eCdD

No thread for the big thing?

Finally last week I found time to go south and visit this project. It makes look Dubais The Palm ridiculous.

The concept sounds really good, but they have a long way to go. I would not recommend to buy something there, but I definitely recommend to see it. But leave your credit card at home, these people really know how to sell property

I definitely will visit that thing every couple of years to see what is going on.

By the way they must have some special trick how to avoid the crazy Johor 1 Million minimum sale price. As many mainland chinese buy stuff there for 600 to 800k.

eCdD

OK, one mystery solved, Forest City has a waiver to sell @ 500k minimum instead of 1 Mio. Valid for all buyers not just MM2H.

Thairetired2016

We visited early this year. It is impressive. However, it is on dredged land. How has the foundation been done? The comment of our Singaporean friend was: there will be several "leaning towers" in a few years time. Yes, the Chinese buy like crazy. The project is aimed at the Chinese market. The sales staff are mainly Singaporean. Well trained.

SushiFan

Today an interesting article was published about this project. Interesting because it provides a number of statistics about this (and related) project. You can find it here: Chinese Property Projects in Southern Johor: Should We Be Concerned? | Penang Institute
I have attached it also as PDF file.

eCdD

Yes, indeed very interesting. Especially the Maintenance Fee topic is definitely a big one. And the 98.54% foreign buyers, well, well, well. The total (!) number of 15 Bumi buyers and 5 Malay Indians, don´t expect too much of Non-chinese-Food there

But of cause one need to consider that it is a study of a Penang institute, that of cause has limited friendlyness to a project from the big rival Johor.

geedee

Just found out it's a Duty Free zone like Labuan, Tioman etc.
Case of Tiger RM70!! Yowza!

eCdD

Not totally duty free yet, cannot compare to Labuan.

And the booze shop opened just a few weeks before, when we were there we just could look thru the windows

geedee

We're going there tomorrow.... two adult passports = 6 cases of beer @ MYR70 each ...

RedApe

Wonder if you can take the duty free items out with you or if they are simply a privilege for residents!

Scratcher

geedee, Like RedApe, I am interested how this duty free shop works.

Why do you need to take your passports? Is duty free booze only allowed to non-malaysians?
Can you take the booze back to Johor state?
Is the beer limted per person? What about other purchases - wine / spirits?

I live in rural Johor, so a trip to Forest City is more than one hours drive and I would prefer to understand better before making a wasted journey. So geedee, please give us an update after your visit.

Scratcher

geedee

We didn't end up "going there tomorrow'.... something cropped up (kids of course!)

WILL be going this weekend though.

However, some friends have been, bought 6 cases between them and took them safely home to East Ledang.

The passport is needed.... because it's needed everywhere in Malaysia! They record your purchase presumably to make sure you don't go over your monthly limit.

I expect soon it will become a Forest City residents only "privilege".

Scratcher, no journey is ever wasted.

Will update when actually done this!

Scratcher

geedee, thanks for the reply. I may take trip this weekend myself. Do you have a name and address for the booze shop?

Which is the best way to head for Forest City? Take the Tuas Highway and exit at Legoland?

Scratcher

geedee

Hi Scratcher,

Take the main road to the second link, then just before you get to the toll booths there's a road to the left to tanjung Pelepas / Forset City. Follow the signs, well marked.

I don't have a name / address but it's where all the shops and restaurants are. That's in a cluster, security will show you the way.

Good luck and don't forget your passports! Let us know how you get on.

Scratcher

Again, thanks.

Scratcher

eCdD

Yes, you can not miss the shop as there is only one shopping and restaurant street in FC so far. That streches the 400 meters from their mighty Sales Gallery to the Hotel.

I would be extremely pleased if somebody who is going there, could also have a look at the wine prices. For example el Casillero del Diablo (anyone guessed my username so far?) from Chile, Fat Bird or any decent Sauvignon Blanc or whatever.

And of cause how many bottle one can bunk in per passport.