Hear ye! Hear ye! Welcome to part 3 of the series on different types of houses in Malaysia! You might be wondering, “Why are there SO many different types of homes?”, but worry not! We are almost done. This time, we will be learning about the differences between mansions, bungalows and zero-lot bungalows. They are what I like to call ‘the designer bags’ of homes since they have the title of being prestigious and luxurious (whew!). All of them are stand-alone houses, so if you are big on privacy and space, you might be interested in one of these homes!

Zero-Lot Bungalows

It probably doesn't sound as familiar to you as a standard bungalow, but yes, zero-lot bungalows are a thing, and they exist! What are they, and what separates them from normal bungalows? Well, compared to bungalows, they have smaller plots of land and are usually positioned on the side of the land rather than in the centre to provide extra land space for homeowners to use. An easy way to think of it is that they are Semi-D’s - but flipped so that the houses are not connected to one another. Compared to a bungalow, a zero-lot bungalow is a more affordable option, but it is pricier in comparison to a Semi-D. So if you want a fancier and upgraded version of a Semi-D, this might be the one for you!

Bungalows

In Malaysia, bungalows are considered extravagant and luxurious because the size of the house is significantly larger in comparison to other types of homes. A bungalow has land space on all four sides of the house, which is much bigger than a zero-lot. You probably know someone who lives in this type of house! Amongst Malaysians, people who own homes are seen as someone with high status. These houses are more expensive than zero-lot bungalows, semi-d or terrace but way cheaper than mansions. In the suburbs, you could find bungalows for a more affordable price tag as compared to one in the city. The layout design differs, but they are usually positioned in the centre of the plot of land. 

Bungalows are usually single or double-storey, but nowadays, you can find many developers building three-stories bungalows (imagine all those stairs yikes). The benefits of owning this type of house are that you will be granted the most privacy, lots of rooms and flexibility to renovate your space, which is excellent for homeowners with a large family or for those who would love to design their own space. For example, homeowners could build swimming pools,a veranda, garages or fish ponds! However, there are also some downsides to owning a bungalow -- the large space would be difficult and costly to maintain, and the more installations you add to your home, the more expensive it is going to be. On top of that, unless you live in a gated community, you would need to install security in your home for protection. But hey, if you’ve got the finances to maintain everything, why not! 

Mansions

Ah yes, the luxury of luxuries! Mansions are every person's ideal home. A mansion is the only type of home that is larger than a bungalow. When you think of Hollywood stars, you’d think of mansions and their glitz and glam lifestyles. You have to be supremely rich and successful (maybe like a billionaire...) to own one because it does come with a hugeeee price! Houses like mansions are usually much more significant and have a vast land area than any other home. A mansion is not a common sight in Malaysia, and only the wealthiest of the wealthy can afford them (bummer). In order to purchase a mansion, you would need to have the power to buy a vast plot of land from developers or the local government to build the house.

Mansions are typically planned and developed according to the tastes of the homeowner. The interior design is divided into sections, with loads of rooms to use for different purposes, depending on what the homeowner wants. So there could be a room or area for a home gym, a home cinema, or anything that the homeowner desires! This is why mansions are so expensive -- they’re personalized and customized according to your taste, and you would have total control over the entire property. So if you are $$$$$ enough to own a mansion,  this house is for you! Just don't forget to invite me to the housewarming party...

That sums up what you need to know about big landed houses. Keep in mind that these homes are much more expensive and more prominent in size and land. Owning a mansion seems more fun since everything is up to you, but it is also more costly than bungalows… and wow that zero-lot bungalow has quite a unique concept too! If you’re looking for tons of space, privacy, and the possibility of expanding your house, you’d be interested in these homes!