Johor Polls To Have Limited Impact On Property Market: Juwai IQI

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) --  The Johor election, expected to be held on July 11, 2026, is unlikely to affect the state's property market, although home sales may temporarily slow in the weeks leading up to polling day, according to international real estate technology group Juwai IQI.

Juwai IQI co-founder and group chief executive officer Kashif Ansari said home sales and transaction values in Johor rose by more than 25 per cent in 2022, when Malaysia held both the Johor state election and the general election, supported by the reopening of the Singapore border that year.

"In 2022, Johor held a state election in March, followed by the general election in November, making it a close comparison with what the state faces in 2026," he said.

Ansari said the property market functioned normally despite the two elections, with the number of homes sold in Johor rising by about a quarter and the total value of transactions increasing by nearly 30 per cent.

"Malaysia also held a general election in 2013, and the number of homes sold in Johor rose by about 16 per cent, according to the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), even as transactions declined nationwide.

"That was the largest increase among the major states that year. Even during an election year when the national market was weak, Johor's housing demand remained resilient. That provides a strong precedent for 2026," he said in a statement.

Ansari said some buyers may delay their purchases until after the state election, resulting in fewer transactions during the current quarter.

"However, once the election is over, those buyers are likely to return to the market and make up for lost time. Over the full year, I believe the election will have little, if any, impact on the number of homes sold in Johor.

"More important than the election will be the opening of the Singapore Rapid Transit System Link later this year and the growth generated by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. These are transformative initiatives for Johor's economy and property market.

"The state can leverage these developments to raise household incomes and make home ownership more affordable for Johoreans," he added.

-- BERNAMA