Most searched areas by Malaysian homebuyers in 2019

iProperty.com.my revealed the most searched areas on its website by Malaysian homebuyers
in 2019 and topping the list is Shah Alam. Photo credit i-City

By Sharen Kaur for NST Property, December 30, 2019

Property portal iProperty.com.my has revealed the most searched areas on its website by Malaysian homebuyers in 2019 and topping the list is Shah Alam with 17.14 per cent overall of searches.

Shah Alam is the top pick for people who want to live in a greener, quieter surroundings and yet still have easy access to multiple amenities. Shah Alam is also an international education hub with many prominent schools such as UITM, MAZ International School, Greenview Islamic International School, Tenby Schools Setia Eco Park and Dwi Emas International School.


Apart from the Federal Highway, Shah Alam is accessible via the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) and Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS).

In addition, the future LRT 3 Line that connects Bandar Utama to Johan Setia in Klang, will consist of six stations in Shah Alam and is expected to be completed in 2024.

This is set to boost the capital growth of Shah Alam properties, especially those near the future sites of the train stations, said iProperty.com Malaysia Sdn Bhd and REA Group Ltd in a joint statement, recently.

Shah Alam’s biggest integrated development, i-City by property developer I-Berhad will have a stop for the LRT.


Other areas in the list are Ara Damansara (16.98 per cent), Cheras (13.15 per cent), Bandar Utama (12.22 per cent), Semenyih (11.96 per cent), Petaling Jaya (7.91 per cent), Rawang (5.5 per cent), Subang Jaya (5.19 per cent), Johor Bahru (5.16 per cent), and Puchong (4.79 per cent).

According to the statement, one thing in common that these areas share are their easy accessibility to countless amenities such as shopping malls, hospitals, schools, transportation systems and thriving
economic activities.

"iProperty.com.my offers a feature which helps homebuyers to find out what key amenities are around their chosen properties. This customised Point-of-Interest feature is integrated into the maps of the searched property to help homebuyers make better decisions in terms of how convenient it is to access, for example, the nearest hospitals, schools and shopping malls. Homebuyers are able to
view the distance and route to these amenities surrounding their desired property, all in one convenient view," it said.

Ara Damansara, first developed in 1999, is fast becoming a favourite neighbourhood in Petaling Jaya, mainly because of its strategic location right in the middle of several prime locations such as Bandar Utama, Tropicana, Sunway, Glenmarie and Kota Damansara.

Accessibility is a major feature of the township which provides convenience for the community.
There are two new LRT stations along the Kelana Jaya LRT Extension that started operating in Ara Damansara as well as the six-lane dual carriageway Subang Airport Highway and Subang Kelana-Link interchange. The second access is through the NKVE tunnel via Crimson Condominium to
Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP). The eastern portion of Ara Damansara is linked to Persiaran Tropicana by a new access road that passes through Damansara Idaman.

Bandar Utama, which ranks fourth in the list is a popular residential township located within the Damansara subdivision of the Petaling District, Selangor. It is a thriving residential area that is home to many shopping malls and attractions such as 1Utama, The Curve, IKEA and Ikano Power Centre (IPC). The township is easily accessible via highways and expressways such as the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), SPRINT Highway, Penchala Link and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE).

There are also the MRT, buses and shuttle services connecting Bandar Utama to other major areas such as TTDI, KL, Subang Jaya and Putrajaya.

Rawang, seventh in the list, is transforming itself into a self-sustained township. The opening of
the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR Expressway) has made the travel distance between Kuala Lumpur, Rawang, and Ijok more feasible for Rawang residents to work elsewhere, and vice versa.

Ninth on the list is Johor Baru and its increasing popularity among homebuyers has been the city’s ever-evolving connectivity.

Johor Baru remains an attractive choice due to its geographical location near Singapore. The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS), which is slated for completion in 2024, will bring many impactful changes with positive multiplier effects such as more job opportunities, increase in state economic growth and positive tourism growth. Additionally, this rail line will help to reduce traffic congestion along the Johor Causeway by up to 15 per cent.


iProperty said existing townships as well as new ones that are located just outside of Johor Bahru could benefit from the RTS ripple effect.


"The older townships could see a spike in value, while the newer ones which were built or completed before the arrival of RTS in 2024 could see growth in interest, demand and value," it said.


WATCH THE VIDEO