Hi,

I intend to buy a corner unit HDB flat on the 10th floor. But when walking along the corridor leading to the main door of the flat, can see the back of a cremetorium and a temple. However, can't really see these 2 buildings from inside the flat. Also, I would like to know if it would be a cause for concern if the masterbed room and another bedroom is rather near the corridor of the next block of flats. As I need to reply the owner soon, would appreciate a prompt reply.

Thank you and best regards.

 

Dear Anon,

Anonymous wrote:
I intend to buy a corner unit HDB flat on the 10th floor. But when walking along the corridor leading to the main door of the flat, can see the back of a cremetorium and a temple. However, can't really see these 2 buildings from inside the flat. Also, I would like to know if it would be a cause for concern if the masterbed room and another bedroom is rather near the corridor of the next block of flats. As I need to reply the owner soon, would appreciate a prompt reply.

Generally, if you can directly see a crematorium or temple/church/mosque from your house, it tends to be a major concern for many buyers, whether for personal, cultural, or resale reasons. If it is not visible from the property, the impact is usually smaller, but the concern may still be there for some people.

From a practical point of view, the key issue is future resale. Since you already feel uneasy about the proximity, there is a good chance that your future buyer may share the same concern, which could affect demand and price when you eventually sell.

So the safest approach, if you have the flexibility, is to choose a property that is not close to a crematorium, cemetery, or place of worship. This reduces potential resale risks and gives you a wider pool of future buyers, while also giving you more peace of mind in the long run.

Hope that helps.

Warmest Regards
Robert Lee
GEOMANCY.NET - Center for Applied Feng Shui Research

Including

 

Here are some practical, easy-to-visualise examples of how line of sight can affect perceived value and buyer demand:

1. Same block, different facing

Scenario:  
Two units in the same condo/HDB block:

- Unit A: Living room and balcony face directly towards a crematorium/temple. You can clearly see it from the windows.  
- Unit B: Faces an internal garden or another block; the crematorium/temple is behind the building and not visible at all.

Effect:  
- Many buyers will still be okay with Unit B but will reject Unit A immediately.  
- Even if both are the same size and floor, Unit A often sells slower and may need a discount to attract buyers.  
- In markets where such views are considered inauspicious, agents commonly see a noticeable difference in both demand and price between “good facing” and “bad facing” stacks.

2. Same distance, different line of sight

Scenario:  
Two houses on the same street:

- House 1: Direct line of sight to the crematorium/temple from the front gate and main windows.  
- House 2: Same physical distance, but another row of houses or tall trees completely block the view.

Effect:  
- Buyers often react emotionally to what they *see*, not the exact distance on a map.  
- House 1 may feel “too close” or “uncomfortable” because the structure is constantly in view.  
- House 2 feels more “normal” to most buyers, even though the location is technically just as near.

3. Different rooms, different impact

Scenario:  
Apartment 😄

- Bedroom and living room windows look directly at the crematorium.  
- Kitchen faces a neutral view.

Apartment 😧

- Only the kitchen/service yard has partial view of the crematorium.  
- Main living spaces face greenery or other buildings.

Effect:  
- D is usually more acceptable to buyers because the “main living feel” of the home is not affected.  
- C feels like it has a constant reminder in the most-used spaces, reducing appeal.

4. Visual quality matters too

Not all temples or places of worship have a negative impact:

- A **noisy**, very busy temple with bright lights, loud bells, or frequent events can reduce desirability if it’s in direct view (and hearing).  
- A **beautiful, quiet** historical church or temple seen from a distance can actually be neutral or even slightly positive for some buyers, especially if it enhances the skyline.

So the impact is not only *what* you see, but also *how* it looks and how it affects daily comfort (noise, traffic, crowds).

5. Resale psychology

Even if *you* personally don’t mind the view:

- You have to think in terms of the **average buyer** in your market.  
- If a significant portion of buyers (due to culture, religion, or superstition) prefers to avoid direct line of sight to a crematorium/temple, that reduces your future buyer pool.  
- Smaller buyer pool often means either:
  - Longer time to sell, or  
  - Needing to accept a lower price compared to similar units without that view.

---

In short:  
Line of sight tends to matter more than pure distance for many people. Two homes can be equally close, but the one that doesn’t “feel” close—because you can’t see the crematorium/temple—usually has better demand and holds value better.

If you tell me which country/city you’re buying in, I can tailor this to how buyers there typically think (e.g., strong feng shui concerns vs more neutral).

 

Related: