Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of floor selection in real estate purchases, highlighting six specific floors that should be avoided due to various risks and disadvantages [1][3]. Group 1: Floors to Avoid - **Steel Beam Floor**: This floor type has significant hidden risks, including limited renovation options due to complex steel structures, high leakage risk from poor sealing, and poor air circulation leading to potential health issues [5][7]. - **Waistline Floor**: Characterized by poor lighting and ventilation due to small window sizes, this floor can accumulate water and become a dumping ground for debris, leading to hygiene problems [9][11]. - **Equipment Floor**: This floor houses essential machinery, resulting in constant noise and high temperatures, which can disrupt living conditions and comfort [13][14]. - **Street-Level Commercial Units (Low Floors)**: These units face severe noise pollution and poor air quality from street traffic and nearby businesses, negatively impacting the living environment [16][18]. - **Second Floor**: This floor has a notable "backflow" risk, where sewage can enter the home, causing significant inconvenience and potential financial loss [20][21]. - **Ground Floor (No Garden)**: Often perceived as convenient, this floor suffers from poor lighting, dampness, and security issues, making it less desirable for residents [23][24]. Group 2: Considerations for Homebuyers - Homebuyers are advised to conduct thorough research and site visits to understand the surrounding environment, property management, and design details before making a purchase decision [27].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of carefully considering floor selection when purchasing a property, highlighting that certain floors may have hidden drawbacks that could affect living conditions and safety [1][20]. Group 1: Advantages of Specific Floors - The 4th floor is seen as a practical choice due to easy access, better views, and quicker emergency escape, while the 18th floor offers advantages like reduced noise, fewer insects, and better lighting [5][3]. Group 2: Floors to Be Cautious About - The article identifies five types of floors that should be approached with caution: 1. **Flood-prone Floor (typically the 2nd floor)**: New buildings may have design flaws that lead to sewage issues, making this floor a potential hazard [10]. 2. **Equipment Floor**: This floor houses essential machinery, which can generate noise and heat, negatively impacting living comfort and health [12]. 3. **Waistline Floor**: Aesthetic features can obstruct light and airflow, leading to dark and damp living conditions [14]. 4. **Steel Beam Floor (e.g., 3rd, 7th, 10th, 17th floors)**: Structural issues may arise from construction practices, posing safety risks during seismic events [16]. 5. **Obstructed Low Floors (1st to 3rd floors)**: These floors may suffer from poor lighting and ventilation, increasing the risk of mold and exposure to noise and pollution [18].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting residential floors based on practical living conditions rather than superstitions about "unlucky" floors, highlighting five overlooked floor types that can significantly impact living experiences [1]. Group 1: Overlooked Floor Types - **Upper Floors of Commercial Properties**: These floors are often noisy due to street activity and can suffer from light pollution at night, leading to disturbed rest and potential safety hazards from nearby restaurants [2][4]. - **Equipment Floors**: These areas house large machinery that operates continuously, posing health risks due to noise and electromagnetic radiation, especially when sold at lower prices [5][4]. - **Waistline Floors**: These floors can obstruct natural light for residents below and pose safety risks for those above due to falling objects and potential criminal activity [5][4]. Group 2: Specific Floor Challenges - **Top Floors (No Attic)**: While they may offer privacy and lower prices, these floors suffer from poor insulation, making them uncomfortable in extreme weather and prone to water leakage during rainy seasons [7][4]. - **Ground Floors**: These floors provide convenience and outdoor space but are plagued by noise, insect issues, and safety concerns from above, along with generally poor lighting conditions [10][4]. Conclusion - The article concludes that homebuyers should avoid blindly following superstitions about "unlucky" floors and instead conduct a rational analysis of each floor's practical implications to ensure a comfortable, safe, and healthy living environment [10].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint emphasizes the importance of careful consideration when purchasing a home in China's expensive real estate market, highlighting that various factors such as floor type, location, and surrounding amenities significantly influence buyer decisions [1] Group 2 - The top floor offers advantages like privacy and good views but has significant drawbacks including poor insulation leading to high electricity costs and potential water leakage issues [2] - The first floor is convenient for elderly residents and often comes with added features like small gardens, but it suffers from low privacy, noise pollution, and moisture problems [4] - The second floor inherits many issues from the first floor, such as noise and ventilation problems, and also faces unique challenges like sewage backflow and limited drying space for laundry [6] - The waistline floor, often overlooked, has insufficient lighting and ventilation, lacks clear pricing advantages, and shares noise and privacy issues similar to lower floors, resulting in poor cost-effectiveness [8]

Core Insights - In China, home buying is closely linked to significant life events such as residency, marriage, children's education, and retirement, making it a crucial aspiration for many families [1] - The choice of floor in a residential building is often a contentious issue, with some buyers superstitiously avoiding certain floors while experts recommend a "two-four not to choose" principle for optimal living conditions [3][5] Group 1: Recommended Floor Choices - The "two choices" refer to prioritizing two types of floors: the second-to-top floor, which offers excellent lighting, ventilation, and views while avoiding common top-floor issues, and the middle floor, which minimizes noise and dust interference, ensuring comfort even during elevator outages [3] Group 2: Floors to Avoid - The "four not to choose" refers to four types of floors to avoid: - The top floor, which suffers from extreme temperatures, high air conditioning costs, potential water leakage during rainy seasons, and significant inconvenience during elevator failures [7] - The ground floor, which has privacy issues, requires additional security measures, suffers from pest problems, lacks sufficient sunlight, and is more susceptible to noise from the ground [7] - The waistline floor, designed for aesthetic purposes, poses risks of falling objects and water leakage for upper residents, while lower residents face lighting issues [7] - The second floor, which inherits some ground floor disadvantages and is at risk of sewage backflow, particularly in summer, along with potential shading from tall trees affecting light and drying clothes [7] Group 3: Conclusion - Homebuyers should analyze their needs rationally, avoid superstitions, and select the most suitable floor to ensure a comfortable, safe, and convenient living experience [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the misconceptions surrounding certain floor numbers in residential buildings in China, particularly the 4th and 14th floors, which are often avoided due to superstitions but are actually considered valuable by knowledgeable buyers [1][3]. Summary by Sections Misconceptions about Floor Numbers - The numbers "4" and "14" are traditionally avoided due to their negative connotations in Chinese culture, with "4" sounding like "death" and "14" interpreted as "want to die" [3][4]. - Despite these beliefs, the 4th and 14th floors do not have significant structural issues and offer advantages such as reduced noise and better ventilation compared to higher floors [3][4]. Market Insights - Data from a real estate platform indicates that the transaction period for second-hand homes on the 4th and 14th floors is 15% shorter than for other floors, with prices being 3%-5% higher [3][4]. Problematic Floor Types - The article identifies three types of floors that should be avoided: 1. **Second Floor**: Often becomes the "drainage endpoint" of the building, leading to a high probability (70%) of sewage backflow issues [6][7][8]. 2. **Steel Beam Floors**: These floors are prone to water leakage due to poor construction practices, with a 32% incidence of leakage in recent second-hand home disputes [9][10]. 3. **Top Floor**: Particularly those without an attic, which suffer from extreme temperature variations and frequent leaks, leading to significant maintenance costs [11][12]. Buyer Behavior - Younger buyers are increasingly aware of the issues associated with top floors and are less likely to be swayed by sales pitches that emphasize views and privacy [12][13]. - The article emphasizes the importance of thorough inspections and understanding the structural integrity of a property rather than relying on superstitions when making purchasing decisions [12][13].