With the abundance of lucrative opportunities that appear to lie on the other side of the fence, jumping over to greener pastures may seem to be a good idea. However, developers have been cautioned to do their research and ensure the project's viability before putting a foot in.

Mah Sing Group Bhd president and group chief executive Datuk Leong Hoy Kum gives some words of advise on the group's strategy towards offshore projects:

"We are not in a hurry as there are still a lot of opportunities in Malaysia. Being a prudent developer, we are careful in ensuring that we face minimum risk by putting out minimum capital outlay."

"We need to take into account a whole range of factors and among the most important criteria we are looking for is that our joint-venture partner should be a reputable local party with extensive knowledge of the local market."

He also added that the group goes through a process of thorough research on demand before embarking on any projects, local or overseas.

While Sunway City Bhd senior managing director Datuk C.K. Wong advised Malaysian companies to remain cautious and discerning due to the volatile nature of overseas property markets.

"Avoid mega residential and commercial developments initially. Residential developments should be the starting point, and only the opportunities to develop mixed and commercial projects," he said.

Overall, make sure to not take that leap of faith. Keep an open eye and ear and ensure that a balance of risks and rewards has been taken into consideration before moving on to greener pastures.