Kuching New Apartment by Gideon Kueh, Kuching (2026)

03/11/2025

𝟑 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

Buying a house is a big step.

Before you decide, take a moment to think about these 3 questions.

🏡 𝟏. 𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭?

If you buy to stay, choose a place that’s comfortable and near your daily needs.

If you buy to invest, focus on a good location that can grow in value.

💰 𝟐. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?

Don’t just look at the total price.

Think about how much you can pay every month and still live comfortably.

📍 𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭?

Do you want to live near work, your parents, or a quiet area for your family?

Your house should match your lifestyle.

✨ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭:

The right house is not the most expensive or the biggest, it’s the one that truly fits you.

01/11/2025

𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭

When you see the house price on a brochure, it’s easy to think —
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵.”

But in reality, buying a property involves several extra expenses that first-time buyers often overlook.

Here’s a quick guide to help you plan your budget better 👇

💼 𝟏. 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬 & 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲

These are charges for your Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Loan Agreement.

They usually cover:

- Lawyer’s professional fees
- Government stamp duty
- Disbursement costs (searches, registration, etc.)

✅ Tip: Some developers offer “free legal fees” or “SPA + loan legal covered,” so always check before booking.

🏦 𝟐. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐞 (for Subsale or Certain Loans)

If you’re buying a subsale property, the bank will appoint a valuer to assess the market price.

This usually costs a few hundred ringgit depending on property value.

✅ Tip: For new projects, this is often not required — the developer’s price is accepted by the bank.

🪑 𝟑. 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬

After key handover, you’ll still need to spend on:

- Lighting, fans, and curtains
- Furniture or kitchen setup
- Basic renovation (especially for bare units)

✅ Tip: New condos or apartments often come partially furnished — check what’s included before deciding.

🔑 𝟒. 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬 & 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 (for Apartments/Condos)

These are monthly payments for security, cleanliness, and facilities upkeep.

The sinking fund is a small contribution for long-term maintenance (e.g. repainting, lift repairs).

✅ Tip: Usually ranges from RM0.20–RM0.35 per sqft — know this early so you can budget correctly.

💸 𝟓. 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐈𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 & 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬

When you move in, you’ll need to pay deposits for water, electricity, and internet setup.

Add transportation or minor touch-ups — and that’s a few hundred more.

✅ Tip: Always keep a buffer of RM5,000–RM10,000 aside for these small but necessary costs.

💡 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞:

Don’t just save for the down payment — plan for the real cost of ownership.

Knowing these hidden costs upfront helps you avoid last-minute stress and enjoy a smooth home-buying journey.

30/10/2025

𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟

In your 20s or 30s, buying a house might feel like a heavy responsibility.

You might think, “I’ll wait until I’m more stable.”

But the truth is — the earlier you start, the easier your future becomes.

🏠 𝟏. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Every month that passes, you either pay rent or build equity.

If you start owning now, 10 years later you’ll look back and realize — those same monthly payments could’ve already built you a home that’s fully yours.

💪 𝟐. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 — 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞

Owning a home means you’re taking responsibility for your future.

It’s a promise that no matter what happens, you’ll always have a place that belongs to you.

It’s about stability, not luxury.

💰 𝟑. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐬𝐞

When you pay rent, that money disappears every month.

When you pay a housing loan, you’re building value — step by step.

Even if it’s a small unit, you’re already investing in your own growth.

🌱 𝟒. 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 = 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰

Property is a long-term game.

What feels like a big sacrifice now — saving for booking, paying installment — becomes your biggest reward later.

Because one day, your home will be fully paid off, and your future self will have zero housing worries.

💡 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭:

You don’t need to wait for the “perfect time” to start.

The perfect time is when you decide your future matters more than your comfort today.

That’s what true homeownership is about.

28/10/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬

Owning a home isn’t just about signing a loan or getting a house key.

It’s about stability, pride, and a sense of belonging that renting can never replace.

🏠 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬

When you rent, every month’s payment goes to someone else’s asset.

When you buy, every payment builds your own future.

It’s not just a roof over your head — it’s something you can proudly call “mine.”

👨‍👩‍👧 𝟐. 𝐈𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

A home means your children grow up in one place.

You can renovate, decorate, and create memories without worrying about moving out next year.

That feeling of security — you can’t put a price on it.

💪 𝟑. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡

Buying your first home is more than a financial decision — it’s a milestone.

It shows that you’ve worked hard, built stability, and are ready for the next chapter of life.

🌱 𝟒. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦

Property is one of the few things that grows in value while you live in it.

One day, you can upgrade, rent it out, or even pass it to your next generation.

💡 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭:

Homeownership isn’t about status — it’s about peace of mind.

It’s about waking up every day knowing that no matter what happens, you have a place that’s truly yours.

26/10/2025

𝟓 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Many buyers get excited to book their first home — but end up frustrated when the bank says ❌ “Loan not approved.”

Here are the top reasons why it happens (and how you can avoid it).

💳 𝟏. 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Personal loans, car loans, or credit card debt can reduce your loan eligibility.

Banks calculate your Debt Service Ratio (DSR) — if it’s too high, your housing loan might get rejected even if your salary looks good.

✅ Tip: Try to clear smaller debts or reduce credit card balances before applying.

🧾 𝟐. 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞

If you just changed jobs, are self-employed without proper proof, or have inconsistent income, banks may see you as a higher risk.

✅ Tip: Show 6–12 months of consistent payslips or bank statements. For business owners, prepare income tax (BE form) and company documents.

💰 𝟑. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Even if your salary is high, banks look at your net take-home pay after EPF, SOCSO, and other deductions.

If the balance is too low, your loan amount might be reduced or rejected.

✅ Tip: Apply for properties within your comfortable range — usually, the monthly loan should not exceed 30–35% of your income.

📉 𝟒. 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝

Late payments, outstanding PTPTN, or unpaid credit cards affect your credit score.

Banks can easily check your repayment history — and one bad record can ruin your chances.

✅ Tip: Always pay on time. If you’ve settled past loans, update your CCRIS report at Bank Negara to reflect the changes.

🏦 𝟓. 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤

Each bank has its own policy and risk appetite.

One bank may reject, another may approve the same case — especially for government staff, commission earners, or self-employed buyers.

✅ Tip: Work with an agent or banker who can submit to multiple banks and compare results.

💡 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 :

Don’t feel discouraged if your first loan gets rejected.

Learn from it, fix the issue, and try again — because every rejection brings you one step closer to your home key.

25/10/2025

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

Many people delay buying because they’re waiting for the perfect house — the big one, the corner lot, or the one with a luxury kitchen and huge porch.

But here’s the truth: your first home is not meant to be perfect — it’s meant to be your starting point.

🏠 1. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭

Buying your first home early — even if it’s an apartment or smaller unit — helps you build equity.

As property prices rise, that home becomes your stepping stone to upgrade later.

It’s easier to trade up when you already own something, instead of starting from zero.

💰 2. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬

While many are still “waiting for the right time,” prices and construction costs continue to increase.

The earlier you buy, the faster your loan tenure starts — and one day you’ll thank yourself for paying off something that’s yours, not your landlord’s.

🧱 3. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

Your first home teaches you how to manage a mortgage, maintain a property, and understand what you really want next.

Without this first step, it’s impossible to reach your ideal one.

🔑 4. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

It doesn’t matter if your first home isn’t the biggest, nicest, or in the best location.

What matters is — you’ve started your journey.

Because every dream home begins with a first home.

💡 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲:

Don’t overthink your first property.

Start with what you can afford today, and let time, effort, and appreciation work in your favor.

The dream home will come — one smart decision at a time.

Kuching New Apartment by Gideon Kueh

03/11/2025

01/11/2025

30/10/2025

28/10/2025

26/10/2025

25/10/2025

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