Mainland Property is Booming

23rd March 2012

The value of land, and residential and commercial properties in Seberang Prai is certainly lower. The price for the most expensive landed property on the mainland may be just a fraction of a similar one on the island.

I  learnt that a fully-furnished bungalow in the posh and gated Park View Residence near the popular Juru Auto-City in central Seberang Prai was sold for RM1.6 million.

The buyer was a Penang island resident looking for a nice property in which to invest his millions.  

A real estate agent told me that  a fully-furnished bungalow on the island similar to the one this buyer bought in Juru would have cost him close to RM6 million, if not more.

Many people agree that the property market on the island  has gone “crazy”.

The prices and values of properties skyrocket  quickly due to high demand and speculation.

The word “affordable” can rarely be used to describe the kind of homes that are being built on Penang Island. Most are only affordable to the rich. Just look at the ongoing modern residential projects around us now and those in the pipeline. I think I do not have to list them down. We know them well enough.

Tribunal for Home Buyers

3rd Aug 2011
Every buyers have their own rights in owning a good home if not better. This is not the case all the time as time goes, human, including us, tend to become greedy. In this post, I won't be touching the greediness of the buyers but instead on the developers. I'm not saying all developers are the same but then, there are many out there who tend to be greedy by building under quality homes, breaking promises to buyers and many more. I see many cases that buyers complain about the developers but to buyers, they are all chicken and eggs stuff. They know as time past, these complains will become nothing.
For buyers, at least you should know your rights and to fight it, means you would need to know which medium to go through to get it done and I'm not saying you should go to Ah Beng and ask him to whack the developer up.

House Buying Guide (Part 2)

10th April 2009
Informations stated in Part 1 are just a portion of what to come and therefore, in Part 2, you guys would need to pay a close attention as it involve more explanation to our side as Subdivided Building or another word, Condominium.
So, .......Enjoy!!!

Infrastructural Maintenance Fee
Buyers must pay the cost of maintaining the infrastructure from the date of vacant possession till the date the responsibility is taken over by the local authority or management corporation (in the case of a subdivided building).

Infrastructure is defined as:
* For land and building - Road, driveway, drains, sewerage, pipelines and sewerage tank for the housing development
* For subdivided building - Road, driveway, drains, sewerage, pipelines and sewerage tank for the building

Maintenance and Management Fee
From the date of vacant possession the buyer shall be responsible for paying for services such as:-

1. For land and building
    i. Refuse removal, upkeep of drains and grass-cutting on the road reserves
    ii. The buyer is responsible for such payment until such responsibility is taken over by the proper authority
    iii. The buyer must pay a six months’ deposit upon being handed vacant possession for the services to be rendered. After six months, if the services are still not taken over by the relevant authority, any subsequent payment shall be payable on a monthly advance.

2. For subdivided building
    i. Payment is for the cost of maintaining and managing the common area and payment starts when vacant possession is handed over.
    ii. The buyer shall pay one (1) month’s deposit and three (3) months’ advance in respect of the maintenance service charges and any payment thereafter shall be payable on a monthly advance.
    iii. Maintenance fee must be paid to the developer from the date of vacant possession up until the formation of a management corporation under the Strata Title Act 1985.
    iv. Once the management corporation is formed under the Strata Title Act 1985, maintenance services will be handled by the management corporation and the buyer must pay the maintenance fee to the management corporation and not to the developer.

=> Reminder:- Maintenance fee must be paid as long as the buyer owns a parcel in the said maintained building

Sinking Fund (For subdivided building only)
The buyer shall upon the date he takes vacant possession of the said parcel contribute to the sinking fund an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of the service charges.

The buyer shall pay one (1) month’s deposit and three (3) months’ advance in respect of the service charges to the sinking fund and any payment thereafter shall be payable on a monthly advance.

Payment of Quit Rent, Rate Assessment, etc
From the date of vacant possession or date of assignment, whichever is earlier, the buyer is responsible for the quit rent, assessment, rate payment and other charges relating to the property bought.

Vacant Possession (VP)
Vacant possession on the building complete with water and electricity connection must be handed over within 24 calendar months from the date of signing of the SPA for landed property and 36 calendar months for subdivided building.

Regulation and Rights of House Buyers during the Handing over of Vacant Possession Ensure the property is free from any encumbrances before accepting notice of vacant possession.

If the developer leases the land or the property, the developer must settle the balance payment before handing over vacant possession.

Conditions that must be followed by housing developers:-
1. Certificate from the developer’s architect stating that:
    i. water and electricity are ready for connec
    ii. the building is completed
2. The developer has applied for:
    i. the issue of the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO) through Form E *
    ii. the local authority has issued a notice stating that Form E has been checked and accepted by the relevant authority

=> Form E is an application from the developer’s architect to the relevant authority for the issue of the CFO.

The buyer is entitled to enter into occupation of the property only upon issue of the CFO by the relevant authority and renovation may be carried out only upon issue of the CFO and approval of the plan by the relevant authority.

While inspecting the building, any defect is recorded and handed over to the developer to be rectified. Make sure you obtain a copy of the report.

The buyer is entitled to claim for late delivery from the developer.

Damages
If the developer fails to deliver vacant possession of the building as stipulated by the SPA, it must pay damages calculated on a daily rest, 10 per cent per annum of the purchase price.

Defect Liability Period
The defect liability period is 18 months after the date of vacant possession

Creation of Management Corporation for Subdivided Building
A management corporation will be created once the strata title of each individual parcel is issued to the owners.

Other functions of the management corporation include insuring and maintaining the building.

For further enquiries or complaints, you may contact:
Monitoring & Enforcement Division,
Ministry of Housing & Local Government,
Level 3, Block B North, Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50782 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2094 7033
Fax: 03-2092 5049

Source: Ministry of Housing and Local Government

I not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and holds no responsibilities for any mistakes made.

House Buying Guide (Part 1)

8th April 2009
Buying a house is not something easy to decide even to the rich guys. The knowledge on property is a must even for a young couple who plans to buy a home. Without the basic knowledge, its like a blind leading a blind and therefore, its important for us to bear in mind that, getting enough information before purchasing one is a must.

I manage to get some information that might interest you guys and somehow i think its kinda important for us to know as well. Below are the so call, guidance that our Goverment has laid for us. So......Enjoy......!!!

Some Important Aspects for House Buyers

Before you decide to buy a house, ensure that:
* The housing developer has a license and it is still valid.
* The housing developer has an advertisement and sales permit and it is still valid.

Determine the House Type
For landed property such as bungalows, semi-detached houses and terrace houses, the expected date of completion is 24 months from the date of signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement.

For subdivided building such as condominiums, flats, apartments and townhouses, the expected date of completion is 36 months.

Buyers are advised to obtain from the housing developer the complimentary brochures with all the pertinent information about the project such the development's licence number, and advertisement and sales permit.

Land Status
Please ensure whether it is:-
* Freehold land - it is in perpetuity
* Leasehold land – check the number of years left
* Malay Reserve
=> The status of the land can be checked at the Land Office or the State Land Registrar.

Brochure Information
Brochures are given free by the developers. Please ensure the brochure has the following information:-

1. The Housing Development’s License number and the expiry date
2. The advertisement and sales permit number and the expiry date
3. Name and address of:
    i. the licensed housing developer
    ii. authorised agents (if any)
    iii. those holding power of attorney (if any)
    iv. the project management company (if any)
4. Land status
    i. Freehold
    ii. Leasehold – number of years left
    iii. Encumbrances – whether the land has been mortgaged to the bank for a loan
5. Location description
    i. building material specification
    ii. size of building
    iii. amenities/services
6. Name of housing project (if any)
7. Expected date of completion
8. Price of each type of house
9. Number of units for each type
10. Reference number of the approved building plan and name of the local authority.

==> The rights of buyers must be understood as contained in the Sales and Purchase Agreement as per schedules G and H of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulation 1989.

First Payment
The first payment of 10 per cent must be made upon signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement. Please ensure the date of signing of the SPA and the date of first payment are the same.

Be aware that the housing developer is not allowed to collect any form of payment without a Sales and Purchase Agreement being signed.

Architect Certification
Make sure any demand by the developer for instalment payment is supported by a certificate duly signed by an architect or a certified engineer.

Interest on Late Payment
If the buyer or end financier for the buyer fails to pay the developer the progressive payment/instalment within 21 working days from the date of the written notice of payment from the developer, the buyer will be charged an interest of 10 per cent per annum on the instalment not paid.

Termination of the Sales and Purchase Agreement
Be aware that failure to make the progressive payment or interest charged on late payment for a period of more than 28 days will give the developer the right to terminate the Sales and Purchase Agreement. The developer must serve the notice in writing by AR registered post of its intention to terminate the SPA.

To be continue...

Source: Ministry of Housing and Local Government

I not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and holds no responsibilities for any mistakes made.