Buying Guide
Can I Buy at Twin Tower? Foreign Buyer Eligibility Checker (Johor 2026)
Quick answer
Malaysians can buy any Twin Tower unit. Foreigners, including Singaporeans, can generally buy units priced at RM1 million or above with Johor state consent, paying a 3% consent fee (minimum RM30,000) and 8% stamp duty. Units below RM1 million, such as studios, are generally not open to foreign subsale buyers.
In this guide
Use this Twin Tower foreigner eligibility checker to see, in one click, whether you can generally buy a unit at Twin Tower Residence, Bukit Chagar, under Johor’s 2026 rules. Choose your nationality and enter the unit type or price; the checker tells you whether you are generally eligible and estimates the main state fee and stamp duty. It is a planning tool only, so always confirm with a conveyancing lawyer before you commit.
Foreign buyer eligibility checker
Planning guide only, based on rules reported in 2026 — always confirm with a Malaysian conveyancing lawyer.
Check a specific unit with DarrenHow do I use the eligibility checker?
- Nationality: Malaysian, Singaporean or other foreigner.
- Unit type or price: pick a layout to load an indicative asking price, or type the agreed price.
- Read the result: eligible, generally eligible subject to state consent, or generally not eligible for subsale, with an estimate of the consent fee and stamp duty where relevant.
What rules does the checker apply?
| Buyer and price | Result | Main foreign-buyer costs |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysian, any price | Eligible | Normal Malaysian stamp duty scale; no state consent fee |
| Singaporean or other foreigner, price RM1,000,000 or above | Generally eligible, subject to Johor state consent | Consent fee 3% of price or valuation (whichever is higher), minimum RM30,000; stamp duty 8% from 1 Jan 2026 |
| Singaporean or other foreigner, price below RM1,000,000 | Generally not eligible for subsale purchase | – |
The rules behind it: as reported by the New Straits Times in April 2026, foreigners in Johor can buy residential property priced at RM1 million and above. Designated zones such as Medini in Iskandar Puteri are exempt from the threshold, but Bukit Chagar is not one of them. Since 1 July 2025 Johor’s approval fee for a residential subsale is 3%, with a minimum of RM30,000. From 1 January 2026, transfers of residential property to non-citizens attract stamp duty of RM8 per RM100, or 8%. Singaporeans follow the same rules as other foreigners.
Worked example: RM1.08m 2-bedroom, foreign buyer
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold check | RM1,080,000 ≥ RM1,000,000 | Generally eligible, subject to consent |
| Johor consent fee | 3% × RM1,080,000 = RM32,400 (above the RM30,000 minimum) | RM32,400 |
| Transfer stamp duty | 8% × RM1,080,000 | RM86,400 |
| Total of these two items | RM32,400 + RM86,400 | RM118,800 (11% of price) |
For comparison, a Malaysian buying the same unit pays transfer stamp duty on the scale: 1% on the first RM100,000 (RM1,000), 2% on the next RM400,000 (RM8,000), 3% on the next RM500,000 (RM15,000) and 4% on the remaining RM80,000 (RM3,200), a total of RM27,200, with no state consent fee. Legal fees, loan stamp duty and other costs apply to everyone on top; see buying costs explained.
What does this mean unit by unit at Twin Tower?
- 2 Bedroom (882 sq ft): indicative asking RM1.00m–1.15m (Oct–Nov 2026), at or above the threshold. The main choice for foreign buyers and the building’s most-rented layout.
- 2+1 Bedroom (1,054 sq ft): around RM1.02m asking, close to the threshold, so check the agreed price.
- 3 Bedroom (1,216 sq ft): rarely listed; ask about availability.
- Studio (~559–599 sq ft): RM720k–780k asking, below the threshold, so generally not open to foreign subsale buyers.
Read our full guide to Johor’s foreign-buyer rules and the Singaporean buyer’s guide for the consent process and timelines.
What happens after the checker says yes?
The usual sequence is: sign the offer and pay the earnest deposit; your lawyer prepares the sale and purchase agreement with state consent as a condition; the lawyer files the consent application with the Johor land office; once approved, you pay the consent fee; then payment and transfer complete under the agreement’s timelines. Consent commonly takes one to three months, so foreign purchases take longer overall than Malaysian ones.
Assumptions and limits
- Rules are applied case by case by the Johor State Authority and can change; this checker reflects the position as of November 2026.
- Special programmes may have their own thresholds; the NST report notes MM2H Silver Tier participants can buy from RM600,000 with a 10-year holding period.
- Permanent residents, companies and Bumiputera-allocated or restricted units are outside the checker’s scope.
- Legal fees, loan costs, RPGT on resale and income tax are not included.
Always confirm with a conveyancing lawyer. When you are ready to look at eligible units, WhatsApp Darren for the latest 2-bedroom and larger listings.
Sources
- New Straits Times – Foreigners hit Johor property resale wall (20 Apr 2026)
- Landco – Foreigner property tax and Johor approval fee from 1 July 2025 (19 Jun 2025)
- PwC Malaysia – Stamp duty rates (8% for foreigners’ residential transfers from 1 Jan 2026)
- HHQ – Johor’s new legal and tax framework for foreign acquisitions (effective 1 Jul 2025)
Frequently asked questions
Can a Singaporean buy a studio at Twin Tower Residence?
Generally not on the subsale market. Studios were asked at about RM720,000–780,000 in Oct–Nov 2026, below Johor's RM1 million minimum for foreign buyers, and Bukit Chagar is not an exempt zone. Singaporeans usually look at 2-bedroom and larger units instead. Confirm any exception with a conveyancing lawyer.
How much is the Johor consent fee on a RM1.08 million unit?
For a residential subsale, the fee is 3% of the price or valuation, whichever is higher, with a minimum of RM30,000. On RM1,080,000 that is RM32,400. Your lawyer will confirm the final amount once the valuation is known and the state approves the application.
Do foreigners pay more stamp duty than Malaysians?
Yes. From 1 January 2026, residential transfers to non-citizens are charged 8%. On a RM1,080,000 unit that is RM86,400, compared with RM27,200 for a Malaysian using the standard scale. Permanent residents are treated differently, so check your status with your lawyer.
Is the RM1 million threshold based on price or valuation?
The threshold is generally applied to the purchase price, while the consent fee may be calculated on the higher of price or official valuation. Because practice is applied case by case, ask your conveyancing lawyer to review both figures before you sign an offer near RM1 million.
Does a Malaysian need state consent to buy at Twin Tower?
No. Malaysian citizens can buy any unit at Twin Tower Residence without Johor foreign-buyer consent and pay transfer stamp duty on the normal scale. The usual steps still apply: offer, sale and purchase agreement, loan documents and transfer, handled by your lawyer.
