Envicion Studio is a property marketing agency serving developers in Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu, from our Petaling Jaya studio: positioning, launch campaigns, video, 3D and performance media.
Property marketing in Sabah: a small market showing real improvement
Sabah is one of the few states where the overhang moved the right way in H1 2026. Completed unsold residential stock fell slightly, from 1,967 to 1,887 units, and under-construction unsold stock almost halved, from 5,056 to 2,746 units.
Sales performance of new launches rose from 5.8% to 22.3%. That needs context: only 206 units were launched in the period, down from 1,270, so a few projects can swing the percentage sharply.
The Sabah launch market in numbers
| Metric | H1 2025 | H1 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New residential launches (units) | 1,270 | 206 |
| Sales performance of new launches | 5.8% | 22.3% |
| Completed unsold residential (overhang, units) | 1,967 | 1,887 |
| Under-construction unsold (units) | 5,056 | 2,746 |
| Completed unsold serviced apartments (units) | 31 | 171 |
Because fewer than 500 units were launched, Sabah is not scored on our Launch Conditions Index. We would rather say that than publish a ranking the data cannot support.
What the data does support: unsold stock is being cleared, and the pipeline of new supply is thin. For a developer with a well-located project, that is a better starting position than most of the Peninsula offers today. The watch item is serviced apartments, where completed unsold units rose from 31 to 171.
What this means for a launch in Sabah
Launch into a thin pipeline, but do not over-read the 22.3%. A small launch base makes the absorption figure volatile. Plan the campaign on the underlying signals, falling unsold stock and limited new supply, not on one half-year percentage.
Build for two audiences. Kota Kinabalu projects often sell to local owner-occupiers and to buyers from outside the state. Our working view, not a NAPIC statistic, is that the second group needs far more visual proof, film, 3D and location context, because they cannot easily visit.
Make the place the story. Sabah’s landscape is a genuine differentiator. Generic “resort living” language wastes it. Specific views, distances and daily routines sell it.
How we work with developers in Sabah
Our studio is in Petaling Jaya. We do not have an office in Sabah and we will not pretend to. Strategy, creative, digital and 3D production run from PJ; day-to-day collaboration is remote, and our team travels for the moments that need to be on the ground: site and drone shoots, show unit and sales gallery work, launch events and sales team briefings.
In Kota Kinabalu, we produced the project video for The Peninsula.
A typical engagement starts with brand positioning, then moves into the launch campaign, creative production, 3D rendering and walkthroughs and performance media. We do not publish client sales or campaign figures without written authorisation, so this page does not quote any.
Frequently asked questions: property marketing in Sabah
Has Envicion Studio worked on projects in Sabah?
Yes. We produced the project video for The Peninsula in Kota Kinabalu. We serve Sabah developers from our Petaling Jaya studio and travel for shoots and launch work.
Is the Sabah property market improving in 2026?
NAPIC H1 2026 data shows completed unsold residential stock down slightly to 1,887 units and under-construction unsold stock down from 5,056 to 2,746 units. Sales performance rose to 22.3%, though on only 206 launched units, so that figure is volatile.
What marketing does a Kota Kinabalu launch need?
Clear positioning for local and out-of-state buyers, strong visual proof such as film, 3D renders and walkthroughs for buyers who cannot visit, and search and social campaigns aimed at each buyer group separately.
Planning a launch in Sabah? Talk to us about your project, read how we approach property marketing in Malaysia, or download the full Launch Conditions Index.
Nearby markets: Sarawak · Klang Valley.