From a laymen perspective it seems price is not likely to drop unless there is a plunge in US market. At this moment things look like going uphill, and SP Setia says they are going to end the 5/95 package by 17 of July.

For the luxurious condo, are you buying for own stay or for investment? If you're buying for own stay for longer term (say planning to sell off > 5 years later) I will suggest get a landed property given penang island land is limited (well, there are still plenty of land if you ask me but the price is still going up 5-10% YoY basis, and the reason given always the same -- land is getting lesser). Per my observation, it seems high rise property will hit the ceiling after 5 years; in contrast, landed seems like no real ceiling... In additional, I heard people are paying RM600 per month for Bayswater maintenance fee; so how much Platino going to be?

This post has been edited by Interrupt: Jul 12 2009, 09:31 PM

The maintenance fee is to be paid by the owner, same to the quit rent.

I can understand your concern over landed security. I'm staying in condo too (not luxurious, mid end one), yet my house got broke in last year. I am currently renting, and there is no alarm system provided. It's quite sad to say so but I think nowadays good grilling/anti theft roof + alarm system is required for landed. One have to turn their house to mini-jail to secure the family. Alternatively maybe you can consider gated or guarded landed property like those from SP Setia or Mahsing?

Usually the maintenance fee tends to be lower when just started to attract customer, after some time they will re-adjust the maintenance fee and this is a norm already. So maybe it's good for you to find out more about Bayswater maintenance fee and make assumption that Platino will be 20% higher than that in actual fact. Sorry i do not know more details for the maintenance fee for Bayswater, I just heard someone mentioned that the maintenance fee just increased to 600.

Hi lwb, what's your opinion on the 20-30 years old 2 stories semi-d at Green Lane that are now selling above 600k? The one I visited before is facing T junction some more, with timber flooring for both floors (it's not of decorative timber, the 1st floor do not have cement or concrete). In Penang island, the price not only come from the building structure. It actually came from the land. You see, Penang island is too small, every outskirt area will eventually turn into township due to limited land for development. So I think you may not be able to apply what you understand from mainland in Penang.

This post has been edited by Interrupt: Jul 13 2009, 03:28 PM