THERE are plenty of reasons why some people would purchase houses and settle down in Klang, Selangor.
One of them is that there are still many affordable landed houses in the primary and secondary markets there which are suitable for first-time house buyers, upgraders and investors.
Just look at property-related portals and you will see various listings of houses and high-rise dwellings in Klang going for less than RM500,000.
PAST AND PRESENT
Not too long ago, many would not even consider making Klang their desired address due to the town being associated with “underworld” and criminal activities.
But rest assured that this notion is no longer a major issue because the authorities are doing their best to keep things in check and to ensure that Klang folks have a peace of mind and can carry out their daily routine without worry.
Residents of Klang most likely work in the industrial areas of Port Klang or Shah Alam. It is also common for residents to commute daily to the Kuala Lumpur city centre for work.
According to a Klang-based property expert, properties in the area are often overlooked and regarded as “undesirable” by the younger generation who prefer new, emerging areas closer to the city centre.
“However, if they were to study the property market and did a thorough research, they would be glad to know that Klang is blessed with a number of mature townships deemed as smart investments in the western corridor of Greater Kuala Lumpur.”
While there is a major concern about traffic congestion during peak hours, connectivity and accessibility is boosted by highways such as North Klang Valley Expressway, North-South Expressway (NSE), Federal Highway, Shah Alam Expressway and South Klang Valley Expressway.
When the Light Rail Transit Line 3 extension from Bandar Utama to Klang is completed, it will further boost Klang’s accessibility and make it convenient for those who prefer to use public transport.
Klang is also no stranger to lifestyle and commercial centres.
There are a handful of shopping malls such as Klang Parade, Setia City Mall, GM Klang Wholesale City and Aeon Bukit Tinggi.
Amenities abound, such as the Columbia Asia Hospital Klang in Bandar Bukit Raja which opened in August last year.
It is reported that a government hospital will also be built in Bandar Bukit Raja, which will ease the burden of Tunku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
THE PRIDE OF KLANG
Despite rapid development in Klang, there are still vast pockets of land to be developed for residential, commercial and industrial purposes.
One of the earliest developers in Klang is Sime Darby Property (SimeProp), which launched the Bandar Bukit Raja township in 2002. Since then, the 1,753ha township has grown by leaps and bounds.
SimeProp has remaining 1,117ha land for development within the township. The company expects the whole project to be completed in 2040.
According to its general manager (business unit 2) Mohd Idris Abdullah, the Bandar Bukit Raja township is unique.
Despite 47 per cent of the township comprising an industrial zone, there is still strong interest in the residential components.
“If you were to ask people whether they would stay close to an industrial area, definitely they will say no. But we have made sure that those living in the township will not even realise that they are staying close to an industrial area.
“The West Coast Expressway (WCE) that cuts through the township will act as a buffer. This means the residential components will be on one side of the highway and the industrial zone on the other side.
“We also have separate roads going into the industrial and residential areas,” Idris told NST Property.
He said apart from the completion of the WCE, which will shorten travelling time to Taiping or Penang, SimeProp is also widening the old Jalan Meru into three lanes to ease traffic flow.
When the WCE is completed, Idris expects heavy vehicles to change their route to the port, avoiding the NSE which has steep incline leading to the Menora tunnel.
On the East Coast Rail Link, Idris said there are plans for a station to be built in Bandar Bukit Raja 3.
“It is still at consultation stage. All this connectivity will enhance the value of the township.”
REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION
Idris said prices of some residential projects in Bandar Bukit Raja have risen 80 per cent over the last couple of years.
“Yes, appreciation in Bandar Bukit Raja is still good. There are two categories of people who buy in Bandar Bukit Raja. One is the end-user who buys to stay there, the other is the investor who is looking for price appreciation. We have seen some properties appreciate 20 to 30 per cent in the last two years.”
Bandar Bukit Raja’s first major development of affordable double-storey link houses, “Saron”, were priced below RM500,000 each when they were launched in 2013. Now, a unit costs more than RM650,000.
Meanwhile, the Avani project was launched at an average price of RM470,000 each and the current asking price for the same unit in the secondary market is RM760,000 and above, said Idris.
The Azira in Bandar Bukit Raja, which was launched recently, comprises double-storey terraced houses priced from RM678,888 each. The take-up rate has exceeded 80 per cent.
SimeProp will also be launching Athira, featuring double-storey link houses, priced from RM750,000 each.