First Language is English Malaysia is a fantastic place to move to and work, especially for those from Englishspeaking countries or who are fluent in English. This is because English has been the first language ever since it was part of the British Empire. This also makes it easier to buy property because all contracts are in English as well. Foreigners May Obtain Financing Foreigners may easily obtain mortgages in Malaysia, both from Malaysian banks like Maybank and from international banks operating in the country, including HSBC. Relaxed Tax Regime While it is about average on things like income tax, Malaysia has a very relaxed tax regime including no annual wealth taxes, no estate duties, no gift taxes, no accumulated earnings tax, no federal (as opposed to national) income tax, no controlled foreign company legislation, no thin capitalization rules (yet) and no transfer pricing rule. After being abolished, capital gains tax was recently reinstated on property sales to curb speculation. Currently, gains from the sale of property are taxed on a sliding scale: from 10% if a property is sold in Year 1, to 0% if it is held for more than five years. Income tax for non-residents is a flat 26%, payable on Malaysian-sourced income. However, permanent residents are classed as resident, and resident individuals are taxed on chargeable income at graduated rates from 2% to 30%, after the deduction of tax relief. First-Class Healthcare Another remnant of its being a British colony is a world-class healthcare system. In fact it is so good that medical tourism is taking off. Growing Economy After one of the shortest recessions of the financial crisis, the Malaysian economy has been growing strongly since 2010. According 204
to the CIA World Factbook, Malaysian GDP rebounded from a 1.7% contraction in 2009 and grew 7.2% in 2010, then 5.2% last year. What’s more, reports indicate great growth in job opportunities for skilled foreigners as the country develops. Outside Natural Disaster Danger Zone Malaysia is outside the Pacific Ring of Fire so there is little risk of earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis. Cheap Property While prices have grown rapidly of late, Malaysian property prices are still low compared to many developed nations. For example, it is possible to pick up an attractive 2-storey, 4-bedroom townhouse in Bukit Bandaraya, Jalan Medang Serai or Kuala Lumpur for just 1.35m Malaysian Ringitt, which is over the foreign ownership limit, and currently converts to £274,000. Possible Drawbacks Disease, in particular tuberculosis, is epidemic. Of course, most developed nations immunise against TB in childhood, but this is certainly worth consideration. AIDS is also a big problem in Malaysia.
United Arab Emirates Automatic Residency Foreign buyers of property in United Arab Emirates are automatically granted a 3-year residency permit, which can be easily renewed. Chance of Capital Appreciation: Fair/Good As it is such a wealthy region, it is easy to say that chances for positive capital appreciation are good. However, many investors are nervous about the UAE. Currently it looks as though Dubai might be clambering back to its feet, but at the same time, the UAE is looking increasingly desperate as it constantly shifts the goalposts to keep up the appearance that authorities are control-
www.theaddressmagazine.com