KUALA LUMPUR: If you are already living in a small and cheap town, staying right where you are makes great sense, says Rajen Devadason, a financial planner with MAAKL Mutual Bhd. However, for those who live in expensive cities like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, moving to smaller towns like Seremban, Port Dickson, Melaka and Ipoh might prove economically viable.

Seremban

This town has relatively low real-estate prices caused by a glut of mid-range residential houses, a well-kept lake garden, a network of roads that connects different suburbs as well as easy access to both public and private hospitals, says Rajen, who works and lives in Seremban.

James Wong, regional chairman of VPC Asia Pacific and managing director of VPC Alliance (KL) Sdn Bhd, says Seremban is “ideal for retirement”, as it is easily accessible. “It’s only 60km from KL and there are many ways of getting there. You have the North-South Highway, LEKAS Highway, and the train and express bus services that run every 10 minutes.”

“This makes Seremban worth a visit at least, to research possibilities. Seremban and nearby Bandar Springhill in Lukut, Port Dickson, are attractive, with their close proximity to Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Port Dickson, Nilai, KLIA, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya,” says Rajen. “It is possible to find extremely good property values in the next five years but prices are unlikely to stay low indefinitely.”

Says Wong, a double-storey semi-detached house in Seremban 2, which he likens to “a mini Petaling Jaya”, is currently on the market for RM300,000, while rents are at least 50% lower than in KL.

As far as medical services are concerned, “there are the Senawang Specialist Hospital, Seremban Specialist Hospital and Columbia Asia Medical Centre. You also have access to hypermarkets such as Giant, Jusco, Carrefour and Tesco,” says Wong, adding that food and necessities are about 10% cheaper than in KL.

Bentong

This is just a short 50-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. “Areas around Bentong, such as Janda Baik, Genting Sempah and Bukit Tinggi, are almost within shuttling distance from KL. These places are so convenient. You can catch a movie, go to The Actors Studio, watch a performance by Dharma Orchestra in the city, then return home,” says Wong.

“Bentong has a cool climate, fertile soil, lots of rivers and waterfalls. Many people living in Kuala Lumpur buy land here and covert them into orchards,” he says. “If you have lived and worked in KL all your life, and you’re looking at a more eco-friendly environment and a slower pace of life, you should consider a town like Bentong.”

Affordable housing is yet another advantage of relocating to Bentong. Says Wong, a single-storey house in Bentong costs RM120,000, while a double-storey and a 2½-storey terraced house on the market goes for RM250,000 and RM300,000 respectively. “Most housing estates in Bentong are within a short driving distance or even within walking distance to the town centre. Food is about 25% to 30% cheaper than KL, while necessities like groceries and clothing is between 15% and 20% cheaper,” he adds.

Melaka and Ipoh

Chan Wai Seen, executive director of JS Valuers Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd, says third-tier cities like Melaka and Ipoh are good places to retire. Ipoh is famed for its natural attractions, especially its limestone caves, while Melaka’s historical sights draw busloads of tourists. Both places are also well known for their cuisine.

“Besides affordable property prices, these cities offer relatively good public amenities and infrastructure, with good highways, a large variety of foods, shopping complexes, banking facilities and hospitals.”

In Melaka, condominiums range from RM200 to RM250 psf. In Bukit Katil, Ayer Keroh, terraced houses can be found for less than RM200,000 while semi-detached houses are priced at around RM500,000, says Chan. Bungalow land cost between RM18 and RM20 psf.

In Ipoh city, high-end condominiums range from RM260 to RM300 psf while bungalows cost from RM1.4 million. In nearby Meru, bungalows are RM800,000, adds Chan.

Penang and Kota Kinabalu

These are options for retirees with deep pockets. “Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah in Penang are popular places for retirees, both local and foreign,” Chan reckons. “They are by the sea, offer great food and are supported by public amenities, such as an international airport and hospitals.”

“Kota Kinabalu is popular for similar reasons,” he says, adding that Iskandar Malaysia in Johor is shaping up to be a good retirement hot spot.

Condominiums in Penang’s Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong range from RM450 to RM550 psf. Meanwhile, prices for semi-detached houses and bungalows start from RM1 million and RM2 million respectively. In Kota Kinabalu, new terraced houses in gated and guarded communities are priced from RM550,000. Semi-detached houses cost RM800,000 and above, while bungalows are sold from RM1.2 million, says Chan.