When buying and selling Australian homes, a multitude of factors come into play. Yet, there’s one often-overlooked element that can influence transactions just as much as a good location or well-timed purchase—buyer superstitions.

Blog by Lauren Jones Buyers Agency as published in Homely on February 11, 2025. 

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From furniture placements to lucky house numbers, these fascinating beliefs have become
an unexpected yet powerful force in Australian real estate, with Brisbane in particular. In extreme cases, sellers are known to decrease property asking prices as a direct implication of this superstition.

You may be thinking: What are buyer superstitions?

Put simply, property-related superstition refers to the cultural belief that a house’s arrangement, location, and energy directly transpires into a homeowner’s prosperity and health. 

The sway of feng shui

The most notorious real estate superstition in Brisbane is feng shui, meaning ‘the way of
wind and water’. Stemming from ancient Chinese belief and geomancy, this belief system
refers to the harmony between individuals, energy forces, and their surroundings.

Demographic trends underscore the significance of feng shui. According to the Queensland
Treasury Diversity Figures, 2021, Chinese immigrants accounted for 9.2% of arrivals in
Queensland between 2016 and 2021, making China the third-largest source region.
Furthermore, as of 2021, individuals born in China represented 1.1% of Queensland’s total population. This cultural presence enhances the impact of feng shui on the Brisbane real
estate market, as more buyers seek homes that align with these traditional values.

Let’s hear from some local real estate agents to learn more about the sway of feng shui on
Australian homebuyers.

Jason Yang – Sales Agent at NGU Real Estate

Jason Yang emphasises the importance of feng shui in catering his services to Asian cultures. He explains that the basic principles of feng shui revolve around energy flow and how a property’s layout and location can influence this. For instance, living at the end of a cul-de-sac where the road flows directly into the home is an example of bad luck. This can
potentially lead to negative life events, such as health problems or even divorce.

Of course, there are mitigation methods that address such concerns. Jason notes that buyers can consult a feng shui master to cleanse properties of their “bad energy”. However, this service charges a hefty fee.

Recently, Jason handled a Brisbane home located at a T-junction—a spot traditionally
viewed as unfavourable in feng shui. To block the flow of negative energy, the new owners
installed a concrete Versawall, a water feature, and positioned a tortoise figurine with a
Chinese coin in its mouth—a lucky symbol for prosperity—outside the main door.

Jason has also encountered a fair share of buyers who refused to make offers on otherwise
perfect properties due to poor feng shui. However, as inconvenient as this may seem, Jason
assures that feng shui doesn’t severely affect NGU Real Estate’s day-to-day. Rather, the
opposite. He explains, “If you know how to handle these cultural beliefs, you will find
yourself at an advantage in the market.”

Karl Gillespie – Sales Agent for LJ Hooker Property Partners

Karl Gillespie couldn’t agree more with Jason: “These superstitions don’t impede too much on my work. I just have to stay aware of it and be prepared with strategies to overcome it!”

One notable case Karl recalls involved a property with the potential to sell for a higher price but ultimately had to be listed at a lower value and took an extended period to find the right buyer—all due to superstition. Situated at a T-intersection with the ‘death-doomed’ number 4 in its address, the property was an immediate write-off for feng shui believers.

According to Karl, numerology—meaning a belief in divine house numbers, moving dates
and settlement periods, in this context—consumes a great portion of property superstition.

Karl also shares more quirky factors that deter believers in feng shui from property purchases. “Properties situated below street level or upon sloping blocks carry bad juju,” he
says. These inauspicious locations supposedly cause money to run—or ‘flow’—away from
the homeowner. Other elements, like having a watercourse behind the property, are
considered detrimental. Furthermore, Chinese buyers discourage mirror placement within
bedrooms because, as Karl shares, “they deplete the room’s energy and can impact health,
well-being…even sleep quality.”

Karl observes that these superstitious beliefs are more pronounced among older
generations, particularly middle-aged and elderly individuals, while the younger generation
“isn’t as swayed”.

Lauren Jones – Owner of Lauren Jones Buyers Agency

Lauren Jones expresses that she often encounters clients whose property decisions are influenced by feng shui rules.

“Time and time again, I’ve seen clients refuse to consider properties with a toilet wall backing onto a kitchen, as this arrangement brings back luck,” Lauren shares. “I’ve also had clients request to have the digits 888 in their contract…[because] 8 phonetically resembles prosperity in Mandarin.”

The qualified property investment advisor doesn’t think it a burden to work around her clients’ cultural superstitions, but rather an interesting belief system to respect and navigate.

Buyer superstitions shaping the market

It is without a doubt that the property market is as vibrant as its community’s culture. Buyer superstitions, from feng shui principles to numerological significance, adds an intriguing layer to the buying and selling process. It shapes not only market dynamics but also the emotional journey of homeownership.

As our experts have illustrated, understanding these cultural nuances can offer a competitive edge, transforming potential deal-breakers into opportunities for connection and creativity. Together, the agents advocate that the unseen forces of luck and belief are just as influential as any contract term or market trend.

So, whether you’re a buyer seeking your dream home or a seller aiming for the best price, remember that the heart of the home may just be its spirit.