Batu Kawan properties? Look at cars. It is also prime for G, G and G.
by Charles Tan
I was in Penang last weekend for an important lunch. As I was driving past the second bridge, I noticed that the condition was exactly the same when I drove across it last month and two months before. There were very few cars on the bridge! Ok, what’s the significance of that? These days, you often hear about people talking about the potential of Batu Kawan. Thus, you may feel that it’s time to buy something and wait, perhaps just 3 years later, you will get huge returns. Based on three key criterias, you may be right. First one is the second bridge is ready, second one is, there are already huge integrated plans and third would be top developers are buying up huge tracts of land. So, it’s just a matter of time, right?
Well, add one more sign which I think is more relevant. Number of cars using the second bridge. Seriously, if the number of cars start to increase, you can be sure that there are more economic activities. Without any significant changes in the number of cars, I think the situation is still the same. Come on, Penang island may be expensive but for those who are working in Bayan Lepas, they may still choose Teluk Kumbar or even Balik Pulau over Batu Kawan at this moment. It takes more than just prices to lure buyers. The concept has to be very attractive. The developers should have a huge following which would enable them to price at a premium and thus have the ability to build something beyond the usual.
I read in a article that instead of Gated and Guarded, the trend is now moving towards Green, Gated and Guarded. Actually, Green is not considered a new trend. Balinese concept many years ago was already GREEN. Lots of trees, plants, flowers etc. For this concept to work in Penang island, be ready to admit you cannot afford one. However, I think this is a concept which is applicable, especially in huge integrated developments. Thus, mainland Penang may be the next place to carry this out. I await the first of such launches from a reputable developer. I sort of also know which developer would fulfill that criteria first.
>> This opinion article comes courtesy of Charles, the founder of kopiandproperty.com. He is popular for sharing his thought on property investment mostly based on his own 11 years experience as well as from all the readings and conversations with property gurus in the industry. (Source)
Last week I drove from Juru to bukit minyak found that it was very industrilized and not so suitable for housing? … then I continued driving to batu kawan and Penang Bridge II and I found nothing much development there so far and unlike news published on papers and advertisement by developers. Feeling puzzled !
Charles, trying very hard to promote B. Kawan. It will takes another 25 years
or more to be a potential area !!!!!!
The success of Batu Kawan hinges on how our state gov controls the property prices there. As most land there are owned by the state, it has the opportunity to make things right for the people, after all the wrongs that the state has done on the island in the past 5 years.
1. Who wanna to go there if the road condition very bad and not upgarde. road banyak lubang, cows gather on the road, some road too narrow.
2. Yes that area also too many factory and farm that not suitable for housing. Sure when housing project is done, some units will use as hostel for foreign worker from factory nearby. Who live at Juru n Bukit Minyak housing sure has experience faced this situation.
@somebody
Speaking of road condition, I think the No.1 spot (the WORST) at the moment is macalister road, the stretch starting from Ngee Hiang to Loh Gua Lye. I would only use that road when I am driving my SUV.
As for factory hostel, yes, that is a potential issue. Even houses on the island in lower class area like bayan baru or teluk tempurung or something in the southern part of the island face the same issues. Developers and state gov should take note. I look forward to hearing concrete solutions from our state gov.
batu kawan near second bridge? not really, u try go and see, before entry the bridge u need to take 10min long way to reach, after that, u know how long the second bridge? like butterworth go to sungai petani take around 25min, actually the second bridge mislead ppl invest at batu kawan, if got trafic light and jam u need take 1 hour if travel from batu kawan to island.
@Stone frd
Let’s look at it from another point of view. Let say you work somewhere near the exit of the 2nd bridge.
Case 1, you live somewhere in Gelugor, close to USM area. By the time you got to Jln Sultan Azlan Shah, you probably already got stuck as soon as you drive onto the elevated road. You jam all the way down, jam while the police control traffic from Jln Tengah, Jam all the way to whatever factory you work at. Everyday you stress 45 minutes before you reach office.
Case 2, you live in Bandar Cassia. For now, not much cars around so 10 minutes to reach the bridge, 20 to cross if you don’t speed, and probably another 10 to reach office (actually that 10 minutes is enough to reach Agilent/Intel once you get off the bridge, tried it). You pay a lot of toll and petrol, but it’s stress free driving.
@Chris
I stay in Glugor USM area, takes me 10mins to reach my company everyday.
Might as well stay at Batu Maung. Safer choice of investment if you want to live near the second bridge and at the same time you can ride the so called Batu Kawan story. Honestly the Batu Kawan story is like Iskandar in Johor. It is not the island, so there will always be ample amount of land there.
If the price is not cheap in batu kawan, then there’s no point staying there. But if the price is cheap, it makes a lot of sense. Simple.
@Inteler
20 minutes for me on a good day. 5 minutes of taman road and I don’t cut queue at the red bridge. I refuse to go through the roundabout because it stresses me out
Done tons of research on commuting, as sad as it sound I’m still looking for my first house in Penang.
Chris should target for places like Teluk Kumbar, road is widening and price has still in good range. Or somewhere on the route to Balik Pulau.