Before purchasing property in Malaysia you need to decide if you want to use it as a permanent residency, a holiday home or for letting purposes. If you intend to let the property look for a profitable region and housing types. These are not necessarily properties in touristy areas but can also be regular apartments for people working and living in Malaysia.
The best thing to do is to start your search for real estate on the internet before coming to Malaysia. This way you can already get an idea of the prices and the availability in the different regions. If you find something you like, wait until you arrive in Malaysia and view the properties in person. You must never make any arrangements in advance as there are many offered properties which do not really exist and are only meant to cheat naive foreigners.
After arrival, consult real estate agents or look in the local and national press for classifieds. Property web sites, which are aimed at expatriates coming to Malaysia not only provide property offers, but also a list of real estate agents. More general expatriate sites, such as Just Landed, also provide property classifieds.
It is highly recommended to buy a property that already has certificates, but if you want to buy from a developer, make sure it is a reputable company. Check for a valid licence issued by the Ministry of Housing and a valid selling permit.