We’re willing to study legal documents, calculate returns, and research neighborhoods…

But sometimes the final decision unexpectedly comes down to numbers, omens, and superstitions.

“No, not the 13th floor.”

“Apartment No. 13? We won’t even look at it.”

“Did someone live here before?”

The interesting part is that superstitions vary from country to country.

🇷🇺 In Russia, many people are wary of the number 13.

🇹🇷 In Turkey, people tend to be much more relaxed about it. Buyers are far more likely to focus on practical factors such as the quality of construction, the neighborhood, and the building itself.

🇨🇳 In China, many people avoid the number 4 because its pronunciation is similar to the word for death. On the other hand, 8 is considered a symbol of wealth and good fortune, so apartments with this number can even command a premium.

🇯🇵 In Japan, both 4 and sometimes 9 are considered unlucky, as they are associated with death and suffering.

International developers have long been aware of these cultural differences. That’s why, in some buildings, you won’t find a 13th floor at all—and after the 39th floor, you may suddenly see the 50th.

But from an investor’s perspective, real estate doesn’t believe in superstition.

It only recognizes four things:

✔️ Location
✔️ Legal clarity
✔️ Liquidity
✔️ The relationship between today’s price and future value

If an apartment with an “unlucky” number is priced below comparable properties but sells at the same market value a few years later, that superstition can unexpectedly become… extra profit.

Sometimes the best investment opportunities are the very ones that people afraid of certain numbers walk away from.

You don’t need to eliminate fear completely.

Fear exists to protect us.

The key is making sure your decisions are based on facts—not emotions.

✔️ Ask yourself one simple question:

“If I removed the apartment number, the floor, and every superstition associated with it, would I still buy this property?”

✔️ Focus on what truly determines value.

Location, legal documentation, construction quality, infrastructure, future growth potential, and liquidity are what matter.

✔️ Separate personal beliefs from investment decisions.

If you’re buying a home to live in and you know you’ll never feel comfortable in Apartment No. 13, don’t buy it. Peace of mind has value too.

But if you’re investing, calculate the return—not the superstition.

✔️ Look at the data.

Property values rise or fall because of demand, location, economic conditions, and the quality of the asset—not because of the apartment number.

✔️ Don’t make the decision alone.

Discuss the property with a lawyer, a real estate professional, or someone who can evaluate the numbers objectively, without emotion.

And one final thought…

There is an old saying:

The most expensive decisions in life are often made not because we don’t know enough—but because we’re afraid.

Sometimes the greatest risk isn’t buying the wrong property.

It’s walking away from an excellent opportunity simply because the number on the door didn’t feel “right.”