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What to Know About Asian Homebuyers
From NewHomeSource Professional
When working with Asian homebuyers, belief systems like Feng Shui and Vastu could affect the way they invest in new homes.
In major population hubs like New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles, this trend is especially apparent as these investors indicate an outbound capital flow from their home countries by investing in American industries like agriculture, technology and, of course, real estate.
In fact, Forbes reports that Chinese nationals have become the largest foreign buyers of American homes. In this industry, home purchases by China’s new wealthy class have grown to a staggering $93 billion in value, with $29 billion coming in 2015 alone.
So, with evidence pointing to this surge in Asian national buyers, you may be thinking: “How can I help this type of client find a new home that suits their needs?”
While Asia is a giant continent with numerous countries with their own cultural beliefs, there may be a few considerations you’ll want to have in mind when assisting Asian homebuyers.
Take the Time to Understand Their Customs
Many homebuyers coming from Asian countries have customs and belief systems that directly affect the homes they can buy — from the direction the home is facing to the history of the land it is built upon.
Two common belief systems to keep in mind with some Asian buyers are Feng Shui and Vastu, which have certain rules regarding a home’s architecture and energy flow.
“Realtors dealing with newly built homes should know the site layouts and designs,” says Jessie Kim, a Feng Shui consultant in Southern California who often works with homebuilders and investors on catering to this Chinese philosophy. “What is going to be built around the properties, home addresses and what types of landscaping plans and materials will be used around the homes are important things to consider.”
With Feng Shui, some common things to avoid are “T” intersections, cul-de-sacs, corner lots, a front door facing the back door or window, stairs and bathrooms facing the front door, kitchens and bathrooms facing or back-to-back to each other and bathrooms directly above the kitchen. You’ll also want to focus on showing homes with a front door that faces south or southeast.
“There are ways to remedy most of these issues, but the less Feng Shui remedies you have to do to the house, the better the home is,” says Kim.
And with Vastu, a Hindu architecture system, the direction of the front door is also very important, as well as having a dedicated space for spiritual statues.
“Just like with Feng Shui, there are different layers that the buyers will be considering, so it’s important to ask the what their Vastu needs and wants are, besides just asking for the number of bedrooms and bathrooms they want in their home,” advises Kim.
A simple question-and-answer session with your clients can help bring to light any of these cultural beliefs and requirements so you can find a home that suits them perfectly.
“Just try to learn about their custom,” adds Kim. “Simple things like taking off your shoes when entering their home will make the homeowners feel comfortable that you are understanding of their culture.”
Discover Their Reason for Buying
The next tip is a simple one: Just find out why they are buying.
“You have to think about what their reasoning is,” says Joan Brothers, president of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate in New York. “And there’s a lot of different reasons why people are coming from Asia to the United States and buying real estate as assets, whether they’re using it for their residential property or as an investment.”
With Chinese investors specifically, there are different levels of buyers. For years, wealthy buyers have been looking to foreign countries to invest their money and now the middle class have been increasingly doing the same thing.
“The main thing will be to send their children to school out of their country,” says Kim. “So by investing in a home in the U.S., they are able to set up residence and when their children are older, they are able to go to school in the U.S. without having to be an international student.”
Having insight to what they want in a new home, whether it be for a residence for their family or just as an investment asset, can better enable you to find a property that fits their needs.
“And diversifying assets is a really good thing to do,” adds Brothers. “It’s either family or business, personal use or for investment.”
Family-Friendly Values
And if you discover that they are looking for a home to set up residence, the next thing to consider is their family values.
“These types of buyers are looking for a home that they can ‘share’ with their family,” says Kim. “Maybe not full time, but they are always aware of possibilities of their families coming to visit and staying with them for extended periods of time.”
So, it may be important to find them a home with an extra bedroom on the ground level or options for multigenerational living. Close proximity to parks, shopping and schools with good ratings would be another major plus, adds Kim.
It’s also wise to make sure you keep everyone involved in the process feeling just that — that they are involved.
“Buying a home is mostly a family decision,” says Sylvia Yang, a sales representative for Brookfield Residential in Azusa, Calif. “Parents and grandparents will often gift the down payment and they need to confirm they like the location and floor plan as well.”
Tying it all together, it really comes down to genuine and personal conversation and asking questions.
“If you can make simple conversation and are interested in the client’s culture, you can create trust and a long-term relationship with them,” says Brothers.
Drew Knight is the Digital Content Associate for Builders Digital Experience (BDX). You can find him online at LinkedIn.
Jessie Kim is a 3rd-generation certified Feng Shui consultant and experienced real estate investor that frequently works with home builders. You can find her online at www.msfengshui.com.
Originally posted at:
Create Living Energy to Attract Homebuyers Using Feng Shui
Here is an article I wrote in the Nov/Dec 2015 edition of Green Homebuilder Magazine…
Feng Shui is simpler than you think. The application of Feng Shui in a model home can help increase sales, even in non-Asian communities because it subconsciously gives prospective homebuyers a feeling of harmony and balance.
Have you ever walked into someone’s home and immediately felt so comfortable that you didn’t want to leave? Perhaps you stayed until late in the evening soaking in the ambiance and energy of the home and its residents. Simply put, that is the experience of good Feng Shui. Now, imagine if all of your model homes could create the same feeling—a feeling where prospective buyers want to move in right away.
We know that people buy out of emotion, not out of logic. It is our goal when building and marketing homes to drive the positive emotional triggers in prospective buyers. While everything may look good on paper, we ultimately want them to fall in love with the home they tour. People naturally feel harmonious and safe in a home when they subconsciously sense the right balance of cleanliness and living energy.
When I work with homebuilders, I try to emphasize the living energy of a home. Living energy gives you the impression that people actually live in the home. They care for it and it cares for them, so to speak. This living energy helps people feel recharged. In a model home, however, it can be difficult to achieve living energy since nobody actually lives there; this is where Feng Shui can be a good complement.
So how do we achieve Feng Shui’s living energy through interior design and staging? How do we ensure that a model home doesn’t feel stagnant and cold? Since we don’t have anybody living in model homes, we need to create a feeling of life—flowing and growing energy through the furnishings, features, lights, plants, and artwork we select.
Many of the model homes that I walk through can be quite frigid and unwelcoming. I have seen themes concentrated on dried flowers and twigs, sharp metal edges in furnishings and artwork, and even dead animals with heads mounted on the walls. These themes seem cold and unwelcoming, don’t they?
Now imagine the uplifting energy of a model home with a calm water feature as you enter the front door, a pot of aromatic fresh flowers in the hallway, the smell of fresh-baked cookies in the kitchen, and a soft couch with a crackling fireplace in the background.
Avoid textures that are rigid, rough, and particularly those that appear lackluster. Stay away from driftwood textures and keep cold metal objects dominating the model home. Instead, use soft patterns such as soft textures on walls, furniture, blankets, towels, and flooring that allow people to lower their guard and sink into the comfort of the home.
The master bedroom should tempt prospective buyers to curl up into the bed. Though a little counter-intuitive, avoid mirrors and ceiling fans in your model bedrooms. While mirrors may give an impression of more space, they can give a feeling of anxiousness as opposed to harmony and security. Likewise, ceiling fans may make logical sense in that they can reduce utility bills, but they subconsciously make people nervous that the ceiling fan will fall on them while they sleep.
Bathrooms are generally the most difficult areas to Feng Shui. They figuratively drain away uplifting energy. Bathrooms should be bright and colorful to create something that could feel like a fun space. To add to that feeling, try some fresh flowers and a small crystal chandelier.
As we know, the kitchen is the area where many women fall in love with a model home. While most of her needs should be addressed in the home design stage, interior design is where we make her feel like she can provide nourishment to her family. The kitchen should be bright and clean with a bowl full of (real) fresh fruit to provide positive energy.
Don’t forget about the kids. Create an interior design that engages children. Use features in the bonus room like a working foosball or small air hockey table that allows them to play and have some fun. Who can resist smiling when a child laughs with enthusiasm? Focus on creating a sustainable and harmonious energy within a model home with soft features that stay active even when nobody lives there. These small things give so much energy back in the home that a prospective buyer will feel welcomed—as though it was designed just for them.
Jessie Kim (Ms. Feng Shui) is a 3rd generation Feng Shui consultant who primarily works withhomebuilders. She can be reached at [email protected] or at www.MsFengShui.com.
Green Homebuilder, Nov/Dec 2015, Page 82
Originally posted at: http://greenhomebuildermag.com/2015/12/22/create-living-energy-to-attract-homebuyers-using-feng-shui/
2016 Year of the Fire Monkey
What will my year be like? What is my fortune for 2016? Will I find love, wealth and a better job in 2016?
2016 is the year of the Fire Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac, or Lunar Calendar. The Chinese New Year doesn’t officially begin until February 8th this year, but that shouldn’t keep us from getting prepared right now!
The elements for the Year of the Monkey are Metal and Water. Metal is connected to gold. Water is connected to wisdom and danger. Therefore, we will deal with more financial events in the year of the Monkey. The Monkey is a smart, clever, and attentive animal. If you want to have good return for your money investments, then you need to outsmart the Monkey.
Metal is also connected to Wind. That implies the status of events will be changing very quickly. Think twice before you leap when making changes for your finance, career, business relationship and love relationships.
2016, like any other year, will not be the same for everyone. Just look at your friends and family. Some had a great 2015, while it may have been awful for others. We need to break it down by when you were born – the more precise, the more descriptive the fortune.
Here is general snapshot of 2016 for each of the Chinese Zodiac signs. Please note that I can provide more detail if you give me your accurate birth date and time. If you are interested, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. You will get a month-by-month breakdown of your year specific to you.
These Chinese Zodiac forecasts are good little guidelines to see how you should be presenting yourself in 2016 and how you should arrange your home to make sure you are boosting the energy you need and protecting the areas that need protecting, like the Wealth Corner of your home.
Don’t know your zodiac sign? No problem. Just click here to find out your Chinese Zodiac Sign.
Born in the Year of the Rat: For people who are born in the year of the Rat, the year of the Monkey will be a good interactive year for you. If you are looking for a job, learning some new skills may be beneficial to you. So be sure to beef up your Knowledge Corner. If you are looking for a promotion, you may receive some support from your co-workers. Enhance your Helpful People Corner. You have opportunities to increase your wealth, and this is a good time for loving relationships, as well as social ones.
Born in the Year of the Ox: The Year of the Monkey can be good for Year of the Ox to build a good reputation. Year of the Monkey will create opportunities for career development. It’s time to put worries and concerns aside to accept your career challenges. Money opportunities are there, but you will need to work hard for them. This is a good year to build your social relationships, but be careful not to get into arguments with others. As long as you would stand out to prove your ability, the opportunity can bring you anywhere. Boost your Fame & Reputation Area and your Career Area.
Born in the Year of the Tiger: If you were born in the Year of the Tiger, you may face some bumps in your career. You will have to use your experience and knowledge to solve some problems. This is not a good year to make career changes. Try to stay away from getting into arguments with your loved ones. You will need to be patient with your career and the people who are around you. Work on your Love & Relationship Corner, as well as your Knowledge Corner.
Born in the Year of the Rabbit: The Year of the Monkey is a great business relationship year for people who are born in the Year of Rabbit. People will seek you out for career opportunities or business relationships, so make sure your Career Area is in order. Your reputation will help you to create money making opportunities. Boost your Fame & Reputation Area for even better results. Your relationships with others are strong and everything will seem like it’s coming your way. Overall, you’ll like your results from this year.
Born in the Year of the Dragon: Year of the Monkey gives great new opportunities for people who are born in the Year of the Dragon. This year will bring Dragons wealth and happiness. Your career opportunities should bring you good friendships, as well. This will be a good fortune year as well as for your loving relationships. Ensure everything is in good order in your Career Area, Wealth Corner and Love & Relationship Corner to maximize your returns this year.
Born in the Year of the Snake: For the Year of the Snake, the Year of the Monkey will become a good assistant to the Snake. You will have opportunities for career and money luck, as well as a good loving relationship. When opportunity knocks, make sure to answer it. Make the most of 2016 by boosting your Career Area, Wealth Corner and Love & Relationship Corner.
Born in the Year of the Horse: For people who are born in the Year of the Horse, your workload and responsibility will increase in 2016. That’s a good sign for your career development. Your income will grow in direct proportion to the efforts you put into your career. The main topics of your social networks will focus more on career and finance. The Year of the Monkey should bring good fortune to you. If you set yourself up right, fame and wealth are coming your way. Make sure you pay special attention to your Career Area, Wealth Corner and Fame & Reputation Area to maximize your year.
Born in the Year of the Sheep or Goat: For the Year of the Sheep, this is the time to encourage yourself to show your knowledge, experience and wisdom to others. Your talents and experience will win you respect and build your reputation. Respect your love partner and be more attentive to their feelings. Focus on your Knowledge Corner, Fame & Reputation Area and Love & Relationship Corner to enhance 2016 for you.
Born in the Year of the Monkey: For those actually born in the Year of the Monkey, being in the Year of the Monkey could keep you very busy without much reward. You have lots of competitors this year. You need to stay humble and keep a polite attitude. Try to stay away from making huge financial investments. Build good relationships with others by showing courtesy and humility. Focus on your Career Area and Love & Relationship Corner this year.
Born in the Year of the Rooster: For the Year of Rooster people, the Year of the Monkey means career changes. You will spend lots of time and energy on your job. Stay away from financial investments where others are pressuring your investment. You will feel the pressure from love relationships as well, so make sure you spend time with your close friends and family. The potential for unexpected pressure is out there, so be careful of your choice of words to make it a calm year for you. Just make sure you do what you need to do in your Career Area and Family Area. Before making any significant career moves, find out which months are best for you with a Birth Date Numerology Analysis.
Born in the Year of the Dog: If you were born in the Year of the Dog, you will find your career luck to be quite stable. You should work with a creative partner to assist you, if you need help with your projects. Just make sure to share your workload rather than put all of the pressure on your partner. If you are offered a promotion or new job offer, it may be a good time to accept the new career challenge. Make sure to save up your money when it comes in for some later rainy days. Work on your Career Area and Wealth Corner to maximize 2016 to your benefit.
Born in the Year of the Pig: For Year of the Pig people, your career luck is good this year. Your job may feel easy for you, but make sure to stay alert. Any negligence could ruin your reputation and career development. It may seem like there are lots of changes coming your way, so try to stay humble and level-headed. Your relationships with others are great. Those around you are caring and will give you the support you will need emotionally as long as you stay humble. Boost your Career Area, Fame & Reputation Area, and Helpful People Corner for a great 2016.
Use these Chinese Zodiac forecasts as a guideline to make sure that your home has good Feng Shui to support the energy it needs to boost or protect your energy.
Next Steps
Again, if you want a month-by-month detailed analysis of 2016 based on your birth date and time, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. This is especially important if you are looking to make big changes this year.
Contact me right now to inquire about a Feng Shui Consultation so I can help you add harmony and balance to your life. It will be the best investment you ever make. I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert that has helped thousands of people improve their lives through Feng Shui.
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this analysis with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Ms. Feng Shui on NPR
The following article is from a news story that aired Saturday 6/7/2014 on NPR (National Public Radio) regarding Feng Shui and its use in new home developments and in selling existing homes. Jessie Kim of Ms. Feng Shui was quoted in the story with a few Feng Shui tips. You can download the audio here.
To Sell A House In California, It Might Need Good Feng Shui
About 40 miles east of Los Angeles, houses in the new College Park subdivision are designed to have good feng shui. Miles Bryan/NPR
If you leave Los Angeles, Calif., on Interstate 10 and head east for about 40 miles, you’ll run into a quintessentially suburban phenomenon: the opening of a subdivision.
The number of Chinese buying homes in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, with most of those sales in Southern California. Some are buying for investment purposes — prices are positively cheap compared to the market in Beijing or Shanghai — and others are planning to start a life in the states.
Marketing to those Chinese buyers has meant learning about what customers want in a house’s design, says Mark Torres, a division president for Lennar Homes, the company that’s building the subdivision.
“We consider feng shui elements in all our designs,” Torres says. “Everything from the water-fire elements and making sure that we don’t have those types of conflicts [and] designing the entry of the homes to keep all that positive energy in the home.”
In a house with good feng shui, the staircase leads away from the front door so the energy doesn’t rush out before it can do good for the house. Courtesy of Jessie Kim
Just a few miles from College Park is the town of Chino Hills, which Lisa Dutton calls home. But her house has feng shui problems. It’s had issues since she bought it from a Chinese seller 15 years ago.
“As he was moving out, he told us the reason he was moving was the house didn’t have good chi,” Dutton says. “We had no idea what chi was! Had no idea whatsoever. So, we bought the house.”
Dutton’s house had been on the market for 30 months, but she was getting nothing but lowball offers.
Jessie Kim, a feng shui consultant, has the answer to those questions. Standing in the foyer of Dutton’s house, she points out the problem.
“When you open up the front door and then you have a stairway coming right at you, things like to go to the lowest point,” Kim says.
For a lot of Americans, a big fancy staircase is a status statement. But if you are into feng shui, Kim says that’s a non-starter.
“You don’t want all the energy that are upstairs being rushed out to the front door,” Kim explains. “You don’t want those things lining up.”
To help, she put a red rug below the stairs to channel the energy back up and installed a fountain in the lawn to balance the water element. She also added a big welcome mat outside the front of the door to invite in positive energy.
“It should be welcoming,” Kim says. “None of those, ‘Wipe your paws,’ or, ‘Don’t come in here,’ those funny doormat sayings. You don’t want to do that.”
With these changes, the offers started rolling in. Dutton says she’s just closed on a deal with a Chinese couple worth almost $100,000 more than her previous best offer.
Back at the grand opening of College Park, Eddie Yung is taking a break from walking through model homes and enjoying some complimentary lo mein. He’s looked around in other Los Angeles suburbs but he likes the house he saw here. In fact, he’s going to sign a deposit on one.
That was the fourth home sold at College Park before noon. When the chi is flowing in the right direction, the money will too.
https://www.npr.org/2014/06/07/319536325/to-sell-a-house-in-california-it-might-need-good-feng-shui
Next Steps
Learn about how Ms. Feng Shui helps developers design homes and how she can help homeowners prepare their homes for sale the Feng Shui way. Contact Ms. Feng Shui today!
Do you know someone that has been having trouble selling their home that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this story with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Kaley Cuoco Hires Feng Shui Consultant
I’m normally not one to gossip, but…
In case you hadn’t heard, Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco proved that, despite the character she plays on TV, she may actually be one of the smarter actors on the cast.
She and husband Ryan Sweeting reportedly hired a Feng Shui consultant to cleanse the old marital home of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom not long after they closed escrow.
The 27-year-old actress is probably best known for her role as Penny in the award-winning comedy The Big Bang Theory. Her husband is Bahamian-born American professional tennis player Ryan Sweeting.
The Purchase
The two bought Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom’s home in Tarzana, CA for $5.5 M shortly after the two split in December of last year.
Sadly, the marriage of Kardashian and Odom got frigid when the 34-year-old professional basketball player was caught engaging in… extramarital activities. Evidently, he was also not willing to accept professional help for his drug addiction.
So, it would make sense to rid the home of the negative energy that may have been causing such a toxic marriage with a Feng Shui cleansing, right? Unfortunately, I think that there is a lot more to it than that.
The Cleansing
According to a source for In Touch Weekly magazine, “Kaley and Ryan hired a Feng Shui expert to restore the positive energy. Kaley doesn’t want their future affected by anything left behind.”
Smart girl. Particularly with negative energy like the Kardashian/Odom home, a Feng Shui cleansing is a great start to putting things right again. When combined with an ideally situated and laid-out home, proper interior decorating according to Feng Shui Bagua principles should keep the positive energy flowing for Kaley and Ryan, right?
Feng Shui Success?
Based upon her recent successes, it wouldn’t surprise me if Kaley has been utilizing Feng Shui for several years.
For instance, she has a hit TV show that has won several awards. And it wasn’t her first. But how about more recently?
Sweeting proposed to Cuoco a few days after they made a significant red carpet debut together at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. The couple got married on December 31st, 2013 (perhaps the rush was for a tax deduction).
Something may have been right in the Love & Relationship Corner of her old home.
As she told Cosmopolitan magazine, “I admit it happened fast, but that’s who I am. When we met, I knew he was the one.”
“[At the wedding], I felt like a rock star and a bad**s. What was amazing in that room, it was so full of love. It was like nothing I’d ever been to before, and it was exactly what we wanted it to be. It was the eighth wonder of the world, the greatest wedding of all time,” she added.
Unfortunately, that may be where the good news stops for Kaley. As a big fan of The Big Bang Theory and Kaley, in particular, what I have to point out next saddens me.
The Property
My feeling is that Kaley (and even Khloe) should have gotten some quality Feng Shui advice on the home before before making their purchases. First off, it is at the end of a cul-de-sac, which is where energy can become overwhelming and destructive.
The front door can’t be seen from the street. Hidden houses have the opposite effect as the cul-de-sac, where not enough energy comes in. Also, the front door faces a hill, resulting in a potentially uphill battle for the Career Area.
The pool straddles the Fame & Reputation Area as well as the Relationship Corner. The key element of the Fame & Reputation Area is fire, which is doused by the water of the pool.
How about a fire pit in the Relationship Corner? Only if the residents want fiery relationships with her spouses.
The Interior
There are also reports that Kaley has kept at least some of the furnishings that Khloe and Lamar had in their home. Pictures have surfaced showing her with the same couch pillows and blankets as those seen in pictures that Khloe had been crying on earlier.
So, I took a look at some interior listing pictures. If the reports on the furnishings are true, I have some free advice for both the Big Bang star as well as for Khloe when she furnishes her new home.
In the home, you could find a sad and lonely portrait of Marilyn Monroe, as well as a painting of a single woman dancing. Keeping these items in the home may result in a sad and lonely outcome for its residents, as it did for Khloe & Lamar.
The home also had a floating Buddha head in the foyer and detached angel wings. You never want to have detached body parts, especially of religious symbols. A complete Buddha should be placed higher, as if on an alter. The ideal spot is in the Helpful People Corner.
Kaley’s Next Steps
If Kaley were my client, I would suggest she throw it all out and start over again. Don’t do a cleansing and keep all of the innately harmful elements in the home. Unfortunately, Feng Shui doesn’t work like that.
So, Kaley, if you’re reading… call me. We’ll make sure to keep your life and career harmonious and balanced through Feng Shui. You are a great actress and I really want you to remain successful and happy.
It is my hope that Khloe Kardashian also finds a peaceful and happy life, perhaps through Feng Shui.
Celebrity Use of Feng Shui
Celebrity use of Feng Shui is nothing new. Steven Spielberg, Courtney Cox, George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey are but a few that practice the 3,000 year old art and science.
One of the richest men in the world, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, is also a fan of Feng Shui. His home is located such that the hill behind it offers protection and boosts his Fame & Reputation Area. In front of the home is Lake Washington, which enhances the Career Area of his house. He also has a dragon and tiger on each side of the home, which are used to attract Chi, or Feng Shui energy, and to provide protection.
Billionaire investor and real estate mogul Donald Trump says, “I don’t have to believe in Feng Shui. I do it because it makes me money.” Trump used Feng Shui principles in the construction of Trump International Hotel & Tower by placing it so that it faced Central Park in New York. He believed it would increase positive Chi for prosperity and success.
Your Next Steps
If you, too, are looking to create a harmonious and balanced life through Feng Shui, start with your home.
Spend some time learning about the Feng Shui Bagua to ensure proper Chi flow in your home or office.
Does your home have the negative energy or harmful elements that I pointed out in Kaley’s new home? If so, contact me to inquire about a Space Clearing and/or Feng Shui Consultation because the disharmony caused by such negative or destructively-flowing energy can be very dangerous to your health, career, marriage, fertility, etc.
Considering buying a new home? Take a look at the recent new home projects where my Feng Shui consultation services were utilized or contact me so I can make sure you purchase a property with good Feng Shui.
Do you know someone with any of the above issues in their home (or do you know Kaley or Khloe)? Share it with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Home Builders Attract Foreign Buyers with Feng Shui
Foreign buyers acquire over six percent of all home sales in the United States.
Foreign Investors
The reasons for these purchases are varied. First, the wealthy around the world are looking for investment opportunities. Second, they want their children to attend school in the United States. Third, they are looking to immediately or eventually immigrate here. The EB-5 visa requires foreigners to invest money into commercial enterprises in the U.S. in addition to having a U.S. home.
Key Markets for Foreign Investment
Of the six percent of overall home sales, certain cities see a much higher percentage of sales to foreign buyers. According to Jed Kolko, Chief Economist for the real estate site Trulia.com, “There are some parts of the United States that see very strong foreign demand and that helps keep prices high in lots of areas. The places where we see this impact the most is in parts of Los Angeles, Miami and New York.”
Chinese Investors
A growing percentage of foreign buyers are from China, as the Chinese recently saw prosperity in their economic cycle.
More than 50% of all Chinese buyers purchase homes in California. The weather and the already high population of Chinese in parts of California are major factors to this attraction.
Feng Shui in Home Construction
As such, attracting foreign buyers may be one of the many reasons why several home builders are integrating Feng Shui into their new developments.
What Is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that explains how energy, or Chi, flows throughout our surroundings. In one application, Feng Shui is then used to direct Chi in ways that are most harmonious to the occupants of homes in terms of wealth, health, relationships, etc.
While some may believe that Feng Shui is only superstition, especially many Chinese consider it essential for good luck and will only consider homes that have good Feng Shui elements.
Ms. Feng Shui
Jessie Kim, a renowned Feng Shui consultant called Ms. Feng Shui, has provided Feng Shui consulting for several home builders, including Olson Homes, City Ventures, KB Home, Warmington Residential and Beazer Homes.
Placement and layout of the kitchen is an important element for buyers in new home design.
Home builders are looking for Feng Shui consulting on the full range of project development from initial planning to marketing.
“The earlier I am involved, the better,” Ms. Kim says, “because it’s easier than trying to change things that have already been set. And it’s better to do that before a project is approved by the city and everything has been set in stone.”
Feng Shui in Development Stages
Ms. Feng Shui consults on land acquisition, street numbering & naming, staging and sales team training. She also works closely with planners and architects to ensure the projects’ site designs, home designs and landscaping designs include beneficial elements important to those with knowledge of Feng Shui. She even provides Feng Shui seminars for prospective buyers.
Because Chinese nationals are often cash buyers and look to hold onto the properties long-term, many home builders are looking to ensure that the homes they build meet the Feng Shui needs of these important buyers.
(Jessie Kim is a certified Feng Shui consultant and experienced real estate investor. Through her firm, Ms. Feng Shui (https://www.MsFengShui.com), Kim provides personalized, professional, in-person and virtual Feng Shui consultations and seminars. Kim specializes in working with real estate, primarily working with homebuilders on new residential development projects.)
Home builders: contact me right now for a free proposal because Chinese investors are looking for harmony and balance in your properties.
For individualized help, contact me to inquire about Virtual Feng Shui Consultation.
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