Budget 2026 – Hopeful Steps for Affordable Home Ownership

By Datuk Gary Gan Kah Siong

With Budget 2026 just days away, the property industry finds itself in a hopeful frame of mind, encouraged by signs of economic resilience and recent budget measures that have already helped many Malaysians move closer to owning their own home. As living costs and financing conditions remain challenging, everyone in the sector is looking to the Government to strengthen initiatives that will keep home ownership achievable for families across the country.

For us at Radium Development Berhad, the conversation with homebuyers and partners has made it clear that easier access to financing remains front and centre. Measures such as the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme and step-up financing have already made a real difference, particularly for first-time buyers and those in the B40 and M40 segments. We hope that Budget 2026 will carry these programmes forward and introduce new support for households who have traditionally found it difficult to secure a home loan.

Among the support for homebuyers that we hope to see in the upcoming Budget are the Madani Deposit scheme and the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) 3.0. While the former – an initiative proposed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry for last year’s Budget – will provide up to RM30,000 in subsidies for buyers aged 21 to 40 to purchase homes valued up to RM500,000, the latter builds on the proven success of the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, which offered full stamp duty exemption on the Memorandum of Transfer (MOT) and loan agreements for first-time buyers of properties priced up to RM1 million (compared with the current RM500,000 threshold), and a mandatory 10% discount on selling prices for properties priced between RM300,000 and RM1 million, offered by participating developers.

Affordable Home

Developers, too, are eager to see more incentives for cost-saving building techniques. Supporting Industrialised Building Systems (IBS), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and a practical focus on technology could make construction more efficient and homes more affordable. If costs are controlled through innovation and Government support, developers can pass those savings onto buyers, allowing more Malaysians to step onto the property ladder.

Affordable living, we believe, is about both price and place. Incentivising transit-oriented developments, where housing meets public transport links, can help families save on daily commuting costs and encourage developers to design communities that are vibrant and easily accessible. Support for these forward-thinking developments would be a big step in making cities across Malaysia even more liveable.

As for the Build-Then-Sell (BTS) debate, we hope to see a balanced approach. Buyers deserve protection and peace of mind, yet it is important to remember that a framework that is too rigid could strain smaller developers or slow the pace of new builds, which benefits no one in the long run. A phased or hybrid model seems the sensible way forward – giving buyers security while fostering a healthy, sustainable industry.

Ultimately, with Budget 2026 just around the corner, there is plenty to feel optimistic about. There is no shortage of ambition within the property sector; with Government backing and a shared commitment to innovation, inclusion, and fair access, we believe more Malaysians will take the first step towards owning a home. We are ready to build not only houses but communities that offer stability and opportunity for the next generation.

At Radium, our promise remains unchanged: Building Good, every day. We look forward to working alongside the Government and partners to deliver homes that meet real needs and support Malaysia’s growth – including the provision of affordable housing schemes such as Residensi MADANI – now and in the years ahead.

Datuk Gary Gan Kah Siong is the Group Managing Director, Radium Development Berhad

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