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First-time buyer in KL — what I wish I knew before signing the SPA

A

Ahmad Razif

6 Mar 2026

After 8 months of searching, I finally got my keys to a condo in Cheras last month. Here's my honest breakdown:

1. Get your loan pre-approved FIRST — Agents won't take you seriously otherwise. I wasted 3 months viewing units I couldn't qualify for.

2. Legal fees are not negotiable — RM450k condo = roughly RM7,000-8,000 in legal fees alone.

3. The 10% downpayment is just the start — Budget another 3-4% for MOT, stamp duty, and legal costs.

4. Defect liability period is 24 months — Document everything with photos on key handover day.

Hopefully this helps someone else!
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