Let there be light! Why you need a north-facing home.

Orientation is a key factor in how desirable a property is perceived to be. You may have heard agents spruiking the north facing aspect of a home but what does it actually mean and why is it so important? 

Orientation, aspect & positioning

Gone are the days where all you needed to do was buy a house on the best street, now you need to make sure it’s on the right side of the road! Orientation, aspect and positioning are all as important as the location because natural light plays a crucial role in the attractiveness of a property and its long term liveability. If you have ever lived in a ‘dark’ house, you probably know this all too well. 

We know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but it is also tilted toward the northside. So in order to fill your home with sunlight and warmth through the day, particularly in winter when the sun is at its lowest, a north/north-east facing property is ideal. 

Exceptions to the rule

Of course, there are exceptions to this, for example, you may have the perfect orientation with your living room leading to a north facing garden but you back onto a two-storey brick building which obscures that light anyway. Alternatively, you may be looking at an un-renovated freestanding home on a large South facing block… in this case, you can work with an architect through your renovation to take advantage of the most direct sunlight by including North facing windows where possible, skylights and light wells. 

Why it also applies to apartment living

The importance of aspect also applies to apartment living, particularly in the instance where you may only have windows on one side of your property. If they are South facing you will never see a stream of sunshine through your home. This can cause issues with condensation which in some cases can lead to mould. Alternatively, you may technically have a Northern aspect but in the densely populated Melbourne sprawl, you also have a neighbouring apartment building that blocks any opportunity for light. 

On the other side of the spectrum, a 2nd-floor apartment with uninterrupted views through large west-facing windows is going to be punished all summer long with intense afternoon sun forcing the homeowner or tenant to live with their blinds closed and or run the A/C all day every day. 

All of these things affect property value and the capacity for capital growth. As we say time and time again, no one buys property to lose money! So choose wisely and ring in the experts to ensure you make the right choice. 

By Sam Davenport