Introduction

For many British homeowners, the number on a front door carries more meaning than ever before. As interest in personalised living, symbolism and energy awareness grows, the conversation around house numbers is shifting from superstition to significance.

Whether it’s the lucky number 7, the often-avoided number 13, or the empowering master numbers of numerology, house numbers may influence perceptions in ways that may affect property value, appeal or desirability overall.

This guide explores the intersection of numerology and superstition in the UK property market. Drawing on expert insights and valuation trends, we unpack how numbers shape buying decisions, emotional response and market perception.

Why Numbers Matter in Numerology

In numerology, each number from 1 to 9 and the ‘master numbers’ 11, 22, and 33 all carry their own unique energy. These numbers are believed to influence how we experience everything from personal growth and relationships to the energy of a space.

Whether it’s the number that appears in a birth date or above a front door, its meaning stays the same. What changes is how that energy shows up in context. For example, in a home, it might influence the atmosphere while in a birth chart, it could reflect a personality trait.

Add up the digits of your address until you reach a single number (unless it’s a “master number” like 11 or 22). For example:
42 → 4 + 2 = 6 → This is a 6 house. You calculate the main building number first, then add any unit number or letter.

Example:
36B → 3 + 6 = 9 → plus 'B' = 2 → 9 + 2 = 11 → Master Number 11 house
(Letters are converted to numbers based on this system: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.)

Interior Styling by Numerology

While numerology gives us the energetic blueprint of a house number, Feng Shui offers practical tools to work with that energy through styling, symbolism, and layout.

Feng Shui expert Inbaal Honigman explains how your home’s number can guide choices in colour, décor, and even the front entrance:

"No number can be better or worse than another, but sometimes it’s a good idea to influence a house number which doesn’t feel aligned with your personality or family dynamic. Feng Shui helps bring balance. For example, by softening the energy of a very businesslike house, or amplifying prosperity in a more nurturing home."

Colour and Styling Tips for Challenging Numbers

If your house number feels "off" or energetically intense, small styling choices can help adjust the atmosphere. Inbaal suggests:

"When a number feels too emotional, colours like gold, green and orange can encourage prosperity, along with symbols like coins, bamboo, and fish sculptures . If it feels too material or businesslike, go for pinks and reds, and then pair those colours with figurines like cranes or mandarin ducks. These combinations invite love and emotional connection. Don’t try to cancel your house number’s energy entirely. There’s every chance that this number was placed in your path because you need it, not just because you want it."

Does Numerology Actually Have Impact on the Property Market and Value of Your Home?

Beyond practical factors like plot position or layout, there are also deeper cultural and psychological reasons why certain house numbers consistently perform better. In some communities, number symbolism has long influenced buying behaviour  and now, with growing public interest in wellbeing, energy awareness, and personal alignment, these subtle preferences are starting to shape UK property trends too.

The Most Popular House Numbers in the UK

Recent research from Barrows and Forrester analysed house sales across England and Wales over the last 12 months (excluding flats and non-standard properties), and found the most popular house number based on the sheer number of transactions, was number 2 with 15,014 sales. Just behind it was number 1, with 15,000 sales.

Numbers 3 through 10 complete the top ten in straightforward numerical order.

This trend held steady across various property types:

• Number 1 was most popular among detached homes.
• Number 2 led the way for semi-detached houses.
• Number 3 topped the list for terraced properties.

These results make sense on a practical level. Lower numbers tend to be more common and often appear on corner plots or end-of-terrace homes that typically offer more space and privacy. According to Barrows and Forrester’s Managing Director, James Forrester, this can directly affect value.

“Low numbers such as 1 and 2 are often found on corner plots, or at the end of a terrace, thus gaining a larger footprint, more outdoor space, more privacy, and, therefore, a higher value.”

The Most Valuable House Numbers

When it comes to value, results are more surprising. The most valuable house number overall was 197, with an average selling price of £325,000. Close behind were:

• Number 1 – £320,000
• Number 150 – £320,000
• Number 2 – £315,000
• Number 102 – £315,000

For specific property types:

• Detached homes: 110 (£490,000)
• Semi-detached homes: 136 (£315,000)
• Terraced homes: 154 (£277,000)

It’s clear that certain numbers may come with added desirability whether due to plot advantages or cultural preferences.

Numerology and Buyer Psychology: What the Experts Say

While practical factors clearly play a role, our experts believe that deeper psychological and energetic patterns may also influence why certain house numbers sell faster or command higher prices. Subtle number preferences shaped by personal beliefs, cultural background, or even unconscious attraction, can affect how buyers feel about a property.

The Top Selling Numbers

• Robin Edwards (Property Buying Expert): “We’ve definitely seen buyers lean toward numbers like 1 and 2. There’s a perception that number 1 is the best, which is why you see developments branded ‘One Hyde Park’ or ‘One Mayfair.’ It’s simple psychology: number 1 feels exclusive.”
• Jane Alton (Numerologist): “Subconsciously, buyers may feel more drawn to certain number energies. For example, the number 8 is associated with success and achievement in a chaotic world. Many people want to feel 'in charge' and ‘in control’ in their home space especially in uncertain times. Similarly, 1 is linked to leadership, new beginnings and a masculine focused energy.”

• Kristian Goodenough (Founder of The Bespoke Sign House): "At The Bespoke Sign House, we’ve seen clear patterns in number choices. Odd numbers account for over half of our orders, with number 1 consistently the most popular - followed by 2, 4, 3 and 8. While number 7 remains a lucky favourite, number 13 stands out as the least ordered number between 1 and 20, with sales significantly lower than its neighbours. It’s clear that for many homeowners, house numbers are more than just practical - they’re personal."
• Jane Alton (Numerologist):

On the number 8: “The number 8 is linked to success in the material world. It’s the manager, the builder, the achiever. In times of uncertainty, many people crave that sense of stability and achievement at home.”

On the number 1: “While 1 is leadership and drive, 2 brings harmony and diplomacy. Together they create a balanced dynamic, which may subconsciously appeal to buyers seeking a supportive home environment.”

On the number 3: If you look at the three, you've got lots of light coming in. You've got the trinity - masculine, feminine, creativity all working together. The number three is very creative and its energy is fluffy and happy.

For home buyers, this energy could represent a bright, creative, and harmonious living space that fosters positive feelings and new possibilities. This may explain its popularity as a top-selling number.

Cultural Preferences and Emotional Pull

Numbers are not emotionally neutral. In many cultures, specific digits carry strong connotations:

• 4 is avoided in Chinese communities because it sounds like “death” in Mandarin and Cantonese.
• 8 is considered extremely lucky, associated with prosperity and success.

The Case of Number 13

When it comes to house numbers, few are as charged with cultural meaning or market consequence  as the number 13.

The longstanding superstition surrounding 13 continues to influence both buyer behaviour and development decisions across the UK. Many new-build developments avoid the number altogether, substituting it with “12A” or skipping directly to 14, a practice confirmed by multiple sources, including Stone Real Estate and Property Reporter.

Property Buying Expert Robin Edwards confirms: 

“A lot of new developments will not include a number 13.  That's not unusual at all. Even non-superstitious buyers tend to joke about it or feel uneasy. You’ll often see developments or hotels skip straight from 12 to 14. I’d say people are probably more superstitious about it now than they were in the past.

He continues:

“I do think it affects buyer behaviour. It can be enough to put someone off and if I was selling a house that was number 13, I’d definitely consider changing it to something like 12A. Properties with that number can take longer to find a buyer or go under offer. Even if someone ultimately goes ahead, there’s often hesitation. It just adds another complication.

This isn’t just anecdotal. According to research by Stone Real Estate and reported by Ideal Home, homes numbered 13 have historically underperformed:

• In 2019, number 13 homes sold for 8% less than comparable properties - an average discount of £21,908.
• In 2024, homes numbered 13 in England and Wales sold for an average of £260,000, which is 12.2% less than the wider market average. This equates to a drop of £36,203 for the average seller
• For new builds, number 13 homes sold for 2% less than others.
• The number was so unpopular that it appeared in just 1.1% of property sales and 0.8% of new builds at the time.

While it's easy for this to appear as simple superstition, the question of why some numbers holds such sway, and whether their influence remains open.

So, is this simply about cultural superstition? Or is there something deeper at work?

Understanding the Number 13 Through Numerology

From a numerological perspective, Jane explains why the energy of 13 can feel heavier for some buyers:

"With the number 13, you've got the 1 which represents that unstoppable drive, and then the 3, which is all about creativity and ideas. Together, they add up to 4 which is about structure and stability. It's really about using your creativity to transform things and build something solid."

Jane adds that buyers may instinctively pick up on this energy: "Subconsciously, people may sense that a 13 carries quite intense energy. For some, it can bring up a sense of having to work harder or that things won't flow quite as easily."

Turning It Into a Positive

Jane encourages buyers to view 13 as a number of potential transformation:"Sometimes what feels challenging is exactly the energy you need to grow. There's great creative energy within the 13. When you push through, it can bring transformation, stability, and a new beginning."

Conclusion

From market trends to personal stories, it’s clear that house numbers can hold more influence than we might expect. Whether through cultural associations, buyer psychology, or numerological energy, there’s no denying that a home's number holds significance. 

For developers and estate agents, understanding these patterns can offer a competitive edge when marketing homes to an increasingly conscious audience.

For homeowners and buyers, numerology adds another layer of personal meaning. It can help you choose, style or simply understand your space in a way that feels more aligned with who you are and where you want to go in life.

As the experts in this guide suggest, whether you're buying your first home, renovating, or selling, it’s worth tuning into the subtle energy of your house number. You may just find it brings unexpected insight and perhaps a touch of magic to your home.