Home ownership motivation in Malaysia: a youth perspective

Abstract

The government of Malaysia has implemented many housing policies and programs to increase the rate of home ownership among youths. However, this rate remains low as the motivation in having a home has decreased over the years, whilst renting became the youths’ alternative. Besides, a high frequency of job changing has influenced them in purchasing a house. Hence, to verify the gap, this research has performed to understand the relationship between perceived job alternatives and home ownership motivation among Malaysian youths. Local amenities investment, social capital investment, financial benefits, and residential stability are dimensions of home ownership used to study its relationship with perceived job alternatives. Whereas, job insecurity used as a mediating factor between perceived job alternatives and home ownership motivation. The research data collected through an online survey and 379 usable respondents were obtained. Results showed perceived job alternative does have a significant relationship with home ownership and its dimensions. There is also a partial mediating effect of perceived job insecurity on the relationship between perceived job alternatives and home ownership motivation. These findings will be useful for the government to understand the Malaysian youth’s motivation in purchasing a house with a job being an influence.