Tag Archives: CBD

Skysuites Condos @ Meldrum Hills are Nearing Completion

condos, Housing, , , , , , by John Hunter

Skysuites @ Meldrum Hills located next to Cyberport and close to the JB CIQ is nearing completion.

photo of Skysuites @ Meldrum Hills in Johor Bahru
Skysuites @ Meldrum Hills (completed on the left of the photo). Photo taken from Cyberport by John Hunter.

The 31-story condo building includes 250 condos (1, 2 and 3 bedroom units plus penthouse duplexs) and is near Blue Wave Hotel, Cyberport, City Square Mall, CIQ and the causeway. See our information page on Skysuites Condos @ Meldrum Hills.

photo of Skysuites @ Meldrum Hills with CIQ and the CBD
Skysuites @ Meldrum Hills with CIQ and the CBD.

Current units for purchase, they do seem expensive to me (I think the supply of small luxury units may well be too large in JB) but if the MRT to Singapore is built where it is believed it will be, this will be a very desirable location:

  • RM 1,105,000, 1,105 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Penthouse condo.
  • RM 552,000, 581 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom.
  • RM 698,000, 581 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom.

Related: Stulang Villa Condos – Rentals from MYR 2,200 to 2,500 – Orchid View Condos Rentals – 2,500 to 3,000 MYR a month

360 Degree View of Downtown Johor Bahru in 2014

condos, Housing, Living in Johor Bahru, , , , , , , , , , , , by John Hunter

Here is a webcast showing a 360 degree view of downtown Johor Bahru in 2014. You can see the sky scrapers in the central business district (CBD) of Johor Bahru and Iskandar and in 5 years this will show many more high rise luxury condos. The beginnings of numerous (more than the total completed high rises) are visible in the video.

The CIQ, the causeway to Singapore, the Straits and Singapore beyond are visible. Even Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, located at the far southern edge of Singapore, can be seen in the background.

Related: Setia Sky 88 Construction Progressing Quickly – Indah Samudra Condo Rentals: 2,800 to 3,500 – Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple in CBD – D’esplanade Residence @ KSL Mall

Stulang Villa Condos – Rentals from MYR 2,200 to 2,500

condos, Housing, , , , , , by John Hunter

Stulang Villa Condos offer large units in a small building near the Cyberport building (walkable to CIQ, though a long walk). It is an older building close to downtown but in a residential area.

exterior view of Stulang Villa Condo building
Exterior view of the condo building, see more photos.

Given the small size finding units available online may not be easy. Though will all the new condo units going online recently and soon it would not surprise me to see more vacancies here so more chance of finding units available.

See our overview of the Stulang Villa Condos. I personally think the rates are a bit high and would try and negotiate a better rate, they are large units so maybe the rate is reasonable. Units available now include:

  • MYR 2,300 per month, 1,900 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms.
  • MYR 2,200 per month, 1,800 square feet, 3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms.
  • MYR 2,500 per month, 1,750 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.

These condos don’t have a pool or such amenities that larger condos offer.

Related: Aster Court Condos: Rent 1,800 to 2,200 – Orchid View Condos Rentals (2,500 to 3,000 MYR) – Wadihana Condo (RM 2,000 to RM 2,500)

Pangsapuri Sri Samudera, Seaview Residence Suites Rentals MYR 2,000 to 3,000

condos, Housing, , , , by John Hunter

The second tower for next to the Pangsapuri Sri Samudera, Seaview Residence Suites is nearing completion. Current rental options for the existing tower run from MYR 1,700 to 2,500+ per month.

photo of great view from Sri Samudera
Great view of the straits, clock tower and Thistle Hotel (looking west)

The Sri Samudera is in the neighborhood of the Thistle hotel and Indah Samudra Condos. It offers great views for a few units, but the units looking north seem like they are going to be looking directly into the second tower which is very close.

See our overview of the Sri Samudera Condo. Units available now include:

  • MYR 2,300 per month, 900 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.
  • MYR 2,800 per month, 1,100 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, high floor, sea view.
  • MYR 2,900 per month, 1152 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, high floor.
  • MYR 2,000 per month, 600 square feet, studio unit.

Given the overall market the prices seem a bit high to me; maybe the demand from hospital workers is high enough to justify the prices. The more expensive units are also much more likely to be shown online (the less expensive units are often not put online – low level, not updated, etc.).

Related: Aster Court Condos: Rent 1,800 to 2,200 MYR per month – Indah Samudra Condo Rentals: 2,800 to 3,500 – Danga View and Adamai Condos: RM 2,000 to RM 4,000 per month


View Pangsapuri Sri Samudera in a larger map

Construction Status of Setia Sky 88 and Twin Galaxy In JB

condos, , , , by John Hunter

Setia Sky 88 and Twin Galaxy are located right next to each other near KSL Mall and Plaza Pelangi in Johor Bahru CBD. Here are a few photos of the progress so far. The Setia Sky 88 site had nothing going on for months but lately has had some activity.

view of Twin Galaxy and Setia Sky 88 sites as of Feb 2014
KSL mall and resort is partially visible on the upper left, Plaza Pelangi is just off the screen on the right.

See our post from February 2013 on the Construction Progress for Setia Sky 88 and Twin Galaxy, one year ago.

Photo of Twin Galaxy progress as of Feb 2014-closeup
Twin Galaxy has been making quick progress.

Twin Galaxy has been nearly continuously busy and is rising quickly.

Continue reading →

Cluster House For Sale in Taman Pelangi

Housing, , , by John Hunter

Taman Pelangi House photos

  • 1,180,000 MYR (Negotiable)
  • 2 story house
  • 5 minutes to CIQ (Woodlands Checkpoint)
  • 10 minutes to the CBD, Church, Mosque, Temple, Cinema etc
  • Basketball, badminton and Futsal court within 5 minutes of walking distance
  • quiet neighbourhood with 24 hours security

See more details, status and contact information.

Related: Plaza Pelangi Mall – Buying or Renting in Horizon Hills – Twin Galaxy Condos

Sweetwater Mediterranean Restaurant

food, Living in Johor Bahru, restaurant, , , , , by John Hunter

Sweetwater Mediterranean Restaurant is another excellent restaurant in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru. The food is excellent as are the furnishings. It is a bit expensive but worth it if you are looking to splurge.

photo of a stone oven

Even the bread is worthy of mention, it is excellent and warmed in this stone oven before serving. The fixed price lunches are a great way to experience this wonderful restaurant for a very reasonable price (around 40 MYR, about US$13). They come with wonderful bread, a salad, entree, tea, and desert.

photo of wonderful desert

Continue reading →

Aster Court Condos: Rent 1,800 to 2,200 MYR per month

condos, Housing, , , , by John Hunter

Aster Court condos offer a good location and good prices. They sit on top of a few shops but unfortunately the shops are not very busy and some are not rented. But the location is quite close to KSL Mall, Plaza Pelangi (and all the good food near there), Hotel New York etc.. It is also very close to where Setia Sky 88 and Twin Galaxy are under construction.

photo of Aster Court condos
Aster Court condos in Johor Bahru by John.

The condo has a pool and security but has a bit less in the way of amenities than most other condos considered by expats.

Current rental options include:

  • 1,150 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, RM 2,000
  • 890 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, RM 1,800
  • 1,050 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, RM 2,100
  • 1,000 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, RM 2,180

Aster Court condos are listed for sale at around 500,000 MYR.

See our overview of Aster Court condos.

As always, expats should remember most agents in Johor Bahru merely show you properties they (or their company sometimes) have been paid by the owners to show. Seeing multiple units, even at the same condo, often requires appointments with multiple agents.

Other condos in downtown JB: Orchid View Condos Rentals – 2,500 to 3,000 MYR a month – D’esplanade Residence @ KSL Mall – Wadihana Condo: RM 2,000 to RM 2,500 per month

Orchid View Condos Rentals – 2,500 to 3,000 MYR a month

condos, Expats, Housing, Living in Johor Bahru, , , , by John Hunter

Orchid View Condominium is walking distance to CIQ (but it is very awkward to walk as the area was not designed with walking in mind), right next to downtown JB. It is pretty crazy to have designed the area to be so difficult to walk in given it is right downtown next to CIQ – this is exactly where designing a walkable city is most important. The situation at Orchid View shows that there is much more work needed to improve the urban design of downtown JB. See our overview of the Orchid View Condos.

photo of Orchid View Condominium
Orchid View Condo, Johor Bahru

The condo offers typical features of the 24 hour gated and guarded condos in Johor Bahru: covered parking, gymnasium, jogging track, playground and swimming pool.

Current listings:

  • 2,800 MYR per month; 1,500 square feet; 3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully furnished, corner unit.
  • 3,000 MYR per month; 1,500 square feet; 3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully furnished, corner unit.
  • 3,000 MYR per month; 1,500 square feet; 3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully furnished, corner unit, facing South (to Singapore).
  • 2,500 MYR per month; 1,500 square feet; 2? bedrooms (I think the listing has this wrong, but maybe it is right), fully furnished, corner unit.
  • 2,500 MYR per month; 1,500 square feet; 3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, unfurnished, corner unit.

I would expect you can bargin down the price a bit, there is a surplus of condo rental units in JB. Remember many units are never even listed online.

Related: Wadihana Condo Rentals: RM 2,000 to RM 2,500 per month – Straits View Condos Rentals RM 2,500/m to RM 4,000/month – Sky Executive Suites @ Bukit Indah, Rent 2,000 to 4,500 MYR a Month