What couples don’t want in a love shack

Living together is one of the biggest steps a couple can take. It’s a really big investment – not just financially, but also emotionally and physically. However, the returns can be big, if one makes the right investment.

It’s important to consider what makes a good starter home. While many people give a thought to what they want in a home, the same cannot be said for what they do not want in a home. We find out what some deal breakers are for couples in search of their ideal first home.

Luqman Hamsa Abdullah, 28

• Copywriter by day and professional gaming coach by night

• Married for five years

We’re currently living in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Subang Jaya. We like the area because it's just urban enough for everything to be nearby (Aeon BIG, Subang Parade, Sunway Pyramid, etc), and suburban enough for it to be quiet and comforting.

It’s probably about 750 sq ft, but it’s cosy. It’s definitely not a spacious unit, but it’s enough for us and we pay RM2,400 a month. The rent is a little high but we don't mind spending the extra money to be close to anything we could possibly need. Having everything within walking distance is invaluable to us since we don't own a car.

What would be a deal breaker for me would probably be [living in] an urban area. Working in the city has shown me how little I enjoy being there, and going back home later at night helps me to decompress after a long day at the office in the middle of the city. So living in the city would probably drive me right up a wall.

We'd likely be opposed to living in a place with only one room. Our kids need their space, and we need ours. It's only right.

Obviously, living within our means is important so properties in the upper echelons would likely be out of our reach.

 

Ling May Yuen, 32

• Central marketing manager

• Married for almost a year

We bought our first home together in 2008 … about RM380,000 for a 2-storey terraced house. I would avoid an area which is more than 5km away from amenities and facilities.

 

Norman, 36

• Graphic designer

• Married for two-and-a-half years

We are currently living in a four-storey walk-up flat in Ukay Perdana - renting an 800 sq ft unit for RM650 per month.

I definitely want to buy a property one day, but not this year because it’s bad, isn’t it?

I’m looking at something that is also 800 sq ft because it’s easier to maintain. My budget is about RM300,000. I am looking a unit with three rooms, and a bathroom that is not too small. I’d like a big kitchen, but that may not be possible with just 800 sq ft!

I wanted to move to Kota Damansara, but my wife does not like it because traffic is very congested. She works in Damansara Heights.

We do not need a gym or a pool. I can go to commercial gyms like Fitness First, where they have a trainer. I also don’t swim very often – only once a month. So to pay maintenance [for these facilities] is not worth it.

I also don’t want to stay in the city. I prefer to live near nature, like where I am living now. It’s near the hills and is very green.

 

Jenny, 30

• Consultant

• In a relationship

I bought a condominium about a year ago (my parents’ idea) for RM850,000 to RM900,000.

Avoid places without any storage room. To keep your place looking good, you have to have somewhere to stow the odds and ends (vacuum cleaner, boxes, random storage items), either in a dedicated storage room or a tucked away area. In my previous rented apartment, I had to keep these either in the living room or bedrooms, and my house always looked like a mess.

 

Megan Lee, 29

• Marketing communications executive

• In a relationship

My boyfriend and I are living together in his condominium. He bought an 800 sq ft unit in 2011 for around RM250,000 through an online property portal.

We mainly avoid commercial titles and high-density developments. Commercially titled property has higher service costs and in the long run commercial lots within the project may become run down if not properly maintained. We also avoid high-density units because they are less comfortable for living, and lower-density properties have an advantage in the subsale market.

In addition, a minimum of two parking bays is a standard requirement and additional car park for purchase is a good option too.