Complete first-home buyer guide (2026)
Quick answer: To buy your first home: (1) check CCRIS/CTOS, (2) work out what your net salary qualifies for, (3) prepare a 10% deposit plus 3–5% costs, (4) claim help — zero stamp duty up to RM500,000, EPF Akaun Sejahtera, Perumahan Kasih Johor — and (5) choose financing: bank, Islamic, LPPSA or SJKP. On a RM3,000 net salary, a comfortable target is a home of about RM309,000.
Key facts
| First-home stamp duty | RM0 up to RM500,000 (SPA by 31 Dec 2027) |
|---|---|
| Usual deposit | 10% of the price |
| Other costs | About 3–5% of the price |
| Bumi-lot discount (Johor) | Usually 15%, new launches |
| Calculation assumptions | 3.8% rate, 35 years, 90% margin |
This page brings together every first-home guide on this site, in the order most buyers go through them.
5-minute summary
| Question | Short answer | Read |
|---|---|---|
| What can my salary buy? | RM3,000 net ≈ RM309,000–RM464,000; RM5,000 ≈ RM516,000–RM774,000 | Salary table |
| How much cash do I need? | 10% deposit + 3–5% costs (legal, stamp duty if not exempt, valuation) | Real costs |
| Is there government help? | Zero stamp duty on first homes up to RM500k; Perumahan Kasih Johor RM5,000 + RM2,000; EPF | Aid |
| Can I use EPF? | Yes — Akaun Sejahtera for the deposit/price, reducing the loan or monthly instalments | How to withdraw |
| No payslip / self-employed? | SJKP — government guarantee, up to 110% margin | SJKP |
| Civil servant? | LPPSA — low rate, second financing allowed | LPPSA |
| Want to avoid riba? | Islamic financing (Musharakah Mutanaqisah, Tawarruq) + MRTT | Islamic |
Every guide in this series
- Steps to buy a first home
- What house can my salary buy?
- Real costs of buying
- First-home aid in Johor
- Using EPF to buy a house
- Buying with no deposit
- Home loan documents
- MRTA, MLTA, MRTT or MLTT?
- House booking fees
- How long buying takes
- Buying together (joint loan)
- Affordable homes: RMMJ & PR1MA
- 12 first-home mistakes
- Home-buying terms (SPA, VP, MOT…)
Start with real numbers: enter your salary and debts in the home calculator, then WhatsApp me for projects that match your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step to buying a first home?
Check your CCRIS report (free via Bank Negara's eCCRIS) and CTOS, then work out your loan eligibility from your net salary and existing debts. Only then start house-hunting.
What is the minimum salary to buy a house?
There's no official minimum, but banks assess DSR. On a RM2,000 net salary at 60% DSR, the instalment is about RM1,200 — roughly a RM309,000 home at 3.8% over 35 years.
Do first-home buyers pay stamp duty?
No, for citizens buying a first home up to RM500,000 with an SPA signed by 31 December 2027 — transfer and loan stamp duty are fully exempt. Budget 2027 proposes extending this to RM750,000 (partially).
Can I buy a first home with no deposit?
In some cases: SJKP (up to 110% margin), LPPSA, EPF Akaun Sejahtera for the deposit, or developer rebates. The instalment will be higher, so do the maths.
How long does buying a first home take?
Subsale usually takes 3–6 months from offer to keys. New launch: keys within 24 months (landed) or 36 months (strata) of the SPA.