Markets
Buying and renting a home in Malaysia
- Coverage
- Tier 3: guide and links to local portals
- Prices in
- MYR
- Floor area in
- square metres
Each fact below links to the official page it comes from. We have not finished testing this market yet, so confirm anything important with the source or a local lawyer.
Homes in Malaysia are listed on
Homejourney does not list homes in Malaysia yet. Prices on these sites are in MYR.
Who may buy
A foreigner needs state approval to buy, and each state sets its own minimum price. In Penang the approval fee is 1.5% or 3% of the price, and the minimum is RM1 million for a strata home and RM3 million for a landed home on the island (RM500,000 for a strata home in Seberang Perai).
Source: Penang District and Land Offices (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
In Penang, a foreigner in the Malaysia My Second Home programme may buy a home from RM500,000, up to two homes.
Source: Penang District and Land Offices (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
Purchase taxes
Stamp duty on a property transfer is charged on the price or market value, whichever is higher: 1% of the first RM100,000, 2% to RM500,000, 3% to RM1 million and 4% above that.
Source: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, stamp duty guidelines (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
A foreign company, or an individual who is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident, pays a flat 8% stamp duty on a home bought from 1 January 2026.
Source: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, stamp duty guidelines (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
The 8% rate applies to sale and purchase agreements signed from 1 January 2026.
Source: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, Budget 2026 joint memorandum reply (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
Loan limits
Bank Negara Malaysia caps a borrower’s third home loan at 70% of the property’s value; first and second home loans are not covered (announced November 2010).
Source: Bank Negara Malaysia (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026
Renting
Stamp duty on a tenancy is charged on each RM250 of yearly rent: RM1 for a term up to 1 year, RM3 for over 1 to 3 years, RM5 for over 3 to 5 years and RM7 above that. A lease over 3 years must also be registered at the land office.
Source: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, stamp duty guidelines (opens in a new tab) · Checked 11 November 2026