Are there more homes facing north and south than east and west? (Houston: how much)

[CaroleF]

In a lot of the HAR.com listings the front door faces north or south. There seems to be far fewer than face east or west. There could be many reasons for this: people who live in east or west facing homes are not selling right now, or maybe there are more north and south facing homes in Houston.

Actually the second reason seems to be true for some neighborhoods. Robindell has a lot of streets that run east west and very few that run north south. Is this deliberate planning to avoid rising and setting sun pouring into your home?

In Chinese feng shui, which I don't believe in by the way, the best direction for my front door to face is west.

[cheryjohns]

It seems like it's about 60% n/s - but maybe that's my perception. It does vary by neighborhood and where it lies in relationship to the major roads. West usually means a higher electric bill in the summer. The doors facing west are often sun-beaten, compared to others in a subdivision. Also matters how much overhang is over door and how many window face west. I have seen houses face west with a deep overhang that shelters the door - and very few windows west - and they will be fine.

[SteveArmy]

Originally Posted by CaroleF

In Chinese feng shui, which I don't believe in by the way, the best direction for my front door to face is west.

facing east. front door must get direct morning sunlight.

[Shipresa]

Having lived many years in Las Vegas, homes with east face were avoided entirely; the cost to cool a house was too high. North or south facing was the key for desert houses. I moved into ONLY a south facing house, and watched as easterners came out to Vegas buying up those 'cheaper' east facing houses.... Living in UK, east facing is desireable in order to heat up the house! So depends on the climate of course. North side of my house in NE Scotland is cold, damp and truly a negative energy. (And hard to heat those north facing room!!!)

I think feng shui determines energies inside as well, like which way you have your bed. In all effects, what I understand with FS is that your front door must face positive energy (be it east, west, north or south) - children's parks, sidewalks, a river, a view... so its an internal energy. JMHO.

[tdhg566]

If you want a usable backyard in Houston (or any Southern city with lots of sun), the house should not face East. North or South are OK IF there is adequate shade from the West side. West is obviously best for providing backyard shade.

As far as electric bills being higher if the house faces West, that's a definite maybe. Many factors affect the electric bill, primarily insulaton and air leakage. Whatever side of the house that faces West is certainly going to get the hot afternoon sun. Just sold an older house that faced North and the West side (kitchen, breakfast, formal dining), was certainly warmer during the afternoon. Had to adjust the vents accordingly, and we used solar screen on those windows. If your front door faces West, just plan on refinishing it a bit more often than you would otherwise.

Net net, on the new home we just bought, facing West was a required, not optional, feature. I can always add screens or other devices to the West windows, and I can easily refinish the door. Much, much harder to reclaim your backyard.

[descovy]

You know for me... when I'm house hunting and make my list of needs and wants... I might prefer a house that doesn't face West. But it's such a small factor. Not living on a main street is waay more important to me than which side I face.

My house had what I needed at the right price. It faces west. So be it. I think I'd be silly to pass by the perfect home for me because it faces west.

Conversly, as a mom of Girl Scouts, I have knocked on a TON of doors this cookie season. Doors that are way more weathered than mine... and yet they face North, South, East.

[CaroleF]

Originally Posted by SteveArmy

facing east. front door must get direct morning sunlight.

In some forms of Chinese Feng Shui it depends on your kua number. Mine's an 8, which means my ideal home faces west. It was when I discovered that according to Indian Vaastu Shastra, west is bad and east is good that I decided they couldn't both be right and stopped paying attention to it.

[readonly]

In fact, in Chinese history, all emperors sit facing south and with back towards North. If you ask any Chinese, most will prefer South/North oritentation.

Originally Posted by CaroleF

In a lot of the HAR.com listings the front door faces north or south. There seems to be far fewer than face east or west. There could be many reasons for this: people who live in east or west facing homes are not selling right now, or maybe there are more north and south facing homes in Houston.

Actually the second reason seems to be true for some neighborhoods. Robindell has a lot of streets that run east west and very few that run north south. Is this deliberate planning to avoid rising and setting sun pouring into your home?

In Chinese feng shui, which I don't believe in by the way, the best direction for my front door to face is west.

[davidtk]

Originally Posted by tdhg566

If you want a usable backyard in Houston (or any Southern city with lots of sun), the house should not face East. North or South are OK IF there is adequate shade from the West side. West is obviously best for providing backyard shade.

...... on the new home we just bought, facing West was a required, not optional, feature. I can always add screens or other devices to the West windows, and I can easily refinish the door. Much, much harder to reclaim your backyard.

Same here. We moved into a new house recently, and we specifically wanted a west facing house so that we can have shade in the back yard. Plus, most houses we looked at have the master bedroom and family rooms in the back of the house. With an east facing house, these rooms get a lot hotter than the rest of the house in the afternoon.

Our prior house also faced west, and the door did get pretty beat up looking after around 5+ years. We had it refinished for a few hundred dollars and it looked good as new.

[linnil]

Fengshui never tells you which direction is the best in general.

It all depends on who you are. No general rule of thumb.