Banks rejecting qualified first-time house buyers

Loan applications from many first-time house buyers were rejected by banks although they were financially qualified to buy affordable houses in the state, said Housing and Local Government chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi (pic).

He said the state authorities had been getting complaints from these “spurned” house buyers.

“We are committed to providing affordable houses to Johoreans, so we will take measures to help them in owning properties,” Abdul Latiff said in reply to questions from Puan Sri Azizah Zakaria (BN-Parit Raja), Datuk Dr Adham Baba (BN-Parit Raja) and Datuk Syed Sis Syed A. Rahman (BN-­Tanjung Surat).

On that note, Abdul Latiff said the state government would cooperate with AmBank Islamic Bhd to provide bank loans to eligible first-time house buyers.

Under the Johor Affordable Housing Financial Scheme, he said the bank would allocate RM300mil for first-timers.

The scheme would kick off by the end of January next year.

Abdul Latiff added that priority would be given to those who applied for the Johor affordable houses priced at RM42,000 and RM80,000 each.

He said the RM200mil financial allocation as housing deposit for the first home under Budget 2016, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, would also benefit first-time house buyers in the state.

“The move will indirectly help about 42,000 first-timers own houses under the Johor Affordable Housing Scheme by 2018,” said Abdul Latiff. - By The Star