KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 -- There was a time when Petaling Jaya was considered "too far" to move to... satellite cities like Subang Jaya were not the first choice of many families then.

In recent years, the hustle and bustle of city life has prompted the younger demographic in Malaysia to embrace suburban living, seeking peace without having to forego conveniences.

This trend was given an extra push during the pandemic when people sought the refuge and space of living away from the crowded city.

At the same time, the rising prices of properties near the city centre drove young couples looking to buy their first homes to look further into suburban living.

There are several factors influencing this shift.

A major one, of course, is afford...