The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-23

Perlodically once year, nsusenuuers aie
greatly agitated on the question of moving, and
chat "periodicaln period has arrived lew weeks
AGO and win continue to last until about the 3oth
jnstant when those who have not yet been suited
with q new habitaton will have the choice left be-
tween remaining where they are tif possible) or
store their domestic wealth and 60 to boarding
house 10 starve.
The great mystery in the era OF housekeeping Is
being annually solved by the frugal wife who has
made
HOUSE HUNTING A SCIENCE.
Ma Mere at the breakfast table closely scans the
advertisements in the HERALD, marks such as APP
pear favorable, and, shortly after, gets ready to
proceed on her journey. 1.-THE family Is in good
circumstances coupe or carriage Is called in re-
ausition; If however, the income is only mode
rate, the horse cars are considered ample as
means OF propulsion. On the wealth OF the apart
ment-seeker likewise depends the location and
rate Of rents demanded.
Many and many are the instances where the
the lady of family returns at night after long,
weary tramp, lasting the entire day, tired ootsore
and discouraged, having succeeded only in looking
n great number Of houses without finding any to
suit, and the contemplation OF being compelled to
renew her search again on the morrow rops her of
the nights rest, which even her WEAKNESS cannot
restore. Pater famas very seldom partakes In
the agony OF house-hunting any more than he does
tn looking for servant. His task in life is only TO
90 to his business, where he sits, feet up on desk,
smoking his choice Havanas, while his poor wife
has to be responsible Tor all happenings at home,
and even provide the shelter ITSELF
SCARCITY OF MEDIUM-PRIcED DWELLINGS.
Year after year the scarcity of eligible houses
becomes more and more apparent. Conceding
that our population is largely on the increase, yet
The supply OF adequate dwellings is by means
m M Wi Tine
trouble heretofore has been that the exorbitant
prices demanded by mechanics TO erect houses
entirely too great for the builders to grant, and
coupled with the steadily increasing prices OF real
estate, investments in brick and mortar promised
but slow and Improbable return.
This, then besides the influx OF new residents
from day to day, accounts for the scarcity OF suit
able dwellings for the masses.
Carefully compiled statistics obtained by our re-
porter from the most reliable real estate
agents show that the supply of medium
priced houses, say between one thousand and
twenty-five hundred dollars per annum is not only
inadequate TO the demand, but has been almost
completely exhausted since the LIST inst.
RESIDENCES RANGING ABOVE THREE THOUSAND
DOLLARS
are plenty. without any takers, and when the rent
rises above this st-named figure the applicant
turns away in disgust and cannot be induced to
invest. Hlgh-prlced houses can only now and then
be let to those who make the Keeping of boarders
. regular business Even then $3.50 a month rent
Is too great TO warrant the undertaking.; and yet
there are plenty OF landlords who would rather al
low their houses TO stand vacant for entire year
than reduce the rent a few per cent and thereby
secure good tenant and certain payment.
IMPROVED PROPERTY POOR INVESTMENT.
II Is assumed by owners OF improved property
that return OF seven per cent on their invest
lay OF capital, and neither it is. II. for instance
house costing $4,000 lets for g. 500 per annum, al
gross amount Is Strictly correct vet the net D NC me
on this sum is no more than about four per cent
The balance above that amount is absorbed in
taxes, assessments, insurance, repairs, and II q
had tenant happens to occupy the premises, unable
or unwilling to pay The rent, then the interest
the investment is reduced still lower.
However, as this article is not calculated to
analyze the profits and losses of landlords real
estate, but only TO demonstrate the existing status
OF rents. the statement just Illustrated was merely
given in the abstract, in order to give "the benefit
OF a doubt" to the much, and at most times justly,
CHAPTER ON "FLATs,.
In connection with rents OF houses is natural
HERALD, who are residing In luxurious palaces,
occupy cosey COTTAGES out OF town. and who are un
acquainted with the term OF ''fats,n are here in
formed lin parenthess) that they are apart
ments comprising all the way from five to
eight ana ten rooms on one floor, with all
ported style OF dwellings high, IL not
higher, in proportion to what second class houses
let for. Yet there are people who deceive them
selves with the idea that residence in one OF
these French one-story apartments they economiZe
extensively, whereas IN reality they mulcted in
twenty-five to fifty per cent more than good house
would come to- There are several extensive puild-
ings in this city which, within year or two have
been altered into "French HATS located on our
fashionable streets. Towering six or seven stories
above terra lfrnad, steam elevators have been n-
trOduced to bring the upper stories In closer
nection with the ground floors and
inducement for tenants to dwell therein.
Yet with all the temptations offered, most
Of these nats have been great failures
from the fact that the owners have idea where
70 stop In plling up the fabulous amounts requisite
TO occupy said apartments. Furthermore, the very
appelation OF hats has been abused II any owner
OF q double-breasted tenement house capable OF
sheltering forty families has two vacant
noors he forthwith advertses the same as 'aiats,"
which name, however, only indicates that Of the
apartment houses, If let at reasonable rates, lind
ready occupants.
FURNISHED RESIDENCES
are in the most abundant supply, without having
the slightest show OF being let at present on any
terms. The fact about this style OF domiciIe is.
that only persons OF means Will hire furnished
house, and such generally spend the Summer
months at some watering or country place. II,
therefore, any one should take upon himself the
task or hiring residence OF this class, il would
Only be occupied about two months while the three
Summer months would witness its being closed
mp. Houses OF this kind only rent well about Sep
tember, and bring as much money for the seven
months from October to May /, as they would for
the space OF an entire year.
RENTING OF STORE PROPERTY
mas very nearly come 10 close, most OF THIS bust
and March 80 The rating OF such realty is varied.
Between the Battery and Chambers street the
prices remain about the same as last year, with
upward tendency, while the requests for stores and
lofts between Chambers and Broome streets
evinced a little more activity at old rates; but
property denOminated as fancy situated about
Union square and up as far as Thirty-fOurth
street has uniformly been advanced In price, I'M
less on lease, and found ready occupants at almost
AIRY sum demanded. A very large number or
dwelling houses on the uptown streets are
pein! altered for business purposes, and old, d.
iapidated stores are pulled down and rebuilt. On
Broadway, Filth avenue, Union square, Fourteenth
anu other streets number OF new stores are IN
tue course OF erection, some Of them TO be ready
Tor occupancy by MAY i.
RENTS IN TENEMENT HOUSES
remain about unchanged: in fact IL Is next TO i'm
possipie 10 give any positive quotations regarding
such property. Every owner places his own valu-
auon upon ms possessions and exacts every cent
ne can from those who are compelled to partake OF
his hospitality Judging from the numerous
nuanfifiag of household .n...-b