The checklist
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules, taxes and fees differ by property and buyer and change over time, so confirm every step with your lawyer and bank.
- Title and tenure: is it freehold or leasehold, and if leasehold how many years remain? Is the title individual or strata?
- Charges and caveats: your lawyer's official search shows any bank charge, caveat or court order on the title. A seller's existing loan is normally settled at completion.
- Land and buyer restrictions: some lots (for example Bumiputera or Malay reserved lots) or conditions on the title limit who may buy or how the land may be used.
- Strata units: ask for the monthly maintenance charge, the sinking fund, any outstanding arrears and any special levy, and whether the title has been issued.
- Quit rent and assessment: confirm these are paid up to date.
- The unit itself: inspect water pressure, leaks, wiring, air-conditioning, windows and the condition of the common areas, and what is included in the sale.
- Occupancy: is it vacant or tenanted, and if tenanted, on what terms and until when?
- The seller: confirm the seller's name matches the title and that any co-owners agree to sell.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that a seller really owns the property?
Your lawyer does an official search of the title at the land office and compares the owner's name with the seller's identity documents.
What is a caveat on a title?
A caveat is a notice registered on the title by someone claiming an interest, which can stop a transfer. Your lawyer's search will show if there is one.
Sources and method
Figures come from the property listings published on benfooproperty.com on 7 November 2026, refreshed daily. They are asking prices and asking rents set by owners, not sale prices, and medians are used so a few very high or low prices do not distort the result. Loan examples use the stated assumptions and are not a bank offer. Written and reviewed by Ben Foo, registered estate negotiator (REN 33376), PropNex Realty Sdn. Bhd.; text last reviewed 22 October 2026.