Here is a snapshot of the most popular residential areas and projects in Penang among homebuyers.

The sales and purchase data are captured from the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) that has been compiled by brickz. This is based on the review period between January 2018 and December 2018. We round up the top areas and projects in Penang for anyone looking to maximise their properties’ potential.

Highlights

• The top 2 most popular areas are in the Penang mainland.
• Bukit Mertajam is the most popular area in the whole of Penang.
• The terrace house is the most popular property type in the whole of Penang.
• Bandar Tasek Mutiara is the most transacted project in the whole of Penang.

1. What are the top 5 areas in Penang?

Here are the top 5 areas in Penang based on the review period between January 2018 and December 2018. The data compiled by brickz is ranked by the number of transactions.

Based on the data presented, the two most popular areas are in Penang mainland (Seberang Perai). One of the contributing factors could be the affordable alternatives for property ownership compared to Penang island, especially for landed houses.

Bukit Mertajam is the most popular neighbourhood among homebuyers in 2018. This could be due to affordable housing developments in the area. It has an affordable median price of roughly RM 300k. Not just that, Bukit Mertajam is also a mature area and a major town in Seberang Perai. The Bukit Mertajam town is about 11 km from the Penang Bridge and has direct access to the North-South Expressway Juru Interchange. Besides, Bukit Mertajam has various tourist attractions such as St. Anne’s Church and Hock Teik Cheng Shin Temple.

Next is Butterworth. It is an industrial town and the largest town in Seberang Perai. The median price of a property in this area is RM 330k. According to the 2010 census by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), Butterworth is the largest town by population within the Seberang Perai municipality. In terms of transportation, the ferry service links Butterworth and Georgetown while the KTM Butterworth station is about 700 m from the ferry terminal. Butterworth also serves as the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base.

Fun fact:
The median built-up sizes in Butterworth is almost twice the size (1,000 sf compared to 700 sf) of properties in Jelutong. This means buyers are getting bigger houses in Butterworth for roughly the same price as a smaller house on the Penang Island.

Jelutong is in the suburb of Georgetown. It is the only area in Penang island that is in the top 5. This area is set to be the next hotspot in Penang with plans by the state government to turn a 40ha landfill into an eco-futuristic town. The ¬The median price for a property in Jelutong is RM 339k and the median per square foot (PSF) price is RM 450. Jelutong accessibility to the Georgetown City Centre is convenient via the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway although the built-ups are smaller than properties in Butterworth.

2. What are the top 3 projects in major Penang areas?

Sanctuary Garden is the most transacted project in Bukit Mertajam. It features freehold 2-storey Semi-D houses. Units come with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2 parking spaces. This area is about 20 km to the Penang Bridge while the second bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge) is about 17 km away. Not just that, Sanctuary Garden is about 3 km to AEON Mall Bukit Mertajam and Tesco Bukit Mertajam. Furthermore, the KTM Simpang Ampat station is about 5 km away from Sanctuary Garden while Juru Auto City is 20 minutes’ drive away.

The most transacted project in Butterworth is Taman Bagan. It includes double-storey terrace houses and single-storey terrace houses. Property prices in Taman Bagan are ranging from RM 402k to RM 800k. This residential area is in a prime location with many amenities within its reach. The Butterworth Ferry Pier is within 5 km radius while the KTM Butterworth station is about 4 km away.

The station also serves the Butterworth – KL ETS train service. Besides that, the Sunway Carnival Mall is within 4 km and Penang Bird Park is about 9 minutes’ drive away. On top of that, Taman Bagan also has easy access to the Butterworth- Kulim Expressway. It is linked to the North-South Expressway and other parts of Seberang Perai.

Desa Pinang 2 is the most transacted project in Jelutong. It is comprised of flats that range in size from 527 sf to 614 sf. Desa Pinang 2 is located nearby Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Highway and amenities are within reach. Komtar Bus Terminal is 3.2 km away while Weld Quay Bus terminal is within 3.5 km. Furthermore, the Penang Ferry Terminal is about 4 km away whereas Georgetown City Centre is about 6.6 km or a 22-minute drive from Desa Pinang 2.

3. What are the hot-selling residential properties in Penang

• Terrace: 2,465 transactions
• Flat: 1,700 transactions
• Apartment: 1,691 transactions

Terrace houses are the hottest selling types of property in Penang. All top 3 areas are in the Penang mainland. This is due to the more affordable price range compared to properties in Penang Island, as well as more options for landed properties. Bukit Mertajam recorded the highest number of transactions for terrace houses, with prices ranging from RM 43k to RM 988k. The built-up size ranges from 594 sf to 2,964 sf while the median price for a terrace house is RM 330k. The properties include the auctions, sub-sales and new launches.

Flat is the second hottest-selling property type in Penang. A total transaction of 1,700 is recorded last year while Ayer Itam recorded the highest transaction. The median price for a flat in that area is RM 120k with a median built-up of 538 sf. Based on our listings at iProperty.com.my, the flat built-up size in Ayer Itam ranges from 400 sf to 860 sf. The price starts from Rm 75k to RM 350k. These flats are all the auctions and sub-sale properties.

Apartment/Condominium is number three for the hottest selling property type in Penang. It recorded 1,691 total transactions last year. Jelutong recorded the highest number of apartment transactions in the whole of Penang. The median price for an apartment unit in Jelutong was RM 350k. The price ranges from RM 31k to RM 980k and built-up size ranges from 470 sf to 2,000 sf. These are all unfurnished, partly furnished and fully furnished apartments.

Note: Analytics are based on the data available at the date of publication and may be subject to revision as and when more data becomes available.

*Article contributed by iProperty.com.my