What were Malaysia’s most wanted properties in 2024?
Powered by real-time data from PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my, the new Consumer Demand Awards recognise the year’s most sought-after residential and commercial developments
With rising living costs and evolving lifestyle needs, buyers and renters in Malaysia are becoming smarter, more selective, and more data-driven than ever.
Insights from Malaysia’s leading property platforms, PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my, reveal that property seekers are increasingly aware and informed when it comes to buying and leasing properties in the country.
Recognising these behavioural shifts, the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty have introduced the inaugural Consumer Demand Awards, recognising the most in-demand properties in the country based on real demand.
Unlike traditional awards evaluated by judging panels, these accolades are entirely data-powered, tracking actual buyer activity, including views and enquiries on PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my from 1 January to 31 December 2024. In other words, these awards are decided free of subjective opinions—just real demand from real people.
These findings are consistent with the Property Sentiment Index, which remained stable in H2 2024, according to PropertyGuru’s biannual Consumer Sentiment Study. Young property seekers in the country are trying to adapt to the rising cost of living and higher interest rates and saving for downpayments.
Here’s what real-time data told us about what Malaysians—and Singaporeans—really sought in residential and commercial properties in 2024.
City living is back but smarter
Consumers are looking for high-rise homes in well-connected urban locations such as the Kuala Lumpur (KL) City Centre and Johor Bahru, especially those with lifestyle perks such as gyms, retail, and cafes. Such areas appeal to buyers and renters with the prospect of time-saving commutes, integrated living, and appreciating property values.
Well-connected public transportation is most likely to boost a property’s value, according to 71% of property seekers surveyed by the PropertyGuru Malaysia Consumer Sentiment Study in H2 2024. When searching for a place to rent, 73% of respondents took commuting distance to workplace into account.
R&F Princess Cove by R&F Development Sdn Bhd has won the titles of Most In-Demand High-Rise Development For Sale (Malaysia) and Most In-Demand High-Rise Development For Rent (Malaysia) at the Consumer Demand Awards. The 10-tower complex features a sizable amenities floor and even boasts its own opera house, yacht club, and restaurant hub. Furthermore, prospective buyers and tenants can choose from a variety of layouts at R&F Princess Cove, including studios and multi-bedroom apartments that range from lofts to dual-key and sea-view residences.
Work-life balance is driving office choices
Even in the hybrid work era, office spaces near lifestyle zones are seeing high interest from consumers. Modern offices in KL and Cheras are especially attractive because of the great value they give to startups and established investors alike.
As the commercial industry continues its flight to quality, several properties have stood out to office renters and buyers.
Mutiara Central Cheras by Mutiara Johan Group has won the titles of Most In-Demand Office For Sale (Malaysia) and Most In-Demand Office For Lease (Malaysia) at the Consumer Demand Awards. Demand for this commercial address can be attributed to its central location in the heart of Cheras Business Centre, with superb connectivity to expressways, highways, and public transport hubs, including the LRT and MRT. The offices are also situated above a seven-storey retail complex. Among its many recreational facilities, the complex features a pool, offering a place of respite for harried workers.
In Kuala Lumpur, consumers have shown their preference for The Exchange 106 by Mulia Property Development. The development has won Most In-Demand Office For Lease (Kuala Lumpur), thanks to its column-free office spaces, extensive amenities (including a sky lobby), and retail and dining options. It also features a sustainable design, having achieved the Green Building Index’s prestigious Gold Standard. A mainstay of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline, the building towers 106 floors high, part of the broader Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) development.
Meanwhile, City Square Office Tower by Berinda Group has been recognised as the Most In-Demand Office For Lease in Johor. Commercial property seekers appreciate the development’s impressive 24-hour security system and abundant car parking spaces. City Square Office Tower is also easily accessible from the Johor Bahru city centre via Jalan Tebrau and Jalan Wong Ah Fook, turning the office commute into a five- to 10-minute journey.
Johor Bahru’s cross-border buzz
Smoother cross-border travel has renewed demand for Johor Bahru (JB), not only from Singaporean investors seeking affordable second homes but also Malaysians working in Singapore. Around 300,000 Malaysians, many of whom work in Singapore, cross the Johor-Singapore Causeway daily.
With lower property prices, waterfront living, and better cost-quality balance, homes in JB offer smart investment as much as smart living. Interestingly, this demand is not limited to high-rises. Gated estates offering privacy, greenery, and leisure-focused amenities are also gaining traction, particularly among Singapore-based buyers seeking a weekend home or lifestyle upgrade just across the border. Offices near the Causeway are equally popular, appealing to businesses leveraging the Singapore-Malaysia connection.
In Johor Bahru, R&F Princess Cove by R&F Development Sdn Bhd has been named Singapore’s Most In-Demand Malaysian High-Rise Development, having received the highest number of property searches from Singapore IP addresses. Set just across the Johor Straits from Singapore, R&F Princess Cove is winning over property seekers with its proximity to JB Sentral Bus Terminal and the adjacent KTM JB Sentral Railway Station.
R&F Princess Cove is also strategically located near two exciting new transit routes: the High Speed Railway (HSR) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) interchange station, linking Johor Bahru with the Singapore Woodlands MRT.
Meanwhile, Leisure Farm by Mulpha International has been recognised as Singapore’s Most In-Demand Malaysian Bungalow House. Often likened to Kenny Hills in Kuala Lumpur, Leisure Farm is Johor Bahru’s most prestigious address for luxury landed living. Spanning acres of manicured greenery and built around lakes and themed precincts, the gated estate offers an exclusive retreat for Singaporean buyers seeking a high-end weekend home or tranquil lifestyle upgrade. With its proximity to the Second Link, international schools, and world-class leisure amenities, Leisure Farm combines cross-border convenience with resort-style living at its finest.
Data is the new decision-maker
Malaysians are clicking where it counts. Popularity online often mirrors value on the ground, making web traffic a powerful indicator of property demand.
If developers get one takeaway from the Consumer Demand Awards, it is this: Trust the crowd. When thousands of Malaysians are searching for the same developments, this behaviour speaks volumes about what developers should create next, and where.
The Consumer Demand Awards offer the first step in this direction. Whether you’re buying your first home or investing in your next office, follow the data.
The 2024 Consumer Demand Awards: Where Malaysia Clicked Most
This isn’t a popularity contest—it’s a peek into real demand. Based purely on search and enquiry activity from 1 January to 31 December 2024, these developments stood out as the top picks for Malaysians looking to elevate their lifestyle.
Residential
Most In-Demand High-Rise Development For Sale (Malaysia):
Most In-Demand High-Rise Development For Rent (Malaysia):
Singapore’s Most In-Demand Malaysian High-Rise Development:
Singapore’s Most In-Demand Malaysian Bungalow House:
Commercial
Most In-Demand Office For Sale (Malaysia):
Most In-Demand Office For Lease (Malaysia):
Most In-Demand Office For Lease (Kuala Lumpur):
Most In-Demand Office For Lease (Johor):
For more information on Malaysia’s most wanted properties, explore PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my
Recommended
Asian infrastructure investments boost real estate and economic growth
Governments around Asia are spending billions to fuel infrastructure development to boost real estate and economic growth
Arquitectonica’s global impact reshapes skylines from Miami to Asia
Bernardo Fort-Brescia and his design practice Arquitectonica are making a seismic impact in Asia from an HQ in Florida
Park Kiara in Hanoi raises the bar for sustainable urban living
Park Kiara in Hanoi is a repudiation of low-density, car-dependent suburban sprawl
6 reasons Bekasi is rising as Greater Jakarta’s next hotspot
One of Greater Jakarta’s rising stars is prospering, thanks to ample recreation and a contingent of desirable housing projects
