Meeting individual needs

She is pleased with life in Semenyih, where she resides in a modernised area sans noise pollution and congestion.

Buying a house here also allows her to check in on her parents in Cheras without having to make long commutes from her workplace in Wangsa Maju.

Areas such as Semenyih and Shah Alam are just a few examples of locations at the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur that have been popular among property seekers in recent years.

Greg Basil, 34, bought his first property – a four- bedroom, three- bathroom end lot in Bukit Rimau, Shah Alam – in 2008.

Although he enjoys the space of his landed home and self- sufficiency of the area, he recently started to feel that the house may be too big and the location far from the areas he frequents.

“I am fairly satisfied with my purchase but if I had one gripe, it would be that there is only one exit out of the area via the KESAS highway and if it is jammed up, I can’t move around,” he says.

With recent and up- andcoming developments, though, developers and purchasers alike are paying more attention to connectivity.

In newer areas such as Bukit Jelutong, for instance, Osho Manikkam, 24, found what he needed a medium- cost apartment that was a spillover unit.

“Price was the main criteria in my search for something below RM300,000 in the Klang Valley. I was looking at areas that had development potential, and of these, Setia Alam and Bukit Jelutong met both my affordability needs and had promising future developments based on what I knew of the developers and general area plans,” he says.

With the greater potential and affordability in suburban areas, properties here are looking more appealing than ever to a generation determined to brave through sluggish markets and demanding economic cycles. YOUNG people living and working in the city are often priced out of the property market in urban areas, on top of the rising cost of living that can be exorbitant to most starting out in an entry- level job.

This has led many to look in the fringe areas a drive away from major cities to purchase suburban property. With the vast resources available, potential buyers are encouraged to weigh all options before placing a downpayment on their dream home.

Here are some tips from young, successful first- home purchasers Yuthashini Ramani ( Y), Greg Basil ( G) and Osho Manikkam ( O) on what to consider before committing to a property buy.

Secure financial stability Y:

Ask yourself if you can afford a huge financial commitment. Apart from securing a loan, I believe one of the biggest challenges for future buyers is preparing the 10% deposit and lawyer fees.

Do not splurge on an expensive car or take out huge personal loans for transient value- adding expenses. Minimise credit card debt – you

O:

do not want to find a dream house only to find yourself unable to qualify for a mortgage.

Know the area Y:

Have a chat with your local policeman to gauge the safety in the area you are considering.

Based on my current experience, I would say purchase property near an LRT station as that gives you an alternative mode of transportation even if you have a car.

Study the development blueprints and upcoming projects in the area as this would give you a good idea of the future value of your property.

G: O: Think it through Y:

Focus more on function and location rather than design. Avoid the trend of buying very old houses and then lifting its looks – it may be cheap, but think about the deteriorating condition of a 20- year- old house.

I believe you can’t go wrong purchasing reasonably priced landed property in suburban areas.

O: