Master Lynn Yap, Singapore’s Feng Shui Queen, believes the forthcoming Year of the Horse will be “very challenging” for the local property market. She discusses why in PropertyGuru’s Market Outlook 2014 eBook.
In the Market Outlook 2014 eBook, which is free to download, Master Lynn says that from the feng shui point of view, the Horse year will focus on three main areas; emotion, infectious illnesses and property matters. It is known as a “Jia Wu” year meaning that the first half of the lunar year has “yang wood” while the later half has “yin fire”.
This will be “very challenging” for property, as it is predominantly a strong fire year with no “water” element. “Water” elements are very important when it comes to auspicious property investments. Since the earth will be very dry, property, which is an “earth” element, will see prices start to fall sharply in the first half of the year.
Although it is a Horse year and the Horse typically signifies galloping, it will be a year where property prices will gallop downwards. Those in the property business like property agents and bankers will be busy trying to sustain and deliver on forecast projections. It is important, though, that we remember not to whip the Horse but to gallop along with it.
There can be many reasons for this sharp fall, mainly due to stricter cooling measures, higher interest rates and stricter loan requirements – as well as the 2014 feng shui charts.
Already, in the last quarter of the Snake year in 2013, we began to see property prices falling, and once the Horse year officially arrives on February 4 2014, we may experience a sharper fall in property prices.
In the second half of the year, the “yin fire” is strong. This can cause property prices to rise a fair bit and then remain stable towards the end of the year. This is because the “yin fire” supports the “earth” element, which represents property. Therefore property prices would start to rise, but not at the same rate that overall property prices will fall in the first half of 2014.
If there is the presence of SARS or related illnesses, other infectious diseases, or a big fall in the American stock market in the Horse year, property prices could continue to fall sharply in the second half of the year.
Who will be most affected negatively/positively in a financial sense? In short it will not a favourable year for property sellers and renters.
Those planning to sell property in the lunar year 2014 will have to be prepared to make less profit from the sale, as compared to years prior when the property market was on the upswing. If one waits too long into the year to sell, there is a risk of losing even more. The advice is to not be too stubborn when it comes to selling a property. Simply make enough and move on. There will always be an opportunity to ride the property cycle, but only from 2019, the Year of the Pig, onwards.
Gains in capital appreciation will be substantial gains due to steep rises in property prices, just like in 2007. The year 2014 will also not favour the rental market as rental prices will start to fall quite significantly as well. However do hold on to your property even if rental income cannot cover the mortgage.
The year 2014 will favour buyers. This is because falling property prices may be enticing for property buyers, however like any investment, buyers’ needs to weigh the pros and cons before making their decisions.
Are there tips on how to grow wealth in 2014? Hold on to your cash! This is because money is tangible in value and will not be adversely subjected to large fluctuations in the market.
About Master Lynn
Master Lynn Yap, also known as Singapore’s Feng Shui Queen (registered mark, 2000), is a veteran practitioner of the art and science of metaphysics. She holds a degree in Business Administration from National University of Singapore and is no stranger to offering advice and consultations to different strata of society. Over the years, her personal well-being has improved tremendously. So too, have the lives of the many people from all walks of life who have consulted her vast knowledge and expertise in this field.
Every year, Master Lynn is invited by many business practitioners and organisations to give feng shui talks as well as deliver her predictions for the year. Currently, she writes for PropertyKaiser.com, a property portal on a fortnightly basis, on top of her consultation work on www.fengshuiqueen.com. She also writes a very successful blog, The Fengshui Savvy Investor. at www.lynnyap8888.blogspot.com.
You can read Master Lynn’s predictions along with PropertyGuru’s Singapore Market Outlook for free by downloading our eBook today.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru Group, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
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