Hello, i am interested to start real estate investing and i am from indonesia. However i concerned whether the same rules and strategies can be applied to real estates in indonesia since they have the different law and currency.
Currently i am studying more about real estates in BP youtube videos and youtubes, and somehow i'm find some trouble when searching real estate groups / community in indonesia to join. Anyone have suggestions about that?
Investor · Rote Indonesia · Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 2 votes
1y
Hi there!
Great to see another Indonesian here interested in real estate.
You're right—Indonesia has unique laws, especially for foreigners. But the good news is: once you understand the basic legal structures (Hak Milik, HGB, Hak Pakai, etc.), it's very possible to invest safely and profitably.
I'm currently working in Rote Island, a lesser-known gem in Indonesia—land is still very affordable (starting around IDR 150K–475K/m²) and we've had successful deals under full freehold (Hak Milik) titles through trusted local notaries and due diligence.
If you're Indonesian yourself, even better: You can buy land directly. I’d recommend starting in an area like Rote, where tourism is just starting to grow, but there's less competition and more upside.
Let me know if you'd like me to share a breakdown of how we've been doing it—happy to help!
Hi there!
Great to see another Indonesian here interested in real estate.
You're right—Indonesia has unique laws, especially for foreigners. But the good news is: once you understand the basic legal structures (Hak Milik, HGB, Hak Pakai, etc.), it's very possible to invest safely and profitably.
I'm currently working in Rote Island, a lesser-known gem in Indonesia—land is still very affordable (starting around IDR 150K–475K/m²) and we've had successful deals under full freehold (Hak Milik) titles through trusted local notaries and due diligence.
If you're Indonesian yourself, even better: You can buy land directly. I’d recommend starting in an area like Rote, where tourism is just starting to grow, but there's less competition and more upside.
Let me know if you'd like me to share a breakdown of how we've been doing it—happy to help!
Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11mo
Malaysia is certainly among the more foreign investor-friendly countries in the region, with virtually no restrictions on both residential and commercial property ownership. The country has made itself an easy place to invest. There are several issues, however, including taxes, overbuilding, low returns, and poor appreciation.
Tax deductions on rental property are limited to 5 categories:
Loan interest
Maintenance fees & tax on maintenance fees
Quit rent & assessments
Insurance
Repairs
Notably, depreciation, which is among your biggest expenses, is not deductible. Nor are tax payments, which result in a tax on tax. Tax on the resulting income is flat at 30% unless you can claim tax residency by staying over 182 days.
The government also just added an additional 8% tax on rental income exceeding RM1 million, which caused an understandable uproar.
Malaysia has an enormous glut of properties with no end in sight to the construction, both residential and commercial. As a result, competition is fierce, and expected rental returns are around 6% at best. Property appreciation in most investable areas remains flat.
When you invest abroad, you must look at the local currency. Here, the Malaysian ringgit has ranged from around 3.8 to 4.8 to the USD, averaging around 4.0 per USD for the last 10 years.
If you want a great website with a wealth of information, consider Global Property Guide. It used to be free but now charges $29/month and is worth it.