Today (Oct 28th 2009), WSJ has an article talking about cultural beliefs in numbers in the property market.
The recent sale of a condominium in Hong Kong for $56.6 million, apparently a residential record in Asia, sets the backgroud of this article.
The 40th – 59th floors in the same building are missing. So after the the 39th floor, it jumps to 60th floor. The top three floors are called consecutively 66, 68 and 88! This sure ticks off those methodical and meticulous people’s sense of order. I must say that this can be amusing, confusing or both, depending on which angle you look at the scenario.
If you are interested more in this area, I suggest you read my earlier post, “Numerologist Expert Talks About Cultural Beliefs on Numbers”
You may wonder, how come the SAME numbers may have different meanings to different culture? Aren’t numbers, like music, pretty universal?
When the buyer for a property is Chinese (be it Chinese from China, Hong Kong, Malyasia or Singapore), I always suggest them to end their offer with a few “8″s for “prosperity.”
Reason? “8″ is a homophone for the word of wealth and properity.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
© Copyright 2009 John Ho. All Right Reserved Worldwide
Tags: real estate, Wall Street Journal, WSJ
That is a lot of floors missing! I get the 40’s, but why the 50’s?
I’ll go and check your post about numbers and cultural meaning. So, I’m guessing 88 is the pricey one? I would think the wealth and prosperity favours the vendor in that particular apartment. Then again I’d be pretty darn prosperous when the bank approved me for a mortgage for half of that.
Keri Eagan
Alternative*Insight
Hey Johnho – I found it amusing. Would sure like to know the builders thinking.
Looks like I’m off to read “Numerologist Expert Talks About Cultural Beliefs on Numbers”. My inquring mind just wants to know.
Vicki http://www.bridal-threads.com
I think it’s hilarious but also a smart move of the builder I’m sure.
Bert (alter ego- Mister P)
MisterP.org/blog
That’s interesting
Jose Escalante
http://www.joseescalante.com
Who can argue with what works?
Martin O’Connor
http://smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
If you can sell a condo on the 68th floor and the 88th Floor for more– why not do this? It’s brilliant!
wouldn’t work as well for street addresses…
Seize the Day,
Rob
Simple Survival Tips For Disasters and Emergencies
Sounds like a great strategy for success.
Lynn Lane->Success Strategies For Life
John,
Interesting stuff as always. It amazes me how much people manipulate numbers based on systems and superstitions.
Steve Chambers, Body Language Speaker
John,
Belief and sentiment drive so much human behaviour that it’s no wonder we devise all sorts of mechanisms to try and influence ourselves and others.
It’s fascinating how people will look for a reassuring sign and feel so much more confident when they discover it.
Great writing by the way!
Philip
Consumer Behaviour Expert
[The Consumer Behaviour Research Resource]
Hi John,
wishing you many 8s, which is also an infinity sign, in your life, love, and business, sir.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Boomer Dating Expert
Wow. Cool little story!
I’m gonna get a place on the 88th floor when I move!
Fascinating study. Thanks!
And thank you for your comments on my blog.
Martin O’Connor
http://smallbusinessdesign
I’ve heard of some buildings here in America not having a 13th floor and some airlines not having a row 13 on their planes, but holy moly, they’ve skipped almost as many floors as they’ve numbered!
On my street the numbers go from 25 to 36 to 46 and nobody knows why!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitter in your area
I look at the number ‘8′ this way — turn it 90 degrees left or right — now it’s the infinity symbol.
We don’t have a choice with our addresses as they are ‘fire numbers’ and behind-the-scenes are really x/y co-ordinates in 10ths of a km from some central reference point that I haven’t discovered as yet. So our number would look something like this: 504779, 504785 on one side of the road and 504780 on the other side of the road.
Numbers are VERY interesting. I always wonder if the people who live on the 14th floor in a building with no 13th floor realize that, in fact, they are still on the 13th floor?!
Sue Crutcher
certified Money, Marketing and Soul Coach