IN about a month, Dijaya Corp Bhd, the pioneer of golf resorts in Malaysia, will launch its three-storey Villa Green 3A-1 semi-detached properties.

Known as Super Fairway Villas, the ‘3’ denotes the third type of semi-detached to be launched in Damansara Indah Resort Homes in Petaling Jaya. As for “fairway”, the development straddles Tropicana Golf & Country Resort and the Seri Selangor Golf Club.

The 52 units will be part of a larger parcel of 86 units to be built next to a strip of rubber plantation land.

The price range from RM1.9mil to RM2.3mil depending on land size appears to rather hefty for a semi-detached considering the soft property market, rising interest rates and oil price.

But after some 30 years in the business, Dijaya Corp Bhd group managing director P K Poh has learnt that there are some features that simply cannot go wrong. Besides the location factor, Poh’s latest launch will have a sense of space, form and function and an environment.

“With a built-up of 6,200 sq ft, these semi-detached will have bigger built-ups than bungalows, which are normally about 5,000 sq ft,” says Poh.

The average semi-detached properties have a built-up of between 3,000 and 4,000 sq ft.

Poh says from his experience, many bungalow owners built space into their dream homes with the children in mind.

The children may not stay with their parents on a permanent basis, but there are special occasions that bring the family together. The super fairway villas are designed to house four generations.

Poh says the ground floor have been designed to house the elderly while the first floor, the second generation.

“This could be for the owner or the owner’s children. It comes with a large master bedroom and two other rooms ensuite,” says Poh.

The top floor has a second master bedroom with attached bathroom that is bigger than many average-sized bedrooms. Next to the master bedroom is another room which can be converted into a study, or a baby’s room.

To add convenience to space, a pantry is located next to it, to warm milk or for that cuppa, without having to go downstairs.

“While we build space, we also build convenience. By giving that much of space, we are doing what no other developers of semi-detached properties have done,” says Poh.

To reduce the perception of height, emphasis has been taken to create horizontal space by having larger rooms and higher ceiling, which are important, particularly for living space and utility areas.

Wider tread of the stair, a five-feet wide staircase instead of the normal four, and bigger and more windows create a sense of space. Space is functional with details like walled-in stools in the top master bathroom on the top floor to add refinement. Both the master bathrooms come with jacuzzi.

The development also comes with smart home features that enable one to operate electrical devices like lighting, air-conditioning, heater and other appliances via the mobile phone while away from home. The house also has intercom to enable one to speak to visitors at the front door from the mobile phone, giving the perception that one is at home.

The smart home feature, if installed personally, will cost about RM10,000, says Poh.

“We have made this a standard feature in our Super Fairway Villas,” he says.

The land area is between 4,500 sq ft and 8,000 sq ft. Early birds will also benefit from a RM100,000 cash and kind rebate. This includes a Tropicana Sports and Leisure Club membership worth RM22,800 (excluding golf membership), four air-conditioners and free legal fees.

The masterplan for the development of Damansara Indah properties spans 400 acres and will have about 220 vacant bungalow lots, 523 units of linked homes, 320 semi-detached units and 889 condominiums and 41 units bungalows. There will also be 20 acres for commercial lifestyle development linked to a hypermarket.

The development is about 90% complete and capital appreciation has been good so far.

“Prices for bungalow land, previously going for RM60 per sq ft, has doubled to about RM130 per sq ft. Prices of single-storey link units, launched at RM160,000 and considered steep in those days has also doubled, despite it being leasehold.

“Two years ago, we sold some semi-detached properties at RM850,000 a unit. Today, they are around RM1.1mil to RM1.2mil. Not many bothered about the leasehold factor, particularly when land around here is becoming scarce. Besides, this is a newer and attractive part of Petaling Jaya with two golf courses and lots of green space being two of our strong selling points,” says Poh.

Damansara Indah Resort Homes has a density ratio of five units per acre compared with Tropicana’s seven and Damansara Heights’ 10 to 12 units per acre.

Damansara Indah’s Seri Selangor 18-hole golf course, carved out of secondary forest, is also very scenic and will be a strong selling point as the Super Fairway Villas is sited on undulating land.

Poh says the development will be attractive despite the consolidating property market and interest rate and oil factor.

“For buyers of high-end properties, slight increases in the interest rates do not affect them as much as lower-end property buyers,” says Poh. Added to this is the fact that Malaysia’s growth rates; 7% in 2004, 5.3% last year and an estimated 6% for this year.

This, says Poh, is creditable considering that the world economy is doing about 2% to 3% a year.