How to Buy a Unit at Twin Tower Residence: Step by Step

Because Twin Tower Residence was completed in 2023, almost every purchase today is a subsale: you buy from an existing owner, not from the developer. This guide explains how to buy a condo in JB step by step using Twin Tower as the example, from setting a budget and viewing units to signing the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA), getting your loan, and collecting the keys.

The process is well established and, with a good lawyer and agent, very manageable. Malaysians can typically complete in around three to four months from SPA signing; foreign buyers should allow longer because of state consent.

Step 0: Is Twin Tower right for you?

Before the paperwork, be clear on why you are buying. Twin Tower Residence sits beside the Bukit Chagar RTS Link station, within walking distance of the JB CIQ, JB Sentral and two major malls. That suits three main buyer types:

• Own-stay commuters who work in Singapore and want the shortest possible cross-border trip, especially once the RTS Link opens (passenger service is now expected in February 2027).
• Rental investors who want a completed, freehold unit with an established tenant pool. Indicative gross yields based on Oct–Nov 2026 asking rents and prices are about 3.5%–4.5%.
• Families and retirees who value a city-centre address with hospitals, malls and the old town nearby.

Our complete guide to Twin Tower Residence covers the project in detail.

Step 1: Set your budget and check financing

Start with what you can comfortably pay in cash and how much a bank will lend. Indicative asking prices on portals in October–November 2026 were:

These are asking figures only; the agreed price depends on floor, view, furnishing and condition. Malaysians can typically borrow up to 90% on a first or second home loan, while foreign buyers usually receive lower margins. Get a loan pre-assessment early so you know your ceiling before you make an offer. Details are in our Twin Tower home loan guide.

Step 2: Shortlist and view units

With dozens of rental listings and around 100-plus sale listings on portals at any time, there is usually choice. Narrow it down by layout, facing, floor and whether the unit is vacant or tenanted. When you view, check:

• Condition of air-conditioners, water heater, kitchen and bathroom fittings
• Signs of water stains on ceilings or around windows
• Noise and view at different times of day
• Whether furniture is included and listed in writing
• The latest maintenance fee and sinking fund statement, and that there are no arrears
• For tenanted units: the tenancy agreement, expiry date, rent and deposit held

Our viewing checklist has the full list. If you would like a curated shortlist with floor plans, WhatsApp Darren and he will send you the units currently available.

Step 3: Make an offer and pay the earnest deposit

When you find the right unit, you sign a Letter of Offer (sometimes called an offer to purchase) setting out the price, deposit, what is included and key conditions such as “subject to loan approval”. In a typical Malaysian subsale, an earnest deposit of about 2%–3% is paid on acceptance and held by the agent or lawyer as stakeholder.

The offer letter usually gives 14–21 days to sign the SPA. Read the terms carefully: if you fail to sign within that window without a valid reason, the earnest deposit may be forfeited. Engage your own lawyer before signing the offer so they can review the conditions.

Step 4: Sign the SPA and pay the balance deposit

Your lawyer (or the seller’s lawyer, with yours reviewing) prepares the Sale and Purchase Agreement. At signing you typically:

1. Pay the balance deposit so the total reaches 10% of the price.
2. Pay your lawyer’s fees for the SPA, plus disbursements.
3. Pay, or put your lawyer in funds for, the stamp duty on the Memorandum of Transfer (MOT).

Legal fees for both the SPA and the loan agreement follow the Solicitors’ Remuneration Order 2023: 1.25% on the first RM500,000 (minimum RM500) and 1% on the next RM7 million, plus service tax and disbursements.

Step 5: Secure the loan and meet the conditions

Submit your full loan application immediately after the offer, not after the SPA, because approval and valuation take time. Once approved, you sign the loan agreement with the bank’s panel lawyer and pay 0.5% stamp duty on the loan amount plus loan legal fees.

For a completed project like Twin Tower, the lawyers will also confirm title details and obtain any consents needed. Foreign buyers must obtain Johor state consent before the transfer can be registered; this can add one to two months or more. We explain the rules in Can foreigners buy at Twin Tower?

Step 6: Completion, balance payment and key handover

The completion period in a typical subsale SPA is three months from the date the agreement becomes unconditional, often with an automatic one-month extension on which late-payment interest is charged. During this period:

• You pay any differential sum (price minus deposit minus loan) to your lawyer, usually within about two weeks of being asked.
• Your lawyer retains part of the price and remits it to LHDN on the seller’s behalf as the RPGT retention: 3% for Malaysian sellers and 7% for non-citizen, non-PR sellers, within 60 days of the disposal date.
• The bank releases the loan: first to redeem the seller’s existing loan (if any), then the balance to the seller.
• Maintenance charges, quit rent and assessment are apportioned to the completion date.

Once the full price is paid, you receive vacant possession (or the tenancy is assigned to you) and collect the keys and access cards. Remember to transfer utilities into your name and register with the management office.

How much cash do you need? A worked example

Here is an illustrative calculation for a Malaysian buying a 2-bedroom at RM1,050,000 with a 90% loan (RM945,000). Figures are rounded and exclude valuation fees and disbursements.

So on top of the 10% down payment, budget roughly RM55,000–60,000 for duties and fees in this scenario. First-time Malaysian buyers of homes priced up to RM500,000 can get stamp duty exemptions, but those caps sit below Twin Tower’s price range. Full detail is in our buying costs guide.

Foreign buyer example

For a foreign buyer paying RM1,100,000 for a 2-bedroom with a 70% loan (RM770,000), the main differences are a flat 8% MOT stamp duty (RM88,000), a Johor state approval fee of 3% of the price with a RM30,000 minimum (RM33,000), and a larger 30% down payment (RM330,000). Adding loan stamp duty (RM3,850) and legal fees with SST (about RM22,900) gives an estimated cash requirement of roughly RM478,000, or about S$151,000 at RM3.16 per S$1 (late October 2026). Always confirm current fees with your lawyer, because state charges can change.

Typical timeline at a glance

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying an earnest deposit before your loan eligibility is clear.
• Not checking for maintenance arrears; your lawyer should obtain a statement from management.
• Forgetting that the bank’s valuation, not the agreed price, determines the loan amount.
• Missing the SPA signing deadline in the offer letter.
• For foreign buyers: assuming Malaysian rules apply, instead of checking Johor’s minimum price, consent and fees first.

Preparation by buyer type

If you are a first-time local buyer

Focus on cash flow. Besides the 10% down payment, set aside around 5%–6% of the price for duties and fees, plus renovation, furniture and moving costs. Get a loan pre-assessment so you know your DSR is within the bank’s comfort range before you negotiate.

If you are buying from Singapore

Focus on rules and timing. Confirm that your HDB Minimum Occupation Period has been met, remember that CPF cannot be used for overseas property, and allow time for Johor state consent. Our Singaporean buyer’s guide covers this in detail.

If you are a rental investor

Focus on the tenancy and the real numbers. The 2-bedroom is the most-listed rental layout in the building. Review any existing tenancy’s rent, expiry and deposit, and recalculate yield from the agreed price and actual rent rather than portal asking figures.

Conclusion

Buying at Twin Tower Residence follows the standard Malaysian subsale path: offer and earnest deposit, SPA and 10% deposit, loan and consents, then completion and keys. Because the project is completed and freehold, you can inspect the actual unit, see the actual view and, if you are investing, review an actual tenancy before committing. Plan your cash for duties and fees, line up your loan early, and you can move from first viewing to key collection in a few months.

Sources

• DNH (law firm) – Cash flow and timing of a sub-sale property purchase in Malaysia
• PwC Malaysian Tax Booklet – Stamp duty rates
• Skrine – Amendments to the Stamp Act (8% for foreign residential purchases)
• Conventus Law – Solicitors’ Remuneration Order 2023 scale fees
• LHDN – RPGT retention and remittance by the acquirer
• Landco – Johor approval fees for foreign acquisitions (PTG Johor Circular 1/2025)