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Feng Shui: Driver of Home Selection and Investment for Chinese-Americans Key findings from a survey of Chinese-Americans by Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA)

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13%  

24%   16%  

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) conducted a joint national survey of 500 Chinese-Americans ages 18+ to understand the impact of feng shui on this population’s home buying mindset and preferences.

Marital Status: 51% married 50% unmarried

Gender: 41% male 59% female

Family Origin: 47% originated in Mainland China 24% originated in Hong Kong 16% originated in Taiwan 13% originated elsewhere

*Data  based  on  responses  of  survey  respondents  and  may  add  up  to  slightly  more  or  less  than  100%  due  to  rounding  

Age of Respondents:

18-24

25-39

54-40

55+ 26%

26% 13%

33%

47%  

Survey Demographic Information

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24%  

19%  

9%  

48%

*Data  based  on  responses  of  survey  respondents  and  may  add  up  to  slightly  more  or  less  than  100%  due  to  rounding  

Chinese-American Homeowners in the US: 72% are current homeowners 28% are not current homeowners

Region (in the US) 24% live in the Northeast 19% live in the South 9% live in the Midwest 48% live in the West

Have Ever Purchased Home in the US: 69% have purchased a home 32% have never purchased a home

Home Buying Status:

Survey Demographic Information

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Feng Shui is a set of principles

which are considered to dictate spatial arrangement and building design to

product a harmonious flow of energy (or “qi”)

More than 50% of those who are familiar follow the practice in their daily lives.

of Chinese-Americans are familiar with the

principles of feng shui  

76% THE FIVE FENG SHUI ELEMENTS:

Water Metal

Wood Earth Fire

What is Feng Shui?

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81% of Chinese-Americans who are also homeowners indicated that feng shui factored into their most recent home purchase

86% think feng shui will play a role in a future home buying decision

90%

79%

16%

Would pay more for a home that follows feng shui principles  

How much more? Respondents indicated they would be willing to pay

an average of 16% more

Of buyers think that feng shui increases a home’s resale value  

More than a third would avoid an agent if they had no

knowledge of feng shui principles

Would bring along a family member (other than a significant other)

when house shopping

36% 85%

Impact on Home Selection and Investment The importance of feng shui extends to home buying:

How they shop:  

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24% would not buy if the home’s front and back doors align

said the location of the stairs in the home  

said the direction the home is facing  

said the location of the home on the street  

When asked to rank the feng shui principles that

would be important in a home buying decision the

top three choices included:

of all Chinese-Americans have a feng shui “deal-breaker” that would keep them from purchasing a certain home. 75%

71%

67%

38%

31% would not buy if the home was at the end of a “dead-end” street  

29% would not buy if the home’s stairs were directly facing the front door

29% would not buy a home with a sloped backyard

Finding Feng Shui

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The kitchen, bedroom and bathroom represent feng shui’s “health trinity”

of Chinese-Americans have essential feng shui elements they desire for their bathroom: •  Located away from the

home’s center (28%) •  Toilet being in a separate

space (24%) •  Having a full length mirror in

the room (23%)

of Chinese-Americans have essential feng shui elements they desire for their kitchen: •  Being organized and free

of clutter (64%) •  Colors complementing

each other (32%) •  Stove not being directly below

the master bedroom (29%)

of Chinese-Americans have essential feng shui elements they desire for their bedroom: •  The bed not directly facing

the door (41%) •  Mirrors being placed away

from the bed (34%) •  Ceiling having a consistent

height with no slopes (25%)

87% 72% 62%

Designing with Feng Shui

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About the Survey

The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Feng Shui Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 500 Chinese-Americans ages 18+ between May 29 and June 8, 2015, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the Chinese-American population ages 18+.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA)

The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), established in 2003, is a national business trade organization focused on expanding housing opportunities for Asian American communities and creating business opportunities for real estate business leaders who serve this growing market. With over 14,000 members in 37 chapters across North America, AREAA is the largest real estate trade association focused exclusively on serving and supporting the Asian American community.

About the Survey

Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC and used with permission. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Franchise is independently owned and operated.