This story is about a M’sian woman who regrets buying a house after finding out how much she spends on home upkeep, repairs, and hidden legal fees.
You just got the keys to your first home. There’s that familiar rush of pride, the kind you feel when you’ve crossed an invisible threshold into adulthood.
You picture cozy weekends, maybe a projector setup for Netflix, or a small herb garden you’ll probably forget to water.
It’s your “I’ve made it” moment—your name on the title, a place to call your own.
But three months in, you’re stuck in a flooded airwell with Google tabs open for “how to unclog outdoor drains,” RM500 lighter every month from surprise expenses, and wondering—“Did I sign up for this?”
For many Malaysians, buying that first home isn’t the fairy tale it’s made out to be.
It’s not about picking the “wrong” unit or getting duped by a shady agent. Sometimes, the regret doesn’t come from the house itself—but everything no one told you would come after.
You Budget for the Loan—Not the Lifestyle
Most first-time buyers do the math like this:
“Okay, monthly repayment is RM2,100. If I skip some weekend coffees and reduce my Grab orders, I can handle it.”
But that’s just the surface.
If you bought a strata property, prepare to add another RM300–RM500 in monthly maintenance. A little extra for the sinking fund.
Then quit rent and assessment tax roll in, quiet but consistent. If you went with a subsale property, here come the renovation costs—waterproofing, tiling, maybe even redoing the wiring because the previous owner left more than just memories behind.
And those “free legal fees” the developer promised? Often not really free.
Somewhere in the fine print, there’s a clause saying you’ll need to cover disbursement charges or pay a “discounted” rate that’s still a few thousand ringgit.
Very quickly, what you thought would be a manageable RM2,100 monthly commitment can creep closer to RM3,000. That’s not a small gap.
And for many, it becomes a monthly squeeze.
The Dream Investment That Doesn’t Pay You Back
There’s a popular belief: “Buy now, rent it out later. Let your tenant pay off the loan.”
Nice idea in theory. In practice though? Not so easy.
One homeowner bought their “forever” home in Kajang. Two years later, their job moved them to Penang. Renting seemed like a good way to manage things—but the rental market had other plans.
They found a tenant, sure, but for RM1,000 a month. Their loan payment? RM1,700.
So every month, they’re topping up RM700 just to keep the unit occupied. Over six years, that’s more than RM50,000 paid into a house they don’t even live in.
They told the news portal, “It doesn’t feel like an investment. It feels like a drain.”
And they’re not alone.
The Trap of “Easy Entry” Housing
In Malaysia, it feels easier than ever to own property. Between PR1MA schemes, “zero downpayment” offers, and developers offering everything from free legal to cashback, the entry point looks attractive.
But what you don’t see on the banner are the conditions:
- Lock-in periods where selling the property early triggers penalty fees.
- Loans with floating interest rates that rise with the economy.
- Fine print that ties you to long-term commitments even if your circumstances change.
Some buyers even lose their deposits (RM3,000–RM5,000) when their loans fall through, often because they signed on before confirming their eligibility.
And when the house is finally yours, that’s when the real costs begin.
Life Doesn’t Wait for You to Settle Down
You can be as careful as you want—life still throws curveballs.
Maybe you get married and suddenly your cozy one-bedroom feels cramped. Maybe your job relocates you. Maybe a highway gets built next to your block and the noise doesn’t let you sleep.
You’re tied to a property for the next 30 years, but your life doesn’t care.
And the house you bought because it made sense at 28 might become a burden at 32.
Banks won’t negotiate because you had a baby, or because your salary dropped. They’ll still want their RM2,100 every month.
For Most People, Renting Isn’t Failure—It’s Freedom
Ask around, and you’ll probably hear it at least once:
“Why rent? You’re just paying someone else’s mortgage.”
Or the classic: “You’ll never build wealth if you don’t own property.”
In Malaysia, owning a house is still seen as a badge of success. Something you aim for after you land a stable job, get married, or have your first kid. It’s ingrained into us — that homeownership means you’ve “settled down.”
But that thinking doesn’t always hold up anymore, especially for those in their 20s and 30s navigating an economy where salaries haven’t risen as fast as property prices.
And renting? It’s no longer just a temporary stopgap. For many, it’s a conscious, calculated choice. Why? Because renting lets you breathe.
No debt tying you down. No 30-year noose around your neck. No panic whenever Bank Negara tweaks the interest rate or your job situation changes.
You don’t have to worry about replacing a leaking roof, waterproofing your balcony, or whether the sinking fund has been misused by your building’s management committee.
Here’s the thing most people don’t realise until it’s too late:
Owning a home isn’t just about the monthly loan repayment. It’s the long-term commitment to a fixed location, lifestyle, and financial load. It’s giving up flexibility in exchange for permanence — and permanence isn’t always what you need.
When you rent, you can:
- Relocate for better job opportunities without worrying about selling a house.
- Test out different neighbourhoods, cities, even states, before deciding where you actually want to settle down.
- Avoid tying up all your savings into a down payment and instead invest that cash into more liquid, less risky assets — like unit trusts, ASB, robo-advisors, or even your own business.
- Dodge the stress that comes with long-term maintenance, property taxes, unexpected repairs, and fluctuating interest rates.
Conventional wisdom also says this: Property only makes you rich when values go up.
But that’s not guaranteed. Ask anyone who bought during the market peak, only to find their unit worth less five years later. Or those stuck with condos in oversupplied areas where rental returns don’t even cover half the loan.
Owning makes sense when:
- You’re financially stable with a safety net that goes beyond just paying the monthly instalments.
- You’re ready to commit to a specific area for the long haul.
- You’ve done the math on potential capital appreciation or long-term rental yield — and the numbers make sense.
But renting makes sense when:
- You value flexibility more than control.
- You don’t want to gamble with your future based on property market predictions.
- You’d rather pay for peace of mind than pay for plumbing repairs.
One thing to remember: rent isn’t “money down the drain.”
You’re paying for shelter, stability, and — most importantly — options. And in this economy, where things change fast, options are power.
That RM1,500 rent you’re paying monthly? It might not build equity, but it buys you freedom.
So if you’re not ready to buy, or just not sure you ever want to — that’s okay. It doesn’t make you less of an adult. It means you’re thinking for yourself, not living someone else’s idea of success.
And that’s probably the smartest move you can make.
Think Twice Before You Sign
The real danger of Malaysia’s property market isn’t that it’s unaffordable. It’s that it looks too affordable.
The promos, the banners, the sales tactics—they’re designed to make you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t buy.
But the truth is: the wrong house, at the wrong time, under the wrong circumstances—can become one of the most expensive decisions of your life.
When it comes to buying a house in Malaysia, eyes open wide. Not half-closed behind developer brochures.
So ask yourself:
- Can you handle more than just the loan payment?
- What happens if your income drops, or you need to move?
- Is this really the right time, or are you just being swept up in the hype?
Because the last thing you want is to look back five years from now, standing in your empty unit with a leaky ceiling and a tenant who just left—and think, “I really thought I made it.”
Have a story to share?
Submit your story to ym.efillaerni@olleh and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Read also: 5 Money-Saving Tips Malaysians STILL Don’t Know About – In Real Life
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