Hillside Houses

[lightsong]

Dear Cecil,
Since I've been house hunting, I saw some houses on hills that have the entrances on the highest level and the rest of the house nestled lower on the hillside. This has raised some questions about clear view in front and a mountain in the back.
1. Since the highest level is at the entrance and the view is at the back of the house, would the part with a view become the front and the entrance become the back?
In one of the houses, the road is running through the very top of the hill and there are houses on both sides of the road.
2. If the the road is considered the back of the house and at the very top of the hill, would that be considered bad feng shui since there is no mountain supporting the back?
3. The house across the street is a two story house, could that be considered support in the back since it's taller than the house I'm looking at, or would that be also bad because it is taller and would have a tendency to dominate the smaller house?
I also saw a two story house where the road is on the same level as the door to the top story, but the bottom story is below the road and you have to climb up a set of very steep steps to reach the road. Since the house is on a steep hillside, the other side of the road is part of the steep hill. Now, again, if you consider the front of the house, the part that has a view, then the entrance, would be the back. My question is:
4. Even if the entrance is now the back of the house, it still is the main entrance and would it be bad feng shui to come out of the door and have to face a steep hill every day?
Thanks again,
Cheui May

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Cheui May,
Please see below:-

Quote

On 11/5/00 4:08:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,
Since I've been house hunting,
I saw some houses on hills
that have the entrances on the
highest level and the rest of
the house nestled lower on the
hillside. This has raised
some questions about clear
view in front and a mountain
in the back.
1. Since the highest level is
at the entrance and the view
is at the back of the house,
would the part with a view
become the front and the
entrance become the back?

Here, location, location and location is very important.
The key essence is to find a home that can accumulate wealth. Here, I must caution that it does take years (and years) of experience and a keen sense of observation.
Although, many (novice or anyone) can still `try' to locate homes that look like they can accumulate wealth.
Keen sense of observation like:
1. The type of grain of sand. Eg. sharp edged sand, smooth sand ... This can be quite risky nowadays especially since sand can be transported and placed on top a home (or sand from that location can be contaminated with other sand from other regions).
2. Solid sand or better still hills made of granite are still the best.
3. Hills that are too steep or nearly 50 to 90 degrees especially at the edge of the home may spell trouble due to collase especially due to soil erosion during continous down pour.
4. The above are in my opinion, the most important factors.
5. In my opinion, for a home, the frontage is the most important factor. Here, the frontage must be `clear space' and the back ideally; a solid backing.
6. The main door can be at the side or the frontage area. In some cases, it can still be at the back. It should suit the homeowner.

Quote

In one of the houses, the road
is running through the very
top of the hill and there are
houses on both sides of the
road.

Avoid a situation of Sha qi where, the land is barren or winds are unprotected at the top of the hill.
Houses should ideally not be at the top of the hill as it is subject to rains / wind shear and if the geography is mainly sand or loose or weak soil, this spells trouble. (Especially if rainfall is continous for several days.)
Houses should preferably it at the 1/3 level of a hill.

Quote

2. If the the road is
considered the back of the
house and at the very top of
the hill, would that be
considered bad feng shui since
there is no mountain
supporting the back?

Ideally, the road should be at the frontage or drive thru to the frontage of the house.
It is not good to have a house surrounded by roads. This is bad and subject to manovalent `bad' forces.
A road behind the house is not good either.

Quote

3. The house across the street
is a two story house, could
that be considered support in
the back since it's taller
than the house I'm looking at,
or would that be also bad
because it is taller and would
have a tendency to dominate
the smaller house?

This depends on the situation and it is difficult to give a stereo type answer for this. Each case has to be viewed on its own merits.

Quote

I also saw a two story house
where the road is on the same
level as the door to the top
story, but the bottom story is
below the road and you have to
climb up a set of very steep
steps to reach the road. Since
the house is on a steep
hillside, the other side of
the road is part of the steep
hill. Now, again, if you
consider the front of the
house, the part that has a
view, then the entrance, would
be the back. My question is:
4. Even if the entrance is now
the back of the house, it
still is the main entrance and
would it be bad feng shui to
come out of the door and have
to face a steep hill every
day?

As mentioned above, one should avoid (if one can) houses with a steep hill. I would avoid it unless, the house is sitting on granite rock or there is sufficent protection against soil eroison.
One main factor is that in heavy rainfall, because of the weight of the entire house above it or several homes above it, gravity would ensure that one day, it may just topple down.
I have a `bad feeling' about this type of house.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[lightsong]

Dear Cecil,
Thanks for your explanations and monumental attempt to educate me. You have infinite patience.
However, it really made me laugh when after all your technical points, you ended your message with, "I have a bad FEELING about this kind of house." So feeling is after all is the final deciding factor. :o)
Shui May

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Cheui May,
Yes, I believe correspondence thru email is quite different from being actually there.
In my opinion, feelings is can sometimes be subjective and a certain percentage of a person's `experiences' or `visualisation'.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 11/7/00 4:40:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,
Thanks for your explanations
and monumental attempt to
educate me. You have infinite
patience.
However, it really made me
laugh when after all your
technical points, you ended
your message with, "I have a
bad FEELING about this kind of
house." So feeling is after
all is the final deciding
factor. :o)
Shui May