why would a southeast lots have a premium vs northwest?

[eilrach]

a developer recently priced their lots in such a way that the lots facing the southeast has a premium price over the one facing the northwest... the southeast portions have a sidewalk whereas the northwest ones do not... question: is it because of lighting (i doubt it's bec of the sidewalk)? i know that houses facing east are the best (i may be wrong but that's a rule of thumb that i noticed)... but southeast? the premium is not that huge but still more than a couple of $K... any thoughts?

[speedyforme]

IMO, SouthWest is the best direction but if I had to choose, South is the premium overall. You get best sun exposure throughout the entire year.

East you get morning sunrise but West you get afternoon sun which is usually hotter and better.

BUt in your case, if it "faces SouthEast", I would the reason why it's premium is because it's facing South and the backyard would get West which is great for summer BBQs, lol.

[Si98]

Southeast facing houses bring in the most financial prosperity from a feng shui perspective. There is no shortage of people who are willing to pay a premium to satisfy their superstitions. Greedy builders will take advantage of any situation to make more money.

[eilrach]

interesting... the lighting part makes perfect sense (didnt realize that south is better than north - only thought east was the best)... i thought the feng shui though, was individual specific? (eg. some get more financial prosperity facing northwest rather than south east- eg it depends on your own feng shui)...

[Beachdown]

Interesting. My house faces Southwest and I would have preferred the reverse. I'd rather have the sun at the back of the house. feng shui be damned.

[branat]

I think because you can park an extra car, if you have a sidewalk. The drawback is that you have to shovel it.

My developer's handyman said it should be the back, where most of the bedrooms, kitchen etc, that faces the southwest. That's where your house captures most of the remaining sunlight.

[speedyforme]

From a practicality standpoint, I'd rather have my front facing Southwest, since it helps melt your snow faster in the winter.

On a Feng Shui standpoint, I always thought a brightly lit front entrance was the best luck so again facing Southwest would be best?

[eilrach]

this is getting confusing... i actually posted a question on the sidewalk vs no sidewalk and most of the people indicate that sidewalks actually allow less cars to be parked... as for feng shui, again, seems to be subjective... and now even lighting is confusing (eg which faces what) based on people's inputs here haha :D...

[Friday5PM]

Feng shui aside, consider the layout of the house: where is your masterbedroom, is it in the back and window facing west? To me facing east or south east is better. I like the sun in the front of the house, so I don't wake up with sun and needing heavy blinds. Sunny and bright when I come out in the morning, In the evening the family room which is the back of the house (window facing west) gets sun and brighter, I can also enjoy the sun set over the conservation.

[eilrach]

ah the lighting part makes more sense now... thanks... the house facing southeast will have the master bedroom and the kitchen and family room at the back of the house -- eg facing northwest... and as the pp said, nice on the main door/entry/garage in the morning (front of the house facing southeast) and then not bad also in the afternoon/evening (master bdroom, kitchen, backyard, family room facing northwest)... as for feng shui, again, i thought it was dependent on the individual -- and the area is not in more asian populated ones such as markham/richmond hill but rather in oakville... did i get you guys correctly?

[Mayoo]

south asians believe lots in Vastu and some sides are more demanding in south asians community

[speedyforme]

ah the lighting part makes more sense now... thanks... the house facing southeast will have the master bedroom and the kitchen and family room at the back of the house -- eg facing northwest... and as the pp said, nice on the main door/entry/garage in the morning (front of the house facing southeast) and then not bad also in the afternoon/evening (master bdroom, kitchen, backyard, family room facing northwest)... as for feng shui, again, i thought it was dependent on the individual -- and the area is not in more asian populated ones such as markham/richmond hill but rather in oakville... did i get you guys correctly?

Yeah I think it's more subjective in the end. I was always told that a bright front entrance was good to melt snow and for feng shui.

And I was also told that if the kitchen in the back was facing east, you get less sun = not as hot when you cook. Plus in the master bedroom you get sunrise and not sunset.

The only negative I can see is if you love afternoon/evening BBQs and hanging out in your backyard...

But I love my bright front south-facing home becase my office is at the front of the hosue so I get most sun during the day/afternoon when I am in there. :cheesygri

But I am surprised anyone would want a North facing home, too cold.

[Little Tim]

Southeast facing houses bring in the most financial prosperity from a feng shui perspective. There is no shortage of people who are willing to pay a premium to satisfy their superstitions. Greedy builders will take advantage of any situation to make more money.

Greedy builders? Makes perfect business sense if you ask me. If people are willing to pay for their superstitions, any business person would be stupid not to take advantage.

Regarding Southeast versus Northwest, a lot of it comes down to personal preference. I like to have some exposure to the west due to evening sun, but I'm sure others have different preferences.

In this case though, it sounds as if the builder is charging for exposure and not for the sidewalk.

[Wiseman]

I have a southwest facing house and I actually like that my deck gets full shade after 4-5pm. Because of this it's easier to have a bbq because there's shelter from the sweltering heat. Also because the deck doesn't get all that hot sun beating down on it, it should last much longer.

[Wiseman]

Interesting. My house faces Southwest and I would have preferred the reverse. I'd rather have the sun at the back of the house. feng shui be damned.

My inlaws have what you want, a northeast facing house. Most of the time they can't be in their backyard in the late afternoon because it's so hot. They bought one of those shade canopies but the sun is so strong, it eats through the fabric within 2 years. They're already on their third canopy.