KELANA JAYA (Oct 10): A survey by the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) showed 65% of residential properties launched in the first half of 2018 (1H2018) were priced at RM500,000 and below as developers aligned their businesses to what buyers want.

Rehda's survey involved 152 respondents in Peninsular Malaysia. Rehda president Datuk Soam Heng Choon said today the latest figure was higher than 52% in 2H2017 and 44% in 1H2017.

"We are aligning our business to what the buyer wants, and what the buyer can afford. So we hope the worst is over," Soam said here today at a news conference on Rehda's survey and the property market outlook.

Soam said the survey also showed the percentage of respondents, who reported they have affordable housing components in their property development projects, had increased to 47% in 1H2018, from 41% in 2H2017 and 37% in 1H2017.

On unsold properties, Soam the percentage of respondents with unsold units increased to 75% in 1H2018 from 66% in 2H2017.

For 1H2018, he said the majority of respondents indicated they had up to 30% in unsold properties. On whether the figure is a level to be concerned about, Soam said it depends on the situation.

"If sales have been restricted because of government restriction, for example [unreleased] Bumiputera units, we are not too concerned. What we are concerned on are projects which have been completed, but can't sell at all, those we are concerned.

"To have 30% unsold stock is not comfortable, because developers' margins are low. It is a very risky business, so to hold this stock is definitely a no-no," he said.