KUCHING: iProperty.com.my has revealed the top 10 most searched areas among property seekers in Malaysia between January and November 2022, with Kuching ranked sixth.
The search data reflects a change in residential property search patterns, where in 2022, more potential homebuyers and investors are considering select areas outside the Klang Valley.
These locations tend to offer affordable landed homes within a family-friendly environment.
PropertyGuru Malaysia (PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my) country manager Sheldon Fernandez said the various lockdowns and economic challenges brought about by COVID-19 have impacted house-buying activity in the past two years as consumers adopted a more cautious sentiment.
“Now that the country is riding out the after-effects of the pandemic and the political landscape has stabilised, it would be interesting to look at the residential areas that homebuyers and investors might consider transacting in moving forwards.
“In 2022, more people are considering residential properties in areas located outside the Klang Valley,” he said in a press release today.
He revealed that this year they have three never-seen-before locations that made it onto iProperty.com.my’s annual list.
“This observation shows that the pandemic has prompted many consumers to rethink where and how they live and work.
“The remote work trend has enabled consumers to prioritise better living environments to raise children, proximity to family members, and better mental health.
“Looking ahead to 2023, it would be interesting to see if residential properties beyond the prime cities and usual crowd-favourites will continue to gain traction among homebuyers,” he added.
In fact, Kuching is one of the surprise newcomers to this year’s list as mentioned above, with the percentage of searches at 7.6 per cent.
“Kuching, touted as a holiday destination, the capital city of Sarawak has always been known for its beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and unique indigenous culture.
“Kuching is growing to be a potential residential hub for property seekers looking for a better quality of life and affordable homes post-pandemic.
“Looking at Kuching’s property transactions in the past year, most homebuyers were purchasing high-rise properties on the lower end of the price range, for example in MJC Courtyard Sanctuary and P’ Residence, and midrange-priced landed properties such as in Tabuan Jaya and RPR Bandar Baru Sarawak,” he stated.
Taking the crown of the list this year is Ipoh, a surprise winner, with the percentage of searches at 19.5 per cent, followed by Petaling Jaya (13.7 per cent), Cheras (11.6 per cent), Johor Bahru (10.3 per cent), and Puchong (9.6 per cent).
Port Dickson ranked seventh, right behind Kuching, with 7.4 per cent, followed by Mont Kiara (7.0 per cent), Shah Alam (6.9 per cent), and Seremban (6.4 per cent) to complete the top 10 list.
