I've just signed my S&P papers and am really happy to have procured my first home in Malaysia (I've lived overseas for a long time).

I'd been following the forum discussions quite intently and there was a little surprise I'd like to share.

Amongst the multitudes of forms I had to sign, there is one which asks for permission to install a sliding door between your kitchen and yard though I believe it applies to all units except C & D.

For anyone who bought into Block B for views, the land parcel in front of it is small being around 1 acre. It's too small for a development and do note the roads running through it. The proposed bigger developments are pretty much sitting adjacent to the Belfield site.

I'm feeling really positive about this development as I personally do like the area - its that juxtaposition of tradition in this part of town and the soon to be tallest building in SE Asia. If you're Chinese, this area also speaks volumes to the history of your ancestry. If they can balance the level of gentrification here with the new then you have one of the most charming neighbourhoods around.

I think the most likely reason is that when Tower C comes along your view would be looking at them.

My bad I mixed up the unit orientations. So yea unit 1 © overlooks a future unknown development and unit 6 © overlooks a future tower phase of Belfield.

Pure speculation but tower C looks like a large parcel of land devoted to 450 units. So it looks like the layouts may be a lot larger.

Don’t assume the layout will be the same as the current 2 towers.

To be fair, a price increase of 10+% for views of historic sites like Stadium Merdeka and the PNB 118 is well worth it imo.

Tower C will have its own facilities. Judging from previous developer’s rollout, Tower C will be marketed as a premium residence likely with better finishings, it’s own facilities and of course a larger price tag.

Not sure if someone can answer this, I’ve never bought in 2 or more separate phases of a development.

I would have thought they’d have a different cost structure for their facilities or would it be blanket the same 29c psf.

What would potential rent be for the units?

I'm noting that Opus goes from about $3.8k - $5k for a 3 bedder. I'm guessing somewhere in the middle would be a good approximation?

Also, would there be a rental premium for city views? If so, that should nudge it to the higher end of this range.

Not necessarily. There are those that like close but not too close. Western expats still do differ from Eastern expats in many ways ie. not feeling boxed up by concrete towers and having green space accessible. Mileage will vary of course but housing budgets in the future for expat contracts will diminish I feel.

I still gauge my investments from a very simple sentiment - would I live there?

Too often I’m seeing premium properties in the $1,500+ psf range being furnished with IKEA and I think what’s the point. Expats aren’t necessarily the golden goose you know.

My bad. Yea you’re right. I’m forgetting that expats won’t know of Pudu Jail. Whilst I personally won’t live there, plenty will be drawn to its infrastructure.

Regardless, we’ll need borders open to have an influx of tourists, expats etc to prop up the property market.

Quite likely it’ll become gentrified much like the southern end of Petaling Street near Four Points. Especially once you have the population base in the area to support commercial activity.

The blend of hawkers and hipster cafes, speakeasys in this neighbourhood is so charming.

I think most people are buying in here because we felt that this is a rare project that is fair value. I think that still stands when you compare to the neighboring competition where some units are almost double the price (good luck to them).

It’s probably your luck that all the cheaper units have been snapped up but hey there’s a chance that some may come back onto the market.

To be fair 800+ psf you are getting views of Stadium Merdeka and PNB 118 already (unknown if it’ll stay that way). That’s a very powerful draw as you’re looking at both the history and future of Malaysia.

Maybe I’m being nostalgic with some of the videos I saw of the PNB tower which was designed to resemble TAR’s outstretched hand as he chanted Merdeka.

I was looking in MK too but none of the new launches resonate with me and they start from the 800 psf mark upwards with no real appreciable views. MK sub sale is really worthwhile imo.

The wallet's in the pocket of the beholder. I hear ya, need to work out your priorities to your budget. I've lived in a few countries where there can be a 50 - 100% premium for views. So maybe I have a skewed perspective. Regardless both towers will have sky decks that have tremendous views.

It's an investment that I'd be more than happy to live in. It'll be something I'd be looking to hold for a fairly long time.

It’s an unknown for the land in front. Conjecture so far is that it’s a low rise medical centre or school.

I’m well aware that greed does win out in the end and another residential tower is not out of the question. Though in my research, the only planned developments are those to the right of the Sunway site.

Tower C will have the safest views and thusly be the priciest.

I’m still hoping against hope whatever they build isn’t too tall given it’s a relatively small land parcel.

Very logical. We're lucky because the project isn't vesting now. And by the time its completed, the landmark tower will be up and running. This Opus was sold a bit too early it seems and I think they were being very opportunistic with the sales price. Seriously $500 psf extra for fully furnished? That works out to $500k worth of furniture for a 1k sf unit!

It looks like most new developments in Klang Valley are already at the 6-700 psf range so Belfield isn't too far off being fair value for a CBD location.

The prestige property market will suffer for the foreseeable future with a suspended MM2H program and just overall closure of borders. The appeal of living in the city center is limited when the same budget can afford you a bungalow in a suburban setting. Don't forget that we're not Hong Kong or Singapore in terms of landmass. Density and having more personal space is becoming increasingly important again.

Even the wealthy will get tired of holding onto vacant property with limited upside and would rather redeploy their funds into assets/property that have more potential. They can afford to take the hit on the sale price.

Positives are that we still have one of the most affordable property markets (by International standards) in the world.

Looking at some of the older threads questioning walkability which I actually tried out before MCO 3.0, it’s an easy 10+ minute walk barely 1 km from the showroom into Jalan Panggong and then onto Petaling Street. Tonnes of good food, kopitiams and bars there. In the same vein you could head to MRT pasar seni which would be the same duration as well.