Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Md Jais Sarday is calling on bumiputeras to purchase high-rise units in the state’s affordable housing projects, reported The Star.
He also urged them not to be too choosy and don’t just go for landed houses.
This is because sales of bumi units at Johor Affordable Homes Scheme (RMMJ) in the state capital is presently low. “In two RMMJ projects in Taman Molek and Taman Denai Nusan-tara, more than half of the houses that have yet to be sold are bumi lots.”
In both projects, he noted that there are a total of around 264 bumiputra units available for sale, with each high-rise flat costing RM150,000.
If these units could not be disposed, the home builder needs to sell them to non-bumi buyers, as these companies would face financial difficulties if these houses remain in their inventory for too long.
For those keen to acquire bumi units in RMMJ projects, qualified buyers are advised to contact or visit the State Secretariat for Housing in Kota Iskandar.
Moreover, Md Jais revealed that local government officials will hold a meeting with Johor’s Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) on 16 July to address the high number of unsold bumi properties in the state.
He noted that out of that the 88,558 remaining units, apartments and service apartments account for at least 21,972 units.
The Star reported earlier that there are many available condos, apartments, high-end homes, shoplots, workshops, industrial lots and even land for bumiputra buyers in the state collectively valued at tens of millions of ringgit. Given the large number of unsold bumi units, developers are facing cash flow problems.
According to REHDA Johor Chairman Datuk Steve Chong, this is an issue being face by developers with projects in the state, as they need to allocate 40 percent of the total units in a project to bumi buyers. Previously, these companies were allowed to dispose the remaining bumi lots to non-bumi buyers in stages if there’s still no taker for nine months.
Meanwhile, Chong is urging the Johor government to reduce the ceiling price for high-rise flats that foreigners are permitted to purchase to RM500,000 from RM1 million currently.
“We also support the government’s move to build more affordable homes in Johor but they must first lower the development cost, especially the various fees imposed by state agencies.”
“These charges are passed on to consumers, causing the prices of properties to increase,” added Chong.
Image sourced from The Star
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email radin@propertyguru.com.my
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