Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-26
REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY.
A Marked Improvement During the
Past Few Weeks.
Sales Have Been More Frequent,
and the Prices Have Been Fair.
Interviews With Number OF
Real Estate Agents on the Sub
ject-Hopef1l View of the Future.

The business depression had notice
able effect upon real estate transactions
in this city, which have been very dull
during the past two years. Very little
property has been purchased for specu-
lative purposes during that period
Persons who have the means, and the
desire to invest, found that owners were
holding out for good prices There have
been few, if any, opportunities to invest
money in real estate at prices which
would justify its purchase as a matter
of speculation. throughout the hard
times" period, prices were well main
tanned, except, possibly, in cases OF
forced sale
A Register reporter yesterday after
noon dropped into several real estate
Offices, and learned in conversation
with the agents, that there is a renewal
of activity which dates back month or
six weeks, and upon which they base
hopeful predictions for the future.
Transfers have been numerous during
the past few weeks, but have been con-
fined principally to small pieces of
property. In this connection it is
worthy of note, that there are fewer
vacant buildings, residences and store
rOoms-in the city at present, than at
any time during the past year at least.
Below are expressions from a number
of real estate agents.
Rolf & Zane-"There is a marked
improvement in real estate matters,
which has been particularly noticeable
during the last six weeks. Inquiries
are becoming more frequent, and our
sales are entirely satisfactory. The
prices received are fair. No property
brings fancy figures, but there is no
evidence Of depreciation in value, ex
cept possibly in the case of forced
sales. We disposed yesterday of piece
of Island property, bought one year agd
for 800 and sold for $1,000 During
the past two weeks we have made ten
sales, which is very fair business. Be
ginning with August LIST, we anticipate
healthy Improvement in business. We
have already noticed the indications"
Geo. J. Mathisonz"C Conditions are
improving, and l think real estate
transactions will be more numerous
after August 1st than for some time
past. Business has been very satisfac-
tory during the past few weeks"
Nesbitt & Divine-"Our business has
shown an improvement during the past
few weeks. There has been during
that time an increased activity in real
estate transactions, upon which we
base hopes of a better feeling in the
future. Persons who desire to pur-
chase real estate expect to secure it at
hard times" prices. In spite of this
fact, owners are holding their property
at the values which prevailed two or
three years ago. and all the sales re-
Gently made have been at fair prices"
Rinehart & Tatum-"Real estate is
the last thing to feel the effects of hard
times, and the last to recover. We are
just beginning to recover now, and the
outlook for the future is bright Our
business during July was fully one
third better than during the same
month last year. Sales are confined
principally to small pieces of property.
We have about fifteen purchasers for
property worth between $4,000 and $10,-
900, but cannot make prices suit them.
Owners of property, on the one hand,
appear to think they ought to get
little more than they paid; while, on
the other hand, persons who desire to
buy feel that the hard times
should have had the effect of depreci-
ating the value of real estate. You
will readily understand. then, why
sales are infrequent. We have fewer
houses for rent, however, than at any
time during two years."