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Buying a property is certainly no small commitment, which is exactly why you need to choose wisely from the get-go. You may have found the abode of your dreams that fit your ideals, but it is always wise to analyse the various aspects of the potential property from all angles — financial, estimated return, and even from the geographical aspects based on feng shui principles to ensure that your decision is the right one.
Being one of the ancient arts of Chinese Metaphysics, feng shui is the study of Qi flow in the environment and its effects. Nowadays, it is commonly considered when selecting properties. With it, house buyers can detail what sort of impact the environment can have on its occupants.
Buying a property is not just about the property itself, but also the facilities and the surrounding. Here is a property feng shui checklist every home buyer should consider.
Cemetery
As burial areas are characterised as Yin in nature, it is not ideal to have such a landmark near or within the vicinity of your neighbourhood. While the Yin energy does not immediately translate to something negative, occupants of the property will be more than likely psychologically affected. If staying next to the “houses of the dead” gives rise to a feel of uneasiness, discomfort and paranoia, it comes as no surprise that it will bring about undesirable consequences to one’s mental health.
Regardless of whether the property is for the buyer’s occupation or as an investment, buyers are usually reluctant to purchase such properties. As a result, the property appreciation rate may be affected due to the poor demand.
In an interview with StarBiz in 2013, the managing director of Carey Real Estate Sdn Bhd, Nixon Paul said, “A house situated next to a sewerage facility or a cemetery can be a problem when to sell.”
However, if you do happen to purchase a property near the cemetery at the right price, do not be alarmed. If the graveyard is separated from your property by a busy road, then the problem will be negated as the Yin energy will be dispersed.
School
Schools, by nature, are busy and noisy in the day and ‘lifeless’ at night. Hence, it would be characterised as lacking the Yin and Yang equilibrium – exuding strong Yang energy in the day and strong Yin energy at night.
Although living next to a school does not really entail negative consequences when it comes to feng shui, one can reason the possibility of sleep disruption and health issues, given the hustle and bustle within the area.
For buyers who do not have school-attending children, buying a property near a school for their own occupation may not be a good thing, due to the congestion.
However, for investment purpose and also for those who have school children, it will make financial sense to purchase a property near a good school — as placement of these schools are usually according to catchment.
Nevertheless, with the congestion during school hours, it is also likely for one to face inconvenience in carrying out daily activities.
Temple
Spiritual sanctuaries such as houses of worship or temples belong to the Fire element. As such, you would need to check if the Fire element could actually complement your property by using feng shui techniques such as the Xuan Kong Flying Stars.
Should there be any foreseeable adversity, it would be wise to activate the Water element and/or utilise the appropriate Qi mouth (main door or main gate) as a means to overcome the issue.
Petrol station
Similar to temples, petrol stations also belong to the Fire element, which then necessitates the assessment of whether the energy benefits your property. Houses which are exposed to strong Fire element could bring about solitude and stagnant progression to the occupants. As such, it is advisable to deploy appropriate positioning of Water in your compound to counter the effects.
As such, this is not a one-size-fits-all guideline. It really depends on whether the Fire element is complementary to the buyer. If you are buying to let, this may pose a problem to your tenants as they may suffer ill effects, which may indirectly affect the tenancy agreement. In the long run this may cause tenancy issues which will affect the investor.
However, if it is a commercial property rented out to an industry associated with the Fire element; this may then benefit the occupants and bring profit to the investor.
Power substation
Although substations do not actually present any major impact when it comes to feng shui, one should be mindful that the electromagnetic fields from these substations may lead to health complications.
Most property buyers will be skeptical about properties that are near or close to electric pylons, which are not ideal in the context of feng shui. Having one of these pointing straight at your main door is especially hazardous as it is considered Sha Qi and it can have undesirable effects on the occupants’ health and well-being.
Property investors who are looking to resell the property may run into problems looking for a prospective buyer if such factor is in place.
LRT/Monorail line
For those who live in urban cities, living close to an LRT station or train line may seem like a huge convenience. However, you may want to reconsider your choice of buying a property too close to such a feature as they will expose your house to the piercing merciless Qi or Sha Qi.
Additionally, the noise produced by the trains travelling to and fro contribute to stress for the occupants, causing he or she to lose focus in carrying out daily tasks. Should your property be near to such facility, it would be wise for you to assess if the Sha Qi is blocked from entering your house, by determining which sector of your property is affected and whether or not the station casts a shadow on your property.
This can be seen by the prices of certain properties skyrocketing with the construction of MRT, while others plummet before the line even started.
Pedestrian bridge
Similar to the LRT/monorail lines, it would be ideal to not have a pedestrian bridge near your house as it also exudes Sha Qi. Such attribute is not good unless the Sha Qi is obstructed from entering your property.
While you cannot choose your neighbours, you can certainly choose the place most conducive for your residence. Deploy these useful tips in your house-hunting to derive the right decision.
This article is contributed by Dato’ Joey Yap, the founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics, a global organisation devoted to the teaching of Feng Shui, BaZi, Qi Men Dun Jia, Mian Xiang and other Chinese Metaphysics subjects. He is also the Chief Consultant of Joey Yap Consulting Group, an international consulting firm specialising in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology services. For more information, click here.
