KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The stamp duty exemptions for the rehabilitation of abandoned housing projects will help facilitate project revival and provide much-needed relief to affected purchasers, said Real Estate And Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (REHDA).
President Datuk Zaini Yusof said the extension of investment tax allowances of up to 100 per cent for qualifying green technology projects and assets until Dec 31, 2030, would encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices, particularly among smaller developers facing higher implementation costs.
In addition, he said, the expansion of stamp duty exemptions for first-time homebuyers would help ease the upfront financial burden of aspiring homeowners.
This includes full exemptions on instruments of transfer and loan agreements for properties priced up to RM500,000 and the enhanced relief for properties of up to RM750,000, with full exemption on the first RM500,000 and 50 per cent exemption on the remaining amount.
“The government's continued commitment to affordable housing is equally encouraging, with nearly RM1 billion allocated for Rumah Mesra Rakyat and Program Residensi Rakyat,” he said in a statement following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s tabling of Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Meanwhile, Mah Sing Group Bhd founder and group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum said the proposed one per cent tax rate reduction, which lowers the rates for chargeable income bands of RM70,000 to RM100,000 from 19 per cent to 18 per cent, and RM100,000 to RM150,000 from 25 per cent to 24 per cent, would allow eligible taxpayers to retain more of their income.
“These measures could provide greater financial flexibility for prospective homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers and middle-income households, helping them manage homeownership costs and supporting buyer confidence.
“This complements broader efforts to make homeownership more attainable for Malaysians and sustain demand in the residential property market,” Leong said.
Meanwhile, real estate consultant and property services provider CBRE|WTW’s group managing director Tan Ka Leong said the RM20 billion Syarikat Jaminan Kredit Perumahan (SJKP) housing loan guarantee would improve access to homeownership for first-time buyers, particularly the self-employed and those without fixed incomes.
He said this should help sustain demand in the affordable and mid-market segments by addressing financing constraints that may otherwise prevent eligible households from entering the housing market.
He also said that continued investment in Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), Chuping Valley and the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Agribio Economic Zone would reinforce industrial and agribusiness growth, supporting demand for industrial land, logistics facilities, worker accommodation and related commercial uses.
Overall, Tan said, the measures announced during the Budget 2027 tabling provided a more balanced platform for property market growth by addressing housing affordability, urban regeneration, infrastructure capacity and new investment-led growth nodes.
“The impact is likely to be strongest in locations where policy support is matched by infrastructure readiness, connectivity and employment creation.
“From a real estate perspective, this should widen opportunities beyond the traditional core markets and support a more diversified pattern of development across residential, industrial, logistics, commercial and hospitality sectors,” he added.
-- BERNAMA