Buying a house in your early 20s is often seen as a major life achievement, especially among Gen Z Malaysians trying to secure a home as early as possible.
But one Malaysian woman recently went viral after sharing how purchasing a high-rise property at 23 years old became an expensive lesson she wished someone had explained to her earlier.
In a Threads post, the woman said she bought a nearly RM400,000 home during a period when OPR rates were still low and the property market was booming.
At first, she thought she had made a smart financial move.
However, years later, she admitted there were many hidden details she overlooked before signing the agreement.
Now, she hopes other young Malaysians can learn from her experience before committing to their first property purchase.
1. Not all high-rise homes are the same
According to the woman, many buyers assume all high-rise properties are simply “condos”.
But she explained that there are actually several different categories, including:
- Condominium
- Apartment
- Serviced Apartment
- SOHO
- Low-cost apartment
She said this matters because different property types come with different charges, regulations, and utility rates.
In her case, she only later realised the unit she purchased was classified as a serviced apartment.
Although the facilities looked similar to a regular condominium, the monthly expenses turned out to be very different.
2. Leasehold vs freehold isn’t just a “small detail”
Another thing she advised buyers to properly understand is land status.
She explained that some properties are leasehold while others are freehold, and many buyers do not fully research the difference before purchasing.
The woman mentioned that leasehold properties may eventually require renewal after the lease period expires, depending on the property and state regulations.
Meanwhile, some netizens in the comments also added that even freehold land is not completely untouchable, as the government can still acquire land under certain laws with compensation provided.
3. Hidden costs don’t stop after buying the house
The woman also pointed out that many first-time buyers only focus on the house price and monthly loan repayment.
But according to her, there are actually many extra charges people forget to calculate beforehand.
Among the costs she listed were:
- MOT fees
- Legal fees
- TNB deposits
- Fire insurance
- Assessment tax
- Quit rent
- Indah Water charges
She explained that these costs may seem small individually, but together they can become a huge financial commitment over time.
4. Serviced apartments can come with higher utility bills
One of the biggest regrets she shared was not properly understanding utility charges for serviced apartments.
According to her, serviced apartments are often charged under commercial utility rates instead of residential rates.
She claimed this resulted in significantly higher electricity and water bills compared to normal residential properties.
The woman said her monthly water bill could reach around RM70, while electricity bills sometimes went up to RM250.
What frustrated her most was that both she and her husband worked long hours outside the house and rarely even switched on the air conditioner.
“It feels like getting robbed every month,” she wrote.
She also warned buyers to check whether the property uses bulk water meters or direct water meters linked to state water suppliers, as this can affect monthly charges too.
5. Don’t get distracted by “pretty facilities”
Lastly, the woman reminded buyers not to immediately fall in love with fancy facilities shown by property agents.
She explained that some serviced apartments may look almost identical to luxury condominiums, causing buyers to overlook important differences in status and charges.
“Sometimes the house price looks cheaper, but the monthly costs become very burdensome later,” she shared.
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