A HOME is much more than just an investment requiring a big commitment.

For many, it is a sanctuary filled with personal touches and sentimental collections. A home is also a place of peace and inspiration, where we share joy sharing and comfort with family members and loved ones.

So it stands to reason that choosing and buying such a home is a big deal, as there are many elements to consider before deciding it fits the bill.

Additionally, the past few months of living through the Covid-19 pandemic have undoubtedly shifted purchasing patterns and priorities in the property sector.

With the Malaysian government encouraging the public to stay home and stay safe, many people – especially young parents raising school-going children – have had to rethink their home environment, to ensure that it is safe and conducive for long periods of staying, working and learning from home.

These new normal “needs” will continue to be present in our lives, as the recent pandemic has changed our way of life and most importantly, what we view as future priorities in life.

That is the reason majority of homebuyers will look for properties being offered by reputable master developers, such as Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, to provide residences with world-class designs within carefully planned neighbourhoods that incorporate security features and technological advancements.

Homebuyers prioritise convenience and safety in making their decision to buy a dream home. This supports the findings of the Forest City Residential Survey, carried out in partnership with Star Media Group from May 20 to May 29,2020.

The survey, which saw over 1,000 respondents, revealed that the top factors that would influence the majority (81%) of respondents in their decision in buying a future home are convenient access to amenities (shopping malls, restaurants, groceries), as well as adequate crime-prevention measures – security aspects (74%).

The majority of respondents want to live in areas with around-the-clock surveillance in public areas such as streets, playgrounds and parking lots (69%), while having a supportive neighbourhood community (64%) at the same time.

Besides that, they want high-tech security, with most believing that neighbourhoods secured using state-of-the-art technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition are the way forward in securing their homes and neighbourhoods. This is because it can provide better 24-7 close monitoring on public areas and also tighter control over unregistered and unknown persons entering the residential areas.

In terms of health security, many say that having healthcare facilities (hospital and clinic) located close-by is a priority (78%), followed by having a helpful and supportive residential community (58%).

For Country Garden, a household name today in Malaysia for its successful developments such as Forest City, it was built to meet the needs of homebuyers, irrespective of their status and age.

While it already fulfills what homebuyers want in terms of easy access to amenities, Forest City is ramping up its efforts to enrich the lives of residents by placing greater emphasis on customising the services it provides, in tandem with residents’ needs.

Apart from Forest City, Country Garden’s other developments in Malaysia are also built to meet the homebuyers’ demand for convenience, namely Lake City at KL North.

One of Country Garden’s projects in Taman Wahyu, Kuala Lumpur, the development is based on a HOPSCA (Hotel, Office, Parking, Shopping Mall, Convention and Apartment) development concept.

A one-of-a-kind city, it is a new urban concept that creates the ideal habitat model and addresses the needs of homeowners who are looking for inter-connectivity to its surrounding areas.

Similarly, the developer's project in Country Garden Danga Bay in Johor Baru is located very close to the Singapore-Malaysia causeway, making it the perfect location for those who regularly commute between the two countries. There are also healthcare and education facilities located nearby, as well as commercial hotspots and retail hubs, which provide a wide range of choices for grocery stores and eateries.

Lake City @ KL North, one of Country Garden’s projects in Kuala Lumpur, is a one-of-a-kind city, that creates the ideal habitat model and addresses the needs of homeowners who are looking for interconnectivity to its surrounding areas.

All of Country Garden’s developments in Malaysia, including Diamond City in Semenyih and Central Park in Johor, feature 24-hour security surveillance to ensure a safe and secure living environment. All units in these developments are equipped with state-of-the-art locking systems and multi-tiered security systems, complete with perimeter compound security, phase-by-phase border security, smart home access, ample car park facilities and more.

With its shift to the role of city operator, Forest City is increasing its focus on providing people-oriented security solutions.

These solutions include multi-level defenses that are supported by advanced technology such as facial recognition, all-encompassing video surveillance, smart sensors and augmented reality (AR) realisation technologies - all focusing on the use of sophisticated security systems and the adoption of tried-and-tested technologies for its residents’ peace of mind.

Entering the second half of 2020, the property industry is ironing out its next steps in line with the present circumstances. The Covid-19 pandemic has put in place requirements for social distancing and thus, more and more businesses have had to move towards a fully digitalised structure.

For Country Garden, new infrastructure development built on digitalisation has become a strategic measure for the company to remain resilient as a key industry player.

The company is committed to enriching the lives of its residents and the surrounding communities by constantly developing and improving its in-city services, while pushing towards digital transformation in the property and development sector.

 Related Reading: The Star