One couple has given up on finding a bigger house in Singapore and invested in a villa at Iskandar Malaysia instead, reported The Straits Times.
Five years ago, Jonathan Ward and wife Tina visited their friends in Iskandar and were encouraged to buy a villa in Ledang Heights.
“When we first moved here, there weren’t many people around and not as many amenities, but over the last two years, things have got much better,” said Ward, a laboratory consultant from London.
“We’ve a fantastic school five minutes from our doorstep – Marlborough College, which our children now go to – and there are a lot of developments and shopping malls coming up.”
They have also purchased three more houses in Ledang Heights, of which two were sold for a tidy profit. They also bought a 14,000 sq ft land parcel within the area, where they plan to build a big house for their own use.
However, building a dream home in Iskandar is not easy, they noted.
“Things here are a bit more relaxed and easygoing and while that’s one of the good things about Malaysia, it’s also a drawback, sometimes,” said Ward.
Another couple Max and Noarma Honegger found their dream home in Iskandar. The couple, who fell in love in Singapore and married in Australia, moved from South Africa to East Ledang.
“It’s convenient and the people are friendly. There’s space, unlike in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Malacca, which are all so busy,” Mrs Honegger said.
“We enjoy the peace and quiet. The only noise you get here is the sound of the grass cutter.”
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
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