Iskandar Malaysia & the RTS Link: Where to Invest in 2026
With the Bukit Chagar–Woodlands RTS Link opening, Iskandar Puteri and Medini are heating up. Here's our read on hotspots, rental yields and the RPGT you'll pay on resale.
The single biggest catalyst for Johor property in 2026 is the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, connecting Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North. As its opening approaches, demand is sharpening around the city-centre stations and the wider Iskandar Malaysia growth corridor.
Two zones stand out. The JB city centre, within walking distance of the Bukit Chagar terminus, is drawing cross-border commuters who want a short hop to Singapore. Iskandar Puteri and Medini, anchored by EduCity, Puteri Harbour and Gleneagles Medini, continue to mature into a self-contained township with strong tenant demand.
For yield, well-located serviced apartments near transport and malls typically outperform, and cross-border tenants underpin occupancy. Landed homes in gated schemes like Horizon Hills appeal more to owner-occupiers and longer-term capital growth. Always weigh quit rent, assessment and maintenance charges into your net yield.
On exit, remember Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT), which applies to gains on resale and steps down the longer you hold — highest in the first few years and lower thereafter. Note too that many landed schemes carry a Bumiputera quota, so releasing a Bumi lot on resale may require state consent. Plan your hold period and title status early, and the Iskandar story remains one of the region's most compelling.
