Whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, or forties, there will always be an opportunity to purchase a home be it for yourself to live in or as an investment. 

And why wouldn’t you? A home is more than just a roof over your head and a place to stay warm. It can also be an asset to safeguard your lifestyle or provide you with a comfortable place to retire.

If you’re considering buying a house soon and it’s your first time doing so, you’re in luck! As a first-time home buyer, there are several benefits you can take advantage of to help you save on costs. 

It’s also worth noting that some benefits are only eligible until the end of 2025, so read on to find out how to get the best value for your purchase.

1. Income Tax Relief (2025)

As part of Budget 2025, first-time home buyers who sign and complete the Sale And Purchase Agreement (SPA) between 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027 can enjoy special tax relief on the payment of interest on their mortgage loan. 

Property Price	Tax Relief Amount
Up to RM500,000	Up to RM7,000
Above RM500,000 to RM750,000	Up to RM5,000

This special tax relief applies to Malaysian citizens and residents for the purchase of their first residential home and for both individually or joint-owned home loans. Additionally, the property must not be used to generate income.

2. Stamp Duty Exemptions (2025)

Stamp duty is a kind of tax paid when buying a property. As another Budget 2025 initiative, first-time home buyers who purchase properties valued up to RM500,000 are eligible to be fully exempted from stamp duty.   

Stamp duty tax relief is applicable only until the end of 2025, so now is the optimum time to shortlist houses to buy and start putting your finances together. 

3. Affordable Home Schemes

To stimulate and boost property ownership in Malaysia, a few affordable housing schemes have been put in place by the government, including:

1. PR1MA / PRIMA

Eligibility criteria for PR1MA: 

• Malaysian citizens only.
• Single or married, aged 21 and above only.
• Has an individual or combined household income (for husband and wife) of RM2,500 to RM15,000 monthly (gross income).
• A PR1MA home can only be purchased as the first or second home only.

2. Rumah Selangorku (RSKU)

Eligibility criteria for Rumah Selangorku: 

• Malaysian citizens only.
• Aged 18 and above at the time of application.
• Does not own any other government or private property in Selangor.
• Not blacklisted in CTOS or CCRIS.
• For Type A houses, the individual or combined household income (for husband and wife) is not more than RM3,500.
• For Type B houses, the individual or combined household income (for husband and wife) is not more than RM7,000.
• For Type C houses, the individual or combined household income (for husband and wife) is not more than RM10,000.
• For Type D, E, and Special E houses, the individual or combined household income (for husband and wife) is not more than RM14,500.

3. RUMAWIP (Residensi Wilayah)

Eligibility criteria for RUMAWIP:

• Malaysian citizens only.
• Aged 21 and above at the time of application.
• Must be born, working in, or residing in the Federal Territory.
• For single or non-married applicants: Individual household income of not more than RM10,000 monthly (gross income).
• For married applicants: Combined household income of not more than RM15,000 monthly (gross income).

4. Residensi Madani

Eligibility criteria for Residensi Madani:

• Malaysian citizens only.
• Aged 18 and above at the time of application.
• For single and married applicants. Married applicants must both be Malaysian citizens.
• Must be born, working in, or a registered voter in the Federal Territory.
• Household income of not more than RM8,000 monthly (gross income).
• The property has a 10-year moratorium and cannot be sold or transferred to anyone without consent from the government, except to next-of-kins such as spouses or children.

Besides these, other programmes are offering different ways of housing – like Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) for individuals or families who own land but do not have sufficient resources to build a house, Perumahan Penjawat Awam Malaysia (PPAM) for civil servants, and more.  

4. First-Home Mortgage Loan Schemes

If you have your eyes set on your dream house and you need a loan, various banks in Malaysia offer mortgages specifically catered for first-home buyers to make the house-buying process much easier. 

Some examples are the First Home Mortgage by RHB, the Skim Jaminan Kredit Perumahan (SJKP) and Skim Jaminan Kredit Perumahan – MADANI (SJKP MADANI) by Maybank, the My 1st Home Scheme by Bank Rakyat, the My First Home Scheme by Affin Bank, and BSN MyHome by Bank Simpanan Nasional to name a few.

Don’t Forget Your Benefits

To call your first property home, why not let these homebuyer benefits push you in the right direction to make a well-informed decision? Based on these 2025 benefits, you could save a good amount of money!

These first-time buyer benefits may not look like a lot, but they’re here to help ease the financial burden even if it’s a little. Just make sure to get your SPA signed, stamped, and settled as soon as possible to fully utilise the benefits you’ll qualify for.

Besides these, if you’re looking for homes between RM500K to RM750K in Malaysia, check out Mudah Property for a wide selection of properties to call your dream home. From landed houses to high-rises and apartments, and even SOHO units, there’s a home for everyone at Mudah Property.