Malaysia draws more Chinese property interest with lower prices and regional stability
Malaysia rose to fourth place among destinations for Chinese property inquiries in the first half of 2026, according to Juwai IQI. Analysts say its combination of relatively low prices, familiar legal structures, Chinese- and English-language use, residency options and growing data-centre investment is attracting buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China.
Malaysia is becoming an increasingly popular property destination for Hong Kong and mainland Chinese investors seeking a combination of regional stability and lower prices, according to analysts and data from property portal Juwai IQI. Juwai IQI said Malaysia was the fourth-highest destination for inquiries from Chinese buyers in the first half of 2026. It ranked seventh in 2024 and sixth in 2025, indicating a recent rise in interest.
Kashif Ansari, Juwai IQI’s co-founder and group chief executive, said Malaysia was particularly attractive for lifestyle, education, retirement and residency-linked investment. Kingston Lai, founder and chief executive of Asia Bankers Club, attributed demand to lifestyle preferences and improvements in the Malaysian economy. Malaysia’s appeal also includes the use of Chinese and English, its common-law system and the availability of freehold property for foreign buyers, including some landed homes.
Ansari said this made Malaysia more welcoming than Thailand in some respects, where such purchases are restricted. The Malaysia My Second Home programme is another factor supporting the residential market. Ansari said it generated US$1 billion in foreign inflows in 2025, with 3,172 applications approved and 9,038 participants, including dependants, entering the country.
Applicants must meet specific property purchase conditions. Chinese investors were Malaysia’s largest foreign property buyers in the first half of 2025, recording 329 deals worth 834.6 million ringgit (US$204.3 million), according to official data. Hong Kong buyers recorded 15 transactions worth 30.3 million ringgit.
Prices remain a central attraction. Ansari said a 50-square-metre suburban flat in Hong Kong could cost five to seven times more than an average Malaysian home. Lai said Kuala Lumpur’s premium apartments cost less per square metre than comparable properties in prime Bangkok areas.
Johor Bahru has also attracted attention because of data-centre development. Savills said its capacity had risen 132 per cent since 2024, while Neil Brookes of Savills said capacity in the special economic zone had increased by about 50 per cent year on year. Lai cautioned buyers to choose locations with genuine demand, warning against oversupplied developments.
He described Malaysia as a steadier, slower-growth market rather than a place for quick property resales.
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