A Family's Journey from Marine Parade to JB
Meet the Tan family, a typical Singaporean household, residing in a fully paid-for home in Marine Parade. With two children aged 9 and 11, the Tans are considering a move to JB using the
Malaysia My Second Home visa. The ever-increasing cost of living in Singapore has prompted them to explore this opportunity, especially since their home in Marine Parade can generate substantial rental income to finance their new life in JB.
Financial Benefits
The Tans' decision is driven by the significant financial benefits of living in JB. For instance, the rental income from their Marine Parade home is more than sufficient to support an expat-like lifestyle in JB. Additionally, the cost of living in Malaysia is considerably lower than in Singapore, allowing the Tans to enjoy a much higher standard of living than possible in Singapore, one certainly without any financial strain. The very favourable SGD to MYR exchange rate further enhances their purchasing power across the Causeway.
Educational Opportunities
Now, to be sure, one of the concerns for the Tans is their children's education. The good news is, however, that Malaysia's education landscape has improved by leaps and bounds the past several decades. In fact, like some of the other Malaysia states, JB offers a number of reputable international schools, each of which providing a holistic education, ensuring pupils receive a well-rounded learning experience.
These schools tend to follow international curricula, which can be beneficial for the children's future pursuits, academic and otherwise. The Tans are particularly interested in schools that offer a blend of academic excellence and extracurricular activities, fostering both intellectual and personal growth.
Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare is another critical consideration for the Tans. Fortunately, JB boasts several high-quality medical centres, some of which are run by Singaporean entities. JB's robust yet affordable healthcare ensures that the family has round-the-clock access to healthcare services that are comparable to those in Singapore. As a matter of fact, the Tans have researched this particular aspect of their family extensively and found that JB's medical facilities are well-equipped to handle various health needs, providing them with peace of mind.
Proximity to Singapore
Often overlooked by Singaporeans aspiring to rebase to JB is the fact that most of the popular JB residential estates are only about 15-20 km away from the bulk of Singapore. In other words, as the crow flies, in all likelihood, on average, you'll only be about 15 clicks away from your Singapore home. This proximity allows you to maintain close ties with friends and family in Singapore, whilst enjoying the full range of benefits of living in JB. After all, the ease of travel, especially once you've got your long-term visa, means you can visit Singapore as frequently as you want, without hassle. This applies all the more so as soon as the RTS is operational of course.
Risk-Free Opportunity
For the Tans, moving to JB, particularly with the long-term visa they've been eyeing, i.e.
MM2H, is pretty much a risk-free opportunity, yet one with significant upside, clearly. They can rent a home in JB initially to get a solid understanding of what life in JB is really like, before committing to a longer-term stay. They may be able to get by on their 30-day social pass during that transition spell. But once they decide: Yes, this is what we want, their best approach would be to apply for the MM2H visa.
MM2H offers numerous benefits, including tax exemption on all remitted funds from Singapore to Malaysia and the ability to live in Malaysia for an extended period, with no limit on border crossing frequency whatsoever. The flexibility of trying their expat lifestyle in JB allows the Tans to make an informed decision about their relocation, without pressure. The fact that MM2H lowers the minimum property purchase threshold is an added bonus—and a considerable one at that.
The Bottom Line
The Tan family's move to JB by means of the
MM2H visa is a forward-thinking strategic decision, one that's driven by financial prudence and the desire for a better quality of life. With the rental income from their Marine Parade home, they can actually upgrade to an expat-like lifestyle in JB, provide their children with excellent educational opportunities and access top-notch healthcare facilities to boot. Meanwhile, Singapore being just a quick hop away by RTS ensures they remain connected to their roots, whilst enjoying their new-found happiness.
