The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-11-01
Prices Are Well Maintained But Transac-
actions Are Few.
PROBABLE CAUSES OF THE PRESENT DU11NEss.
The Pleasant Weather Encourages Continuation Building
Operations.

The real estate market for the past week
has been dull one. Sales were few, and
those that were consummated were of small
nature. In fact, it is generally admitted that
the fall season has not reached that degree of
activity which most dealers prophesied for it.
The cause is difficult to explain, and each
agent has his own ideas on the subject 1t
must be said, however that values are in
creasing, and that 1t is lack of activity and
not depreciation in value that causes the dull
ness By some, the situation is said to be
that those now holding property feel safe and
sure in their investments, and consequently
are not anxious to sell, except at high figures
and upon strict terms. Those seeking in
vestment, on the other hand, are evidently
unwilling to accept these terms, and conse-
quently more difficulty has been encountered
this fall in bringing about settlements than
for some time before. Inquiries are many,
but when transactions looking toward sales
are begun, few amount to much more than
talk.
A well-known agent said yesterday: 81 do
not look for very great change in the condi-
tion of the market until the 1st of February
All the money is now in the East and West.
bring used in the transportation of crops, and
the effect will not be felt here much before
that time. Just now business men, and these
are our most active operators in real estate in
this city, are laying in the fall and holiday
goods, with the result that the money they
would invest in realty is being placed in their
business. The results of the winter trade will
be apparent about month after the first of
the year, and then the market will begin to
boom. Though the Government has now
paid all the owners of property in the post
Office square the reinvestment of this large
amount of money has not yet been apparent
These persons must have new places. look
for the effect of this purchase by January
The only sales that are now being made are
for small dwellings ranging in value from
5000 to $7,000''
point which speaks well for the financial
situation in this city, and at the same time
shows where considerable money has been
invested is that recently the Telephone Com
pany, the Electric Lighting Company, and
the lexington Railroad Company issued bonds
amounting to about $1,500,000. All of these
bonds were taken up by Washingtonians at
excellent prices.
Building operations had large increase
over the week previous. The beautiful
weather no doubt had It's effect, and permits
were issued for over fifty new buildings. Dur
ing the week ending Friday, October 80, there
were issued q permits covering the erection
OF 80 buildings, aggregating in cost $152,60O
OF these permits were for 10 buildings to be
erected in the northwest section, to cost
1880; 4 were for buildings in the south
west section, to cost $3.50; & were for 10
buildings in the northeast section, to cost
SIT, 100; was for building in the southwest
section, to cost So, 500, and were for 16 build
ings in the county, to cost $66, 900.