Post date: Apr 02, 2011 2:41:33 PM
Opinions
I'M so glad to be back to warm sunny Malaysia after spending more than two weeks in cold snowy Europe last December.
The 10-nation tour I took with my family was quite taxing and can hardly be described as a vacation. Anyhow, the children had their fun and we did manage to see Europe deep in snow, which made us return home more appreciative of where we live - in a country blessed with friendly people, kind weather and affordable cost of living.
Despite the euro spiralling downwards from RM4.20 when I left to RM4 currently and still going south, almost everything in Europe is still far too expensive. After a week of suffering severe jet lag, I am now fully recovered and the first thing I did was attend some property launches and visit some sites in the Klang Valley to get a feel of the property market in the coming Rabbit Year.
Here are some of my observations:
Bandar Nusaputra
This is a nice gated-and-guarded community located five minutes from Cyberjaya and about 15 minutes from UEP Subang Jaya.
Developed by Tarafunggul Sdn Bhd and project managed by Metrogen Sdn Bhd, some of its houses are sold on a build-then-sell concept. Of the 50 units of its completed double-storey terraces with dimensions of 22ft by 70ft called Amber 2 that were launched about three months ago, only two are still available as of last weekend.
Also available are 12 units of double- storey superlinks with dimensions of 22ft by 80ft called Grande.
Both types come with a payment plan that offers a 10 per cent discount and low downpayment of just RM3,000.
To reach Bandar Nusaputra from UEP Subang Jaya which is 27km away, take the Damansara-Puchong Highway and turn right upon reaching a bridge interchange just before the newly opened Avenue @ Puchong furniture mall.
From there, it's another 6km along a road passing Bandar Bukit Puchong 2, Bandar Puchong Utama, Taman Putra Impiana, Taman Meranti Jaya and Taman Tasik Puchong before arriving at the development, where the immediate neighbours are Selangor Science Park 2 as well as Talam's Taman Putra Perdana.
Although the 820-acre leasehold Bandar Nusajaya boasts of houses with nice designs with pocket parks, the houses in the neighbouring schemes are rather drab but these days it is quite common to find new gated-and-guarded upmarket communities sprouting up amidst old housing estates.
As Bandar Nusajaya's entrance is at the corner of a dedicated interchange to the Maju Expressway that leads to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, its location can be considered strategic. The good connectivity must be one of the reasons why so many people have been drawn there.
The two remaining Amber 2 houses with 2,500sq ft of built-up space are priced at RM560,000 before the 10 per cent discount.
Since the houses are completed with Certificates of Fitness already issued, there is also additional savings on progress payment interest.
In the case of Grande that boasts an ultra large living-cum-dining area and looks as large as a semidetached house, the houses are 75 per cent completed and should be ready in a year's time.
The corner units with two-and-ahalf floors have more than 5,000sq ft land and 4,200sq ft of built-up space, and are priced from RM1.47 million. For the standard units, they each have 2,944sq ft of space and are priced from RM640,584 (for Bumiputeras) and RM699,000 (non-Bumiputeras).
In order to maximise the indoor space, the car porch has been shortened but still, two cars can be parked side-by-side, though there's hardly any space for gardening.
Both the Amber 2 and Grande come with quality finishes including two jacuzzis, three-phase incoming power supply and centralised solar heater systems.
Nadayu 92
Located in Kajang, the two-, two-and-a-half- and three-storey superlinks in the project have also been well received by buyers.
The units in the first phase were sold out in two days recently and sales of the second phase have been good. Prices for the 349 units range from RM433,000 to just over RM1 million.
Among its features are a resident-only clubhouse with facilities including a swimming pool, gardens and games courts.
Bumiputera property expo
This event held recently in Mid Valley Megamall drew lots of Bumiputeras, with many of them making beelines for projects such as Kinrara Residence (by Mah Sing Group Bhd) that offered two, twoand- a-half and three-storey superlinks with enhanced features, and Tiara Heights @ Sepang, which has double-storey terraces priced from RM448,000.
Also on show was Taman Mesra Utama in Balakong, Cheras, that has three-storey, 24ft by 70ft superlinks with six bedrooms and five baths in 3,250sq ft of space, pegged from RM698,000 before a five per cent discount.
Only 10 of the 78 units were available when I visited the booth. Besides the discount, buyers were probably drawn to the fact the developer was providing them with three air-conditioners and auto gates while absorbing the legal cost for both the Sale and Purchase Agreement and loan agreement.
S.C. Cheah is a veteran journalist with his ears and eyes fixed on the property scene. If there are projects you want him to see, email him at sccheah.nstproperty@gmail.com
By : S.C. Cheah
Source : New Straits Times Property
Date Published : 17 January 2011