Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-03-19
HOUSE HUNTING.

Trouble Experienced by Chang.
lng Tenants Who Put ii OR-Ten.
ant Houses Scarce-AOw Rents
Have Risen.
A mechanic moved his family from
their home in Richmond, Va, a short
time ago, intending to locate in Will
lnipgton, where he had secured work.
He engaged board for himself and fam
lily for short time, .and left his house
hold goods at the freight depot until
he could rent house. This, he was
astonishsd to find, he could not do, and
after three days search for a suitable
house gave up in despair. This has
been the case in this city for some time
past, and as "moving day" approaches
even unsuitable houses are taken by
tardy families, who have until this late
day put of securing . home for the en-
suing year. Tenant houses are very
scarce the whole city over, and the real
estate agents say there has not been
such demand for years.
J. 7. Hsald & Company report that
they have about fifteen houses for rent,
and nearly all Of them are renting for q
larger sum than q laboring man would
care to pay. There has been demand
for houses In the eastern part Of the
town, renting for from $6 to $l5 per
month that is simply astonishing.
On an average from six to eight per-
sons make inquiry for houses in that
sectionand renting for the above figures.
In many cases the rents have not ad-
vancsd, as in the case Of old tenants
who pay promptly, and the general ad-
vance in rates is from seven to ten per
cent. This firm have rented about one
hundred and twenty-five houses this
year; they have only been conducting
this department for year, and have
collected sl0, 900 in rent and lost less
than $50.
Mr.. Thomas R. Lally observed that
there was a great demand for houses,
and that 1t exceeded the supply. he
had FIVE or six houses unrented, but
houses such as laboring men would
want were very scarce. No difficulty
had been met with in securing tenants
for houses renting aNabout $l2, and
he had to turn away dozen applicants
every day. The demand for houses in
the eastern part Of town exceeded that
in the western so per cent. With ref
erence to rents he said that old tenants
had successfully Insisted upon old rates,
but the real estate dealers had been
able TO obtain advanced rates in the
cases of new renters. An advance Of
10 per cent had been made on some
small houses and business stands.
Mr.. George R. Townsend told the
reporter that he could not rent even
him small house, ii he wanted 1t. "a
dozen people come to me every day
wanting small houses" said he, "and |
am unable to supply them. only have
seven or eight houses and they rent for
from $3.50 to $400 per year. The desire
Of nearly all inquirers is to secure
houses in tho eastern part Of town.
Rents have advanced from 5 to 10 pei
cent"
show about the real estate mar
ketf" was asked.
"Well 1t is much brisker, but prices
have not advanced much yet. There
will soon be an advance and this is an
excellent time to purchase"
"What makes you think there will
be an advance Z"
"More than any thing else the in
creased cost Of building material. Owing
to this q house tuilt this year will sell
readily for 81, 200 where last year il
would net have bought more than
$l, ,000."
Mr.. M. NJ. Child said that with him
houses such as a laboring man, getting
low..wages, would want to rent, were
scarce. He had nine two story frame hou.
ses in good condition and situated in re.
respectable localities, that were uuoceu-
pied and which he would rent for $9
per month rent, but applicants seemed
to want large houses for very little
rent. There was quite an increased
lemand for houses, but he had not ad
vanced rents on any OF his one hun
dred and fifty houses.
Messfs. Bond and Pierce admitted
that there had been such an unusual
demand that they had four houses un-
rented which was anunexpactedly small
number. Only one Of these houses
I lrented az low as $11 per month. The
demand is chiefly for low priced houses,
No rise in rents had occurred.
Mr.. Sam'l Culbert said that on
few houses he had raised the rent from
10 to Is per cent. and he found de-
mand for small houses, 30 great that it
could not be supplied.
Messrs. J. II. Frazer & Co., said :
"We only have two more houses left
unrentei, and if We hal a hundred
more in the eastern part of the town
we could find good tenants for them
without trouble. Rents have only ad.
vancsd on store properties and in cases
of new tenants"
The Leather business.
J.P. Postles is now very busy at his