Living in JB for retire

We went to JB last friday. My firend and I are thinking the cos tof living in Singapore is very high. Thinking to move to JB to stay. That side condo rental is very cheap 4 room flat is only RM$1200 including furniture. Compare to Singapore this type of living standard we have to pay at lease $3K for rental. We sublet our 3 room flat and move there to stay save so much money.

41 thoughts on “Living in JB for retire”

  1. I agree with you Andrew, Ihave decided to spend my retirement years here.
    It boils down to the kind of lifestyle you are looking for.
    Lived here the past 5 months and think the people here are warmer….hehe…no offence.
    I have a terrace house here up for sale.Its in a gated communoty and its pretty safe.

    enjoy

    dan

  2. Hi Daniel,

    …Lived here the past 5 months and think the people here are more FRIENDLY and WARMER ….hehe…no offence.

    True. When I am back in KL,some perfect strangers whom I met while jogging wish me good morning and I do likewise.

    Even an uncle ask me where do I come from and invited me for a cup of coffee at his garden and we can go on blah,blah …for about 15 mins.

    However, in Spore when I was jogging at the ulu pandan connector track below my home, joggers seldom smile nor greet one another when you face them in the opp directn.

    Even my neighbours in the same block are not that warmth either. WHEN YOU MEET THEM , they just say hello and goodbye and they walk straight back to their homes. And we hardly know one another except hello , goodbye.

    Are S’poreans so BUSY and STRESSED that they cannot even smile ???

    Can’t it be like Thailand – The Land of Smiles ?

    Now, I know why Terence married a Thai wife who can LIGHT up his life with good hot,exotic and spicy Thai food and hospitality.

    SC

  3. Hi all at #4,

    I was a Malaysian before I decide to renunciate my citizenship to be a S’porean.

    All becos of unfairness and the minirity races are marginalised in Msia.

    LKY was correct to say it but Malaysian pelitisians cannot accept the truth and demanded an apology.

    SC

  4. I also agree Steven Chan’s view. We don’t be citizen there but can go for retirement. Use their advantage if feel not suitable to stay longer still can come back. We have no way to cut living cost. Go there can cut our living cost can watch Singapore TV programme.

  5. Two points

    (a) Buy “as is” with good title. Don’t buy on plan.

    (b) Buy gated communities. Unless you have your own private security detail. You can’t even blame the grill on the window. Even factories have been known to be stormed and robbed at gunpoint during daylight working hours.

  6. Taijoo @ #5

    Agree absolutely.

    If you are not into top line solutions ie revenue generation viz wealth creation or retirement employment, you have to hit below the line by shifting your cost base.

    Unless you have not been to the groceries for the last one year, you will know by now you can’t afford to live here for the long golden years. If you think that costs will go down post IR, then you should be institutionalize before you become a public liability.

    But you wrong on the final score. We don’t have TV programmes anymore. We have ads, ads and more ads. In Malaysia, we’ll be watching the original DVD’s before they even become prime time in Spore.

    Don’t believe me? You should. If you can believe that Spore is affordable and inflation here is 5 to 7%, you’ll believe anything including organic durians and a flat world.

  7. HI Yew Kwong,

    I am speaking the truth that hurts my conscience too unless one day I decide to become Steven Chan bin Abdullah 37 and make Malaysia my 2nd. home with 4 wives. LOL.

    What say you YK/Tim Kor ?

    SC

    SC

  8. Msians are generally less pretentious, warmer and more helpful.

    During the kelong trip, the spore coach driver was late and had the cheek to be curt but his msian counterpart who waited an hour for us at the johor side of the 2nd link had no qualms that we wanted a 30 minutes’ break for b’fast altho we were behind time. The ferry-men and the kelong men were obliging when, deep in the south china sea, we were at their mercy.

    Steven, truth sometimes hurts but you need not gloss over the truth to make people happy. Conversely, you could put forth the truth in a manner that’s more agreeable. Dont think you hv hurt anyone here with yr comments so far.

    Btw, to “renounce” in a “renunciation” is correct but never to “renunciate”.

  9. Hi Daniel at #2

    Generally there are five types of people :

    excellent, good, bad, ugly and obnoxious.

    They are everywhere in any part of this world regardless of social position.

    Wise people will ignore the last three categories and avoid the last two.

    Cheers,

  10. Dear Daniel

    On a daily basis, I used to and still meeting people from all stratas : from cleaner, taxi driver, students, professionals to those from high social and in powerful places.

    Fortunately, those in the excellent and good types far outweigh the last 3 groups. Most of my friends, relatives and acquaintances are in the first two categories.

    Just ignore and avoid the ugly and obnoxious ones completely. Let them insult themselves; let their bigotry remains where it ought to be.

    The Chinese sage teaches : ????(influence of excellent/good companionship. Live is too short to mix with the otherwise !

    I shared in a thread about two months ago, I read Lillian Glass’ book on “Dealing with 30plus of toxic people”.

    Am keen to explore places to live and visit so long they are peaceful, lively, serene and beautiful naturally.

    Warmest regards

  11. Hi all at # 4 and 10.

    Thanks TIM for correcting my inglishi leh.

    No one is perfect.

    No offence to anyone either but from my own observn living in Malaysia for more than 20 yrs.

  12. Hi Daniel,

    First, I must say I am not going to rent your bungalow. But, for my planning of the 3 month short-term retirement concept, can you share with us why you bought the place? Was it for live-in reasons or for investment reasons?

    Terence Seah

  13. Hi TaiJoo,

    You started this discussion because you thought it make sense to retire in Malaysia or Johore. Besides cost of living, can you share your other considerations, before you actually rent or buy a property in Malaysia?

    Terence Seah

  14. Hi Terance Seah,

    Thank you for your response. I think a lot of people are worry about the security. JB has a lot of robbery case. We have to find a place less criminal. Stay in condo will be more safe. Near shopping area save transportation fee. Chinese people like to stay there more chinese, can get friend.

    I hope you can share with me your view. Thank you.

  15. Hi Taijoo

    Security and safety beyond the condo and living quarters,include moving, shopping and seeing around.

    Has Johore situation improved ?

  16. Every place can be dangerous or safe. It’s how you manage your own perch.

    If you dress like a local and move around like a local then you should be OK. Foreigners can tell an ugly Sporean from miles apart.

    Be more of a home boy. Otherwise you have no business to live in a foreign country. Its much up to us to make our home and life safe.

    Ask Terence. Is Bangkok safe for a Sporean. How does he cope? He lived through a recent coup, finacial crisis and he obviously is no Thai.

  17. Hi Tai Joo,

    With the high criminal records,JB will be less inviting although prices are very much cheaper than S’pore.

    On the other hand SECURITY is a crucial aspect to take into account when you are retiring there for good.

    How would you and your family members feel when every time you come out from your home,you are being mugged.

    Don’t feel song.Rite?

    No mercy,they even robbed and drag a resident on the road while forcing her to part with her handbag containing cash and mobile ph. Some drug addicts are desperate to rob to get their fix.

    Drug addicts are rampant too sometimes in the heart of JB town.

    I once saw 2 drug addicts in front of OCBC “shivering” with cold sweat not becos of the presence of police but becos they couldn’t get drugs to consume.

    The 2 policemen just walk past them. TAK NAMPAK!

    Instead of arresting them,they turn a blind eye.

    Shocking indeed but seeing is believing.

    SC

  18. Hi Tai Joo,

    Instead of JB with too high a criminal record ,you may retire in Penang instead. There are quite a number of Japanese investors who bought new condos and made Penang their 2nd, home. The security in Penang is much better than in JB and the taste and variety of food is good and cheap too.

    SC

  19. Steven @ #24 #25

    You can be mugged in New York or London too.

    Don’t run away from the security issue. It’s every where. It just needs to be engaged and managed.

    What’s important in any investemnt is the quality of the asset and growth potential. Right now JB has good potential because it is heading the UMNO dissident camp and the historical winds of change is in the air. Fortunes is made on the flutter.

    In the world, JB has one unique advantage. IDR / Iskandar is made-in-Malaysia system for Sporeans. No capital gains tax and open door for selected industries including financial trading companies. Easy to get the second home visa program. Let’s compare the facts.

    The Malaysia My Second Home program is an immigration scheme open to nearly all foreign citizens wishing to retire or live in Malaysia on a long-term basis. Your spouse and children can also immigrate. Here are some of the key benefits of the program:

    – You will receive a five-year Visit Pass and Multiple-Entry Visa, renewable every five years.

    – You can import your car or purchase a new car, tax-free and enjoy other tax incentives.

    – You can invest and own businesses in Malaysia.

    – You can enjoy a luxury lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of living in the West. It is a very affordable place to retire early.

    – You maintain your original citizenship and are free to travel as often as you like.

    Don’t talk about durians. First class private medical there is less than half of the price of subsidised rates here on something as mundane and long term as dialysis. Which is a better financial risk. The robber that can penetrate through your armed gurkha security detail to rob you. Or here? Paying arms and legs for a little finger everyday.

    What else is there to say?

  20. Agree, security and safety can be managed and engaged on individual and collective levels.

    Just avoid and ignore the ugly and obnoxious ones is the first wise step. Envy, snares and jealousy are norms of such characters.

    Within one sphere, zap them at first instance and wisely move away from things beyond one’s control.

  21. Hi all,

    Agreed with all, with the Malaysia Silver hair program or Malaysia my second home program the incentives are quite inviting as KT Wong mentioned. This qualification is attainable to most Singaporeans, just buy a property above M$250k and you can almost live like a citizen. Finding a right residential area within a gated community and having a group of friends (Malaysians and Singaporeans) staying nearby can help to foster better security and safety.

    The other thing needed is to have an active SHC program going on like what we have now, where there is an activity going on, not only every week, but almost every other day.

    Daniel, with you being full time there and your increasing number of friends, we hope you can arrange some activities that can help more of us feel comfortable and be acquainted to living in JB, or nearby towns.

  22. Yes Ron I am enjoying the perks and affordable lifestyle here, thanks to Ping (my lawyer and advisor too)! It is certainly wise to know JB-reans (anak Johor) as it eases getting around and discovering good stuff without paying ‘an arm & leg’ for them…having said that I had the privilege of settling in JB with her and we bought a bungalow home recently but one must not expect too much regarding activities as this town is more suited for the family/domesticated sort, hence purchasing a house and turning it into your own home is encouraging and just having friends over for food and laughs is a better idea. Although there is a lot of hype regarding the Iskandar Region (IR) project just be aware of the snares and traps which is not revealed to foreigners such as the Johor State govt is predominantly UMNO with bumiputra interests in mind (the Opposition in Johor State did not enjoy a breakthrough yet!) and capable of implementing sudden changes to bye-laws and regulations in the past. Nevertheless, Malaysia My Second Home policy is enjoying success at the moment and the IR project is presumably under the management of Khazanah, a public listed company which takes care of govt investments (more on the federal level)…so as every company will take care of its own profits, just be cautioned that foreign investors are a mere tool for profit-making…so it may be short-lived …hence as a prudent and realistic investor/retiree bear in mind it may just be as short term as it is for long term…well i hope i have not ‘scared off’ anyone but my ‘lawyer’ told me to let you guys know it is better to be prepared! As`for lifestyle it is certainly more to enjoy at an affordable price here than in sg. Sure we can help you all settle down here..looking forward to meeting up with any of you who are keen to live in JB…hey, the more the merrier lah!

  23. Dan @ #29

    Caveat Emptor – it is always the buyer to beware.

    Look it this way. Where has it ever been that immigration policy is offered ex-gratia to aliens. (Oops… not suppose to talk about Spore)

    Anyway, there is always a risk to aliens everywhere. The thing is to integrate quickly into the target society and be UFO no more.

    Ask Terence. See easy. You can make your bed and sleep on it too.

    Hee-hee.

  24. Hi Daniel

    Is nice to hear that you have shifted to a new bungalow house in JB. The last time Alice and I and with few others visited your pervious terrace house, was a lovely experience. I wonder, to ask your opinion, whether is a good idea to purchase a property there and just to keep it as a week-end retreat. I have heard story that it is not advisable to keep the house empty, as it will invite unwanted visitors.

    RonLai

  25. Hi Ron,

    Nice to hear from you.It depends on which area the development is.Mine is within a gated community with security guards patrolling every 15-20mins and in an established neighbourhood.There is also a Police station in the vicinity.
    I think as long as you have good neighbours and it is gated and guarded it should be okay.My neighbour has been very helpful and I have left it empty for quite a while but I do make frequent visits every week

    I still have my terrace house and it is up for sale…:) any takers?

    Daniel…:))

  26. Daniel @ #32

    Its difficult for anyone to consider from virtually zero base to buying a Second Home in JB.

    You have to build up the community of potential home trippers. Take it one step at a time.

    Suggest that you start to organize some day or overnight shopping/makan trip for Sporeans to start taking in the pleasures of living away. Conduct the tours yourself or get a group of like-minded fellow RV entrepreneurs.

    Don’t stop with your own property. For it to suceed you have to cover the ground. Its too much work for just one bang at the cash till. There is always a critical size of commitment for a decent ROI. Some call it the escape velocity of effort. You can’t do less if you want to get off the ground; and if you do you must make sure that the payload is worth it.

    Do it seriously and professionally like a business. Rope in more properties in the same category to provide more options. And open to the whole of Spore. You can earn a good passive stream of recurring income and still get to keep the property.

    If you can, come down to the Virtual Shop discussion on Wed 4th May at 7 pm at Scorebot, 18 Bali Lane. You can also launch your RV tours and properties at the flea market and musical festival later. We can cover this together too.

  27. Hi Danie,

    Why you want to sale your house? How much you want to sell? May be you can advertise in Silver club. Where is your location? I think some member are rich amy be interest to buy over and you save broker fee lah. Hope that a lot of member come to discuss this topic. It is very interesting.

  28. Hi,

    Reason for selling is becos I have purchased another property in town.

    Asking for S$130k/- neg.It is fully renovated,only have to bring your suitcase in.

    My lawyer will handle all the legal matters pertaining to the sale.

    Rgds

    Daniel

  29. Hi Daniel

    Interested to have more details of your terrace house eg type (intermediate, 2 or 3 storey),location, title, age, area (land/builtup), near amenities (shops, clinics, malls,) and public transport to JB/2nd link, etc, etc.

    I understand we can enter JB without visa and stay max. 30 days. As I am not keen on MMSH, what is your usual duration of stay in JB and does JB immigration query your frequent movement in/out of JB? Hope u can provide other info for pple who are keen to retire in JB. Many thnaks.

    Henry

  30. Daniel #14

    Is your MR 1,000 per month bungalow still available for rent? First, besides the rental of MR 1,000 per month, I would like to know the terms and conditions of the tenancy. If there is a genuine break-in or robbery, will the tenant or landlord be responsible for the damage and loss of furniture and fittings (movable and as well as fixed).

    Chew Wai Jin

  31. Ronald Wie #28.

    I used to own an apartment at Genting View Resort, a condo 3,000 ft above the foot of Genting Highlands (or 3,000 ft below Genting Casino.)

    I was advised not to stay in Malaysia for a total for 180 days or more in a year. If I do then from the Income Tax Department’s point of view I am a resident in Malaysia and therefore my income from Singapore will also be added to my Malaysian Income Tax Return (of course I will get some benifit in double taxation). Is the Silver Hair Program or MMSM programme also attract income tax such as rents and other income one earns from Singapore?

    Hoping to hearing from you.

    Wai Jin

  32. This thread suddenly come alive!..

    I want to kacau Steven@3..
    Not everybody in Spore unfrenly la…u come be my nebor..I will kasi mee goreng,asam pedas,sayur lodeh for breakfast…but awak mesti puasa!..hehe

    Steven…when i said ‘selamat pagi’ while jogging up the hill in Brunei…the local thot im so strange!…its the culture, not becos they are unfrenly…try make the first move….u will get smiles & all of us will be happier at each other..betul tak?

    Alamak..i go off track!
    Living in JB…why not?

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