Top 6 Basic Feng Shui Principles Real Estate Agents Should Know

In Feng Shui, directions are categorized into Eastern and Western Tract.

• Eastern Tract: 1, 3, 4, 9 (including East, South, Southeast, and North).
• Western Tract: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 (including West, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast).

Steps to calculate:

• Step 1: Determine the lunar birth year (e.g., 1979 - Year of the Sheep).
• Step 2: Add the last two digits of the birth year and reduce it to a single digit. For example: 1979 = 7+9 = 16 => 1+6 = 7.
• Step 3:
  • For men, subtract the number from 10 and compare it with the sequence above. In this example: 10-7 = 3 => Compatible with Eastern Tract (ETT).
  • For women, add the number to 10 and reduce it to a single digit. In this example: 10+7 = 17 => 1+7 = 8 (compatible with Western Tract (WTT)).

Note: For those born after 2000, men subtract the result from 9, and women add it to 6.

Building a house involves site preparation, which significantly impacts the energy of the land. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that the homeowner’s birth year aligns with the favorable timing for construction.

A homeowner is suitable for building if their lunar age in the planned year does not conflict with the Three Periods of Misfortune, Kim Lau, or Hoang Oc restrictions. Here's how to calculate these restrictions:

• Kim Lau: Divide the lunar age by 9. If the remainder is 1, 3, 6, or 8, it violates Kim Lau. A remainder of 9 or other remainders are not problematic. Specifically: remainder 1 is Kim Lau Thân (harm to self), 3 is Kim Lau Thê (harm to spouse), 6 is Kim Lau Tử (harm to children), and 8 is Kim Lau Lục Súc (harm to livestock). A list of ages violating Kim Lau includes: 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 39, 42, 44, 46, 48, 51, 53, 55, 57, 60, 62, 64, 66, 69, 71, 73, 75.
• Hoang Oc: If the construction year falls under the Hoang Oc restriction, the house may either be abandoned or experience unfortunate events. Hoang Oc divides into six sections: Nhất Cát (excellent), Nhị Nghi (favorable, prosperity), Tam Địa Sát (illness and misfortune), Tứ Tấn Tài (good fortune), Ngũ Thọ Tử (affects longevity), and Lục Hoang Oc (hard to complete the house).
  To calculate Hoang Oc: Use your fingers, starting with Nhất Cát and counting: 1 = Nhất Cát, 2 = Nhị Nghi, 3 = Tam Địa Sát, 4 = Tứ Tấn Tài, 5 = Ngũ Thọ Tử, 6 = Lục Hoang Oc. At age 10 (Mú) start from 1, at 20 start from 2, etc. Alternatively, you can check the list of ages violating Hoang Oc: 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51, 54, 56, 57, 60, 63, 65, 66, 69, 72, 74, 75.

Important notes for building:

• If the year is not favorable, construction can still proceed by having someone with a compatible year perform the ground-breaking.
• The restrictions apply only to major construction projects involving foundations, roofs, or adding floors. Minor repairs or interior work does not require consideration.
• If purchasing a house for living or investment, the homeowner does not need to check for these restrictions, as any year is suitable for purchase.

In Feng Shui, it is believed that the ideal driveway is one that curves around the house in a circular motion, avoiding a straight line that leads directly to the front door. This is because roads are considered channels for carrying positive energy and prosperity. A winding path helps regulate the flow of energy, gradually bringing good fortune into the home. On the other hand, a road that runs straight into the front door creates an uncontrollable flow of energy, which can turn into harmful energy, a sign of potential misfortune.

If a road directly faces the front door, the longer the road, the stronger the bad omen. This is a situation referred to by ancient people as the 'mouth of the tiger.' In such a home, peace and stability are hard to maintain, so it is advised not to purchase such a property. If you already own it, consider adding an odd number of steps at the entrance. Alternatively, if changing the road layout is not possible, another solution is to use stone stakes to divert the flow of energy.

Determining the center of the house is a crucial step in Feng Shui as it helps establish the layout and orientation of the home. The center represents the point where all energies are balanced. Thus, the center is not merely the geometric center of a square or rectangular home; it can be thought of as the center of mass of the house. For irregularly shaped homes, such as those with missing corners or complex designs, specialized software should be used to calculate the center rather than relying on manual methods. When determining the center, only the areas under the roof should be considered; open spaces like gardens, balconies, or terraces should not be included.

For house direction, remember that it applies not only to traditional houses but also to apartments. The direction of the house is defined by the entrance, where the 'qi' enters. It is not the direction of the balcony or the living room window. The direction is calculated perpendicular to the house's front facade, as viewed from inside the home. A compass designed for this purpose should be used to determine the direction, and it’s essential to avoid interference from magnetic fields. Measurements should be taken at multiple points and averaged to increase accuracy.

Important Notes:

• Mobile compass apps tend to have significant inaccuracies and should not be used.
• The center of the house should only be calculated within the areas covered by a roof, excluding open spaces such as gardens or balconies.

The direction of the house, according to the Eight Mansions Theory, is important. However, in terms of overall planning, location and site are the primary factors. The positioning of the building must come first, followed by its direction according to the Eight Mansions. For residential properties, priority should be given to the location to ensure it has good energy flow. Afterward, consider the structure and layout of the building. A bad direction can be remedied by following the principle of "More good, less bad".

Some considerations when choosing a site for a house:

• If you wish to choose a good house in a city with heavy traffic, look for a flat, spacious area, ideally situated on higher ground to avoid a cramped, flooded environment that could negatively impact living conditions. For mountainous or highland areas with intense sun and wind, select a location in a basin or valley, sheltered by surrounding mountains or trees to prevent harsh winds from affecting daily life. This follows the principle of wind shelter and energy gathering in Feng Shui.
• A suitable home should be in a cool, energetically vibrant area. Dry, barren spots should be avoided. Ideally, the land should have a high mountain to the east (Blue Dragon), a low hill to the south (Red Phoenix), and large trees to the north (Black Turtle). It's beneficial when water flows toward the house, while turning its back on water is considered unlucky. Feng Shui also advises that a house with clear, defined structure, aligned with the Four Symbols (Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger, Turtle), where the "Dragon" is the most auspicious, is ideal.
• If the external terrain on the east-west axis is imperfect, it can still be considered suitable. However, if the north-south axis does not have favorable factors, it is best to avoid such locations. The northern area should avoid being too close to the east, and the southern-northern axis should not be too long, while the eastern-western length is acceptable as long as the north-south axis is not too narrow.
• A house surrounded by flowing water or intersecting roads is not ideal. If there is no pond or lake in front of the house, it's advisable to create one in a crescent shape. However, multiple ponds or large trees in front of the house are unfavorable as they block sunlight and hinder energy circulation. It's also important to avoid placing the front door directly facing the corner of another building or road entrance.
• Feng Shui teaches that "life energy flows in curves, while negative energy flows in straight lines." Therefore, houses near temples, pagodas, or shrines are not ideal, especially when the house faces sharp corners or angles of neighboring structures or water bodies.

According to the Bagua, a house is divided into eight sectors, each representing different family members and aspects of the homeowner's life. Houses with too many missing corners or those with both missing corners and a narrow back should be avoided. Such layouts create sharp angles that generate negative energy. The impact of missing sectors can affect specific aspects, such as Southeast affecting wealth, North affecting career, and West affecting children...

Common Feng Shui issues and solutions for residential homes:

• Direct Hit Harm: These are homes where a road leads directly into the house. Residents of such homes are more prone to health problems and accidents.
  • Solution: Create a buffer zone (e.g., a garden in front), design a water feature, or hang a convex mirror and plant greenery to redirect the energy. When assessing whether a house faces direct hit harm, the length of the road, traffic flow, and the relative size of the road compared to the house should all be considered.
• Rear-Impact Harm: These homes are impacted by roads behind them. Residents may experience issues with hostile individuals.
  • Solution: Create a buffer zone (e.g., a garden at the back), hang a convex mirror, and plant trees for protection.

• Cutting Edge Harm: These are homes too close to highways or expressways. Residents here often face instability, with financial fluctuations and an inability to hold onto wealth.
  • Solution: Design a buffer zone in front of the house. For multi-story homes, consider leaving the entire first floor empty as a buffer.

• Sword-Like Harm: These homes are located where roads or rivers curve toward them in a sword-like shape. Residents are more likely to suffer from injuries.
  • Solution: Plant trees in front of the house for protection and hang a convex mirror.

• Inverted Sword Harm: These homes are positioned in such a way that a road cuts across them in an inverted L-shape. Living here can result in harm to the residents.
  • Solution: Plant additional trees or hang convex mirrors to shield the home.

• Heavenly Slash Harm: These houses are directly opposite an open space created by gaps between two other houses. Residents are prone to illness and financial difficulties.
  • Solution: Hang a convex mirror or plant trees to block the view of the gap. The main entrance should ideally not face directly into the gap.

• Lonely Spirit Harm: These homes are located too close to graveyards, hospitals, or funeral homes. Residents often feel isolated, experience poor health, and suffer from disturbed sleep.
  • Solution: Plant bamboo or other plants that promote positive energy. Additionally, owning pets like dogs or birds can help increase vitality in the home.