Cecil Lee

Further to the above, the earlier pictures shows the Public Housing built in the 1950's. This lot of picture shows the Public Housing built around a decade later i.e. 1960's. This set of flats may most probably make way or demolished for new higher density development as they are not as considered as "beautiful" or worth conserving as the earlier batch built in the 1950's. The characteristic of such flats is the uneven cement walls, showing the profile of laid bricks. Furthermore, these bricks are not made of the usual red clay bricks. But rather, they were made with low quality hollow lightweight cement bricks.

In Singapore, there are currently around 3,000 first generation Government built publich housing flat units in various parts of Singapore: 1. The Tiong Bahru area (with flats scattered along River Valley and Kim Tian Road. 2. Katong and Geyang district. 3. The leases to the flat units were registered during the 1950s and 1960s before the Land Titles (Strata) Act came into force in 1968. 4. Since the 1960s, over 95 percent of the entire Singapore population is housed in Government Public Housing. 5. Today, this figure is roughly around 85 percent of the total population housed in Government Public housing. The difference is that majority live in specific Block of flats usually between 14 storeys to 25 storey high. 6. Some new Public Housing near located near to the Central business district will be as high as 30 storeys or more. 7. Here are some photos of the first ever built Government Housing flats. These flats are considered of low height - a far cry from the current `cluttered' high rise apartments. Some of these flats are tastefully renovated - instead of being torn down for re-development. There are few if any of such Public Housing left in Singapore.

Even the " Slow " (slow down) side on the road does not help the building from Sha Qi (poison arrows). Much like taking a sugar coated pill - comforting but no effect!

In this close up, can you see a Ba Gua hung over the second storey - apartment? The external facade - looks run down. Usually, the second floor residents are equally not spared the fate of an `attack' by poison arrows!

Location: Tiong Bahru, Singapore In this first two pictures, one can typically see Sha Qi (poison arrow) in-action at this `T' junction. The shophouse is permanently closed.

These three houses are predominantly:- Metal element houses with water (roof tiles grey) and some protective triangle - fire element. A house under such a threat should, for example:- 1. Use red brick side walls (fire element) and red clay roof 2. The house under threat should also add pointed protective triangle - fire element for it's roof, garage roof, windows similar to these three houses. 3. The external wall can be painted in an earth colour tone. Here, fire element can help to control the metal element houses. And earth can help to absorb water back to the house. 4. In addition, a water position properly positioned in the house under threat can help to retain water wealth. Warmest Regards, Cecil

The term castle gate simply implies, tilting either the main entrance or main gate at an angle from the road. The term castle implies, protection. In these two pictures, these three houses tilt their main gate to take advantage of the `flow of wealth'. Basically, the road slopes at a gentle gradient towards their house. By placing their main gates facing this `wealth' area, it is literally like extending an open arm to receiving wealth. In addition, another advantage is that, any threats (if any) facing the main gates (or area of vulnerability) is reduced or negated. Tilting the gate or door is a non-confrontable situation. And more of a defensive nature. These three houses, look set to receive wealth from the opposite house. In addition, if you notice carefully, these houses have several sized triangle pointed roofs - pointed at it's neighbour to do more damage to the opposite house(s). These three houses are said to be both on the `defensive' and also on the `offensive'! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear All, 1. In a house hunting effort, a client asked me to comment on this layout plan as they were really interested in this apartment. 2. This is because, the owners are selling it at a very attractive price - very much below valuation. 3. Fortunately, they had asked for a layout plan and asked for an opinion on it. 4. This house is similar to the sketch provided in the attached: slopingsidewall1.gif 5. This apartment can be considered as entrapped or sandwiched in the block of flat. There is a huge missing corner. 6. Such an entrapped house implies: financial distress. True enough, the current owners were forced to sell the house because of financial problems. In addition, in the long term, partner's or joint owners (husband and wife) would usually obtain a divorce. The morale of the story:- " Before, you place a deposit, always, obtain a copy of the layout plan to check for any distinct slopes etc... " Happy House Hunting! Warmest Regards, Cecil

If you are purchasing a re-sale flat, make sure that you obtain a copy of the layout plan prior to commiting to a downpayment for the flat that you like. This year alone, I have chanced to ask several clients who had `unwittingly' purchased such an apartment: The usual comment was that at the time, they saw the unit, they did not realise that there is a sloping wall. In many of the situations, they had already made an expensive commitment already. If one can, try to avoid purchasing such units as they are overall, not as favourable under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui. And, such a sloping wall (with missing corner) is considered a leak. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear All, I can recall many instances where, I was asked to resurvey homes that were earlier assessed a year or two back. In many of such situations, there were at least two or more leaks that were either not detected earlier or fixed or avoided since majority of these homes were undergoing major renovations. This had caused financial distress to the occupants of these homes. For example:- 1. One owner was made to paint his entire house pink! A confirmation of his and his wife's element says that the fire element `pink' is a bad colour for the husband - breadwinner. They were told to close off the main door of their bedroom. And had to enter their master bedroom from another room. This `secret' entrance to their master bedroom is facing the toilet. And because the master bedroom door is closed, imagine the stale air in their bedroom. Little wonder that both parties could not sleep easily in their house. 2. In another case, there are multiple problems:- 2.1 In the master bedroom, the couple's bed leans against a window. The rationale is because the pratitioner said that this location is favourable to the couple. The couple are literally sleeping in what is considered an inauspicious location based on shapes and forms Feng Shui. 2.2 The earlier Feng Shui assessment did not take into consideration that the entire house (landed property) slopes both to the left and right of the house. This is a massive leak as wealth flows away on both sides of the house. 2.3 Yet another nightmare is when one opens the main door, one side of the main door literally, hits a wall (the main gate). And the other door, when open inside (towards) the house, `bangs; against a wall. 2.4 Another nightmare is the toilet at the middle of the house. 2.5 The top view of the houses shows that it is not rectangular but there is an indent at the middle of the house. (This is a row of sliding glass all the way up to the second storey). This is not good since, this side of the house has a steeper slope - Imaging wealth sloping down to the neighbours or wealth leaking away. There are more leaks in this house. I will draw sketches to reinforce the information. Cecil Lee

Dear Diana, Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! If you have not found a suitable name for your child, you may like to take a look at our service on nameanalysis here:- http://sg.geomancy.net/consultation/consult-others/nameanalysis.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Ana, Please refer to the attached. In my opinion, the love seat is inappropriate to screen the main door from the staircase. It is best that a screen be used between the main door and the staircase. So long as the stairs is not seen, this will no longer become a threat. A few months ago, I encountered a case where my client redo the second level such that the staircase faces the main door. This is not healthy. Ever since, they had done so, and with other problems i.e. main door facing windows, these lead to many leaks in the home. The end result is that they continously face finacial problems. Generally, a mirror at the staircase landing (say at Marking `C' under the attachment)is acceptable as it aids Qi flow. But, placing a mirror or mirrors (e.g. at Marking `B') can have a double edged sword: If the location is bad, it can bounce back twice the bad luck! Flying Star Feng Shui is usually used in conjuction to determing whether it is good or bad to do so. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Peck Wun, Frankly, once, the renovation has been completed, there is not much one can do here. Overall, we have to look at the main concern: 1. water position facing the stove or 2. toilet bowl also facing the stove Under your current situation, although it is not ideal, as mentioned, unless one relocates the stove, there is no much else one can do. Close the toilet door. In my opinion, your threat, is not as critical as shown under Para 1. or 2. Any other proposed `cure' is similar to taking a sugar coated pill. "Comforting but no effect." Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Wasis, Thank you for your layout plans. It's a great help to understand your situation. You should continue to leave the living room as it is. As the new layout is much better than the previous. For your bedroom, I do agree with you that the new layout is unsatisfactory. For this bedroom, do revert back to the original. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Marie, Frankly these are text-book examples of Feng Shui. Symbolically, 3-coins represent: 1. The number 3: represents the wood element. 2. The metal coins: literally mean metal element. Under the destructive cycle of the Five element concept: Metal destroys wood element to create `wealth'. Go around Feng Shui emporiums espeically internet Feng Shui stores and one will find lots of excuse to try to sell as many of these as possible. One may thus end up: Placing this three-coins under the floor mat, inside the ledger book, inside the cash register, inside one's wallet. Perhaps, the Feng Shui emporiums are laughing to the bank! One question asked: Since carrying the 3-coins do you have substantial luck? YES/NO? If No, then, logically speaking does it make sense to BUY more and carry MORE of them? Warmest Regards, Cecil

1. The house is shown under the picture as `the house under threat'. 2. Characteristics of the problems associated with this house:- 3.1 If you follow the red arrows, you will find that the house sits on a slope. Here, if one is not careful, wealth can leak from this house both from the main entrance (which is on the side of the house to the neighbour's white (coloured) house. 3.2. In paranomic view picture, you can find three markings of addition all three neghbouring houses shown as marking `A', `B' and `C'. These three houses have multiple poison arrows attacking the house.

This house at the `T' junctions avoid having it's main entrance facing it. It makes sure that there are few openings if any (allowing the threat of sha qi).

More `unexciting' condominums include:- Chuan Park Condo Location: 240, 242, 244, 248 and 250 Lorong Chuan Developer: Far East Organisation Tenure: 99 years TOP: around 1985 Designed much like HUDC / HDB old generation point blocks Re-sale Price per square foot on average S$370 to S$390

Dear All, There is another talk, on Thursday, 19 September 2002, at same time and venue organised by City Developments Limited Due to limited sitting capacity approx 40 persons, on a First-come-first serve basis. Once the sitting capacity is full, from past experience, will be turned away. http://www.cdl.com.sg/customer_relations/pdf/CDL_Home&Deco2208.pdf See you if you are able to make it! Warmest Regards, Cecil Lee

Further to what I mentioned earlier, attached please find an illustration (top-view) of the placement of a water position. For the water positon:- 1. Best to avoid ambiguous objects such as a fish with an open mouth and or a frog with an open mouth facing inwards of such a house. Here, this is inauspicious since, such open mouths implies a `hungry fish or frog' that sucks in your already depleted wealth leading to ultimate calamity. 2. If possible, the water feature should have all five elements if possible:- Metal element: circular bowl represents the metal element or a circular ball spouting out water Water element: Needless to say, this is the actual water used in the water feature Earth element: The water feature should preferably be made of stone or earthware or granite etc... Wood element: It is preferred to have a plant placed inside the water feature. If not, it is placed close-by. Fire element: Where possible, place a low voltage e.g. dc current aquarium or underwater spot light. Depending on your preference, it can be turned on e.g. in the evening for a few hours e.g. 7.30pm to say 10.00pm using a timer unit. This will negate the " House of Wealth " that gets Free wealth from the `second house with bad Feng Shui'. Warmest Regards, Cecil P.S. The morale of the story is: An EXCELLENT house usually has good Feng Shui and foremost, sucks wealth from it's surroundings. Perhaps, this is why it is simply called a truly EXCELLENT house!

As a follow-up of the earlier article, my chief concern is that if one is a `salaried worker' and should one day, this salaried worker goes into retirement (voluntary or otherwise), one major consideration is to how to `continue' living without any more steady income. Especially since, living in a condominium already has fixed costs of not less than say S$250. Even more so, if one is `entrapped' unable to sell one's condominum due to some of these major considerations:- 1. It is a 99-year lease. And, usually the lease could easily go down to 75 to 60 years left. Many banks would not loan potential buyers - even if they want to buy it if the property falls below say 60 years lease left. 2. With the glut of condominiums both new and old at competitive prices, many buyers may instead opt for totally new - and wait for TOP. 3. In addition, if one has invested in a condominum that looks much like any public housing, it is hard put for them to sell these units or sell them at a reasonable price. To recoup their savings. 4. I have visited many condominums and in my opinion, some of them other then their `skin' or cosmetic look - other than private grounds and security guard, look like any other public housing. Note: I have nothing against public or private housing. But rather base my opinion on future re-coop of capital investment - to sustain a person, his wife thru their old age. Not withstanding that one or more may have to incur major surgery or operation - using their own funds (not considering public or government subsidy). In my opinion, some examples not worth considering investing they are:- Windermere Condominium Address: 20, 22, 26-32 Choa Chu Kang Street 64 Developer: ST Technologies Properties Pte Ltd Tenure: 99 years TOP: 2002 Total of 395 units (MRT is not exactly near) Current price per sq feet of larger unit is approximately S$330 for units of 2,700 sq feet. This low price reflects the market sentiments of such high rise development. Woodsvale condominum Location: 5 to 11 & 15 Woodlands Drive 72 Developer: Capitaland, Singapore Tenure: 99 years TOP: 2001 Total of 492 units Poor price per square foot between S$380 to only $422 psf. Hougang Green Condominum Location: 5 Buangkok Green / Hougang Street 51 Developer: Hiap Hoe Group Tenure: 99 years Top: 1988 with 99 units This development is almost undistinguishable from nearby public housing. Can you spot more examples in the area where you live? It is important to safe-guard the value of your property especially if they are of 99 year lease properties. More importantly, your house should be marketable at anytime - should one ever need cash funds for any emergency - not withstanding personal savings. How fast can your property be converted to cash in reation to capital gains instead of loss. I am not saying that one should totally forgo condos with 99 year leases. But rather choose wisely. Based on commonsense approach on marketability:- 1. Convience to good transport e.g. MRT 2. If they are e.g. low height e.g. 4 floors can be considered 3. disadvantages if these apartments seem to `look into' a neighbour's unit. Happy Hunting! And erh.. Cavet Emptor! Warmest Regards, Cecil

This is the close-up picture of the situation. 1. Yellow arrow shows leak from second house with bad Feng Shui to the strategically positioned main gate of the `House that receives wealth from the second house.' 2. To reduce the leak, one should place a round water feature with water spouting towards its own house i.e. second house with bad Feng Shui. 3. For the multiple poison arrows (mentioned in the earlier forum message), one can either on a more friendly Feng Shui cure use wooden plank side wall fencing. For an offensive approach, use instead arrow heads, rounded and aimed back towards the offending house. - " Serve them right for messing the second house Feng Shui". Sometimes, one really has no choice given such offensive `tactics' of unfriendly neighours. The saying goes " Either YOU or I". In this case study, you can also find that the "House that receive free wealth" is much lower or at a yin location as compared to the higher ground - second house with bad Feng Shui. Wealth is thus considered `drained' from this second house. And wealth retained by the lower `yin' house. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Wasis, 1. Please take a look at this aerial view of the estate where the second house sits. 2. I refer to the markings:- Marking `A' =========== One will see a yellow arrow. Notice carefully that the main gate of another house is directly facing this `second house (with bad Feng Shui)'. In actual fact, the site is slopping towards this house with the main gate facing the `second house (with bad Feng Shui). Here, there is already a leak from the `second house (with bad Feng Shui)' towards this house - under Marking B. Or we can say that wealth flows to house Marked as `B'. MARKING `C' - House with multiple poison roofs ======================================== Please refer to Marking `C' Many small or multiple Poison Arrows (triangle roof profiles) from this house give additional threat to the second house with bad Feng Shui. With several of these disadvantages to the second house with bad Feng Shui; and since these leaks are not fixed, it is thus disadvantages for the owners/tenants to stay in such a house. Else, they will be plagued with misfortune and financial distress. The morale of the story is " FIRST FIX ANY LEAKS IF ANY before even think of purely enhancing a house for WEALTH!" - This is the Key failure of many people and surprisingly, same thing goes for poor advise given by some FS practitioners. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear all, 1. This paper and several others that follow takes into account a working life cycle of typical Singapore families. 2. This paper looks at `Strategic Planning to safe guard one's old age or retirement.' Note: This paper DOES NOT TAKE into consideration FENG SHUI. 3. Introduction 3.1 10 years ago, in Singapore, we hear of 95 percent of Singapore population staying in Public housing. 3.2 I do not exactly have the correct statistics but overall, this implies that only 5 percent of Singaporeans life in either condominums + private residential properties such as terrace houses, sem-detached or bungalows (purely landed property). 3.3 Today, the figure is something like 85 percent of Singaporeans live in Public Housing while 15 percent now live in either condominums and private housing. This figure can be quite alarming! Especially since, to-date, there are more than 800 condominums sprouting on this tiny island. 4. My fears are:- Let's say that you are staying in a condominium with 500 units today. If one is generally simply just a "worker" or salaried worker, there will come a time when one has to retire. So, what's so wrong with retiring? 4.1 Many Singaporeans would still be servicing their loan on their beloved condominium even close to retirement age or later. (Unless one is lucky to have made a substantial sum selling off e.g. a previous public housing). Or if one had amassed sufficient sums to pay off the loan. 4.2 Even so, the question here is can one afford paying the monthly maintenance plus other daily essentials? Case Study 1:- ------------ Usually, on average a condominum monthly maintenace fee can come to S$250 to $350 depending on the units and size of your property. Assuming that there are two persons living in the condo, the retiree and his wife. There are also the unexpected costs of health care (as one grows older) and also daily basic maintenance. The situation may arise that out of 500 existing residents - and if all of them age appromiately around the same time, there can be quite a substantial amount of `first' residents that may be forced to downgrade to smaller homes. Both to recoup money (since they have already retired) or since their purchaing power is down, may have no choice but to do so. In fact, even today, during my continous audits, I have seen this happen. Many young couples purchase even resale Government 5 room type of apartment from retirees who prefer to downgrade. Therefore, if one between 30 years to 40 years old may 20 to 30 years down the road, find many of their neighbours moving out for this reason. In the next article, we will look at more case studies and how to protect your interests - i.e. especially look out when one purchase a condominum. For example, some condominums although afford privacy, pretty much looks like any other public housing. Such as poor view - apartments in close proximity `looking at each other'. Since, more and more condominums are sprouting around and the price per sq feet for new ones are very attractive i.e. $400 per sq foot (psf) or more. Would seem to be more affordable, if one had inadvertenly purchased a `rotten apple'. Without Feng Shui, this is as good as entrapping one' self in a rout. And perhaps forced to sell a truly a loss. More about this later.... Warmest Regards, Cecil PS. Presently, Singapore is a country with a high majority of salaried workers and fewer enterpreneurs. Perhaps, one day, this may change slightly.

This is a collection of photos (close-up) of the front view of the entrapped house. In several of the pictures, one can see that this entrapped house is virtually abandoned. Tell tale signs include partial broken awning. In my opinion, there is virtually no cure for such a entrapped house. Yeah! Move out! Not fit for human living. Warmest Regards, Cecil