First time home buyers can be easily taken aback by how many different types of houses and homes that exist in the market. Purchasing a home is not for the faint-hearted. There are many different factors that must be taken into consideration before one can commit to buying a place. The process is a rigorous, detailed and often expensive one, after all. Considerations such as the location of the house all the way to the material the house is made out of (like is it made out of light weight concrete Selangor) must be made, along with many more.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of homes in Malaysia alongside their pros and cons.
Terrace
The most commonly seen type of house in Malaysia, terrace houses are homes built in a similar style and placed in a long row next to each other. These houses vary in levels with double-storey terraces serving as the most affordable and common. However, triple storey terrace houses and beyond do exist. In a similar vein, a terrace house is connected to two houses sandwiched on either side. Not to be confused with a semi-d, which is only connected to one house on one of its sides.
The advantage of buying a terrace house is that it is often one of the cheapest choices in the market, a definite upside for first time house buyers. They are also more energy efficient as a terrace house is interconnected with other houses in a long row. The biggest downside to these houses is the noise factor. Soundproofing proves to be a challenge when you share two walls with two other neighbors on either side. So if you’re interested in this type of home, you better be good at keeping it down.
Bungalow
Defined as detached houses that sit on their own plot of land, bungalows are often reminiscent of cottages or cabins as they stand alone. Like terraces, the number of levels a bungalow has varies widely. Typically, a bungalow is either a single storey or double storey though there are bungalows with more levels.
This type of home is perfect if you value your privacy as your closest neighbor could be a reasonable distance away. If you’re planning on or already own a large family, this house is also the best choice for you as it is spacious and wide. Inversely, bungalows are typically rather on the expensive side. They are also quite costly to maintain so be sure to manage your finances well if you are determined to own a bungalow one day!
Apartment
Another popular choice of homes for Malaysians are units in flats or apartments. This type of housing is characterized by being in tall, multi-level buildings with multiple residential units in a single storey. Apartments can have as many levels as possible. They also usually contain extra amenities such as a swimming pool, playground, spa and gymnasium placed on a specific level which residents are allowed to visit.
Renting or buying an apartment is another affordable option if you’re looking for housing on a budget. It is also a secure option as most apartments require keycards in order to gain entry. However, flats are notoriously difficult or sometimes impossible to renovate so you have to make do with what you get. The space in apartments is also less spacious than houses so make sure to take that into consideration as well.
There are a multitude of choices you can select from when picking a place of residence. Be sure to do ample research beforehand as there are plenty of factors that affect residential property value.