penang and Johor Bahru, at 19.1% and 22.2%, respectively.

“The findings of the ministry’s study and TheEdgeProperty.com-Lafarge Happiness in the City Index 2017 survey correlate, although the latter mentions stress but not mental illness. However, as Ang said, if you are not handling stress carefully, it will slowly transform into mental illness,” says MMHA president See Cheng Siang.

See says stress may also come from loneliness and the lack of an extensive family support, especially for those who are not originally from KL.

“KL is a migrant city — many people came here to further their studies and work. Most of them have to depend on themselves without the mental and emotional support of their families,” he shares.

Ang also adds that many people choose to face their stress-related problems on their own rather than seek help because of the stigma attached to mental illness.

“There are many reasons for the number of people suffering from serious stress problems and mental illness. I think one crucial problem is that Asians still view seeking help from psychiatrists or even counsellors as a stigma,” says Ang.

She stresses that mental illness is just like any other physical illness such as fever and flu. “You will go to a doctor if you feel feverish and your throat is sore, but why wouldn’t you go to a professional if you are mentally sick?” Besides seeking professional help, other options that Ang and See suggest to de-stress are balancing out the time for work and leisure, talking to people and enjoying nature.

“It is proven that greenery will help you relax. However, I would not say KL people are stressed out because we do not have enough green spaces.

“Green spaces can help people de-stress only if people use them. Many people in the city would rather go indoors in their leisure time,” See points out.

Source: TheEdgeProperty.com.my

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Land is the most important asset to a property developer as it enables the developer to sustain and grow its business. The constant rise in land prices is the simplest reason that explains the escalating property price especially those in prime areas.

We have solicited some actual data from reliable sources (mostly from NAPIC) for land transacted in 2016/2017. Hopefully this will shed some lights for those who has been very curious on land prices in Penang. For those who own a land or any landed property in those areas, you can do a quick math to figure out how much your property is worth now.

Land transacted at more than RM10mil in 2016/2017

A 12,000 sq.ft. bungalow lot at Macalister Road is so far the most expensive land transacted in 2016 at RM14.5mil, equivalent to RM1,208 per sq.ft.

It is also worth mentioning that the land in Northern and Central Seberang Perai is coming on par with some areas in the Island.

The scarcity of land has been and will continue to be a challenge in Penang Island. This is particularly true in George Town where some development land were transacted at more than RM1,000 per sq.ft. Here are a few upcoming development to lookout for in 2017/2018.

Senrita Development Sdn. Bhd.

A proposed residential development  at George Town, Penang. Strategically located on a half acre land along Jalan Cheah Choo Yew, easily accessible via Jalan Patani. It’s only 10 walk form Penang Times Square, about 2km drive to KOMTAR.

PPB Gruop

Mixed development scheme on a 5-acre land along Swatow Lane in George Town. The site is currently occupied by New World Park, a famous food court with more than 30 food operators and retailers.

Runnymede Group (Runnymede Bay)

5 acre seafront development along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in Georgetown, Penang. Strategically located next to Menara KWSP, only 5-minutes walking distance from E&O Hotel. The proposed development will feature a mix of hotel and commercial properties, to be completed in two phases.

Tanjung Villa Development Sdn. Bhd. (Sandiland Foreshore)

Strategically located at along Lintang Macallum 2 in Georgetown, just a stone’s throw away from Sandilands condominium by Heng Lee Group. This development will see the construction of a 48-storey building, featuring a mix of commercial and residential properties, including affordable units.

WHH Land

A luxury residential development in the heart of Georgetown, Penang. Strategically located along Jalan Logan, next to Villamas condominium. It is also adjacent to the ongoing project by Tropicana Corporation Bhd. – Tropicana 218 Macalister. This 28-storey residential development comprises 48 luxury condominium units, with only 2 units per floor.

Aspen Group (Beacon Executive Suites)

The latest addition to landmarks in the heart of George Town by Aspen Group. Strategically located along Jalan Sungai Pinang, this freehold development comprises 227 units of executive suites with standard unit size of 980 sq.ft. and a state of art roof top bar & lounge.

Mah Sing Group (Icon Residence @ Penang)

Located along Pykett Avenue, close to Penang’s most famous street, Gurney Drive. This development comprises of two residential towers (24 & 30-storey) with rooftop garden, featuring 294 units with breathtaking views of the heritage city and the sea.