A Malaysian man who purchased a double-storey terrace house in Bangsar 55 years ago for RM37,000 has seen its value rise to RM1.8 million.
Despite the massive increase in value, he never once considered selling it.
In a viral social media post, a netizen shared how this “Uncle” bought the house in 1970, a time when property ownership wasn’t common and many were hesitant to invest.
Today, his home is estimated to be worth nearly 50 times the original price.
He bought the house for his children, not profit
The post explained that this Uncle’s success came down to three main reasons.
First, he had a strong emotional goal. His dream was to provide a home for each of his children. That motivation kept him from selling, no matter how high the value climbed.
Whether it doubled, tripled or increased tenfold, he remained firm and kept the house.
Second, he made the purchase during a difficult period. In 1970, few people were buying houses, but he took the leap anyway.
Third, he never intended to flip or rent it out. The house was bought purely for the family.
Because of that, he wasn’t swayed by market trends or rising prices. From RM37,000 to RM1.8 million, the house gained more than 50 times in value.
Long-term holding brought higher returns than flipping
The netizen pointed out that many investors look to flip homes for a 200 percent return within three to five years.
In contrast, this Uncle waited 20 to 30 years. By doing so, the return grew far beyond what short-term investors typically aim for, possibly hitting 30 to 50 times the original price.
Some argued that he was just lucky to have bought property in Bangsar.
But the poster believes the real takeaway is not about the location, but the decision to wait. Even when prices increased significantly, the Uncle never rushed to sell.
Netizens have mixed opinions
Not everyone agreed with the RM1.8 million valuation. Some commented that even if the price had increased, it doesn’t mean someone would be willing to pay that much.
One user said the bank value is only a reference, and without buyers, it doesn’t hold much weight.
Others noted that the house is old and would require renovations, suggesting that buyers may prefer a brand-new home instead.
A few pointed out that unless there’s something extraordinary about the land, such as hidden treasure, RM1.8 million might not be justifiable.
There were also remarks that the house itself is not what holds the value, but the land it sits on.
