For RM800,000, a homebuyer would get a lovely comfortable home in some popular global cities, either from the primary or secondary markets, and it will likely appreciate over the years.
In Kuala Lumpur, a homebuyer will be able to get a 1,210 square feet apartment at D'Clover Residences with four bedrooms and two bathrooms for RM808,300, said Juwai IQI.
The 46-story building with a total of 593 apartments come with several amenities, including a half basketball court, badminton court, karaoke room, jacuzzi, swimming pool, and a gymnasium.
"Whether you are moving overseas or just investing, for about the same price, you can obtain desirable homes in other global cities. You might be surprised at how much you can get in other countries for about RM800,000," said the firm's co-founder and group chief executive officer Kashif Ansari.
Kashif said Kuala Lumpur offers relatively affordable homes by global standards, where a homebuyer can purchase a property in an excellent location with luxury fixtures and amenities for RM800,000.
For a property worth about RM800,000 in London, a homebuyer may barely be able to get a 179 sq ft studio apartment, and that too, a second-hand leasehold property. The unit is not only tiny; the finishings are anything but luxurious.
Kashif said the excellent side of the London property is that it is nearby shops and the major transport hubs of Kings Cross and St Pancras International.
"This studio is about the cheapest way to own a full-time home in London. It's not by any means new or luxurious, but it is close to major transport hubs. You can have a toehold in London for the price of a family home in Kuala Lumpur. Prospects for capital gains are good in an area seeing massive investment in new infrastructure and housing," he said.
In the Western Australian city of Perth, for RM800,000, a homebuyer may get a 614 square feet apartment with one bedroom and one bath.
The apartment has engineered timber flooring, granite kitchen benchtops, a covered car park bay and a personal storeroom. The property is secure and has a remote security gate and intercom system, said Kashif.
In the United States, just 10 minutes from Downtown Dallas, Texas, a homebuyer would be able to find a three-bedroom landed house for RM736,000.
The house is 1,400 sq ft and sits on 4,489 sq ft of land. As for finishes, there are laminate wood floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. The master bedroom includes its walk-in closet and master bath suite. Outside, there is an attached garage and a private fence around the yard.
But Kashif said that in the case of Dallas and Perth, there are tradeoffs.
"The Dallas home is in a zone with flood risks. Given the worsening weather patterns, the chance of being flooded might increase in the years to come. The Perth home is everything a person would need, but it's across the river from downtown Perth and is at the lower end of the market there," he said.
In South-East Asian countries like Bangkok and Vietnam, homebuyers can purchase brand new luxury apartments for about RM800,000. Still, they are smaller compared with the units available in that price range in Kuala Lumpur.
Kashif said that a brand new luxury apartment at 377 sq ft in Bangkok has more than twice the floor area as the London studio.
He said that this one-bedroom, one-bath apartment is located in an attractive 44-story building with a garden, rooftop swimming pool, fitness room, sauna or steam room, and playground, and is close to two train stations and shopping.
In Vietnam's southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City, homebuyers can purchase a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in the Masteri Centre Point project for RM791,000.
This spacious 754 sq ft residence is developed by one of Vietnam's most trusted developers, located in a new, landscaped township with parkland, sports areas and playgrounds and close to Ho Chi Minh City's largest shopping mall, international schools and a 36ha riverside park. It is outfitted with wooden floors and fixtures from leading brands, offering sweeping views of the Dong Nai River.
Kashif said the best buys in Southeast Asia are Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.
He added that there is no single viable home for sale to Malaysian buyers in Singapore for about RM800,000.