19/02/2026

PROPERTY THURSDAY | FEB 19, 2026

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Owner-renter wealth gap widening

of the specific homes you’re considering. Do your research and work with a good agent so you can make the wisest choice,” said Ansari. Juwai IQI said their data analyses the average-priced home using the latest government and market expert data for property price trends, rents, yields, and mortgage rates. They look at Malaysia as a whole as well as three selected states: Johor, Penang, and Perak. To estimate the typical renter’s expenses, they only included what they pay in rent itself and left out all other expenses such as utilities, basic maintenance, and sometimes condo fees, and parking. For owners, they added mortgage expenses to gains or losses in home prices. Again, they left out expenses. In reality, homeowners are better off than the data suggests because part of their mortgage payments builds equity, even though the calculations treat the entire payment as a cost.

the right choice. “One is when you’re uncertain about staying in one location for at least several years. For example, you might want to relocate for work or aren’t sure where you want to settle. Another situation when renting makes sense is when you are still saving to buy a home. It’s always better not to over extend your finances, which means not buying or renting a property you can’t afford,” he added. Property ownership is a route to financial security, but it’s not right for everyone at every stage of their lives, he remarked. “I want to clarify a few things. We’ve left out expenses like utilities, maintenance, and condo fees, which are variously the responsibility of renters or owners. Instead, our analysis focuses just on the financial costs and returns of owning and renting. “Also, while this data is correct, every individual property is distinct. Before you buy or rent, do an analysis

House Price Index. That increase is part of the RM5,000 advantage owners gained over renters in the past year,” said Ansari. He added that because prices go up faster in some states than in others, homeowners in different parts of Malaysia had different results. “Here’s an example. I know a family that happened to sell their home in Perak and move to Johor. Last year, the value of their new home shot up by more than three times what their old neighbours back in Perak made. “The second factor that pushed homeowners’ balance sheets higher than renters’ last year is low-interest rates. With interest rates lower than rental yields, the implication is that a typical home will cost more to rent than to finance with a mortgage. That gives owners a clear financial advantage.” Even though homeowners may end up financially ahead, Ansari said, there are still times when renting is

“The wealth gap really becomes significant over time. While it might be RM5,000 over one year, after a decade it would add up to RM50,000,” Ansari said, adding that year after year, owners climb up the wealth ladder, expanding the wealth gap more and more. Ansari said, “Johor homeowners added more to their net worth than residents of any other state, a total of more than RM26,000 in a single year for the average homeowner. Coincidentally, that is more than the RM22,294 they paid into their mortgage during the same 12 months.” He disclosed that the outcome in Johor shows that property price growth is more important than all the other numbers. “Where house prices went up, so did owners’ net worths, even though they can’t cash in the gains until they sell their homes. Across Malaysia, house prices are up by 0.7% or just over RM3,400, according to Napic’s that are comfortable, efficient and better for the environment, but affordability often gets in the way. This collaboration helps close that gap. Our focus is on giving communities innovative financial solutions that genuinely address their needs while supporting long term, sustainable living. By expanding access to certified green homes, we are helping more Malaysians make choices that benefit their families today and their future tomorrow.” This initiative is aligned with RHB’s PROGRESS27 corporate strategy, which embeds sustainability across the group’s business priorities. It also reflects the principles outlined in RHB’s Sustainable & Transition Finance Framework (STFF), one of the enablers supporting customers through their sustainability and transition needs. Under PROGRESS27, RHB is committed to mobilising RM90 billion in Sustainable Financial Services (SFS) by 2027. As at December 2025, the group’s cumulative SFS reached over RM59 billion, representing close to

KUALA LUMPUR: There’s a wealth gap in the property market between renters and homeowners that added up to RM5,000 over the past 12 months, according to data released recently by Juwai IQI co-founder and group CEO Kashif Ansari. “The Malaysia-wide renter’s wealth gap was RM5,000 in the past year. In Johor, the average owner is nearly RM28,000 ahead of renters. In Penang, they are almost RM6,000 ahead, and in Perak, they are nearly RM8,000 ahead. months, outpacing tenants by nearly RM28,000: Juwai IQI o Johor homeowners gained most in past 12

RHB, Cagamas offer green home financing KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Banking Group and Cagamas Bhd, the National Mortgage Corporation of Malaysia, through its sister company Cagamas SRP Bhd, have introduced a new conventional Green Home Financing scheme offering up to 110% financing for residential properties with recognised green building certifications. 66% of its target. “At Cagamas, our priority is to strengthen Malaysia’s housing financing ecosystem by supporting solutions that meet the evolving needs of homebuyers. Our

collaboration with RHB not only encourages the growth of green certified homes, but also supports lenders ready to offer responsible, forward looking products. Building on the success of earlier guarantee schemes such as Skim Rumah Pertamaku, Skim Perumahan Belia and the First Home Mortgage Guarantee Programme, all of which have enabled more than 100,000 Malaysians to own their first homes, the Green Mortgage Guarantee Programme (Green MGP) adds a new dimension of environmental responsibility. It provides financial institutions with a valuable risk mitigation tool to advance ESG aligned lending, while giving homebuyers improved financing options for sustainable properties,” said Cagamas president/CEO Kameel Abdul Halim.

The scheme is designed to reduce upfront cash requirements by offering 100% financing for the property value plus an additional 10% for Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance or Takaful. The partnership makes certified green homes accessible to a wider segment of Malaysians. By extending financing to more homebuyers for primary market properties, the financing scheme broadens access to sustainable living and ensures that green-certified homes are no longer viewed as a premium option reserved for the affluent. Group community banking managing director Jeffrey Ng Eow Oo said, “Many Malaysians want homes

SkyWorld strengthens northern presence with Penang sales gallery SEBERANG JAYA: SkyWorld Development Bhd marked a SkyWorld’s industrialised building approach. SkyWorld introduces Malaysia’s first large-scale PPVC residential development through SkyWorld Pearlmont.

SkyWorld Pearlmont stands out as Malaysia’s first large-scale residential development constructed using PPVC technology, as well as the first to introduce a vertical school—an innovative concept that integrates education within a residential community. Key features of SkyWorld Pearlmont include strategic location in mature neighbourhood of Seberang Jaya; construction using PPVC for improved build quality, efficiency and sustainability; a commitment of minimum 85% QLASSIC score, exceeding the national average under CIDB Malaysia’s workmanship quality assessment system; a10-year leak proof warranty. Besides all these, other key features include guaranteed low maintenance fee of RM0.18 psf for 10 years; exclusive access to Penang’s largest 10-acre elevated SkyPark; pay-per-use clubhouse concept; integrated retail spaces within a community-centric masterplan and smart living features powered by SkyWorld Connects 2.0.

significant milestone in its northern expansion with the opening of its first sales gallery in Penang, SkyWorld Gallery @ Seberang Jaya and introducing SkyWorld’s PPVC (Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction) Experience Centre and Satellite Quality Centre to the region. CEO Lee Chee Seng said, “The opening of SkyWorld Gallery @ Seberang Jaya marks an important milestone in our expansion into Northern Malaysia. By bringing our PPVC Experience Centre and Satellite Quality Centre to Penang, we aim to elevate how homebuyers experience quality and innovation in a SkyWorld home.” SkyWorld’s entry into Penang is anchored by SkyWorld Pearlmont, a freehold 34-acre affordable housing development in Seberang Jaya developed under the Rumah Bakat Madani initiative. To date, over 80% of the 1,166 units launched in Phase 1A have been taken up, reflecting strong market confidence in PPVC technology and

Ng (left) and Kameel mark a strategic collaboration to expand access to green homes through a new conventional Green Home Financing scheme.

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