Buying Guides · Published July 8, 2026 · Updated September 25, 2026 · 3 min read

How Foreigners Buy Property in Johor Bahru: Steps, Approvals and Costs

The six steps from booking to keys for a non-Malaysian buyer: the state price threshold, the sale and purchase agreement, state consent, financing, stamp duty and delivery under the Housing Development Act.

Coronade Twins, Ibrahim International Business District, Johor Bahru

Non-citizens buy Malaysian property under each state's foreign-purchase rules; permanent residents should check their position with a lawyer. Here is the path for a new-launch strata unit in Johor Bahru.

Step 1: Check the minimum price

Each state sets a minimum price for foreign buyers. In Johor the state land office (PTG Johor) sets RM1,000,000 as the minimum price for foreign buyers of residential property, and each purchase needs state consent. The figure is set by the state and can change, so confirm the current threshold for the specific project with your lawyer before you book. Several projects we list have units both below and above this line; the lower-priced units are for Malaysian buyers.

Step 2: Book and sign

You pay a booking deposit set by the developer, then sign the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) within the period stated on the booking form, usually a few weeks. New launches follow the payment schedule fixed by the Housing Development Act, the same for every buyer of that project.

Step 3: Johor state consent

A foreign buyer needs the state authority's consent before the title can be transferred. Your lawyer applies after the SPA is signed; a consent fee is payable to the state and the process runs into months. Developer panel lawyers handle this routinely.

Step 4: Financing

Malaysian banks lend to foreign buyers. The margin, tenure and documents differ from a local's loan. See our home loan guide.

Step 5: Stamp duty and legal fees

From 1 January 2026, non-citizens (except Malaysian permanent residents) pay a flat 8% stamp duty on the transfer of a residential home, up from 4% (Budget 2026). Legal fees follow the Solicitors' Remuneration Order scale. Ask for a written estimate before signing; rates can change with the annual budget.

Step 6: Completion and keys

For high-rise projects sold under the standard HDA contract, the developer must deliver vacant possession within the period stated in the SPA, commonly 36 months from signing. Late delivery attracts compensation under the same contract.

Selling later

Real Property Gains Tax applies to the profit on a sale; the rate depends on how long you held the property and your citizenship, and is higher in the early years. Confirm the current schedule when you sell.

FAQ

Can foreigners buy any property in Johor?

No. Malay reserve land, low-cost housing and several other categories are closed to foreign buyers. All nine projects we list are strata high-rise, the category normally open to foreigners, subject to the price threshold.

Who applies for state consent?

Your lawyer, after the SPA is signed. You do not deal with the state office yourself.

Projects in this guide — official listings on jbpropertyportal.my

Floor plans, prices and photos are on the official listing site.

All Johor Bahru listings on jbpropertyportal.my →

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Written by licensed real estate negotiator Shyan Yee (REN 46305), IQI Realty Sdn Bhd. WhatsApp +60 10-827 8932 · shyanyeews@gmail.com. Figures come from developer records and OpenStreetMap measurements; no yield or price forecasts.