Johor Bahru Residential Property Prices Surge On JS-SEZ Launch - JLL Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Residential property prices in Johor Bahru have surged in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q 2025), driven by stronger investor confidence for high-end properties following the launch of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
Real estate consultancy JLL Malaysia managing director Jamie Tan said average transaction prices for serviced apartments surged by 20.4 per cent compared to the annual average in 2024, while double-storey terrace houses saw an increase of about 8.6 per cent over the same period.
He said the price growth was supported by renewed interest from both local and regional buyers, the city’s ongoing infrastructure improvements and the spillover effect of the JS-SEZ.
“Critical infrastructure improvements underpin the zone’s development, including the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link connecting Johor Bahru and Singapore, offering an alternative mode of cross-border commute,” Tan said in a statement today.
He said the four-kilometre rail link is scheduled to operate by December 2026 and is capable of transporting a maximum of 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, reducing cross-border travel time to just six minutes.
“The launch of the JS-SEZ coincided with a period when business costs in Singapore were escalating sharply, while Malaysia was strengthening its position as a stable, attractive investment destination and an emerging digital hub.
“These factors have created a strong pull for many manufacturing and service industries to relocate or establish ‘twin’ facilities in Johor, allowing them to optimise costs while maintaining proximity to Singapore’s market and connectivity,” Tan said.
The JS-SEZ, officially launched on Jan 8, 2025, spans 3,288 square kilometres across nine flagship areas in Iskandar Malaysia and Pengerang. The zone is nearly five times the size of Singapore.
-- BERNAMA