When I used to sell New Homes I would use that logic to sell the north facing back yard lots, and to some extent it is true, however no matter what anyone says a S, SW, W , facing back yards are really the best for pools. I had a north facing pool and the water temp still got to be 85-86 degrees. For a home being sold as a vacation home the only way to face is as mentioned above. Also it affects the resale value tremendously. The British likely would not even look at a home whose back yard faces North and to some extent East. I know of where I speak; believe me. 352-573-9610

Wed May 14 2008, 11:05

We have a our pool home for sale and the home faces south with the pool in the back. We like this because really in the summer it gets so hot that you want the pool to be a little cooler than the outside temp with gives you that relief from the blazing heat ...
Our home is for Sale if you are looking in an excellent area just south of Downtown ...let me know and i'll get you all the info
Best
Dan Kruse

Tue May 13 2008, 12:58

David
It's a matter of personal preference.....

Tue May 13 2008, 08:42

If you have or plan to get a pool the best way to site your home is having the backyard facing either South, or West so you get the afternoon sun. This is also something investors look for when purchasing a home, so it is good for resale purposes, however if you do not plan on a pool it matters not. But again remember people who will want to add a pool, they would prefer the South or West facing backyard. Hope this helps.

Sat May 10 2008, 10:37

If its important to you to face South, then its important. The good news is ... the MLS allows up to search for which direction the home faces. When can we start looking for a South Facing Home? :)

Wed May 7 2008, 09:32

I've lived in Orlando, FL for quite some time and really south is the best exposure. In many eastern cultures, homes facing south brings peace and prosperity and who doesn't want that. South facing homes always have the sun shining on the front of the home so it does look nicer than north facing homes which have the front in the shade most of the time. I always know a home faces north when I see mildew on the front sidewalks, driveways, and facade. If you like your swimming pool to be warm, then it's a minor convenience. East and West facing homes do have strong directional light which can make it unbearably hot in some areas of a home. I like south, but it all depends on personal preference.

Tue May 6 2008, 19:23

Glad to have helped David.
I hope you enjoy your new holiday home!

Sun May 4 2008, 16:02

Many thanks for all your answers,because the house my agent has recommended as a good buy is north facing so I will take the plunge and probably go ahead.
I must point out in the UK south facing is very important, because the sun sets very low in the southern hemisphere in winter months, so consequently we need all the sun we can get.
just for the record all properties that I rent out in the UK including my own are all south facing.

Sun May 4 2008, 15:13

David, I was born and raised in the Daytona Beach area. I've never even considered the direction my house faced because it really depends on the floor plan. My current house faces north and it's built around the pool. I love it because the pool deck area never gets too hot and the sun is never beating against any major windows for a long period of time. And we planted a lot of different types of palm trees which have matured quickly, to provide shade which cuts down on our electric bill.

Sun May 4 2008, 10:46

Hello David,

We are so close to the equator it really doesn't make a difference on the position.
We don't have the north winds like you do in the U.K.

It really depends on what home is next to you and the position of the house for north facing pool.
I was doing an open house a few weeks ago on a house with a north facing pool, by 11:00 the whole pool was in the sun and was that way until the sun went down.
East facing pools will get the morning sun. West facing pools will have the sunset view.
South facing pools, ideally ,will get the sun all day long but if you have no covered area it can be over welming. Again, it depends what is built around the house.

Sun May 4 2008, 09:26

Hi, I was a Realtor and Resident of Florida for over ten years. The only advise I have is whether or not you have a pool, which quite a lot of FL homes do, if you have a pool, ideally is to face East to West. Having westerly exposure in the rear on your pool area extends the sunlight hours well into evening. Otherwise plan the sun for your enjoyment...gardening, pool, sun-shade...the north side is the least amount of sun. Hope that helps

Sun May 4 2008, 07:27

David,

ask four experts on this, and you will get 13 answers.

I live in Fla for over 16 years, and I will avoid east-facing gardens, because I don’t want to be in the shade when I’m not working, namely in the evening. (As a result, you shade the west-facing windows to keep the house cool).

But some of my friends scold me and say “you are an estate agent, you should know better. You need an eastern garden, for the cooling ocean breezes (off the Atlantic coast).” Which makes me wonder if the breezes don’t like breezing from the front of the house to the rear, only the other way around.

One thing (or your agent) you should pay attention to is that a pool is not shaded, because pools can get a tad too cool in winter for swimming in any case. The right pool exposure will lower pool heating bills.

Some colleagues will disgree with me, but I would not let the direction influence me too much if the house is a good fit otherwise.

All the best,

Tobias Kaiser, MS, CIPS
Greater Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Broker + Consultant
Certified International Property Specialist

Sun May 4 2008, 07:13

Not at all. The only time I've ever had a home buyer concerned about the direction their home faced, t was due to religious reasons. Now, some may prefer to have a N or S facing home due to the fact that there will be fewer windows facing E and W, creating a more energy efficient environment. The sun here in FL can be brutal and many windows on the E and W sides of the home will definitely impact your air conditioning bills.

Sun May 4 2008, 07:07