MALAYSIA as a Home Base?

[ketch05]

If you are looking for boredom Port Dickson is a great location!!! IA couple of weeks was enough for me.
Langkawi is a great location, plenty of local spare parts and what is not available locally can be flown in duty free unlike the rest of Malaysia. And there are cheap flights to Singapore.
I'm curious, with a 65 footer why would you want to be land based?
Fair winds,

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I just assumed the cost of living in Singapore is pretty high as I have only visited for conferences and thought it was expensive like HK.

Being near but in a less dense, more rural, part of the coastline is what I think would fit our shore side lifestyle.

Thailand was our first thought as we both love the culture/the food and the Temples.
Never been to Pataya as it seemed far too touristy and sleazy, but perhaps we are wrong in that assumption of the area.

Also read that the building standards and resale value of these expat apartments are very low.....So started looking at Malaysia.

Great comments and thoughts from all!

Having been based in Asia since the 80's I am familiar with cultural undertones (which is a two way street) but I think a great byproduct of the cruising life is the open friendly attitude we develop as sea gypsies.

Presently studying Port Dickson coastline south towards Singapore so would appreciate any opinions of that area for a shore side apartment investment.

[Steven UK]

Penang, wonderful place with enough variety to keep everyone happy. Prices are rising though. It's one of my 'go to' places. JB was where my buddy's and would go MXing through the fire toads in the jungle, many fond memories there.

P.s. There is no such thing as too hot.

P.p.s. I have a bolt hole in Singapore but that could get sold and moved to Malaysia when I'm ready.

[weavis]

Im going to step outside of the box here and suggest:

GO live in Singapore. Thats where you want to be.

Id be tempted to explore beachside apartments and a dock. Or just a dock.

Johor-Bahru is my favourite. I have no idea of house prices but I do know bridges can be closed in a heartbeat if political trouble ensues.

Investments dont have to be in the country you live in. Perhaps if you have cash find a good broker and take on a spread portfolio. Give legal access to your partner and in the event of your passing, she can choose where suits. Even here is Spain, property does not automatically go to next of kin...

We live in a turbulent world. Who would have thought Brexit would occur or North Korea get more feisty?

Not easy is it? Im of the opinion that we should enjoy it whilst we can.

[Pelagic]

Thanks all for your thoughts, it has been interesting to get all the different perspectives.

I am a boat person, always lived on boats and holidayed in resorts.

We are now months away from moving back onto StarGazer full time after a drawn out refit, and its been stressful making a decision about a future alternate land residence for part time use or old age.....

Last year we put a sign up on our 5 bedroom house on base in Subic Bay....

It is a lovely place, high on a ridge, with wide streets, no Jeepnys or trikes, no chickens, beautiful fruit bearing gardens and tropical birds ...... a quiet, safe, affluent neighborhood.

Within days we had offers from all nationalities, but had still not decided in principal, where our alternate residence would be.

Undecided, we spent a month on west coast of Palawan,.... Beautiful but too backwards in infrastructure to be comfortable in retirement.

Joined the expat communities in Malaysia as we had visited all the places
From research.....got a sense that the Malaysian Government was retrenching into religious nationalism after lots of foreign investments threatned their control.

As in the past, I think they will make it uncomfortable for non-Malay and push all but the wealthy foreigners out.

Spent a week in Vietnam, a week in Singapore, which is an incredible city, but far too controlling and into conspicuous consumption, for my nature.

I had already received two offers at asking price, so knew property would sell easy.

Then while in Vietnam an offer much higher which actually double my investment of just 6 years, made me wonder if we were making the right decision?

Subic is booming as a tourist/strategic destination, so our property will probably increase in value.

Money in the bank earns nothing.

So while my Filipino partner wanted very much to get back to cruising, she would obviously be more comfortable in her own country and have native rights, if anything happened to me.

Unfortunately she was also keenest to sell, so that we didn't have to worry about the house.

But after lots of discusion....... we decided to take the house off the market, go cruising for 6 months and then rent long term if we still enjoy the lifestyle.

Sometimes you have to walk around in a circle, to know where your going...[emoji5]

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by pbmaise

Three years in Miri. Easy bike to town from yacht club. Few tourists.

Very friendly locals.

Easy plane to Singapore when you need a big city.

Only downside was sand flies. Have to install AC to sleep well at night.

I used to take a bus to Brunei for visa run. I was able to have lunch is BSB and be back in Miri same day.

You likely will find you can continue to live easily aboard your boat in Miri.

Our good friends Chris and Sandra leave SBYC next week towards Miri as a Borneo base.

I am thinking the same and also for Typhoon season

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Steven UK

Penang, wonderful place with enough variety to keep everyone happy. Prices are rising though.

Great place but almost zero infrastructure for decent sized vessels.
Prices have been rising there for ages and then they crash.

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Thanks all for your thoughts, it has been interesting to get all the different perspectives.

I am a boat person, always lived on boats and holidayed in resorts.

We are now months away from moving back onto StarGazer full time after a drawn out refit, and its been stressful making a decision about a future alternate land residence for part time use or old age.....

Last year we put a sign up on our 5 bedroom house on base in Subic Bay....

It is a lovely place, high on a ridge, with wide streets, no Jeepnys or trikes, no chickens, beautiful fruit bearing gardens and tropical birds ...... a quiet, safe, affluent neighborhood.

Within days we had offers from all nationalities, but had still not decided in principal, where our alternate residence would be.

Undecided, we spent a month on west coast of Palawan,.... Beautiful but too backwards in infrastructure to be comfortable in retirement.

Joined the expat communities in Malaysia as we had visited all the places
From research.....got a sense that the Malaysian Government was retrenching into religious nationalism after lots of foreign investments threatned their control.

As in the past, I think they will make it uncomfortable for non-Malay and push all but the wealthy foreigners out.

Spent a week in Vietnam, a week in Singapore, which is an incredible city, but far too controlling and into conspicuous consumption, for my nature.

I had already received two offers at asking price, so knew property would sell easy.

Then while in Vietnam an offer much higher which actually double my investment of just 6 years, made me wonder if we were making the right decision?

Subic is booming as a tourist/strategic destination, so our property will probably increase in value.

Money in the bank earns nothing.

So while my Filipino partner wanted very much to get back to cruising, she would obviously be more comfortable in her own country and have native rights, if anything happened to me.

Unfortunately she was also keenest to sell, so that we didn't have to worry about the house.

But after lots of discusion....... we decided to take the house off the market, go cruising for 6 months and then rent long term if we still enjoy the lifestyle.

Sometimes you have to walk around in a circle, to know where your going...[emoji5]

Famous Quote: "A great man knows not whither he goes."
Napolean Bonaparte 1814. No irony intended : ).

[helise]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Thanks all for your thoughts, it has been interesting to get all the different perspectives.

I am a boat person, always lived on boats and holidayed in resorts.

We are now months away from moving back onto StarGazer full time after a drawn out refit, and its been stressful making a decision about a future alternate land residence for part time use or old age.....

Last year we put a sign up on our 5 bedroom house on base in Subic Bay....

It is a lovely place, high on a ridge, with wide streets, no Jeepnys or trikes, no chickens, beautiful fruit bearing gardens and tropical birds ...... a quiet, safe, affluent neighborhood.

Within days we had offers from all nationalities, but had still not decided in principal, where our alternate residence would be.

Undecided, we spent a month on west coast of Palawan,.... Beautiful but too backwards in infrastructure to be comfortable in retirement.

Joined the expat communities in Malaysia as we had visited all the places
From research.....got a sense that the Malaysian Government was retrenching into religious nationalism after lots of foreign investments threatned their control.

As in the past, I think they will make it uncomfortable for non-Malay and push all but the wealthy foreigners out.

Spent a week in Vietnam, a week in Singapore, which is an incredible city, but far too controlling and into conspicuous consumption, for my nature.

I had already received two offers at asking price, so knew property would sell easy.

Then while in Vietnam an offer much higher which actually double my investment of just 6 years, made me wonder if we were making the right decision?

Subic is booming as a tourist/strategic destination, so our property will probably increase in value.

Money in the bank earns nothing.

So while my Filipino partner wanted very much to get back to cruising, she would obviously be more comfortable in her own country and have native rights, if anything happened to me.

Unfortunately she was also keenest to sell, so that we didn't have to worry about the house.

But after lots of discusion....... we decided to take the house off the market, go cruising for 6 months and then rent long term if we still enjoy the lifestyle.

Sometimes you have to walk around in a circle, to know where your going...[emoji5]

Hi! Pelagic,

"Joined the expat communities in Malaysia as we had visited all the places
From research.....got a sense that the Malaysian Government was retrenching into religious nationalism after lots of foreign investments threatned their control.

As in the past, I think they will make it uncomfortable for non-Malay and push all but the wealthy foreigners out".

The above are totally untrue and full of rubbish! Stay for few months (6 months at-least) specially in Johor-Bahru Town and you'll know what's all about.

Regards.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by helise

Hi! Pelagic,

"Joined the expat communities in Malaysia as we had visited all the places
From research.....got a sense that the Malaysian Government was retrenching into religious nationalism after lots of foreign investments threatned their control.

As in the past, I think they will make it uncomfortable for non-Malay and push all but the wealthy foreigners out".

The above are totally untrue and full of rubbish! Stay for few months (6 months at-least) specially in Johor-Bahru Town and you'll know what's all about.

Regards.

I hope so Helise and i look forward to having the boat in Puteri Harbour, to get a better feel.
My impression of a mindset shift towards foreign residents is based on the changes in cost and terms for the MM2H program. (Double the investment cost and now only for 10 years, then a review)
Not exactly reassuring!
So Malaysia for now is only a wonderful place to visit, but not a potential home.

[helise]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I hope so Helise and i look forward to having the boat in Puteri Harbour, to get a better feel.
My impression of a mindset shift towards foreign residents is based on the changes in cost and terms for the MM2H program. (Double the investment cost and now only for 10 years, then a review)
Not exactly reassuring!
So Malaysia for now is only a wonderful place to visit, but not a potential home.

Hi! Pelagic,

We already have three boats in Puteri Harbour and Senibung Cove Marina, Johor-Bahru, Malaysia and you're late and left behind.....poor Pelagic!

Kindly surf Youtube below for your info and poor knowledge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypuaOen6wyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ_fEFJeGe4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siY1hensMkc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzb6rf7kG8

All the best and cheers.....

Elise.

[donradcliffe]

Tough decisions. As you age, access to good health care becomes more important. When I came down with malaria in Sabana Cove, the absolute consensus of the locals was that I should drag my ass onto the ferry and get to Singapore. I did, and was immediately and well treated by a really good specialist.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by helise

Hi! Pelagic,

We already have three boats in Puteri Harbour and Senibung Cove Marina, Johor-Bahru, Malaysia and you're late and left behind.....poor Pelagic!

Kindly surf Youtube below for your info and poor knowledge:

I'm not so sure he has been left behind. More like a lucky miss. Wow, what's happening to Malaysia? It looks like a suburb of Shenzhen now.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by poiu

I'm not so sure he has been left behind. More like a lucky miss. Wow, what's happening to Malaysia? It looks like a suburb of Shenzhen now.

Correct, skyscrapers and peaceful retirement don't go together in my dictionary.

[daletournier]

When i was in Danga bay last it looked nothing like that!

[helise]

[QUOTE=daletournier;2581676]When i was in Danga bay last it looked nothing like that![/QUOTE

Dear Dele,

That was many years ago, and at-least 8 - 9 years. Everything changed now days. Danga Bay Marina was closed and the area was reclaimed for a new project.

Johor-Bahru was the forth largest city in Malaysia in 2010, but now it is the second largest just after Kuala Lumpur.

Please have a look, there are lots of changes with at-least 10 international medical center/hospitals, at-least 10 international schools and universities, world-class theme park @ Lego land, Pinewood Studio and etc. more than 550,000 foreigners lived in Johor-Bahru Township alone, including about 400,000 Singaporeans and their families, American, Britons, Australian and other Europeans even some Russians. The state Government is expecting within the next 5 years, there will be another between 300,000 to 500,000 foreigners in Johor State.

At present, foreigner can only buy property above RM 1.0 Million (approx USD 250k) with a levy of RM10k (approx USD 2,500.00) only. It all depends on how deep is your pocket, either condominium, bungalow, Semi-D, terrace house and commercial property or just stay in the boat forever.

They are moving absolutely very fast. Please surf below for further information. Once get there and need help, please call my best friend Capt.Joe Abdullah at mobile number +6019-7990170 for any inquiries @ buying a home, application for MM2H, mooring & berthing, agency and etc.

Good luck.

Elise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6vkLoJ3B7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjZ7b74jTDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0c47_CzVKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccxG6-GeCPQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwqZwo77wEw&t=29s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlaP8xoqk2M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H00z9BojpCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRc0DJeF4Vs