Feng Shui May Not Matter As Much When Buying a Home

I’m fully aware that what I’m about to say might be unpopular: I don’t fully believe in Feng Shui. As a Christian, my worldview isn’t centered around directional energy, lucky numbers, or water features. But I don’t dismiss it entirely.

Why, you ask?

In general, the principles applied in Feng Shui can have practical use in the way a home is being furnished. Features like afternoon sun exposure, door alignment, and avoiding sharp road turns are elements that affect both your family’s living experience and your home’s future resale value.

So let’s examine Feng Shui through a balanced lens. No mysticism, just mindfulness and common sense.

1. Aligning Main Door with Back Door Reduces Privacy

You’ve probably heard your uncle or aunty say that the main door shouldn’t directly face the back door because it’s bad Feng Shui. They’ll tell you it’s because good energy flows in and rushes straight out.

From a practical standpoint, having a main door that lines up with the back door compromises privacy and disrupts airflow. Your air conditioning can escape quickly, making it harder to cool your living spaces efficiently.

When I visit houses in Damansara Heights where the front door aligns with the back, the space feels oddly exposed. One glance through the front door reveals the dining area and kitchen, removing all joy of discovery or privacy.

Now imagine if an unwanted visitor could see straight through your home. Not ideal at all.

To solve this, you can place a bookshelf or rack as a divider between the main door and living space. This simple solution helps shield your private areas from prying eyes.

2. T-Junction Houses Have Statistically Higher Traffic Accident Risk

Ask 100 Feng Shui masters and they’ll unanimously reject a house sitting at the end of a T-junction. They believe negative energy rushes straight toward the house aggressively.

Some paranormal enthusiasts even claim that spirits can only travel in straight lines, making your house an obstacle in their path. Unable to proceed upward, these spirits might linger around.

From a safety perspective, it’s understandable. Houses at T-junctions are more exposed to oncoming vehicles. I’ve noticed that homes at T-junctions in Bangsar Baru typically remain on the market longer, unless they’re priced below neighboring properties.

Would I buy a house at a T-junction? Absolutely. If the price, renovation potential, and layout significantly outweighed the concerns. I’d ensure proper safety measures by installing solid fencing and placing a large boulder outside as a protective barrier.

I would also consider whether the house sits upslope from the T-junction, as this position naturally slows approaching traffic and it significantly reduces traffic accident risk.

3. Living Beside A Highway Is Highly Unsettling

I don’t know much about Feng Shui & Energy but I have heard the term “sha qi” (煞气) mentioned quite a bit in my life as a realtor. I bring this up because houses facing a major road or highway are believed to be exposed to harsh, rushing sha qi, which can bring unwarranted stress and unsettling energy into the home.

While I’m not a Feng Shui believer, I do think any source of unsettling energy in a household should be minimised as much as possible.

Even setting Feng Shui aside, traffic noise from the highway is a real killer of peace and harmony at home.

I once viewed a beautiful home along a main road with my wife. Five minutes after standing at the gate, she turned to me and said, “I think I hear my own thoughts screaming.” On top of that, you’d be dealing with dust from the road getting into everything – and I do mean everything! You’ll be cleaning the floors every other day.

Not quite the ideal home if you have small kids who love crawling and touching everything.

That said, there are renovation tips and tricks that can help reduce road noise and dust.

In our case, my wife and I actually ended up buying the house we viewed for a very good price. On top of that, the local council eventually installed a noise barrier to protect against the highway. Right now, we’re currently redesigning it to better suit our family’s needs, while also planning works to further reduce noise and dust.

4. Main Door Direction Will Affect Family Living Standards

This is a question I get all the time in my line of work: “Paul, what direction does the main door face?” If it’s a high-rise apartment: “Paul, where does the balcony face?”

From what I’ve observed, North- and South-facing properties are the most sought after these days. Why?

In Feng Shui, the direction of your main door is said to influence the energy in your home. Each direction (North, South, East, or West) is associated with different elements and energies. Depending on your personal energy profile, your ideal facing might not be North, but West.

For me, thought, it is about practicality: sun exposure, airflow, and comfort. A west-facing front door, for instance, can be a nightmare. The afternoon heat doesn’t go well with a beautiful, wooden double-leaf main door. And walking into what feels like a sauna after work? Not ideal.

Personally, I prefer East-facing homes. I absolutely love waking up to the morning sun, which is much gentler than it’s afternoon brother.

In both Bangsar and Damansara Heights, I’ve noticed many newer homes have reoriented their main doors compared to the original developer design. Most are now oriented towards the East or North to avoid the harsh afternoon sun.

I think it’s a subtle yet thoughtful move. After all, we can’t change the orientation of a bungalow once it’s built, so it makes sense to be intentional about it from the start.

5. “4” Is The House of Death!

I have close friends who swear by their lucky numbers. For some, it’s number 8 for prosperity, or 7 – the classic western lucky number.

But poor number 4? It’s often despised. So much so that some newer developments skip it entirely, replacing “4” with “3A” in lifts.

I’m not superstitious, but I do recognise the impact on resale value. A house with “88” might attract more interest. On the flipside, “44” could invite lowball offers.

I once helped a client buy a home in Damansara Heights with the number “4”. She, like me, wasn’t superstitious. But we managed to negotiate a better price because of it. Her children went on to thrive, becoming successful young adults, and she eventually sold the house at a significant profit.

At the end of the day, buyer perception does matter. It’s something worth being mindful of.

6. Triangle Land Shape Is Less Harmonious

In neighbourhoods like Bangsar and Damansara Heights, where bungalow and semi-detached plots can vary significantly due to hilly terrain and older subdivisions, the shape of the land is a common filter in the buying process.

But does it actually matter?

Let’s consider it from both a Feng Shui perspective and a practical one.

In Feng Shui, the shape of your land influences the flow of energy (Qi). Regular shapes, squares and rectangular plots, are seen as ideal because they allow for balanced, harmonious energy distribution.

Irregular plots, like triangles or trapezoids, are believed to disrupt this flow. This could create challenges in life or trap negative energy.

Now, from a practical standpoint, I tend to agree: regular-shaped plots are simply more efficient to design and build on. If I were building my dream home from scratch, I’d absolutely consider how efficiently I can use the land. And the future buyers will likely think the same way.

That said, irregular plots aren’t necessarily a dealbreaker. Some designs work exceptionally well on these plots, especially when they align with the owner’s priorities.

One of the most impressive bungalows I’ve seen sits on a trapezoid plot. Its narrow front gives it privacy, concealing the grandeur within. The wider backyard opens up into a beautiful private garden with a pool and BBQ area. Perfect for family life.

7. The Slippery Slope of a Sloping Land

In Feng Shui, a slope away from the house, especially at the back, is considered less auspicious. It symbolises Qi and with it, wealth and support, flowing away from your home.

Chinese families who follow Feng Shui often prefer a gentle slope rising behind the house. This “mountain support” symbolises stability, protection, and long-term strength. On the flip side, if the slope is too steep or if your house is perched at the top of a hill, it could be exposed to excessive wind, which may metaphorically “blow away” your fortune.

As someone trained as a civil engineer, I must say: sloping land can be problematic, especially when compared to flat land.

Here’s why:

• Water drainage issues: Homes at the bottom of a slope may suffer from water pooling and flood risk.
• Structural complexity: Building on a slope involves significant groundwork; cut and fill, retaining walls, deep foundations. These translate to much higher construction costs.
• Accessibility challenges: Steep driveways and stair-heavy designs may not suit everyone, especially families with young children or elderly parents.

That said, in Bangsar and Damansara Heights, sloping land is almost unavoidable. And some of the best homes, those with breathtaking views of the KL skyline, are built on slopes.

The key is to go in with your eyes open. These homes are more expensive to build and maintain, but if done right, they’re incredibly rewarding.

8. Water Features & Fish Ponds

The phrase Feng Shui (风水) literally means “wind and water”. So it’s no surprise water features get a lot of attention.

Water symbolises wealth, prosperity, and abundance. In classical Feng Shui, a home benefits from water at the front and a mountain at the back; a metaphorical balance between attracting opportunity and having solid support.

Fish ponds should be irregularly shaped, with no sharp corners, and ideally face North or East, which are linked to water and wood elements, representing growth and prosperity.

But here’s where I differ.

I’m not a fan of water features. If I end up buying a house with one, I’d most likely fill it up with pebbles or convert it into a garden.

Here’s why:

• Maintenance: I don’t enjoy cleaning algae or checking for mosquito larvae every week. Some say, “Just get a maid”. But even then, it’s just more hassle than I’d like.
• Safety: Malaysia’s climate is perfect for mosquito breeding. And we literally have a “mosquito season”. Unless you’re diligent, it’s a health risk.
• Personal Preference: I’ve had fishes before, we are talking about 12 different species, male and female of each. None survived past two weeks. From that experience, I realised I just don’t connect with aquatic animals.To me, a lush garden, a loving dog, and my two kids running around? That’s my kind of serenity.

9. Living Beside a Place of Worship or Cemetery Isn’t Quite Ideal

This one gets personal.

Years ago, I was asked to market a condo unit in Desa Kiara. It was a bright afternoon, 3.30pm on the clock and I was alone in the unit. I knew it faced the cemetery, but I thought, “I’m a grown man. I can handle this”.

Nothing spooky happened. Yet I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. I eventually handed the listing to a colleague.

From a Feng Shui view, places of worship and cemeteries carry strong Yin energy, especially where prayers for the sick or deceased are held. While sacred, too much Yin energy can create imbalance in a family home where balance is key.

From a practical view:

• Noise and congestion during prayer times or festivals can be intense. Try navigating DUMC on Easter or Christmas, you’ll know what I mean.
• Smells from incense at temples can be overwhelming to some families.
• Resale value may be affected due to buyer discomfort, even if the home is objectively good.
• Buyer perception If your buyer pool shrinks by 90% due to the view or the location, you’ve got a real challenge.

10. Ambulance Sirens Are Damaging To Your Sleep

Before we got married, my wife lived in University Tower near PPUM. Yes, we are both UM alumni.

Now, from an investment standpoint, owning a unit there is a no-brainer. Rental returns are through the roof thanks to the demand from medical staff.

But if we’re talking about living there?

• Noise Pollution: Ambulance sirens, emergency helicopters, traffic. There’s no telling when it’ll hit. Your deep sleep or creative flow could be interrupted at any moment.
• 24/7 Activity: Hospitals do not sleep. So don’t expect peace and quiet, especially during shift changes.
• Emotional Atmosphere: Seeing grieving families or rushing ambulances can weigh on your emotions. It’s not the kind of energy you want to wake up to daily.

11. Power Lines Don’t Necessarily “Power Up” Property Value

In Feng Shui, high-voltage power lines are seen as a source of “sha qi”, disturbing the natural energy flow and potentially affecting health.

There’s a general industry rule: any residential development in Malaysia is to be at least 30 to 50 metres away from power lines.

Here’s what I’ve observed in Bangsar and Damansara Heights:

• Visual discomfort & lower property value: Power towers are imposing and unsightly. Buyers may be turned off, making it harder to sell and easier for lowball offers to come in.
• EMF concerns: No conclusive evidence links EMF from power lines to health risks. But I’d still be cautious, especially in case of damage or collapse during a storm. That said, you’re probably exposed to more EMF from your phone than from the power lines outside.

Closing Remark

Whether you’re a true believer, a sceptic, or just Feng Shui-curious, I genuinely think there’s wisdom in many of its principles.

As a homeowner and investor, I’ve found myself unconsciously applying these principles. Not because I had to, but because they made sense practically, emotionally, and financially.

I believe every property purchase should come with an exit plan. It’s silly to rush in without knowing how you’ll eventually step out. In order to explore an exit plan, it required me to look deeper into factors similar to these Feng Shui principles.

At the end of the day, you’re not just buying four walls.

You’re buying a lifestyle, a rhythm of life, and a long-term emotional environment.

Quick Checklist for Practical Feng Shui

In my writing, I’ve covered common Feng Shui topics I’ve encountered in my role as a realtor. However, I also discovered and have done my research about other Feng Shui topics and thought you’d be interested in this checklist.