2026 property market outlook through the lens of feng shui

By Joseph Wong

As the Year of the Snake prepares to hand over the reins, the Malaysian property industry is bracing for a shift in pace. The Year of the Fire Horse is approaching with a reputation for speed, vigour, and breakthrough energy. However, beneath the spirited surface of the Fire Horse lies a complex interplay of elements that will define the winners and losers in the real estate sector.

To navigate this energetic landscape, StarProperty spoke with three leading experts, namely, Five Elements Mastery founder professor Joe Choo, Environology Malaysia honorary secretary Stephen Chin and feng shui master Kenny Hoo. While their methodologies vary, they provide a unified message: 2026 is a year of strategic positioning, where major infrastructure and elemental shifts will redefine value across Malaysia.

The elemental shift

According to Choo, the transition from 2025 to 2026 marks a significant move in sound consonants. While the Snake year was characterised by fire, the Horse year carries a strong water element. In the cycle of the five elements, water produces wood.

This is an important distinction for the property sector, Choo explained. "The property sector can be broadly divided into two categories: property development, which is associated with the wood element, and property management which is associated with the earth element. In the five elements cycle, water produces wood, indicating that property development will be well supported in 2026 with stronger momentum, growth opportunities and improved performance compared to 2025."

However, she noted that property management, an earth-based industry, may face a more moderate path. "Earth contrasts with water. While the management sector will remain stable and functional, it may not perform as strongly as it did under the fire influence of 2025 which was more favourable to earth. In summary, the overall outlook points to a stronger year for property development in 2026, outperforming 2025 while property management continues steadily but with more moderate growth."

The clash and the regional winners

Chin, a proponent of classical environology, offers a more cautious perspective. He pointed out that while the public perceives 2026 as a fire year, the governing element is actually water.

"Water clashes with earth, which represents construction, property development and property management. This suggests that 2026 is unlikely to be an especially strong year for the property industry overall," Chin observed. 

However, he identified specific pockets of resilience. Properties located in the Northeast and East sectors, specifically Penang, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak, are likely to fare better, pointing toward a regional divergence in market performance.

“If 2026 truly were dominated by fire, as popular belief suggests, the property sector should be booming because fire supports earth. The fact that projections do not reflect this tells us which element is actually in control,” he reasoned.

Hoo echoed this regional optimism but extended it to the South. He predicted a highly active year with more transactions and higher prices, particularly in the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia. "The excellent Qi in the 9th grand feng shui cycle will help Malaysia's property sector move up faster, especially in demand for commercial, tourism and technology-related lands and residential projects," Hoo said.

The power of Qi conduits

A unique highlight in Hoo’s outlook is the role of national mega-infrastructure. In feng shui terms, these are not just concrete and steel; they are Qi conduits that harmonise the nation’s internal energy circulation.

Hoo identified several projects that will invigorate the market:

• The ECRL: Linking Kota Bharu to Port Klang, invigorating the East Coast’s economic Qi.
• The Pan-Borneo Highway: Stimulating interstate growth across Sarawak and Sabah.
• The RTS Link: Integrating the economies of Johor Bahru and Singapore, fostering a surge in property development and tourism.
• The Penang LRT (Mutiara Line): Serving as the backbone for Penang’s regional connectivity.

Places or projects near these infrastructures will fetch much better ROI in the future, Hoo advised, adding that in 2026, earth industries like real estate and construction will see steadier improvement, especially from June onwards, as the annual Qi settles into a balanced formation.

The dominant elements and hidden risks

The interplay between fire and water is the defining tension of 2026. While Chin identifies water as the governing force, Hoo noted that fire remains a dominant feature that is intertwined with specific real estate sub-sectors.

"Fire-related industries—such as semiconductors, memory chips, AI, Cloud computing, Internet, petroleum, energy, entertainment and F&B are exceptionally well-supported by the strong fire Qi of 2026," said Hoo. Consequently, property projects customised for these fields will be in high demand. However, this elemental tension also manifests as extreme weather. Hoo warned of burning fire and flooding in the Southern regions as well as temperature irregularities and landslides in the Northwestern zones.

Practical advice for stakeholders

“For the Year of the Horse, my key feng shui advice to homeowners, landlords and renters is to pay close attention to the main entrance, as it is the main entrance through which energy enters the home and strongly influences health, relationships and financial stability,” said Choo.

In 2026, the South sector is home to the governing planet (tai-sui) while the North sector hosts the three killings (san-Sa). Disturbances in these sectors can lead to theft, illness or financial tension, she warned. Her solution is the strategic placement of crystals to neutralise disruptive influences. For a South-facing entrance, place a yellow crystal in the Southwest to minimise disputes. For a North-facing entrance, place a yellow crystal in the Northeast to anchor the energy.

Chin provides specific coordinates for those affected by the grand duke (also known as tai-sui). Properties with entrances measured from the centre of the home at South (172.5°–187.5°), North (352.5°–7.5°), Southeast (112.5°–127.5°) and Southwest (232.5°–247.5°) are impacted. He suggested that occupants of these properties seek appropriate mitigation measures to ensure a smooth year.

As for Hoo, he urged investors to look beyond the surface. Following recent high-profile incidents like underground gas pipe fires, he stressed the importance of studying hidden risks.

“The wise selection of location, nearby environment, existing or hidden risks due to some unseen facilities must be studied thoroughly, before investing in any property project. Thus, feng shui knowledge is highly important in helping investors identify much better individual units in their wiser selection,” he advised.

Final analysis

All three experts noted that the Year of the Horse is not a year for the hesitant. It is a period defined by the Qi conduits of new infrastructure and a fierce battle between fire and water elements. While Choo sees a bright future for developers and Hoo sees a tech-driven boom, Chin reminded everyone to remain grounded in landform pragmatism.

For the property market, the 2026 gallop will be swiftest for those who align themselves with the new economic corridors of East and West Malaysia, mitigate the energetic risks at their front doors and choose assets that support the booming fire industries of the future. Whether one is a renter, a landlord or an investor, success in the Year of the Horse will belong to those who can harmonise their environment with the fast-moving energy of the times.

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