geedee

The main compounds for Europeans here are:

Leisure Farm
Ledang Heights
Ledang East
Horizon Hills

Do any of you live in the many other compounds, e.g. Setia Eco Village, Austin Heights etc.?

I'm pondering buying a house in Palm Villa, Kulai. It's about one third of the cost of a similar house in the above compounds, and adds about 15 minutes to my commute time.... no brainer to me, but I haven't been here long enough!

Any advice welcome!

bakedbean

Oh, does this mean you are staying in Malaysia?

As I am a nosey bugger, I did a google. Looks very nice.

Scratcher

Geedee, I don't live in JB but relatively nearby in Pontian. I have been living in a rented house in a normal "Taman" district without any problems for a year and a half. But I can't comment on the areas you have listed.

Scratcher

ex reg

Scratcher, can I ask, are you retired or are you working in the area?

Parklife

Hi Geedee,

I'm new to the forum but not to Johor as been living here for 7 years on and off. Never lived in the Nusayajaya area though am looking to possibly move there sometime next year (just move back after an unhappy 3 year stint in Singapore).

When I first moved to JB I lived in Permas Jaya. I then moved to a small condo near Danga Bay. I currently live at a condo in Plentong which we bought a few years back, but we are looking at landed property in the locations you listed.

Everywhere I have stayed I have felt safe and has had very good security. I have visited friends who live in gated communities in Taman Molek, Mount Austin and Bukit Indah and they have all had really impressive security as well, so my feeling is most gated communities are safe for Europeans.

Not sure about the other areas you mention, but I will now be looking them up as potential places to live!

geedee

BB, our rent contract finishes end of July next year.... we have to decide whether we go back to Canada to maintain PR or carry on here until the kids finish school (and give up any thoughts of living in Canada again). Tough decision and at the moment we're exploring all options. The prices of houses on the 4 compounds I mentioned are, in my opinion, insane, and a decent house is out of my reach. However, I've always viewed renting as paying somebody else's mortgage and would prefer to buy a place. That's why I'm looking outside the "safe zones"! I think I spilled enough beans there (geddit?? )


Thanks Scratcher, that's good to know. Do all your windows have bars on them? Seems to be the "in thing" around here!

Oh no.... don't go buying the house I'm looking at!! Pleased to hear that Mount Austin etc. are Ok, thanks for chipping in. Oh, and welcome to the forum (that's actually BB's job!) ... you'll be invaluable with all that experience here!

Scratcher

Ex reg, I'm working in the area. Pontian wouldn't be my first choice of where to live, but it is relatively near to my work. Bukit Indah is about 1 hour and would be too much for me to drive every day.

GeeDee, Yes all my windows and doors have bars. But it seems to be the norm in the area.

Scratcher.

ex reg

Thanks Scratcher, I'm interested about what work might be available for an ex pat in Pontian but realise you'd not want to give that sort of info here. I'm well retired btw. (construction? Golf Course stuff? can't think of much else )

Also are the durians out around Pontian and can you recommend a good Chinese seafood restaurant?? (not that Malay seafood isn't good just that we like Chinese seafood more)

Scratcher

ex reg, I work in the civil construction industry and have been here now for a year and a half. Funny you should ask about the durians, I was only thinking that I haven't seen any road side durian stalls yet. Not that i would stop, I really don't like them.

There are several good places to eat Chinese seafood in and around Pontian, but in many places you would need someone who speaks chinese. No menus and no english. But there is one place in Pontian which is English friendly and there are some good places in Kukup, near to the ferry terminal. I always see a lot of Singaporean cars there. If interested I can PM more details.

Scratcher

ex reg

I know it's not yet durian season in Johore but was just wondering.
You can still get durians in Singapore but have to go to Geylang and there they will just eat your money. You must try to get to like durians, it's worth the effort, really.

Kukup seafood? Well I used to go maybe 20 years ago but nowadays where to park??? I like the seafood prices in Gelang Patah, but any seafood price looks good compared to Singapore.
If you can let me have the english friendly seafood place in Pontian I'd like to try it in the not too distant.

But all restaurants are down to personal taste.
Last time we were in Pontian we went especially because the missus had seen on Trip Advisor or somewhere that there was a terrific Wanton noodle stall there, there are loads of 'Pontian Noodle' stalls in Singapore, but the one we which was recommended and we tried in Pontian was just average.

Parklife

Thanks for the welcome GeeDee. I'll be checking in regularly and will offer any advise when I can, while also seeking some of my own - Johor has changed so much in the 3 years I've been away that I am on catch up with all the places to eat and visit!