What Chinese and Indian Buyers Look for in a Home Abroad: Feng Shui, Vastu and the Cultural Checklist Agents Miss

Published on: July 4, 2026

Quick answer: Many Chinese buyers evaluate a home through Feng Shui and many Indian buyers through Vastu Shastra, and to them these are genuine decision factors, not quirks. Feng Shui focuses on the flow of energy through a space: the entrance, the layout, the surroundings, and number symbolism (8 is auspicious, 4 is avoided). Vastu is directional: the direction the main entrance faces, and the placement of the kitchen, bedrooms, and a prayer space. The practical opportunity for agents is simple: Western listings usually omit the orientation, floor plan, and unit number these buyers need, so providing them helps the buyer say yes.

Two of the largest and fastest-growing pools of cross-border property buyers come from China and India. Both bring capital, both buy for lifestyle, education, and investment, and both often evaluate a home against criteria that many Western agents have never encountered. For Chinese buyers, that framework is frequently Feng Shui. For Indian buyers, it is often Vastu Shastra. To the buyer, these are not quirks. They are part of what makes a property feel right, sell well later, and be worth the money.

An agent who understands this converts more of these buyers, and a buyer who understands how to communicate it finds the right home faster. This guide sets out the cultural checklist that shapes these decisions, treated as the genuine decision factors they are, along with how it applies when buying abroad.

Why this matters for cross-border sales

Buyers from these markets often filter listings through these lenses before they will even schedule a viewing. A property that violates a core principle may be dismissed regardless of price, view, or finish. Conversely, a home that aligns well can command a premium and sell faster. For agents and platforms, understanding these frameworks is not about belief. It is about presenting the right information (orientation, layout, floor and unit numbers) so the buyer can evaluate a home the way they actually make decisions.

The Chinese buyer and Feng Shui

Feng Shui, literally "wind-water," is a system concerned with how the flow of energy, or chi, through a space affects the wellbeing and fortune of the people living in it. Its influence on Chinese property decisions is widespread, and the following factors come up repeatedly.

Numbers matter, especially 8 and 4

Number symbolism carries real weight. The number 8 is highly auspicious because it sounds like the word for wealth and prosperity, so unit numbers, floor numbers, and even addresses containing 8 are prized and can carry a price premium. The number 4 is the opposite: it sounds like the word for death, so many buyers avoid units, floors, or addresses containing 4. This is why some buildings in Asia skip the 4th, 14th, and 24th floors entirely. When marketing to these buyers abroad, the unit and floor number of an otherwise identical apartment can materially affect its appeal.

The front door and the flow of energy

The main entrance is considered the mouth through which energy enters the home, so its position and what it faces are central. Buyers look for a welcoming, unobstructed entrance. A door that opens directly onto a staircase, a long straight corridor, or, outside, a road pointing straight at it (a T-junction) is seen to channel energy too aggressively, an effect described as sha chi. A clear, gentle approach is preferred.

Layout, light, and the command position

Inside, several layout features recur. Buyers favour homes with good natural light and air, an open and unobstructed flow between rooms, and rooms arranged so that key positions, such as the bed or the stove, are not directly in line with a door. A bed positioned under a heavy ceiling beam, or a staircase or toilet facing the front door, are common concerns. The kitchen and the placement of the stove carry particular significance as sources of nourishment and prosperity.

The surroundings

The environment around the home counts as much as the home itself. The classic ideal is support behind and openness in front, historically expressed as a mountain at the back and water in front, which in a city translates to solid buildings behind and an open outlook or water view ahead. Water features and proximity to clean, flowing water are viewed positively. Homes immediately next to cemeteries, hospitals, or other places associated with misfortune are often avoided.

The Indian buyer and Vastu Shastra

Vastu Shastra is a traditional Indian system of architecture and spatial arrangement that aligns a building with the cardinal directions and the natural elements to promote harmony and prosperity. Its principles are directional, so a compass, and a floor plan showing orientation, are often the first things a Vastu-conscious buyer wants.

Direction of the main entrance

Orientation is the starting point. Entrances facing north, east, or northeast are traditionally considered most favourable, associated with positive energy and light. The direction of the main door is one of the first things many buyers check, which makes clear orientation information essential when marketing to them.

A room-by-room logic

Vastu assigns ideal directions to different functions, and buyers often evaluate a floor plan against them:

• The kitchen is best placed in the southeast, the direction associated with the fire element (Agni).
• The master bedroom is favoured in the southwest, associated with stability.
• A prayer or meditation space (pooja room) is best in the northeast.
• The northeast should be kept light and open, and free of heavy structures or toilets, as it is considered the most sacred and energy-rich zone.
• Heavier structures and storage are best in the south and west.
• Water elements, tanks, and sources are favoured in the north or northeast.

Flow, light, and structure

As with Feng Shui, Vastu values abundant natural light and ventilation, a sense of openness, and the avoidance of a bed positioned directly under a beam. Staircase placement and direction are also considered. The underlying aim is a home that feels balanced, bright, and settled.

Feng Shui and Vastu: a quick reference for agents

What this means when buying abroad

Two practical points bridge culture and cross-border reality.

First, a perfect match is rarely available in a foreign market, and most buyers know it. Homes overseas are not built to these principles, so buyers typically prioritise the factors that matter most to them, entrance orientation, avoiding the worst features, and, for many Chinese buyers, the number, while accepting compromises elsewhere. Minor issues can often be addressed with adjustments after purchase.

Second, and this is the opportunity, the information these buyers need to evaluate a home is often simply missing from Western listings. A listing that states the entrance orientation, includes a floor plan with directions marked, and notes the unit and floor number gives these buyers what they need to say yes. Agents and platforms that provide it are, in effect, speaking the buyer's language.

For agents: how to serve these buyers well

• Include orientation and floor plans. Compass direction of the entrance and a clear floor plan are the single most useful additions for Vastu-conscious buyers.
• Be mindful of numbers. When you have a choice of comparable units, understand that floor and unit numbers can change appeal for Chinese buyers, in both directions.
• Do not dismiss the criteria. Treat these factors as the genuine decision drivers they are. A buyer who feels understood is far more likely to trust and transact.
• Know when a fix is easy. Many concerns can be mitigated after purchase, so an informed agent can keep a deal alive by knowing what is fundamental and what is adjustable.
• Present the whole environment. For both groups, the surroundings, light, and outlook matter as much as the interior, so lead with them where they are a strength.

Frequently asked questions

Do Chinese buyers really care about Feng Shui when buying property abroad?
For many, yes. Feng Shui factors, particularly the entrance, the flow of the layout, the surroundings, and number symbolism, are common considerations in Chinese property decisions and can affect both willingness to buy and the price a buyer will pay.

Why do some buyers avoid the number 4 and prefer the number 8?
In Chinese, the word for 4 sounds similar to the word for death, so it is widely considered unlucky, while 8 sounds like the word for prosperity and is considered highly auspicious. This affects preferences for floor numbers, unit numbers, and addresses, and is why some buildings omit floors containing 4.

What is Vastu Shastra and how does it affect Indian buyers?
Vastu Shastra is a traditional Indian system of architecture that aligns a home with the cardinal directions and natural elements. Indian buyers influenced by it often prioritise the direction the main entrance faces (north, east, or northeast are favoured) and the placement of key rooms such as the kitchen, master bedroom, and prayer space.

What do Feng Shui and Vastu have in common?
Both value abundant natural light and ventilation, an open and unobstructed flow through the home, a favourable entrance, and the avoidance of certain features such as a bed under a heavy beam. Both treat orientation and the home's relationship to its surroundings as important.

How can an agent sell more effectively to Chinese and Indian buyers?
Provide the information these buyers use to make decisions: the compass orientation of the entrance, a clear floor plan with directions, and the floor and unit number. Treat their criteria as genuine decision factors, and understand which concerns are fundamental and which can be adjusted after purchase.

Reach buyers who evaluate homes their own way

Chinese and Indian buyers are among the most active cross-border purchasers in the world, and they buy where they feel understood. JanusHermes connects trusted agencies with international buyers across more than 50 countries, in multiple languages, so the right property reaches the right buyer. Explore the platform.

This guide describes cultural and traditional frameworks that influence buyer preferences. It is provided for informational and professional context, and is not a statement of belief or a substitute for local property advice.