Buy Apartment Also OK What?

Further to my entry last week about buying houses in the Klang Valley, let’s not forget those who stay in apartments. Most of my friends stay in apartments, and I’m pretty warm with the idea. Apartments (or condos, if the developer charges you RM20,000 more for the same thing) are usually in prime locations, near public transport and commercial areas like SS2 or Cheras.

The main factors people consider when buying apartments/condos are the price, location, near LRT/bus route or not, rental market, etc. You know, the usual things. But here are some more factors (but LESS popular) you should consider:


The view – Don’t waste an extra RM80k on a special view from your apartment, like KLCC or the Turf Club. Next year some other condo will come up and block view. Or they’ll build a highway right across your balcony, then you’ll have an excellent view of concrete and car exhaust fumes. Besides, 6 months a year Malaysians will enjoy uninterrupted, scenic view of the haze. Also, getting a fabulous view of the Twin Towers AND the DBKL oxidation pond is NOT a good trade off.


Swimming pool – Make sure your apartment unit is near the swimming pool, even if it’s a 6’ x 8’ wading pool. So if JBA decides to cut the water supply for the weekend, you trips to draw water with your laundry pails relatively nearer… But on the downside, you can also see if anything freaky is floating in the pool...


Penthouse units – Don’t get the top-most units. Why? When the water tank leaks / overflows, you’re the only unit to get affected. Fantastic view you say? Listen, the view of the illegal Indonesian kongsi from the 19th floor of your apartment is exactly the same as the 20th floor, man.


Roadside parking - If you can’t get a unit near the swimming pool, try to get one near the roadside parking. Now you will say that it would be noisy due to the traffic, right? But wait, if DBKL come and summon for illegal parking, you would the first to know, and the first to run down with your bathrobe to remove your car. Let’s face it, ALL Malaysian condos NEVER have enough parking lots.


The name – Choose a place with a cool, pseudo-French/olde English/Roman names, like Dorsett Heights, Le Meridien Towers, Plazza Impiana or something like that, to impress your friends. Telling everybody you stay at ‘Lumba Kuda Flats’ or ‘Casa de Pekeliling’ is just not on.



You can tell it’s another slow day for me…




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