KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 9 -- The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) has welcomed measures in Budget 2027 to support homeownership, while urging the government to do more to address rising development costs and housing affordability.

Its president, Datuk Zaini Yusoff, said in a statement that the expanded stamp duty exemptions for first-time homebuyers would help reduce the upfront cost of buying a home.

Under the measures announced, buyers of properties priced up to RM500,000 would receive full stamp duty exemptions on instruments of transfer and loan agreements.

For properties priced up to RM750,000, the exemption would cover the first RM500,000, with a 50 per cent exemption on the remaining amount.

"These measures wi...