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Ten Reasons to Consider Malaysia as Your Second Home
By Rhiannon Williamson

Malaysia has an active and government back policy of positive immigration and as a result it is a nation attracting serious interest from international citizens seeking a superior, low tax, high quality lifestyle destination in which to live, work or retire.

Here are the top ten reasons why, if you haven’t already, you might like to consider Malaysia as your second home country – it’s the right place for anyone seeking a first world, sophisticated nation in which they can own freehold and affordable real estate pay little or no taxation legitimately and achieve a fantastic quality of life for all the family

1. Malaysia My Second Home Program (MM2H)

The ‘Malaysia My Second Home Program’ or MM2H as it is locally known, is the government backed positive immigration policy that allows those who qualify the right to live in Malaysia on a renewable, multiple entry ten year visa, to bring immediate family members to live with them under the terms of the scheme, to own freehold property in Malaysia, to import worldly goods and even a brand new car tax free, and to enjoy all the multiple benefits that Malaysia offers to its citizens both local and international. And that’s not all…

2. Tax Free

Those who satisfy the medical and financial requirements for residency in Malaysia under the MM2H scheme legally and legitimately avoid having to pay any form of income tax whatsoever in Malaysia on their internationally sourced income!

3. Education

In Malaysia there are 21 private universities, 17 public universities, 5 foreign universities, 500 private tertiary colleges, 32 international schools and that’s before one gets into listing the Malaysian government funded educational establishments available!

Quite simply, education is highly prized and valued in Malaysia and as a direct result the quality of education available across the board is exceptionally high. There are over 40,000 foreign students currently studying in the nation as a result, and those who relocate there under the MM2H program can of course take their children with them and privately educate them from primary age right through university and beyond.

4. Health Care

The standard and availability of medical services in Malaysia - especially in the main cities such as Kuala Lumpur - is exceptionally high. There are over 225 private hospitals as well as numerous private specialist clinics such as maternity clinics and respite care homes as well as some 121 government backed hospitals in Malaysia and almost all have the very latest in terms of equipment and facilities available for treating every kind of illness.

5. Infrastructure

The general infrastructure in the main cities, employment and residential hubs in Malaysia is first class and first world. New and upgraded motorways, road and rail networks, communications resources and general public amenities mean that living in the likes of Kuala Lumpur or Penang in Malaysia is like living in any other first world city in terms of the modernity of all available resources and essential infrastructure.

6. Exchange Rate

As Malaysia has an export driven economy it pays the government to keep its currency highly competitive which means that an international citizen’s dollars, pounds, euros or yen will go far further and buy far more in Malaysia.

7. Cost of Living

Add to this the fact that the cost of living in relative terms is so low in Malaysia, that petrol is heavily subsidised for example, eating out is simply cheap and that one can rent a city centre apartment for the same price as one a third of the size and less well located in the majority of European and North American cities and an average wage will make one feel very wealthy in Malaysia whereas an above average wage will allow anyone to have the lifestyle of a king!

8. Property

Apartments, town houses, beachside villas and sprawling houses in city suburbs are all available for sale to foreign buyers. There are very few restrictions placed on foreign buyers in Malaysia in fact and because property prices are so low in comparison to Europe and America, one can buy so much more in Malaysia for the same price as a small family home elsewhere in the civilised world.

9. Natural Beauty

What’s more, as Malaysia is such a beautiful and diverse nation it has an incredibly strong tourism market meaning that well located properties can act as excellent investments with many buyers purchasing to let to the tourism market which is attracted by the stunning natural beauty of Malaysia.

Those who qualify for MM2H are allowed to buy up to two homes meaning that one can be bought for occupancy and one for holidays or investment elsewhere in Malaysia.

The natural beauty of the country alone also means that even if you don’t think Malaysia is perfect for your second home country, it makes it a nation well worth taking an extended break in.

10. Friendly People

And finally while many nations purport to having some of the most welcoming citizens in the world who open their arms and hearts to foreign visitors and citizens, Malaysia truly is a nation of the most friendly, welcoming, open and honest people you will ever meet who will make genuine friendships and establish long lasting bonds with the astute international citizens who decide to call Malaysia their second home.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about real estate investment worldwide. To read more about buying property in Malaysia click here.