📅 Last verified: June 2026. State thresholds change with policy and zoning. Anything marked † moves most often — confirm with the relevant state land office or a licensed professional before you commit.
The short version
- Every state sets a minimum price an international buyer must spend — it’s the first gate on any purchase. †
- The common floor is RM1 million, but it ranges from RM500k to RM3m depending on state and property type.
- Strata (condos / serviced apartments) is the open path almost everywhere. Landed (houses) is higher-priced, and in some states restricted.
- Clear the threshold and you still need state consent — the price is the filter, not the finish line.
Why there’s a minimum at all
Malaysia keeps the entry-level and affordable market for its own residents, and opens the upper segment to international buyers. The minimum price is how it draws that line. It isn’t a fee — it’s a floor: the property you buy must be valued at or above your state’s threshold.
(Strata = a unit in a shared building, like a condo or serviced apartment. Landed = a house on its own title.)
The thresholds, state by state
These are the main states international buyers ask about. † — all figures move with policy:
| State | Strata (condo / serviced apt) | Landed (house) |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | RM 1,000,000 | RM 1,000,000 |
| Selangor | RM 2,000,000 (Zones 1 & 2) · RM 1,000,000 (Zone 3) | Not available — only strata / gated-strata, statewide |
| Penang — Island | RM 1,000,000 | RM 3,000,000 |
| Penang — Mainland (Seberang Perai) | RM 500,000 | RM 1,000,000 |
| Johor | RM 1,000,000 (Medini: no floor) | RM 2,000,000 in designated zones (Iskandar Puteri, JB centre) |
💡 Two quirks worth knowing. In Selangor, individual-title landed houses are effectively closed to international buyers statewide — the open route is strata or gated-strata only. In Johor’s Medini zone (Iskandar), the usual minimum doesn’t apply, which is why you’ll see lower-priced units marketed there.
Other states (Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Perak and so on) set their own floors, often around RM1m but with local variation. If you’re looking outside the four above, check that specific state before you shortlist.
What you can’t buy at any price
The threshold opens the door to most of the market — but some categories stay off-limits regardless of budget:
- Malay Reserved land and Bumiputera-quota units
- Low-cost / affordable housing schemes
- Agricultural land
A handful of prime, central projects sit on Malay Reserved or Bumi land — a famous address doesn’t guarantee you can hold the title. Confirm the land status before you fall for the location.
How to read the threshold
Treat the minimum as a filter, not a barrier. It does two useful things for you:
- It tells you, instantly, which states and which segments are even open to you.
- It steers you toward the investment-grade end of each market — which is, conveniently, the stock that holds value best.
So the number isn’t there to keep you out. It’s there to point you at the part of the market worth buying in the first place.
→ Once you’ve cleared the threshold, see the full entry-and-exit cost in the Foreign Buyer guide, and price it on the calculators.
The threshold isn’t the obstacle — it’s the filter. Clear it, and you’re already shopping in the part of the market worth owning.
Not sure which state fits your budget and goal? Message me on WhatsApp — I’ll point you to the segments actually open to you.
General information only — not legal or investment advice. State thresholds, zones and land-status rules change and vary case by case; confirm with the relevant state land office and a licensed professional. Figures marked † move most often. Author: Jacky Yong, licensed real estate negotiator (REN 77674), Vivahomes Realty Sdn Bhd (E(1)1670).
See this in real projects
Live listings where this applies: