U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME

A HANDBOOK FOR PROSPECTIVE

HOME OWNERS

BUILDING AND HOUSING PUBLICATION BH17

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. LAMONT, Secretary BUREAU OF STANDARDS

GEORGE K. BURGESS, Director HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME

A HANDBOOK FOR PROSPECTIVE

HOME OWNERS

PREPARED BY JOHN M. CRIES

JAMES S. TAYLOR

Foreword by Herbert Hoover

I2d EdiUon, August, 1931J

BUILDING AND HOUSING PUBLICATION, BH17

[SUPERSEDES BH4]

UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON ; 1931

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. Price 5 cents
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CONTENTS

Foreword

Percentage of home ownership...^

Introduction ' Problems of home ownership ^ How MUCH TO PAY FOR A HOME

How much can one afford to pay for a home?

The range of safe expenditure

Percentage of income to devote to paj^ments

Where does money count for most? Written agreements

Financing

Saving required

Saving with a budget

Safety for savings

Where not to put savings

Speculation in lots Policy loans unwise

Mortgages

First mortgages

Second mortgages

Discounts on second mortgages

Lender must be honest Financing during building

Borrowing from building and loan associations Purchase where title does not pass at once Paying off the loan by installments General property considerations , Basis for the choice

List of considerations General location

|v Low or high land values Transportation facilities Protection for the home

Specific location " Character of the neighborhood

Schools, parks, and playgrounds

Desirable points for the lot Buying a lot How much to spend for the lot Checking property values Making the purchase

Examination of title House plans and quality of construction

General arrangement

Living room and fireplace

Dining room

Kitchen

Bedrooms and closets Bathroom

Stairways ^ Basement

Conveniences ! V The house and its surroundings

Buying or building

Building a house

Knowing one’s wants Complete house plans 15

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13

13

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14

14

it hi
IV OONTENTS

Building a house—

C

ontinued. Page. Obtaining building permit 15 Contracting with one or many 15

Selecting the contractor 16

Building contracts 16 AU contracts should be signed 16 Paying contractor 16 Ways of reducing the building cost 16 When to build- 17 Things which can not be seen 17 Buying a house 17 Buying a new or an old house 17 Points to be examined 18

Is the outside shell of the house watertight? 18 Condition of plaster means much 18 Woodwork 18 Plumbing fixtures 18 Heating plant 19 Painting 19 Roofing 19 Other items 19 Maintenance costs and expenses of home ownebship 20

Renewals and repairs 20

Property tax and special assessments 20

Insurance 20 Water tax or rent 21

Accessories 21 Improvements 21 Conclusion 21 Appendix.—

F

inancing tables and notes. 22
FOREWORD

By Heebert Hoover

Buying or building a home requires the use of sound judgment in

seeing that the personal needs of the family are best met with the

funds available. It involves not only the carrying on of transactions

of financing and buying or building but it involves the proper determination of location with respect to school, to work, and to neighborhood.

This handbook aims to set down the broad outlines of the problem

as they confront the home seeker and to describe the steps and

precautions to be taken in carrying out the transaction with the

least possible risk and the best assurance of final satisfaction. Mention is made throughout of the assistance that may be expected from

the various groups or institutions with whom the home buyer or home builder will ordinarily deal. Maintaining a high percentage of individual home owners is one

of the searching tests that now challenge the people of the United

States. The present large proportion of families that own their

homes is both the foundation of a sound economic and social system

and a guarantee that our society will continue to develop rationally

as changing conditions demand.

A family that owns its home takes pride in it, maintains it better,

gets more pleasure out of it, and has a more wholesome, healthful,

and happy atmosphere in which to bring up children. The home

owner has a constructive aim in life. He works harder outside his

home ; he spends his leisure more profitably ; and he and his family

live a finer life and enjoy more of the comforts and cultivating

influences of our modern civilization. A husband and wife who

own their home are more apt to save. They have an interest in

the advancement of a social system that permits the individual

to store up the fruits of his labor. As direct taxpayers they take a more active part in local government. Above all, the love of home

is one of the finest instincts and the greatest of inspirations of our

people.

To-day, in the period of post-war recovery, when our national

[ productivity is increasing, we have the opportunity to make definite

I .progress in the right direction. Moreover, the development of the

I ^automobile has given a great impulse to suburban life and an inI creasing possibility of home ownership. Happily, a large section of

I the people is awake to the problem, and an increasing number of

I business groups have publicly acknowledged their responsibility and

I interest in it. They realize that unnecessary barriers that may

encompass a man determined to own his home are hindrances to good community spirit and to good business. They see that taldng

I a neighborly interest in developing sound financing and other maV
VI FOREWORD

chinery for the use of home seekers, and insisting on the observance

of honest, straightforward methods by those who deal with home

seekers is not paternalism but good business and good citizenship.

It is the “ square deal ”—and it is not only right but essential that

the cards should not be stacked against the home seeker. It is my v/ish in this foreword to express appreciation of the wholehearted cooperation received from the great number of individuals

and associations at whose suggestion this handbook has been pre- pared, and who have contributed so largely to it by furnishing subject

matter and constructive criticisms of preliminary drafts. Their

assistance was especially valuable, since it came from persons entitled to speak with confidence on account of their many years’ services

in behalf of home seekers. August, 1923.
Home ownership in the United States: Percentage of families owning their homes, hy divisions and States, 1900, 1910, and 1920

[Figures from the Bureau of the Census]

Division and State

Per cent of families owning

their homes Decrease

or in- crease 1900 1910 1920 from

1900 to 1920

United States 46.1 45.8 45.6 -0.5

Geographic divisions: New England . 42.0

36. 3

39. 7 39.8

37. 2 -2.2 Middle Atlantic . 35. 5 +.9

East North Central 53.9 52. 8 52.3 —1. 6 West North Central . . 58. 2 58. 2 56.4 42.0 —1 8 South Atlantic _ . _ .. 40.

1

40. 9 -H.9

East South Central .. 42.0 42 3 42. 7 +.7

West South Central . _ . 44.

1

42.9 42. 2 —1. 9 Mountain . 57. 6 58. 5 55. 2 —2.4

Pacific - 49. 7 53.0 47.9

59.6 -1.8

-4.9 New England: Maine 64. 5 62.3 New Hampshire . 53.6 51.0 49.8 -3. 7 Vermont..' . . . . 60.

1

58.4 57. 5 —2. 6 Massachusetts . 34.9 33.

1

34.8 —. 1 Rhode Island .. .. ... 28. 6 28.3 31.

1

4-2.5 Connecticut . 38.9 37.2 37.6 —1.3 Middle Atlantic: New York 33.

1

30.9 30.7 -2.4

34. 2 35.0 38.3 •f4.

1

Pennsylvania 41.

1

41. 6 45.2 +4.

1

East North Central: Ohio 52.4 51.2 51.6 -.8

Indiana . 55.9 54.7 54.8 -1.1

Illinois ... 44.9 44.0 43.8 -1.1 Michigan .. 62.0 61.6 58.9 -3.1

Wisconsin . 66. 2 64.4 63.6 -2.6 West North Central: Minnesota 63.0 61.7 60.7 -2.3 Iowa - .... 60. 5 58.4 58.

1

-2.4

Missouri . .. 50.5 50.9 49.5 -1.0 North Dakota... _ .. 79.2 75.1 65.3 -13.9 South Dakota .. . . .. ... 70.9 67.9 61.5 -9.4 Nebraska ... . 56.6 59.0 67.4 +.8

Kansas ... .. 58.9 59.1 66.9 -2.0

South Atlantic: Delaware ... .. . 36.2 40.6 44.7 4-8.5 Maryland . 39.7 43.9 49.9 4-10.2 District of Columbia 24.0 25.2 30.3 4-6.3 Virginia . ... ... 48.2 51.2 51.1 4-2.9 West Virginia 54.

1

49.2 46.8 -7.3 North Carolina . . 46.0 47.0 47.4 4-1.4 South Carolina 29.9 30.6 32.2 4-2.3 Georgia . .. 30.0 30.4 30.9 +. 9

^ Florida. 46.1 43.7 42.5 -3.6

East South Central: Kentucky .... ... 51.2 51.4 51.6 4-. 4 Tennessee 45.8 46.7 47.7 4-1.9 Alabama - 33.9 34.9 35.0 4-1.1 Mississippi . . . . - 34.2 34.0 34.0 -.2

West South Central: Arkansas 47.2 46. 4 45.1 -2.1

Louisiana 31.0 32.0 33.7 4-2.7 Oklahoma .. .. 54.0 45.4 45.5 -8.5

Texas . 46.3 45.1 42.8 -3.5 Mountain: Montana 56.0 59.3 60.5 4-4.5 Idaho .. -- 70.7 67.3 60.9 -9.8 Wyoming 53.9 54.1 51.9 -2.0

Colorado . 46.3 51.3 51.6 4-6. 3 New Mexico 68.0 70.3 59.4 -8.6

Arizona . . . 56.8 48.9 42.8 -14.0 Utah 67.5 64.6 60.0 -7.5 Nevada 65.8 53.3 47.6 —18.2

Pacific: Washington . . 53.9 57.1 54.7 4-. 8 Oregon .. 58.1 59.7 54.8 -3.3

California 46.0 49.4 43.7 -2. 3

Note.—The above table shows that in 1900, out of every 1,000 families in the United States, the homes they lived in, but in 1920 the proportion had dropped to 456 out of every 1,000 TM States and the District of Columbia showed an increase in percentage of home ownership, whde the rem^

ing 28 States showed a decrease. The 10 leading States in respect to home ownership m 1920 were, in order, North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Maine, New Mexico, and Michigan. vn
Home ownership in cities with 100,000 or more ifiJiabitants, 1900, 1910, and 1920

[Figures from the Bureau of the Census]

Akron, Ohio

Albany, N. Y

Atlanta, Ga

Baltimore, Md

Birmingham, Ala

Boston, Mass

Bridgeport, Conn

Buffalo, N. Y

Cambridge, Mass

Camden, N. J Chicago, I1L_-

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio Columbus, Ohio - Dallas, Tex,._.“ Dayton, Ohio. Denver, Colo Des Moines, Iowa

Detroit, Mich

Fall River, Mass

Fort Worth, Tex Grand Rapids, Mich

Hartford, Conn

Houston, Tex

Indianapolis, Ind

Jersey City, N, J Kansas City, Kans

Kansas City, Mo

Los Angeles, Calif

Louisville, Ky

Lowell, Mass

Memphis, Tenn

Milwaukee, Wis.

Minneapolis, Minn

Nashville, Tenn New Bedford, Mass New Haven, Conn New Orleans, La New York, N. Y... Manhattan Borough, Bronx Borough

Brooklyn Borough... Queens Borough Richmond Borough.. Newark, N. J Norfolk, Va

Oakland, Calif Omaha, Nebr

Paterson, N. J

Philadelphia, Pa

Pittsburgh, Pa

Portland, Oreg

Providence, R. I Reading, Pa

Richmond, Va.

Rochester, N. Y

St. Louis, Mo

St. Paul, Minn

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Antonio, Tex

San Francisco, Calif Scranton, Pa

Seattle, Wash

Spokane, Wash.

Springfield, Mass

Syracuse, N. Y

Toledo, Ohio

Trenton, N. J Washington, D. C

Wilmington, Del

Worcester, Mass

Yonkers, N. Y..

Youngstown, Ohio

Per cent of families owning

their homes

Decrease

or in- crease from 1900

to 1920 1900 1910 1920

63.7 60.4 44.7 -9.0

26.3 26.9 28.7 +2.4

18.6 24.7 24.7 +6.1

27.9 83.7 46.8 +18.4

13.8 29.7 28.1 +14.3

18.9 17.1 18.6 -.4

23.1 22.1 24.6 +1.6

82.9 34.2 88.6 +6.7

21.2 18.9 17.6 -8.6

25.7 29.2 40.5 +14.8

25.1 26.2 27.0 +1.9

20.9 23.2 28.7 +7.8

87.4 85.2 35.1 -2.3

31.2 85.7 36.6 +6.4

33.2 36.0 36.9 +3.7

38.0 88.1 41.9 +3.9

28.0 36.2 88.3 +10.3

38.5 45.6 61.1 +12.6

39.1 41.2 38.3 -.8

18.0 17.8 19.7 +1.7

88.0 34.7 38.1 +. 1 41.4 47.9 60.2 +8.8

21.8 21.5 20.8 -1.0

81.7 81.4 34.2 +2.6

83.7 33.0 34.5 +.8

20.0 20.2 19.7 -.3

33.7 46.1 47.6 +13.9

24.2 88.2 34.7 +10.5

44.1 44.7 34.7 -9.4

26.4 26.6 29.8 +3.4

22.9 22.4 26.1 +3.2

18.8 25.2 28.9 +10.1

35.9 86.4 36.5 -.4

28.7 40.4 40.9 +12.2

26.0 30.6 31.9 +5.9

27.9 25.3 28.6 +. 7 26.6 25.5 27.0 +.4

22.2 23.1 23.1 +.9

12.1 11.7 12.7 +. 6 4.4 2.9 2.1 -2.3

19.6 18.1 8.2 -11.4

18.0 18.8 19.3 +1.3

36.4 84.6 36.7 +. 3 36.7 37.7 42.7 +6.0

21.1 20.0 20.2 -.9

17.0 20.3 23.2 +6.2

41.9 46.7 42.0 +. 1 29.8 41.5 48.4 +18.6

23.2 24.0 27.4 +4.2

22.1 26.6 39.6 +17.4

26.7 28.0 28.3 +1. 6 31.4 46.3 44.6 +13.2

21.0 20.8 23.5 +2.5

37.1 39.6 46.6 +9.6

22.3 24.0 25.9 +3.6

37.8 42.1 42.6 +4.7

22.8 26.0 23.8 +1.

29.9 41.2 46.1 +16.2

40.0 45.1 44.3 +4.3

38.0 40.8 37.8 -.2

24.1 83.0 27.4 +3.3

37.9 87.6 85.5 -2.4

81.6 44.9 46.3 +14.7

37.2 61.3 44.6 +7.4

83.3 29,4 27.9 -5.4

37.4 89.7 87.9 +. 5 43.0 44.3 49.4 +6.4

26.2 31.2 88.1 +11.9

24.2 25.2 80.8 +6.1

27.1 80.4 88.3 +11.2

24.9 24.4 27.7 +2.8

23.4 23.6 23.5 + 1 45.1 40.7 47.8 +2.1 Note.—That it is possible for a large city to increase its percentage of home ownership substantially

is shown by the above table, although generalizations from the figures given must allow for the fact that the corporate limits of some cities include many suburban dependencies, while others include few or none. Obviously the growth of home ownership lies more in the frnges of cities than in the centers. Fifty-five

of the 68 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants in 1920 showed an increased proportion of home owners in 1920, compared with 1900, while only 13 showed a decrease. The 5 showing the greatest improvement were Omaha, Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Paul, and Camden. Only 2 of these, however, were included in the 5

cities which in 1920 led the largest cities of the country: Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Toledo, Omaha,

and Youngstown. VHT
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME

A HANDBOOK FOR PROSPECTIVE HOME

OWNERS

i;

j The great majority of people have a strong desire to own their

]! homes. Some, to be sure, are forced to move frequently from city to city, and others have not yet saved up enough to make the first

' payment on the purchase of a home. So there is always a need of

I houses to rent. But an owned home with its many satisfactions is the ideal that most families wish to secure for themselves, and this

lij pamphlet is for their use.

1 The home owner is master of his dwelling. He can not be ordered

' to vacate, and the rent can not be raised. He can make alterations as he sees fit, and money spent for improvements adds to the value

of his own property. His family feels a sense of security, and finds a stimulant in earning and saving to pay for the home and in making

|! it attractive. Such are the rewards that each year lead hundreds

I of thousands of American families to buy or build homes for

I themselves.

j It is believed that those who can afford to buy or build a home

I will find help and encouragement in the following pages.

I The buying or building of a home deserves serious consideration.

_ It may take an hour to read this pamphlet ; it may take a few days

' or weeks to assemble the information any home seeker should have

I

in hand before he takes the decisive step that will commit him to pay a large part of his annual income for 10 or 15 years and which

will probably determine the neighborhood in which his children will

be reared. Would any man buy a partnership in a business with

t less knowledge ?

1 The pleasures and advantages of owning a home may be lost

* through worry about overdue payments, poor construction, or an

; unpleasant neighborhood. So it pays to make a careful decision

and avoid such worries.

7 It is hoped that those families who are not yet in a position to own

a home but who want to take the step also will find this pamphlet

j[ helpful, for homes may be purchased on a small down payment and

' monthly installments like rent. A family that has saved up enough

! to make a first payment and has paid its rent regularly when due has

I given good evidence of its ability to pay for and own a home.

T Preparations for home ownership can not begin too earlyc^ The

I* determination to acquire a home some day, and the belief that owning

' one is a normal part of a well-rounded life, are the first essentials,

and can be shared by children and their elders alike. Homes are usually bought from savings. Plabits of saving are best begun in

73129“—31 2

1
2 U. S. DEPARTMEITT OF COMMERCE

early childhood; but adults who have not already begun to save toward buying a home should start at once. Again, a person can i not begin too young to observe the different types and features of

houses ; such observation is useful in making a wise purchase. ' PROBLEMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP | Many find the buying of a home the largest investment they ever I make. It is a very important step. A purchase made wisely may | be the stepping stone to advancement and happiness, but a mistake

| may cause discouragement and a loss of all one’s savings. | Most men and women who buy a house have never done it before,

and are usually unskilled, as people generally are in the things they

do but once or twice in a lifetime. But lack of experience should

deter no one. There is a story of a man who, many years ago, came to Broadway

at Times Square, and decided to wait until he believed it would be i safe before crossing the crowded street. Twenty years have passed, I and he is still waiting for absolute safety. The story of many a

' family that has been ready to own a home is only too similar.

'

^ The prospective home owner who uses his common sense in con- i sidering the real needs of his family and his ability to pay, and who j checks his own judgment by consulting experienced persons, may go

ahead with full confidence. He need not be frightened by the mis- i takes of heedless persons who have been carried away by some novel j feature and coaxed into a bad bargain, or who have tried to buy

beyond their means. While some risks are involved, as is usually ji the case in obtaining anything worth while, the danger of failure is | relatively small when weighed against the advantages of an owned I home. j HOW MUCH TO PAY FOR A HOME | How Much Can One Afford to Pay for a Home ? —^Every family il must face this question. Most people know what they would like in

j the way of a home, and know that they could make payments at

least equal to the rent they are now paying. When they look over

j houses, or plans of houses, they find some that cost too much and

j others that are too small or too shabby to consider. The real problem

lies in getting a satisfactory home, one that will not absorb too much

of the family’s income nor yet be below its general living standards. 1 Before buying, the head of the family may wisely ask himself

1. What is the family’s annual income, and what will it probably

| be next year and the year after? I 2. If business slackens, is he likely to lose his position or have

| his earnings reduced? ^ I 3. Will anj^one else in the family be able to earn an income ?

| 4. What does the family now pay for rent each year ? l 5. How much of the income is being saved?

^ I 6. How much could the family afford to pay out each year in

paying for a house, and for the expenses that go with it?

j The Kange of Safe Expenditure.—It is a mistake to buy beyond

one’s ability to pay, for that usually results in the loss of the home j or in a most discouraging struggle. The purchase should be safe;

thus, if a family can not paj^ $7,500 for a house, a $5,000 house may

be within its means.
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 3

The amount that can be paid for a house depends partly on what

interest rates are charged for the money borrowed to make the

purchase and the rate at which the principal is to be paid off. These

fixed payments must be met regularly, and they must be met from

the family’s income. It is, therefore, always best to leave some margin of safety to provide for illness or other emergency. While

one may be too optimistic when an attractive house is in view, and

count on increased income that he may never receive, nearly every

family can and should cut down other expenses when the savings are

to be invested in a home.

Percentage of Income to Devote to Payments.—If a certain

family pays a sixth of its income for rent, it may be able to devote

one-fourth or more to buying and maintaining a house, for the

amount thus used may include both rent and savings. Kent, or payments on a home, may require anywhere from one-eighth to one- third of the family income, depending on the special circumstances

in each case. In addition to interest payments and installments on

the principal of a loan, allowance must be made for renewals and

repairs, taxes, special assessments, insurance, water tax, and various

accessories and improvements. Families accustomed to living in

apartments sometimes fail to allow for the cost of fuel for heating

purposes. Some of these expenses are discussed more fully on pages

20 and 21; and tables, which may aid the prospective home owner,

are given on pages 22 and 23. Where Does Money Count for Most?—Usually a house can be

obtained for less than the amount a family could pay if it were

pressed to the limit. Every family wants to spend its money so that

it “ goes the farthest,” and the exact amount to be spent on a home

can be determined wisely only by carefully checking over the family’s

needs and its expenses. There are, first of all, the obvious budget

items of food, shelter, and clothing. Proper nutrition, especially,

should not be neglected. In addition, there are expenses such as life insurance, doctors, hospitals, etc. If there are childreiij it maj^ be

wise to send them away to school, to buy a piano for their use, or to give them other advantages which cost money. Every family needs

a vacation and some recreation, and every family wants to contribute

to worthy causes. Automobiles or new pieces of furniture may be

wanted before the house is paid for. Many other items of expense can not well be avoided. If the amount put into a house is out of

proportion to other expenditures, the result is usually regretted.

In deciding how to spend money above the simple necessities of

life it is always best to note which expenditures have permanent

value. Money spent to provide education and wholesome outdoor

life for children, for instance, will help them throughout life, while

certain expensive amusements are harmful or less wholesome than

the simpler forms of play. Articles for the household that are useful or in good taste, again, may serve for many years, whereas expensive

foods are quickly eaten and soon forgotten.

^ WRITTEN AGREEMENTS

The importance of having agreements in regard to financing,

building, and purchasing, properly signed by both parties and

with careful attention to legal details, is stressed in this pamphlet.
4 U. S. DEPARTMEITT OF COMMERCE

Although the great majority of individuals and companies with

whom home seekers deal are honest and wish to do business honorably, if either party to an agreement should die or wish to move to another locality, it is important that the obligations of each should

be clearly defined. The executors of a contractor’s estate, for ex- ample, might not be able to carry out the terms of a loosely drawn

contract as the testator intended or desired. No good business man

should object to having his obligations, as he understands them, set down in writing and in accordance with legal procedure.

FINANCING

The man who has enough cash to pay in full for a home has no

worries about financing. Most people, however, can pay only part

of the price in cash and are obliged to borrow the rest. It must

always be remembered that the more cash one can pay down on a house the heUeT.

Borrowing money to buy a home is no disgrace. On the contrary,

it is normal and in many ways desirable. Many families in meeting

payments on a loan have learned the habit of saving, and have

continued it as a step toward financial independence.

Saving Kequired.

Most families who buy a home must pay for

it out of their own savings.

Usually it is desirable for them to possess, free from obligation, at

least one-fifth, or 20 per cent, of the value of the house and lot in cash. While arrangements often are made for a purchase with less, a larger

cash payment helps to insure a loan at a low rate of interest and one

that can be paid off comfortably. (See tables on pp. 22 and 23.)

In rapidly growing cities with increasing land values, the risks

taken b}^ lenders are not so great, and it is generally easier to borrow

up to a larger percentage of the value of the property bought,

although for the purpose of a home an increase in land values may

be of no advantage, since one result is to increase taxes. After the first payment is made, a family should be prepared to devote a certain amount of current savings toward paying off the

loan at regular intervals.

Saving with a Budget.

It is necessary to determine how much

money can be set aside to carry out the plan. Economy and saving

are necessary. What present expenses can be cut down ? A definite

plan for the future will best furnish the basis for a division or “ budget ” of one’s income. One way is to make a table of the regular

monthly expenditures, with the amount necessary for each item, by

the week, month, or year. The budget thus made should be given

a fair trial, and each item made to come within the limit set for it. If funds are being continually borrov^^ed from one purpose to be spent

for another, the budget loses its value.

Safety for Savings.—Savings should be placed where they are

fully safeguarded, yet yield a fair rate of interest. In general, it is well to have them in a financial institution which loans money on

real estate, for preference in loans is often given to stockholders and

depositors. Building and loan associations usually lend most of

their available funds on real estate, particularly to home owners, and

at the same time, they pay a fair rate of interest to depositors. Some
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 5

banks, especially savings banks, loan largely on real estate and maintain a real estate department for that purpose.

Where Not to Put Savings.—Ingenious schemes are used by

dishonest companies to attract savings from the unwary home

seeker. Some promise high dividends to investors, and also the

chance to obtain loans below the market rate of interest. Such

schemes are obviously not to be trusted. A number of concerns advertise loans at a low rate of interest,

when it really turns out that interest is still charged on the full amount of the loan even after half or three-quarters of it is paid off. This makes the real rate very high. In some excellent building and

loan associations, however, the nominal payment of interest at a

fixed legal rate on the whole amount results in quicker retirement

of the loan.

Certain “ loan trusts ” that are run for the profit of the promoters

have advertised that they will lend money to home buyers at 3 per

cent, but they pay no interest at all to depositors, who are lured

in by the promise of obtaining “ cheap ” loans. This method is unbusinesslike. The first few customers, often “ insiders ” representing

the promoters, may obtain loans cheaply. But they do so only at the

expense of later depositors, who may receive no interest at all on

their deposits for years, and who may not be able to borrow when

they need funds, or before the company goes out of business. Such

a company, as has been said, borrows money from its depositors and

pays them no interest; it lends the money at 3 per cent. Thus, as long as it operates it absorbs three times as much for expenses and

profit as an ordinary well-run building and loan association. Many

sound organizations of the latter type, for example, pay 5 per cent

interest on deposits and lend the money out again at 6 per cent, retaining only 1 per cent as a charge for doing business.

In every case an investor should note whether he will receive a

fair rate of interest if he should discontinue payments or withdraw

his deposits at any time; this should not bring a severe penalty.

Plans which propose to profit by the inability of any person to make

payments are essentially unsound.

It is a safe rule never to invest money in the stock or security of a concern unless the management is in the hands of men knoiwn to be

capable and honest. High rates of interest and the safety required

for investment of savings intended for home buying usually do not

go together. American people lose several hundred million dollars

of their savings each year by purchasing worthless securities promising large returns. Speculation in Lots.—One of the most common ways in which

savings are lost is through speculation in real estate.

^ Buying a lot in an improved section when one is ready to build is far different

from buying a city or suburban lot where streets^ have not been put

through, and where no water, gas, or sewer mains have been laid. Such a purchase is always in the nature of a speculation. It is well

to remember that taxes must be paid on eve^ loit and sometimes

special assessments, too. The outgo^ in holding a lot is certain

;

profits are uncertain. Money in a savings account, on the other hand,

keeps on earning interest for the depositor.

Policy Loans Unwise.—Some home buyers have borrowed cash on their life-insurance policies in order to meet their first payment.
6 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

This action is almost always improvident. It deprives the borrowers’

families of the full protection the life insurance should secure them.

The presidents of many of the most important life insurance companies advise strongly against policy loans, even though their companies assume no risks in making them.

A loan on an insurance policy, however, is not to be confused with an ordinary real-estate mortgage loan which an insurance company

may ^rant. Many of the companies which regard loans on policies as being against the real interest of policyholders take pride in the

number of their mortgage loans to home owners. Mortgages.

First mortgages. —Obtaining a loan with which to pay the balance between the first cash payment and the total cost of a piece of property is usuall}^ a simple matter when the amount

paid down amounts to 40 or 50 per cent of the whole purchase price.

The problem becomes harder as the proportion to be borrowed grows

larger. No matter what loans are required, it is always best for a person without experience in real-estate matters to borrow from a responsible loaning institution, if only for the benefit of its advice

in the matter of the validity of the title, seeing that all back taxes and special assessments are paid, that insurance is kept up, that there

are no mechanics’ liens or other claims against the property, and that

the price paid is reasonable and the value of the property not likely to fall within a few years. The fees charged and services rendered

by different institutions in arranging a loan may differ substantially

and may more than offset a difference in interest rates. In most cases a loan from a good bank, building and loan association, or insurance

company is an assurance that the proposition is considered sound.

When money is borrowed for the purchase of a home the lender

generally requires a mortgage or trust; that gives him the right to have the property sold at auction in case promised payments on the

interest or principal of the loan are not made regularly. A first mortgage up to 50 or 60 per cent of the value of a house and lot is considered one of the safest possible investments, and it should be

easy to obtain such a loan from a building and loan association,

savings bank, insurance company, trust company, or from some

individual—perhaps the seller of the house.

Second mortgages. —In many cases, however, it will not be possible

for the buyer to borrow all the money he requires on a first mortgage, and he may have to borrow additional funds on a second mortgage or note. The holder of the second mortgage takes more risk,

consequently rates of interest on second mortgages usually run

higher.

Bonuses or commissions of as much as 10 per cent are sometimes

required for placing a second mortgage.

The character of the home seeker is often a deciding factor in his

ability to obtain a second mortgage on reasonable terms. Discounts on second mortgages. —The contractor who builds a house

may take such a mortgage himself and expect to sell it at a quarter

or a fifth less than its face value. This fact should be borne in mind,

and he should charge less for the house if the buyer can pay cash. Second mortgages are sometimes obtainable from companies which

make a specialty of such business, from employers, and from individuals with money to lend.
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 7

Lender Must Be Honest.—The lender, if unscrupulous, may

encourage the purchase of an expensive piece of property when he

is confident the buyer can not meet the payments, so that he can

foreclose the mortgage and buy back the property himself at a forced

sale, when prices may be low. This is an additional reason for deal- ing with a responsible institution, which will usually advise against a purchase beyond one’s means. Financing During Building.

If the ovmer retains the title to his land and pays the contractor as the work progresses, he may have

to make some special arrangement to borrow money before the house

is complete. He will, of course, have to pay interest on the sum

so borrowed while he is still paying rent, and he may consider the

interest he pays during the construction period as a part of the first cost of his house.

Borrowing From Building and Loan Associations.—Building

and loan associations will, in many cases, prove the best means of

financing a home, for they are often able to loan as much as 70 to 80 per cent of the real value of a home, which is generally above the

limit allowed by law for savings banks and insurance companies.

Such a loan, therefore, may avoid the added complications, disadvantages, and expenses that may be involved in case both a first and second mortgage are required. Building and loan associations are often especially helpful in providing means of financing during

the construction of a new home. They are usually organized with

the chief aim of assisting home buyers and home builders. Their

system of selling shares on which payments must be made weekly or monthly has proved an invaluable aid to hundreds of thousands of

future home buyers in accumulating savings and furnishes a sound

and helpful scheme for paying off the principal of loans. The officers of these associations are generally able to give very

good advice to home buyers and frequently help them to avoid

unwise purchases.

Purchase Where Title Does Not Pass at Once.—In some States

cases arise where better terms can be made when the title does not

^pass to the buyer as soon as he occupies the home, but remains with

the seller for a few months, until the cash payments amount to 25

or 30 per cent of the total value of the property.

Agreements under these general circumstances assume a variety

of forms. It is especially important that the legal details be sound

in every respect and that the integrity of the seller be well established. It is safest to obtain the advice of a lawyer and observe

all the precautions outlined in the section on “ Making the purchase,”

pages 11 and 12. Paying Oef the Loan by Installments.—No matter how little or how much one has to borrow, it is good policy to pay off part

of the loan at regular intervals. This process of paying off the

principal a little at a time is called amortization. Thus, on a loan

of $1,000 at 6 per cent interest, payments of $10 a month, or |120 a year, will take care of the interest on the loan and cancel the principal

in less than 12 years, leaving the home free of debt. The president

of a large savings bank, who has also been president of the savings

bank section of the American Bankers’ Association, states

:

Paying off a loan in installments is like attacking an army in detail. The

borrower, instead of having one large payment to look forward to, has a suc- cession of moderate payments, which can be easily met.
8 U. S. DEPARTMENT OP COMMERCE

The payments agreed on for amortization are usually met regularly, so that the loans are paid off steadily out of savings. This

reduces the interest charges and leaves the family much better off financially in case of death or misfortune. AVhere no amortization

is agreed to, on the other hand, many loans are not reduced before

they fall due, and savings have not been built up to pay them off. Such loans sometimes drag along for a lifetime, and may be foreclosed when they cause great distress. The prudent course is to start paying off the loan as soon as the purchase is made. Most building

and loan associations provide that the loan may be paid off sooner than its maturity if the borrower so desires, and without disadvantage.

No mortgage on a home should be regarded as permanent, for if there is a shortage of mortgage money when it falls due there may

be difficulty about renewing it. Systematic provision for payment

of second mortgages is especially important; they should be amortized as quickly as possible.

GENERAL PROPERTY CONSIDERATIONS

Basis for the Choice.—One thing that a man should never forget when he is buying a home is that the home will be the center of his family life, probably for many years. His children will be

brought up in it and amidst its surroundings. In it his wife must

do most of her work, and in it both he and his wife will spend most

of their leisure time. He should, therefore, look at the different

properties available and see how they measure up by these commonsense, practical standards. It is well for the family to picture itself going through its daily routine in the new house—cooking, cleaning,

going to work, school, play, etc., at all seasons. The mere fact that a showy mantelpiece is displayed, that a 4-inch

steel I-beam supports the floor, that a radio set has been installed, or

that several French plate glass mirrors are built in doors should not

determine the buyer’s choice or induce him to pay an additional $500

for the property.

List or Considerations.—^In making sure that he is acquiring a

satisfactory home, a buyer, whether he realizes it or not, usually

takes into account most of the following factors. Several of them

do not apply in the case of purchases in towns and cities of moderate

size.Before buying, one should consider:

A. General location.

1. Low or high land values.

2. Transportation facilities: (a) To place of work and (5) to shopping centers.

3. Protection offered to homes: (a) Private restrictions,

(b) zoning ordinances and city planning, and (c) fire and police protection.

B. Specific location of the lot.

1. Character of the neighborhood.

2. Location with reference to school^ and playgrounds for

the children.
HOW TO OWN YOUK HOME 9

B. Specific location of the lot—Continued. 3. Desirable points for the lot: (a) Shade trees, shrubs, and

planting ; ( ) set of house with reference to sunlight

and prevailing winds; and (c) character of the soil and ' necessity for grading, filling, or draining.

C. Other safeguards in buying property.

1. Danger in buying a lot too long before building.

2. Extent of street and public utility improvements (paving, sidewalks, water supply, sewerage, electricity, ga^)

.

3. Possible assessments.

4. Proportion of lot value to total outlay.

5. Checking property values: (a) Land and (h) house. ^ 6. Plan of house and quality of construction.

7. Steps taken in buying. ^ 8. Examination of title. ^ General Location.—Choosing the general location for a home is .. usually a matter of compromise, but none the les^s important. A lit- tie forethought may show the futility of searching for property in 1

certain sections, or perhaps limit the choice to a given district, which - will permit better use of the time spent looking for the right lot. ^ Low or high land values.—In larger cities one must decide between ^ a small lot in a more convenient and accessible location, where land

values are higher, or a larger lot farther away from the center, where |

land is not so expensive. Thi^ problem is often closely bound up * with that of a single detached house as compared with a double house, or a house in a row. Detached houses on large lots are preferable,

but on narrow lots they frequently have middle rooms that depend i for light and air on side yards only 3 or 5 feet wide and may not J be so desirable as good row or semidetached houses.

A ^ite with a yard, especially where grass can be grown, is par-

^ ticularly desirable for families with children, and a space for a vege- |

table garden is also one of the advantages that may go with a good- |

sized lot. I

Transportation facilities.—The general location of the home may | depend largely on the part of the city in which the members of the

family are most likely to be employed. It should be either within | walking distance of the probable place of work or in reach of good

transportation. The mere promise that a trolley or bus line will be

provided is not enough. Ability to reach shopping centers is important for the housewife.

Protection for the home.—If a city is zoned it is almost always

safest to buy in a residential district where there is safety from

intrusion by factories, public garages, and scattered stores. If there is no zoning law, how about private restrictions? Are

there any restrictive clauses in the deed? In the deeds for all other

houses in the block ? If even one or two lots near by are unrestricted,

objectionable buildings might be erected on them. Is there a requir^

ment to build a house of a certain minimum cost? Could that much

be afforded? Are the private restrictions such that a home will

surely be protected? For what period do the restrictions run? It often happens that the private restrictions were made to run for, say, 25 years and they may be about to expire, leaving the home

73129“—31 3
10 U. S. DEPARTMENT OP COMMERCE

unprotected. Verbal representations concerning other buildings in

the neighborhood are of no binding force on their owners. The advantages of having a home within the jurisdiction of good

tire and police protection are obvious.

Specific Location.

Within districts that meet the family’s needs

as to general location the task of choosing a site may be made easier

if the points that affect the price or desirability are kept in mind

and can be readily balanced against each other. Many people, for

instance, object to a street on which there is much noise from street

cars, or on which there is heavy truck traffic at night. Streets car- rying through traffic are often dangerous, especially to children.

Ghm^acter of^ the neighborhood.—^While a family may think that it would like to live close to relatives and friends, this factor should not

be given too much weight. Nevertheless, the general type of people

living in the neighborhood is important, especially if there are chil- dren in the family, who should be brought up in the right kind of

surroundings.

Schools^ parhs^ and playgrounds.—Where there are young children

much of the family’s welfare and peace of mind may depend on being

near, say, within a half mile, of parks, playgrounds, and good

schools. The opportunity for wholesome outdoor play is the birthright that few care to see their own children deprived of, and if playgrounds and schools are not near by, additional cares and burdens are placed upon the mother.

Desirable points for the lot.—There is no denying the fact that most

people prefer a lot that is well set out with trees and shrubs and that can be made neat and attractive. The set of the house with reference

to prevailing winds and to the points of the compass may sometimes

be a deciding factor. Not only the size and shape of the lot but its location in the block

deserve attention. For instance, one side of a house may be made

most unpleasant if the kitchen or garage of a corner house next door

is too dose. A corner lot has advantages, but it may be doubly

assessed for street improvements, and requires longer fences and

sidewalks, which must be cared for both in winter and summer.

In general, land that is Vv^ell drained is best for residential purposes,

and a lot on firm, dry ground is better than one on marshy soil. If

the house foundations rest on filled-in soil they almost invariably

settle and cause damage to other parts of the house. The cost of

foundations and cellar may vary greatly with the character of the

soil. Sometimes rock close to the surface makes a lot more expensive

to develop. Where grading or filling will be necessary an estimate

of its cost should be obtained before the lot is bought and added to the price asked for the land. Few people appreciate how much filling

may be necessary to bring a low lot up to the right level. Buying a Lot.

In. many cases a family buys an improved lot and

starts building on it within a few weeks or months. This is vastly

different, as noted above, from buying several years in advance of

building. While there may be enough increase in land values, in

the latter case, to give some profit, a speculation is involved. The

outgo for taxes is sure, and there may be special assessments for

street and other improvements, which must all be added as part of

the cost of the lot. There is also a continual loss of interest on the
HOW TO OWH YOUE HOME Tf

money invested in the lot. Lots are frequently sold to innocent purchasers in a territory that will not be developed for years. It is to be noted that some cities prohibit building where s6wers have not been installed. One should consider all the factors mentioned in the

preceding pages and obtain advice from some dependable, reputable,

local real estate dealer, not from some transient or fiy-by-night

promoter, who sells out to “ suckers ” and moves on. How much to spend for the lot.—The question of how much to spend

for the lot itself depends largely on whether or not it is “ improved.”

Where streets, curbing, sidewalks, water, electric, gas, and sewerage

improvements have not been made, a lot may sometimes be obtained

for less than 5 per cent of the total cost of the house and lot, and 10

per cent should probably be the upper limit. If ail improvements

have been made, the cost of the lot frequently runs up to 20 per cent, but it should rarely exceed 25 per cent. “Front-foot” values, as shown by recent genuine sales, and assessed valuations may serve

to check values. The Jess expensive the lot the more money is left for the house

itself, and a well-constructed home on a cheap lot is far more desir- able than an unsatisfactory house on an expensive lot. Although a house that is very much more expensive than its neighbors might be

hard to sell at a good price, a very cheap house may add nothing at

all to the sale value of an expensive lot. Checking Property Values.—A fair appraisal of the house and

lot should be obtained from a disinterested third person. The intel- ligent man usually wants a better guide than the price asked by the

seller, who may either consciously or unconsciously ask too much.

The value of the house and lot, or the lot alone, is determined largely

by its desirability for a home. The general and specific location, and

the public improvements available all have their influence. Their

value can best be estimated by an expert.

An appraisal of the property by a building and loan association

is generally safe. Sometimes financial institutions will loan ap- proximately 60 per cent of the value of the property. If they will

not loan more than 40 per cent of the price asked, it may be assumed

that the price is too high. The judgment of dependable real-estate dealers is always worth while.

The reader maj^ find some suggestions to help him estimate the

relative value of different houses in the section on “ House plans,”

pages 12 to 14; on “Building,” pages 14 to 17; and on “Buying a house,” pages 17 to 20. Making the Purchase.

Customs vary in different localities as to the method of arranging a mortgage and completing the purchase

of a piece of property. In many places it is common to have a purchase offer or a sales contract signed in advance of the actual

transfer of the property. In the purchase offer the buyer agrees

to pay the holder a certain sum for the property, provided certain

conditions are complied with. When this offer is accepted by the owner it can be used as a basis for arranging loans with which to complete the transaction. ^ ^ ^ If the intended buyer makes a cash deposit with his offer it is particularly important that he should specify in it whether movable

property, such as window shades, gas fixtures, stoves, and other
T9 o!^commercb

items are included, and should state that risk from fire or elements

is assumed by the owner until the title passes. The offer should

also be dependent on whether the buyer obtains a satisfactory loan

to get the money needed to pay for the property, and on the owner’s

furnishing papers showing a good marketable title, free from back

taxes, liens, encumbrances, or objectionable easements. It is important for a buyer not to bind himself until he is sure exactly what he

is to pay for and has made definite financing arrangements. Otherwise he may suffer severe loss. The services of a good lawyer at the

time the purchase offer is made may be advisable.

Examination of title.—One must be certain that the title to a E

iece of property is good. The validity of a title may be insured

y a guarantee company, or its soundness assured by an abstract

company or a competent lawyer. In obtaining a loan a bank will

insist on some such evidence that the title is good. Some banks

and building and loan associations include a title search in the transaction. The buyer should satisfy himself that the boundaries and

corners of the lot are legally as represented to him.

In connection with the title it is well to note whether there are any easements which might, for instance, grant a right of way to a

neighbor, or allow a telephone company to place its poles upon or near the lot, or a water company the right to run its mains across the property.

Sometimes the title to the house is taken out in the name of both

husband and wife.

HOUSE PLANS AND QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION

The buyer of a finished house, or the builder of a new house, can

safely judge many of the points of design and construction for

himself. But he may well test his conclusions by consulting a dis- interested architect or good builder. He should be willing to pay

a small fee for this service, as it will be well worth it for his own

guidance.

Few houses will have all the good points desired and, as in the case of the site, the choice will be a compromise. In general, a good

quality of construction and a reasonably suitable arrangement of rooms should be given first consideration.

Methods of insuring a good quality of construction in building a new house and points to be examined in an old house are discussed in

later sections, but it is believed that readers with a taste for mechanical details will find the Department of Commerce pamphlet.

Small Dwelling Construction, most useful. Directions for obtaining

this pamphlet are given on the back cover. General Arrangement.—Before agreeing to buy a home, or

before building one, the plan or design must receive careful attention.

Not all houses are arranged for the convenience of the occupant.

For example, there are houses in which the dining room and kitchen

are separated from each other by another room, not a service pantry.

This means that as long as that house is used the housewife must

walk back and forth, taking a large number of unnecessary steps.

In some houses it would seem that no attempt had been made to n^ake the housework easy. Each room should have ample light, and
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 13

there should be wall space for the owner’s beds, bureaus, piano, and

other furniture.

Living Koom and Fireplace.

The living room will be the most

used of all the rooms and should, therefore, be well lighted and large

enough for the family needs. If the front door opens directly into

the living room, there is a danger of drafts in winter and in a cold

climate difficulty in keeping the living room heated. A vestibule or storm door may prevent this. Dining Room.

large dining room is a matter of choice. Where

it is used but three times a day it is the most expensive room in the

house. In many small houses a dining alcove in the living room or kitchen or a breakfast nook has proved satisfactory.

Kitchen.

Until recently little attention has been given to the

arrangement of the kitchen. For the woman who does her own

housework the location of the sink, drain boards, ice box or refrigerator, and stove, with reference to natural and artificial light and to each other, is most essential. There should be some provision for

carrying ofi the fumes from the gas range and gas oven. To lessen fatigue it has been found that the front of the sink should be 34 to 36 inches from the floor. A corner kitchen, with windows in both

outside walls, providing cross ventilation, has many advantages.

Convenient closets, or cupboards, are also desirable.

Bedrooms and Closets.—Bedrooms need not be very large but

should have plenty of light and air and should allow beds, dressers,

chests of drawers, and chairs to be placed without interfering with

doors, windows, or heating outlets. Cross ventilation is most desirable. It is not best to have bedrooms opening directly into the living room. If possible, entrance should be from a passage or hallway.

Ample clothes closets are most necessary, particularly in small houses

where there is little room for storage.

Bathroom.

The bathroom should have a window large enough

to keep it well aired. Sole access to the only bathroom in the house

should not be through a bedroom. Showy tile walls and floors are

less necessary than substantial convenient fixtures and plumbing.

Stairways.One should make sure that the stairways are easy to climb, have plenty of head room, and enough space for easy moving

of furniture. WTll there be a draft downstairs into the living room ? Basement.—If there is a cellar or basement with a heating plant or a laundry in it, this should be easy to enter, both from the inside

of the house and the outside. Concrete or smooth masonry floors are desirable, and there should be attention to convenient fuel stor- age and openings for receiving coal and removing ashes and trash. The basement should be damp proof and have draintile laid outside

the foundation walls if necessary to insure dryness. Screening of the

cellar windows and other precautions to prevent rats and mice from

entering are desirable.

Conveniences.—The electric and gas fixtures should be conveniently arranged for the comfort and use of the occupants. If elec- tricity is installed, special outlets for conveniences in each room are valuable.

The House and Its Surroundings.—Other things being equal,

every family prefers a house that is artistically designed, that is in a well-kept neighborhood with good street lighting and no overhead
14 U. S. DEPARTMENT OE COMMERCE

wires, on a lot with good trees, well-kept lawn, and attractive shrubs

and flowers. The buyer or builder should make sure that his family

want to live for 365 days a year, and for many years to come, in a house that looks like the one he has chosen.

As many rooms as possible should have the benefit of sunlight at some part of the day, and the living room should have a good outlook.

The driveway, garage, and service yard for clothes drying, etc., should be located where they will be convenient. They should allow

space for a lawn which ma^;^ be used as a playground for children and

as an outdoor sitting room, and, if possible, leave room for vegetable

and dower gardens.

In building it is most important to start with a good layout in

which these desirable points are allowed for as far as possible.

Standing trees should generally be retained and protected from in- jury during construction. The top soil from the excavation should

be gathered in one place and spread over the surface of the lot when

grading has been completed.

In buying a dnished house one should always remember what a

great change for the better can usually be made by cleaning up the

ground around the house, developing a good lavm with shrubs next

to the house and at the borders, screening off the back steps with a

treiiis, growing vines on fences, and planting flowers. The family

that wants to make its home attractive can do so at very slight

expense and with a comparatively small amount of edort.

BUYING OR BUILDING

The prospective home owner may either buy a dnished house or buy a lot and have a house built for himself. The man who is unable

to make the cash payment required on a house may be able to make

payments on a lot. A man may dnd a house of which he highly

approves or one which he can easily change to suit his needs. If the

price is right, it may be desirable to buy. His judgment as to materials and construction may be untrained and the house which he

would build might not be so good as the one he could buy.

A completed house may often be bought for less than one could

build it, owing to the extra expense of building one house as compared to the cost of building a dozen or a score of houses at the same

time, which is frequently done by large companies. Every prospective home owner must decide which to do—buy or build—and he

should investigate both plans thoroughly before he decides.

BUILDING A HOUSE

In building a house one should be sure

1. To know the family’s requirements.

2. To have good plans.

3. To have building operations well supervised.

4. To have explicit contracts, duly signed, and drawn with due

regard to lien laws.

Knowing One’s Wants.

Very frequently a home builder starts with only a poor idea of what he wants in the way of a house, or begins to build from a sketch he has worked out alone. Such houses

are rarely satisfactory, and as the house is being built changes must
HOW TO OWN YOUE HOME 15

be made. This is costly, for the price paid for extras is not obtained

under competitive bidding and is usually higher. One should never attempt to build without having a plan that satisfies him and that

has been made or checked by a competent architect. It is usually

hard to sell a house designed by an amateur.

Complete House Plans.

The best insurance of having a house

built right is to build from plans that are complete and insure good

construction throughout. Many of the plans obtained free are in- adequate and unsatisfactory, as is shown by the extras and changes

that are usually required after construction has started. House

plans should be so complete that the home builder, once his contract

IS signed, will not have to make extra expenditures, which may

seriously upset his financing arrangements.

Plans should be designed by some competent person or bought

from some organization that provides a complete plan service, such

as the Architects’ Small House Service Bureaus, which are non- profit-making organizations controlled by the American Institute

of Architects and indorsed by the United States Department of

Commerce.

Specifications should always go with the plans, and a complete bill of materials or quantity survey is most useful. This survey is the

guide to buying, for it gives a complete list of the items going into

the building. If the survey is well made it will not be necessary to order extras every day. There will be no extra delivery charges for

small lots. If standard sizes are specified in the survey, not only can they be obtained at a lower cost but renewals and replacements

will cost less. Obtaining Building Permit.—In most cities it is necessary to obtain a building permit from the municipal authorities, for which

a small fee is charged. The plans must be shown to the authorities

to see that they conform to the building, plumbing, and housing

codes, the zoning ordinance, and other city ordinances or State laws. Contracting with One or Many.—The contract for the finished

house may be placed with a single contractor who will be responsible

. for the entire job. This is usually the most satisfactory way, for

the contractor may be able to secure better terro.s and supervise the

work more effectively than the home builder. Ordinarily a dependable contractor is able to judge the quality of the work better than

the owner. Where a contract is let to a single’ contractor on a lump- sum basis the owner knov/s at the start what the cost of the house

will be, provided his plans are complete and he does not have to allow for extras. Sometimes most of the work is let to a general contractor, and

separate contracts are made by the owner for the lighting, heating,

and plumbing equipments.

Occasionally the owner lets separate contracts for each part of the

work and supervises it himself, but this procedure is usually

unsatisfactory.

Selecting the Contractor.—Builders of a home frequently make

the mistake of selecting some “ very nice man,” assuming that he

will build the house at the lowest possible figure. As a rule, it is best to obtain the names of several dependable contractors whose

financial standing is good and take bids from these, in order to check

against excessive costs. It is not necessary to accept the lowest bid,
16 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

and it may be well worth while to pay a little more to a contractor who is dependable and has a reputation for good construction work to

live up to. But it is not fair to ask bids from a contractor unless it is intended to give his bid reasonable consideration.

Building Contracts.—There are three main types of contracts that are used in building work

:

First. The contractor may be paid a lump sum for the work he

undertakes.

Second. The contractor may be paid for all materials and labor,

and receive in addition an agreed percentage of their cost. Third. The contractor may be paid for materials and labor, and

a fee for supervision fixed in advance.

The first, or lump-sum basis, has the advantage of settling the

cost in advance. The second method does not settle the total cost in advance, and unless it is modified the contractor will profit through

increased expenditure for labor and materials.

The contract forms should be drawn up with strict attention to legal requirements and should be fair to both parties. It is advisable

that they should provide for arbitration of disputed points before a third party. This insures a quick form of settlement for disputes

that might otherwise hold up completion of the contract or lead to. court action. The American Institute of Architects issues easily

obtainable standard contract documents that satisfy the requirements

mentioned.

All Contracts Should be Signed.The signature of both the owner and the contractor should appear not only on the contract but on the specifications and drawings, all of which should be included

as a part of the contract. This is most important where disputes lead

to court action.

Paying Contractor.—^Before making the final payment to a contractor, care should be taken to find out that all his bills for wages

and materials have been paid. If one borrows from a building and

loan association, bank, or insurance company, its officials will probably

help in making sure on this point. In some States lien laws make the owner of the house responsible for all bills. He is the only man

having material evidence of having received the benefit of labor

and materials. Should the workers or material dealers not be paid

by the contractor the law may give them a preferred claim or lien on

the property and the owner may have to pay a second time for such

work oir materials as the contractor failed to pay for. Wats oe Keducing the Building Cost.—A family always wants

in a house a number of things that are not absolutely needed. If

funds are limited, it is wise to leave some of the finishing touches

until the money is in hand to pay for them. This is sometimes true even when the actual cost with the workmen on the job would be

less than it would be later.

1. It has been estimated that on a five or six room house $50 to $150

may be saved by omitting basement partitions.

2. A porch may be added at any time, and by leaving it off $300

to $600 may be saved at a time when the initial cost is eating into

ready funds.

3. Stock sizes of doors, moldings, fittings, and sash cost less than

special millwork and there is less waste. There are plenty of good
HOW TO OWN YOUB HOME 17

styles in the stock sizes, and the architectural effect is often better

than when unusual and unique shapes are used.

4. Wide siding may be more attractive than narrow, but the price

at times is about twice as much.

5. Planting of the yard may also be deferred.

There are many other places where desirable economies may be

practiced, but slipshod workmanship or the use of faulty materials

should always be avoided, as it is costly in the long run and may

necessitate repairs and replacements shortly after the house is completed. It is better to build a small house well than to have a larger one badly built. When to Build.—Home builders often lose money by building

at the wrong time of the year. In many cases they put off their

decision or do not allow enough time for arranging the plans, making the contract, attending to legal requirements, etc., so that actual

construction starts in May or June. In a year when building is active this means that the contractor must employ most of his labor

for building this house during the period when it is hardest to get

good mechanics. In a great majority of American cities building

activity is normally at its height from June to September and is least active from December to March. Conditions, however, vary from

year to year, so one should get as good information as possible as to the best time to go ahead. Plans and other preliminaries should

usually be decided on during the summer or in the early autumn, so that advantage may be taken of any favorable opportunity to start construction in the autumn or early winter when it is usually easiest to ‘‘ avoid the rush.”

This not only should save the home builder money and insure a

better quality of workmanship, but helps avoid the general waste to the community and unemployment in building and other trades

which results from the present excessive ups and downs in building

activity.

Things Which Can Not be Seen.—In the completed house the owner can not determine the quality of certain materials or workmanship. For example, when a house is finished he will not be able to inspect the quality of electric insulation, nor can he see whether

or not there has been a proper nailing of studding, and bridging of

joists, or if there is good fire stopping. Concealed parts can not be

seen and appraised after the building is erected. In part, the owner

will have to rely upon examination of the quantity survey and the

work of the building inspector. It is easy to hide poor construction.

The studding and the upper floor joists may be of a very poor quality

of lumber. Brickwork that is covered may conceal poor workmanship as well as defective brick. The quality of subfioors can not be

obseiwed from an inspection of the completed building if the ceiling

has been plastered or ceiled. For protection from shoddy work the owner must depend upon the contractor, the architect, the builciing

inspector, and his own observation during the period of construction.

BUYING A HOUSE

Buying a New or an Old House.-—In buying either a new or an

old house, the condition of the building and the quality ot the con- struction must be carefully examined. Some points to be looke
18 U. S, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

for are the same whether the house is new or old, but if the old house

has not been kept in good condition it may be necessary to make

repairs promptly. The house may need a new roof, or require

painting, or some rooms need replastering, and others require papering. Again, the plumbing pipes may be badly rusted or the furnace

need replacement. Many other improvements may be necessary, so that in addition to the first cost, the purchaser may be obliged to spend from $500 to $1,000 to put an old house in order. If the

house is badly out of repair, it may cost still more. Points to be Examined.— buyer should look about the house

carefully to see if there are any signs of settling around the walls and

foundations. The foundation walls and basement floors should be

examined for cracks or leaks. The basement must be dry and

should have a floor drain. Center posts should be inspected to see

if they are sound and free of dry rot at top and bottom. Find out whether there are signs of damage in posts, sills, joists, and other

woodv/ork, caused by termites or other destructive insects. It is well to look at girders, especiall}^ under partitions, and floor joists

supporting the floor to see whether they are level and free from

sagging. Note whether there are bridging strips between the joists to make the framing more rigid. Is the outside shell of the house water-tight?—The outer masonry

wails or stucco should be examined carefully for cracks, and in the

case of a frame house the soundness of the weatherboarding and its weather tightness should be assured. No end of difficulties follow if rain penetrates the house frame.

Condition of plaster means much.—The condition of the plaster is a very good indication as to whether or not the house was well braced

when it was built. Long cracks with wide openings, especially

diagonal cracks, are significant, and should be looked for. Cracks

over large doors and windows generally indicate that the supports

over these openings are not strong enough, and there will always be

trouble at these places. Is the plastering pitted, cracked, falling ofl, chipped? Leaks from the roof or walls, or around windows and

outside doors are often revealed by stains on the plaster. Are the

walls damp because the plaster has been applied direct to the

masonry ? ~Woodworh.—The doors, windows, floors, and millwork should be

looked over carefully. Do the floors squeak? Are there wide openings between the boards? Are the floors level? Are the casings

warped or pulled away from the plastering? Do the doors swing

freely? If a door does not close, perhaps the whole frame of the

house has sagged. Special attention should be paid to this. Do

the drawers and cupboard doors work easily?

Plumbing fixtures.—What kind of plumbing fixtures are used?

Are they in good condition ? Is the enamel ware stained or chipped ? Are the fixtures of a modern type? Are they uninclosed by woodwork so that they can easily be kept clean? A poor connection at the base of the water-closet is liable to leak, often discharging on the

bathroom floor. This is unsanitary and disagreeable, while repairs

are apt to cost more than with one of the good types. The difference

in first cost is so slight as to make the installation of a faulty device

inexcusable. Is there a clean-out at the base of the soil-pipe stack

so that the drainpipe can be cleaned ? A buyer should know whether
HOW TO OWN YOUH HOME 19

the faucets are in good order and whether the water runs through

them freely without hissing. In colder climates the water pipes and

plumbing fixtures should be so located and protected that they will

not freeze. Heating flant.—The heating plant should be carefully looked

over. The grates may not be in good condition and the insulation

may be out of place and insufficient. In the case of a house that

has been used, one should find out whether it is easy to heat in winter

and how nauch coal is required. Poor installations may make it practically impossible in cold weather to heat certain rooms or even

a whole side of a house.

Painting. —^An inspection of all the woodwork of a house, inside

and out, will tell a buyer whether he will immediately have a job of

repainting. Is the paint blistered, peeled off, or discolored ? Is the

varnish off the floors ? Are suitable colors used ? If the house is of

brick or stone, the masonry joints may require pointing from time to time.

Roopng,—The roofing is apt to deteriorate rapidly. If the units are curled or broken, some replacement will have to be made. A

shingle roof in good repair shows the shingles lying flat. The downspouts and eaves troughs should be looked over to see if any are rusted out. Leaks in roofs are often indicated inside by stains on the

plaster.

Other items.—Is the house properly wired for electricity? What

proof is there that the insulation of wiring in the walls was in- spected? If there are gas fixtures, is the pressure adequate? Are

they in good working order and free from leaks ? Do the chimneys draw well? Are any parts of the wood frame

built directly into the chimney masonry? The danger of fire may

be great in such cases. The condition may be indicated by leakage

of smoke into the house. Are the flues lined ? They should be, and

the outside surfaces ought to be covered wherever inflammable material may come in contact with them.

Is there sheathing and building paper on the house ? This should

be known, especially in cold climates. Are windows and doors

weather-stripped? Is the mortar between brick and stonework

sound ? Previous owners should be asked whether the house was conifortable, whether it was easily heated, and whether or not the drainage

lines had to be cleaned out frequently.

The buyer should satisfy himself as to the condition of stoves, lighting fixtures, and screens. One should find out when the house was built, and by whom.

Does the cellar get damp and have moist walls, due to poor masonry

work, lack of rain leaders, rising ground water, leaking pipes, or imperfect drainage around the foundation wall ? Special hardwood floors, overdecorated and futile fireplaces,

elaborate sun porches, and certain frills and luxuries often make a buyer forget some of the far more important points already mentioned. The value and usefulness of a house is not determined by

whatever may first strike the eye. Other points to be noted in buying a house, treated in previous

sections, are the validity of the title to the land, and whether there
20 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMEPvCE

are gas, electricity, water, and sewerage connections ; or, if the house

is not in the city, whether there are proper sanitary conditions and

water supply.

MAINTENANCE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF HOME OWNERSHIP

In addition to panjments on 'princi'pal and interest of loans on a home, allowance must be made for some or all of the following

expenses: {a) Renewals and repairs, (h) property tax and special

assessments, (c) insurance, (d) water tax or rent, (e) accessories,

and (/) improvements.

In addition to the above, some home owners add in the interest

which they would otherwise receive on the amount of their cash

payment or equity.

Renewals and Repairs.—In considering annual expenses, maintenance is often neglected by those who buy new homes. The

amounts spent will depend largely on the owner’s ability and readi- ness to be his own repair man. After a few years certain parts of

the house will need to be repaired or renewed. The outside sash and

trim of all houses and the entire exterior of some will need repainting

at intervals. This is an expense which many home buyers do not

consider when they buy.

The interior walls will need repapering or repainting every few

years. Those who purchase an old house often fail to consider whether the

roof must be renewed. This may cost from $100 to $4-00.

There are many smaller items of expense which will be called for

both in a new house and in an old house. The prospective home

owner should consider these expenses before deciding how much he

can pay for the house.

The amount spent for renewals and repairs can not be determined

by any fixed rule. Their cost depends partly on choosing the right

workmen and varies with the quality of construction, the age of the

house, and the alertness of the owner in making minor repairs before more costly work is necessary. This pamphlet makes no attempt to state a fixed allowance for

depreciation. A house that is maintained well and kept up to date

with modern improvements might not decline appreciably in value over a long period of years while another might become worthless

within a short period.

Property Tax and Special Assessments.—In the purchase of a house it is well to find out the tax rate and the assessed valuation,

so that the amount of taxes to be paid each year may be estimated.

If the street is to be paved, or new water, sewer, or gas mains, or

electric light lines are to be put in, there may be special assessments charged against the property. It is well to find out which ones of

these must be allowed for. Insurance.—The rate of fire insurance may depend upon the

materials used in building, the fire protection afforded in construction, and the location of the house, but it is rarely as much as one- half of 1 per cent of the value of the house. Insurance is necessary

not only to protect the mortgage holder but also the equity of the owner. It is always required by the bank, trust company, or building association making a loan.
HOW TO OWN YOUB HOME 21

Water Tax or Kent.

This tax is usually small but should be

considered in estimating fixed expenses. Accessories.—The purchaser of a new house usually finds that

he must spend something extra to make the house comfortable.

As a rule he must buy screens for all windows and some of the doors.

In cold climates he frequently finds it advisable to buy storm windows

and storm doors, or at least to install weather stripping. Awnings,

as a rule, must be purchased by the owner. Frequently $200 or more

must be spent on the house before it is in satisfactory condition.

Improvements.—The owner is likely to make certain improvements and changes that call for expenditures. In a house of low

cost many desirable features are omitted and, as a rule, the family

insists on adding some of them. It may be decided, for example, to put in partitions, if none have been installed, separating the coal bin,

the fruit closet, and the laundry from the rest of the cellar. This

may cost from $50 to $150. Other improvements often added are: Sleeping porch, a screened-in porch, tile in the bathroom, papering

other rooms, sodding the yard, and storm windows or doors.

CONCLUSION

The whole message of this pamphlet may be summed up into the

sound advice

:

“ Make sure you are rights and then go aheadP

It is hoped that prospective home owners may find whether they

are on the right track by checking their plans with the suggestions in

this pamphlet, and that the homes so acquired will cause them no

regrets.

If the readers of this pamphlet insist on good, honest standards

in the houses they build or buy they not only benefit their families

and themselves but perform a broader service. They help raise the

quality of homes in the United States and provide a sound basis for

wider home ownership.

c
APPENDIX

FINANCING TABLES

The following table recognizes the fact that families having the same annual income may not be able to devote the same amount

toward the purchase of a home. A family, for example, with sev- eral small children, and perhaps other dependents, living in a city,

may not be able to put much aside toward buying a home. Another

family with the same income, but with no children or other dependents, situated in a village where living costs are low, can afford to pay out a very much larger proportion of its income toward buying

its home. The overlapping incomes in the table are thus necessary

to cover even ordinary differences in the amounts that families with

the same income will be able to spend toward a home after they have

paid for food, clothing, and other necessities. The annual expenses involved in purchasing and maintaining a home of a given price may also vary. The table, therefore, does not attempt to set up arbitrary standards, although it is fairly typical and should be useful as a basis

from which to start figuring.

Table showing income, value of home, and typical annual expenses for house

and lot SECTION L—CASH PAYMENT OF 20 PER CENT OF TOTAL VALUE

1. Value of house and lot $3, 000 S4, 000 S5, 000 $8, 000 $7, 000 $8, 000 $9, 000 $10, 000

1 1,200 1, 600 2, 000 2,400 2, 800 3, 200 3, 600 4, 000

2. Annual income \ to to to to to to to to

1 1,800 2, 400 3, 000 3,600 4,200 4,800 6,400 6, 000

3. First cash payment (20 per cent of value) 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000

4. Amount of loan 2,400 3, 200 4, 000 4,800 6, 600 6,400 7,200 8, 000

6. Interest and amortization (12V2 per cent of loan) 300 400 600 600 700 800 SCO 1, 000

6. Estimated taxes, insurance, and

upkeep. 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400

7. Total annual expenses 420 560 700 840 980 1, 120 1, 260 1,400

8. Approximate savings included in above total (first year). 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

9. Expenses comparable with rent

(first year) 270 360 460 540 630 720 810 900 Note.—

A

ssuming an initial cash payment of 20 per cent of the total value, the annual cash outlay (item 7) In this section is about as low as can ordinarily be arranged for the first few years. The financing charge might be cut down later on, when part of the principal of the loan has been paid off, but the whole debt

will be canceled in about 12 years if the payments given in the table are continued regularly. (See general

notes, p. 23.) 22
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 23

Tal)le showing income, value of home, and typical annual expenses for house

OMd lot—Continued

SECTION II—CASH PAYMENT OF 30 PER CENT OF TOTAL VALUE

1. Value of house and lot $3, 000 $4, 000 $5, 000 $6, 000 $7, 000 $3, 000 S9, 000 SIO, 000

f 1,200 1, 600 2, 000 2,400 2, 800 3, 200 3, 800 4, 000

2. Annual income to to to to to to to to

1 1, 800 2,400 3,000 3, 600 4, 200 4, SCO 5, 400 6, 000

3. First cash payment (30 per cent of value) 900 1,200 1, 500 1, 800 2, 100 2, 400 2,700 3,000

4. Amount of loan 2, 100 2, 800 3, 500 4, 200 4, 900 5, 600 6, 300 7, 000

5. Interest and amortization (12 per

cent of loan) 252 336 420 504 588 672 756 840

6. Estimated taxes, insurance, and upkeep 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400

7. Total annual expenses 372 496 620 744 868 882 1,116 1, 240

8. Approximate savings included in above total (first year) 126 168 210 252 294 336 378 420

9. Expenses comparable with rent

(first year) 246 328 410 492 574 656 738 820 Note.—Assuming an initial cash payment of 30 per cent of the total value, the annual cash outlay (item 7) in this section is about as low as can ordinarily be arranged for the first few years. The financing charges might be cut down later on, when part of the principal of the loan has been paid off, but the whole debt

will be canceled in about 12 years if the payments given in the table are continued regularly. (See general

notes, pp. 23 to 26.) SECTION III.—CASH PAYMENT OF 40 PER CENT OF TOTAL VALUE

1. Value of house and lot S3, 000 $4, 000 S5, COO S8, 000 S7, GOO $8, 000 S9, 000

1 810, 000

f 1,200 1, 600 2, 000 2, 400 2, 800 3,200 8, 600 4, COO

2. Annual income \ to to to to to to to to

[ 1, 800 2,400 8, 000 3, 600 4, 200 4, 800 5, 400 6, 000

3. First cash payment (40 per cent of value)-- - 1, 200 1, 600 2,000 2, 400 2, 800 3, 200 3, 600 4, 000

4. Amount of loan - 1,800 2,400 3, 000 3, 600 4, 200 4, 800 6, 400 6, 000

5. Interest and amortization (12 per

cent of loan) 216 288 360 432 504 576 648 720

,6. Estimated taxes, insurance, and

upkeep 120 160 200 240 280 320 360 400

7. Total annual expenses 336 448 660 672 784 896 1, 008 1, 120

8. Approximate savings included in above total (first year) 108 144 180 216 252 288 324 360

9. Expenses comparable with rent

(first year) 228 304 380 456 532 608 684 760

Note.—

he total outlay (item 7) in this section is based on the assumption that a family able to pay

40 per cent of the value of a home in cash will normally find it best to pay oil the loan in installments,

at least as rapidly as in the preceding cases. (See general notes, pp. 23 to 26.) NOTES ON FINANCING TABLES

The table on this and the preceding page wUl not a'p'phj to every

single oase^ but it does indicate about how expensive a home can usually be bought with a given income.

It shows cash expenditures only and does not outline a complete

cost accounting system for home buying. The fact remains that the

family takes charge of its own rent bill, and reduces the loan each
24 U. S. DEPABTMENT OP COMMEEOB

month until finally the house and lot is owned free and clear, whatever it may then be worth.

There is na calculation in the table for loss of interest on money used for the

first payment, nor for loss of interest on amortization payments that might have

been deposited O'r invested elsewhere.

It is also true, nevertheless, that in most cases savings devoted to paying for a home would not be made if the family continued to rent and had not entered

into an obligation to save. Nothing is charged for depreciation, but, on the other hand, no allowance is made for possible increase in the value of the land.

If rents should rise generally, there would be a further saving not accounted

for in the table, and when the debt is canceled in 12 or 14 years the only ex- penses comparable with rent will be taxes, insurance, and upkeep.

Item 1. Value of house and lot.~—T)iQ value of the house and lot is the basis from which other expenses in this table are computed.

For figuring probable expenses when a home is offered at an odd price, say

$4,350, the necessary percentages may be obtained readily from the last column

in each section of the table by moving the decimal point four places to the

left. Thus, in Section I the total annual expenses (item 7) required are 14 per

cent of the value of the house and lot, and for the $4,350 house, in the case

of a 20 per cent cash payment, would be $*1,350 by 0.14=$609.

Item 2. Armual income. —Of a number of families with the same

income it is unlikely that any two picked at random will wish to spend the same amount for shelter. It is for this reason that the

income groups in the table are made to overlap. The size of the

family, its preferences as to location, the ages and number of chil- dren, varying conditions between cities, and other circumstances,

make the problem one that each family must solve for itself. No

rule can be set up that will apply in all cases. It is assumed, however, in this table, that the value of the house and lot will lie between

1% and 2% times one’s annual income, the ordinary proportion

being around 2 times. For example, a family has an income of $2,700 to start with. Then 1% by

$2,700=$4,500 ; and 2% by $2,700=$6,750. The family will therefore expect to occupy a house worth from $4,500 to $6,750.

To illustrate differences between families, it is apparent that one living in a small town and able to have a vegetable garden and keep poultry might afford a more expensive home than a family with the same income living on a smaller

city or suburban lot with higher taxes and with street car or railway fares added to the cost of living.

Item 8. First cash po/yment.—Section I assumes a cash payment

of 20 per cent of the value of the house and lot. Sections II and III

are based on cash payments of 30 and 40 per cent, respectively, and

show how much the burden of financing is reduced by a larger cash

payment. As stated in the text on page 4, it is not always neces- sary to have as much as 20 per cent of the total value of the house

and lot in hand to start with, but with less it is harder to obtain

loans at a low rate of interest, and the annual financing charges

become greater.

It should be remembered that in many communities there is at one time or another a shortage of money available for loaning to home owners, and lending

institutions may be able to serve the public best by lending first to those who

have a large cash payment in hand. Again, where the price of homes is inflated, banks may be serving tlie real interest of borrowers as well as of themselves by declining to make loans for a higher percentage of current selling

prices of homes.
HOW TO OWN YOUR HOME 25

Item 4. Amount of loan necessai^.—The amount of the loan or loans required is obvious!}^ the difference between items 1 and 3. Item 5. Payments for interest and amortization.—In Section I

this item amounts to 12% per cent of the amount loaned as shown in

item 4. This is slightly higher than the 12 per cent given in Sections II and III, because, in the first case, a second mortgage may be

necessary, with less favorable interest rates or other terms. The

sums paid for financing may vary, as noted under the sections of the

table, and according to local prevailing rates of interest and amortization required. It generally is considered best to pay off indebtedness within 15 years, or less, and the plan of payment should be ar- ranged on such a basis. This does not mean, however, that mortgages should not run for a shorter period and be renewed when due.

This may be best if interest rates are high at the time the loan is made.

For most families, monthly payments are far more desirable than

payments at three or six month intervals.

Where a loan is obtained at 6 per interest, it can be paid off in less than 12 years by payments each month of 1 per cent of the whole original loan, total- ling 12 per cent each year. If the loan is at 7 per cent interest, then only a

smaller part of the regular payments is left for paying off the principal, and

it will take about 12 months longer to cancel the loan than when the interest rate is 6 per cent. One plan used by many banks and building and loan associations requires

fixed monthly payments, but all sums above interest on the outstanding loan are applied directly to reducing the principal. The principal, therefore, de- creases regularly and a larger proportion of the payments is used each month

for amortizing the principal until the entire loan is paid off. Under a plan used by some building and loan associations, the whole loan is nominally left outstanding until the payments in excess of interest, which are

applied toward “ shares,” and which draw compound interest, amount to enough

to pay off the loan. Although this plan may under certain circumstances be

of some disadvantage to the borrower, the net result to him, provided all goes

well, is nearly the same as with the plan described above. With the same

monthly payments applied against the same loan, it would be retired in about

the same number of months. Sometimes the payments for amortization are applied directly to reducing

the loan and are at a fixed rate, say $250 a year for a $3,000 loan, and the

interest payments, therefore, become steadily less. This plan has the disad- vantage, for many people, of requiring the largest payments at first, but it is safer than plans which provide for gradually increasing total payments each

year. According to most schemes, it would be possible, after the first few years, to cut down the payments. For instance, in the tables a new arrangement at

the end of seven years might reduce financing charges one-half or more, but

this would mean that the loan would not be retired so soon. Item 6. Taxes., insurance., and upheep.—Local tax rates on real estate usually amount to 1% to 2% per cent of the market value of

the property. Fire insurance rarely amounts to one-half of 1 per

cent of the value of the house alone ; yearly upkeep is frequently esti- mated at 1 per cent of the value of the house itself ; but as stated in

the text, pages 20 and 21, it varies greatly with the age and quality

of the house and the attention that the owner himself gives it. In

any city the tax and insurance rates can easily be found out, Rnd it is believed that many home owners find their expenditures for item 6

amount to less than the sums stated in the table. In each case in

the table this item amounts to 4 per cent of the value of the house

and lot.
26 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Item 7. Total anTmal expenses.—The sums in this item are obtained

by adding the amounts in items 5 and 6, so it follows that nothing is allowed under this heading for water, fuel, gas and electricity bills,

telephone, special assessments, or accessories and improvements such

as those mentioned on pages 20 and 21. Some of these are contingent

expenses that do not have to be allowed for when a family is renting,

but may add to the value of the property.

The majority of people, while they are paying for a home, probably

spend between 18 and 35 per cent of their income for the purposes

of item 7. In Section I, the sums in item 7 amount to 35 per cent of the minimum income

given in each column for item 2. This includes for the first year, 12% per cent

for savings and 22% per cent for items comparable with rent. In Section III the sums in item 7 amount to 18.7 per cent of the larger incomes in item 2. Item 8. Savings.—This item represents the amount that is 'paid out during the first year on the principal of the loan, assuming that

half of item 5 is paid for interest and half for amortization. The

annual savings grow larger progressively as the principal of the

debt becomes less. The amount that can be saved for amortization varies with each case. Thus,

a family of two with an income of $1,800 a year, having neither children nor

other relatives to support, can pay off a loan faster than a family with several children and perhaps an aged parent to take care of. Item 9. Expenses equivalent to rent.—The figures opposite this

item equal item 7 minus item 8, or the difference between the total expenses for the home the first year, and the amount of savings that

is used toward paying off the loan. This item grows smaller as item

8 increases, and, finally, when the home is paid for fully, the only

ordinary expenses will be taxes, insurance, and upkeep.

o
c


U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON

[Printed documents, for which prices are noted in each case, may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., payments to be made by money order or New York draft; currency at sender’s risk. Postage or foreign money not accepted. For foreign coimtries (other than Canada, Cuba, Newfoundland, and

the Republic of Panama) add one-third. PUBLICATIONS ON HOUSING, CITY PLANNING, ZONING, AND

BUILDING CODES

BHl. Recx)mmeindi3d Minimum Requirements fob Smaul Dwelling CoNSTRUOf

TION. ; By the Building Code Committee. 30 illustrations. 108 pageA' \ Price, 15 cents. BH3. A Zoning Primer. /

1

By the Advisory Committee on Zoning. 12 pages. Price, 5 cents. ) \ BH5. A Standard State Zoning Enabling Act. * By the Advisory Committee on Zoning. 12 pages. Price, 5 cents; J

BH6. Recommended Minimum Requirements fob Masonry Wall Construction?

j By the Building Code Committee. 57 pages. Price, 15 cents. > i BH7. Minimum Live Loads Allowable fob Use in Design of Buildings. "J i By the Building Code Committee. 38 pages. Price, 10 cents. / J BH8. Recommended Practice for Arrangement of Building Codes. | By the Building Code Committee. 29 pages. Price, 10 cents. ^

;

BH9. Recommended Building Code Requirements fob Working Stresses in

| Building Materials. I By the Building Code Committee. 53 pages. Price, 10 cents.

^ BHIO. A City Planning Primer.

By the Advisory Committee on City Planning and Zoning.

Price, 5 cents. BHll. A Standard City Planning Enabling Act. By the Advisory Committee on City Planning and Zoning.

Price, 15 cents. Present Home Financing Methods.

17 pages< h

' s % 53 pagein

BH12.

By John M. Gries and Thomas M. Curran. 23 pages. Price, 5 cents; | cents.

I BH13. Recommended Minimum Requirements for Plumbing. i By the Subcommittee on Plumbing. 280 pages. Price, 35 cents. ; I BH14. Recommended Minimum Requirements for Fire Resistance in Builiv- f ings. "I By the Building Code Committee. 62 pages. Price, 10 cents. s; BH15. Cake and Repair of the House. | By V. B. Phelan. 121 pages. Price, 20 cents. i , BH16. The Preparation op Zoning Ordinances. i By the Advisory Committee on Planning and Zoning. 32 pages.

' Price, 5 cents. > How TO Judge A House. By the National Committee on Wood Utilization. 89 pages. Pricei 10 cents. I