SINGAPORE: Have you ever thought of investing in Johor Bahru’s property market? Perhaps you were enticed by the exchange rate between theMany consider property investment and entering the rental market as a wise choice, but hold your horses! Before making such a significant investment, it’s crucial to adopt a sceptical approach, especially considering the risks involved.Tran Yen Mai’s journey into property investment began with hopeful expectations.
He lamented and said, “I incurred losses due to maintenance and the long waiting time when the apartment was vacant. Comparing the investment costs and the returns, I could immediately see that this business model was not as profitable as I initially expected.”In the end, Mai cautioned that “renting out an apartment is not as simple as the overly optimistic rumours spread around by real estate agents.
They’re now faced with tough decisions, whether to continue paying the hefty S$1,800 monthly mortgage for the JB properties. Meanwhile, in Tampoi, a studio apartment yields 6.37%, and a larger 4+ bedroom unit offers a 5.74% return. In the year leading up to Q3 2023, according to data from the Valuation and Property Services Department , the national house price index only saw a modest increase of 0.1%. This growth is notably slower compared to previous years, with rises of 4.33% in Q2 2023, 4.81% in Q1 2023, 3.9% in Q4 2022, and 5.15% in Q3 2022.After adjusting for inflation, house prices actually decreased by 1.82% during this period. In Q3 2023 alone, the house price index dropped by 1.
Buying opportunities: For those eyeing a new property, a cooling market could mean getting a better deal with lower prices.