Many people are full of question marks about the dazzling array of real estate types in the market? Especially the cluster house that has suddenly emerged in recent years. How is it different from other properties?

What is a cluster home?

    A cluster house, also known as a strata-landed house, cluster homes are private properties structured in groups. They are relatively close to each other and connected by four units, forming the arrangement of "tian" in Chinese characters.

The cluster house usually has the following characteristics to make them into cluster homes:
* Freehold & landed property
* There is an open space on the side of a cluster house. Under normal circumstances, the size of the open space is from 10ft++
* The house does not have a back alley connected to the back unit, and the back door is usually built on the side.
* Cluster homes usually have larger rooms than ordinary houses. Some houses have more bedrooms and bathrooms, which are suitable for families with more members.
* The cluster house/adjacent bungalows belong to residential land leases and are protected by the Housing Development Act.
* Cluster houses own their section of the whole roof. Each cluster house is responsible for the section of roof that covers their section of the block.
* Cluster houses are made up of four or more properties in one building. There have to be four or more properties linked together in a square or oblong-shaped building for a cluster house to be a cluster home. A house in a block of four cluster houses is also known as a quarter house.
* Cluster houses in blocks of four have their garden to the side of the house and not to the rear. Cluster houses in blocks of four share their back walls with another property in the block, which means it cannot have a back garden. Instead of a back garden, cluster homes in blocks of four will each have a garden to the side of the house.
* Cluster houses of six or more properties tend to share communal garden space. Cluster houses in blocks of six or more properties will share outside and garden space as a communal area.

Why should you choose cluster house?

* Affordability

    If you are a first-time home buyer, cluster houses are a good choice from a pricing perspective. They can provide you with good entry houses because they are often cheaper than semi-detached houses of the same size. Cluster house is one of the more affordable types of landed housing.

    It is because cluster housing targets a relatively broader market segment. A cluster house in Malaysia will cost you about $170,000 on average, while a bungalow may cost you $960,000.

* Exclusivity

    Cluster homes are sometimes compared to mini villages, providing residents with a sense of tranquility and uniqueness. When you live in a cluster house, you don't have to worry about getting a parking space or sharing the gym with many other strangers. It would help if you shared these public facilities with your neighbors. There won't be so many anyway.

* Safety

    The cluster housing development is a living community gated and guarded.

    In this development, security systems have been put in place to control visitors and the public and provide residents with greater security and peace of mind. It means you no longer need to worry about security issues such as robbery or burglary.

* Suitable for families with children

    If you are still young, why don't you like swimming pools and playgrounds? Cluster houses usually have these, so they don't have to risk too far if children want some outdoor playtime. Since the cluster houses are closed, you don't have to worry about them risking too far and getting lost. In addition, cluster house is usually part of a town that provides convenient facilities such as schools and parks and is very suitable for people with children.

Cluster House VS Terraced House

The terraced house shares one or more party walls with other properties on the terrace and not the back wall with other properties. However, the cluster house shares two or more party walls with other property in the building, while the back wall is a party wall shared with another property in the block.

Cluster House VS Semi Detached

Cluster houses have their own land to the side, which is similar to that of semi-detached houses. but without the garden at the back of the house in general.
Cluster houses are more affordably priced than semi-detached houses.

Cluster House VS Flat or Apartment

Cluster houses are freehold properties. The owner or freeholder of the cluster house owns it outright, including the land it's built on. Whereas the owner of a flat or apartment doesn't own it completely. Since the property is leasehold and means they don't own the land beneath it. The owner of a flat or apartment also does not own the roof of the building, whereas the owner of a cluster house owns the section of roof that covers their part of the overall building.

Cluster House VS Maisonette

A typical maisonette is a property that is split horizontally, with an upstairs and a downstairs owned by separate people and no common parts internally. The quarter or cluster house is similar to this but is split vertically with each person owning a quarter of each story. There are service charges with maisonettes while a cluster house does not have. Unless the cluster houses share communal gardens, swimming pools, and roads.